The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-02-23
Official Letters from California.
Arrival of Lieut.. Lanman.

| The Washington Union, of the 18th, contains
the following interesting letters, just received by
the Navy Department, from Commodore Jones
| They were forwarded from Mazatan by our consul
Mr.. Parrot, thence across land TO Vera Cruz, and
transmitted to Pensacola, thence by mail to Wash
| lngton.
mo. AL FLAGSHIP Ono San Francisco
December 49, IS48.
Sr-My letters from Nos 80 to 40 inclusive.
dispatched from Monterey by Lieut.. Lanman, and
from this place by the lexington will fully inform
| you OF the operations of the squadron since our
| departure from the Gulf of California. Nothing
material has occurred since my last date Deser-
tons less frequent the Ohio having lost but one
man since her arrival here, and think the dispose
ton to desert Is not so general; but that may be
owing to the incemency of the season, which, for
while must suspend the digging and washing for
gold, except by such persons as are most amply
supplied with good houses, and all the accessories of
life requisite for a winters campaign in rigid
climate, aflordng nothing for the use of man but
gold Incredible quantities of gold are even yet
daily collected and scarcely week elapses with
out some new discovery of the precious metal more
startling than any previous one. 1t is said that a
small party OF five or six persons, few DAYS past
struck upon pocket, they term certain deposites
from which, in two days, they obtained $4,000 Of
pure gold!
have been living on shore at San Francisco now
two weeks, and have had ample opportunity for
examining the subject, and | am more than ever
satisfied that the disposal of the gold regions in the
territory of California is the best, if not the only
practicable disposition that can be made of them
in the present disorganlzed state of society out
here. y
The worst forebodngs of evil, consequent upon
the want of certain and energetic administration of
Justice in this territory, almost daily realized
Within the three last weeks we have certain
accounts of fifteen murders. In one instance an
entire household of ten persons-a respectable
ranchero, his wife, two children and six servants
The man, whose name was Reed, had been very
successful In the diggings during the summer, and
had returned to his home, near Santa Babara, with
a large amount of gold. His house was surprised
by an armed party, and the whole family, as above
stated, were barbarOusy murdered, and the house
rfled of its golden treasure. The perpetrators of
this horrid deed still at large of the other five
cases, four are highway robberies, committed on
persons returning with gold from the mines In
word, may say with truth, that both persons and
property are insecure in Upper California at this
time; and am sorry to add that, in all cases of
outrage and violence, as yet discovered, emgrants
from the United States, disbanded volunteers run
away sailors, and deserters from the army and
navy, are believed to be the perpetrators.
The mutinies, attended with MURDER to which |
alluded in my letter No. 43, have been fully con- |
frmed, and-not without good reason-has caused |
much uneasiness to shippers Of gold from this coast
10 guard each and every vessel sailing hence |
with large sums in gold dust, would require every
ship of the navy. The best that can do is to keep
the vessels of this squadron sea as much as pos
sible plying between the ports most frequented bv
our mercantile marine. Enclosed is copy of |
circular mo. g. which have found it necessary to
issue and make public in the hope that it may have
some tendency to prevent repetition of such acts |
as have recently occurred on board the English |
schooner Ama and the Gillian bark Adelina.
recent arrival from CallaO reports that the Ade-
lima had been taken into that port, and the mutt
neers, eight in number, promptly executed
| had received request from the governor of |
Valparaiso, through Mr.. Moorhead, our consul at
that port, to arrest and safe-keep the Adeina,
should l be fortunate enough to fall in with her on
the Mexican coast, where it was supposed the mu-
tineers might take her.
l have the honor to be your obedient servant.
COMMANDMENT Chief U. s. Naval Force, Pacific Ocean.
To the Hon. JOHN Y. MASON. Sec'y of the Navy.
P. S-Since the above letter written, we
have accounts of more murders-One in the town
of Sonoma, and another in the vicinity.
December 25h, 1S48 -
CIRCULAR.-No. g.
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 18th. 184S.
Sr-ln consequence of the late muinous and
murderous proceedings on board the Chilian bark
Adelna and the English schooner Amilia, in
creased vigilance is requested to guard the lives and
Of all lawfully navigating the high seas.
You will therefore, henceforth, in making pas
sages from port to port, scrutinze closely the ap-
pearance and man9uvring of all vessels you fall in
with at sea; and should you have reasonable
doubts of their character, you will board them for
Inc purpose Vi III SUCH YES
sells remain in the possession of the persons who
cleared them from the last port. Should you find
on boarding any vessel, that any act of mutiny, or
other unlawful violence, has been committed to
the prejudice of the rghtful owners you will repair
the injury in the best way you can, by restoring
order on board, and BY taking out any murderer or
mutineer that the master or owner on board such
vessel may request you to take on board. Should
it be necessary to send any such vessel into port if
other than one sailing under the flag of the United
C.ata h. tho
she last sailed if west of Cape Horn with letter
to the government or consul of the nation whose
flag she may bear. individuals and Americans
sent in under this order will be sent to this port
In discharge of the foregoing highly important
and delicate duties, moderation and great circum-
spection are strictly enoined on you; and when
ever it is necessary to board vessel, especially
when under a foreign flag, you will do so with the
least practicable delay hindrance, taking care to
make known to the master the true and only OBJ
jet of your visit
Respectfully. your ebedient servant,
COMMANDMENT chief U. s. Naval Forces. Pacific Ocean.
True copy-test
u. s. Naval Forces, Pacific Ocean |
No. 45l sASFRAso1sco, Upper Califonis20 }
Sr-The Iong-lookedfor St. Mary's, Com.
nander Crowinshield, joined me at this place on
he 18th inst, FRO hundred and tortyJpe days from
Norfolk, Virginia.
If can render any service to my country at this
lime, and especially to the inhabitants of Calfor-
MIA, it will be by remaining on this coast for a
while; at least, until we can receive from Wash
ngton some intimation what Congress and the
Executive have done, or may speedily do, towards
organizing territorial government over Cali
forna.
shall make this place my headquarters until the
return OF the Ohio, Dale, Prebes and Southamp-
ton, from service they are now on, which will be
about the middle of February, when, after few
days detention for holding general court martial,
and for making some transfers, ETC., consequent on
the Dale's departure for home, (Which have set
for the first of March, the squadron will be again
dispersed, to cruise where they be most service
able in giving protection and security to our coun.
rymen and their property.
AS have already said if can do the State any
good service out here, it will be remaining this
point, at least as long above intimated not that