Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-02-02

Total thus far, in 80 vessels, 5,7l9
This number, it says, added TO those who have
left Oregon, The Sandwich Islands, Mexico,
Peru, &C., will swell the aggregate of adventu-
rers at the "digging,'' 10 about thirty thousand
There are now advertised for California nearly
one hundred and fifty vessels all Of which will
probably sail within the next six weeks, carry
ing about eight thousand passengers.
The Union publishes letter from General
Persifor F. Smith, dated at Panama, January
7, which represents The situation of affairs at
California as "really most extraordinary" and
that mo accounts we had are exaggerated.'-
From good authority he learned that there had
been brought to Valparaiso and Lima, to be
run into bars, gold TO the amount nearly Of
81 ,600,0 900. The British Consul told General
S. that he had forwarded $4,000 ounces from
Panama across the Isthmus; and Lieutenant
Wood, of the British Navy, says that "tbe
truth is beyond the accounts we have heard."-
General S. thinks at will be impossible to pre-
vent the troops from deserving" SIC. lie speaks
of the enormous difficulties of crossing the
lsthmus-S20 a piece being asked for mule
loads of one-third of the ordinary weight-Hour
at $40 barrel-and "the inhabitants of the
town alarmed al the prospect Of pestence and
famine"
Another leIIer in The Union, dated 7h Janu.
airy, from an United States officer, says that The
passage across The Islhmus is "inconceiyabIy
difficull"-lhal five hundred emigranls are on
their route over the Isihmus, and about TOUR
hundred passengers were waiting al Callao and
Valparaiso for The steamer California, OF which
nothing had been heard Seventeen hundred
persons had sailed from Valparaiso Tor Califor-
mia up to The 18Th December, and the gold fever
al Panama was lawfully prevalent"
The New York Herald publishes letter from
Mazallan, OF December 20h, which states lha,
the washings in California had ceased, owing 10
the cold weather-lhs whole region being cover
ed Joot deep Dith sno1o. Some had built log
The letter says:
"The richness OF The placer as well as the ex.
tenl, far surpasses am account YET published Of
it-gold being found nearly hundred mules south
OF The original discovery. 1t is supposed that about
S4 900 ,0U0 will have been extracted since The
discovery. This appears 10 be too large; but,
judging from the number OF persons working
say five thousand-and their average gains per
day, it will pass s2,0o00OO"
Immense numbers from that coast were pre-
pairing to leave for The mines-bul conveyances
were difficult to be had;-and Mr.. Parrot U. s.
Consul, with important dispatches for the Go
vernon OF California, was impatienlly waiting
for some man-of-war to take them TO California
No less than twenty-seyen vessels had sailed
from Honolulu Sandwich Islands) alone, for
San Francisco, with some 400 white passengers
and 600 natives
Oregon is said 10 be nearly depopulated by
the gold fever-some J, 900 having left.
But we break of IRON The reports which fill
the papers. Was there ever known such Ma
saic OF good and evil7
SMALL NOTES vs.. GOLD.
A motion was made in the House. Yesterday,
TO take up the bill authorizing the Banks to issue
small notes. We sincerely trust that the propo-
silion will be again defeated, as it has been Tor
several years. With the abundance OF gold
from California, and with the almost certain
prospect oil the passage by Congress of Mr.. Nc
Kays bill, authorizing The issue OF gold dollars
from the U 8. minis, we cannot conceive why
the Legislature Of Virginia should be harassed 10
death 10 lesalizc shin pllsters. The gold dollar
will answer every purpose of transportation and
convenience. We cannot for moment doubt
that The Legislature will reject the small note
bill.