The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-01-11


town, which means "good hero" Is situated on the
southwest side Of the principal arm OF San Francisco
bay, about five miles from the ocean, on narrow
neck OF land, varying from four TO ten miles In width
the narrowest place being sixteen miles southwest
OF the town. II is in lat, 81 As N. This narrow
strip of land Is about sixty miles In length extend
ing from the point formed by the bay and the ocean,
to the valley Of San Jose. The site Of the town IL
handsome and commanding an inclined
plane OF about a mile in extent from the waters
edge to the hills in the rear. Two points Of land
one on each side extending into the bay form cres-
emit or small bay In the shape OF crescent, In front,
which bears the name Of the town. These points
afford fine view of the surrounding Countrywide
snow-capped mountains In the distanee--the green
valleys beneath them-the beautiful, smooth, and
unrtffied bay in front and either side, at once
burst upon the eye. There is in front of the town
small island rising high above the surface of the bay,
about two miles long, and one wide which is CO.
vered the greater part of the year with the most ex
uberant heritage OF untrodden freshness. This lit
tie island is about three miles from the shore. Be-
tween II and the town is the anchorage. Here YES
sells OF all nations rest in safety and peace and their
Hays are displayed by the aromatic breeze Two
hundred yards from the Shore there is twentyfour
feet water, and short distance beyond that as ma
ny fathoms. The beach Immediately In front of the
now business part of the town y shelving; but It
win no doubt in short time be filled up and become
the most valuable part OF tho place.
The climate here il, in the winter, which Is the
rainy season, dump and chilly. During the balance
VI the year II Ia dry, but chilly In consequence Of
the continual strong winds from the north and north
west. There is but little variation In the atmosphere
throughout the year; the thermometer ranging from
hity-ive TO seventy degrees Fahrenheit. Gerba Bue-
ma Is one of them most healthy places on the whole
coast of the Pacific Sickness OF any kind is reary
known among us. The salubrity of the climate
beauty Of the site of the own-iis conguily to the
mouth of the bay-the finest harbor the whole
coast in front-he rich and beautiful country around
u all conspre TO render II one OF the best CONNER
cial points iIrthe world The town is new, having
been laid FIN 1889 by Capt John Vioget; and not
withsianding all the troubles in the country, has
gradually increased In size and importance II now
contains population Of about five hundred perma-
nent citizens. Two years ago there were about two
hundred Three miles south Is the Mission Dolores
on Mission Creek surrounded by small valley OF
rich and beautiful land. The water from this Creek
can easily be brought by means of acqueducts, to
any point to supply vessels. For the supply ofthe
citizens the best Of well is obtained In every
part Of the town. by boring the distance Of forty feel
In going south from yerga Buena, the traveller passes
over this narrow neck OF land most delightful re,
gion, interspersed with hills valleys, and mountains,
the valleys rich and beautiful the hills covered with
tall pines red wood and cedar, that have withstood
the lempests and whirlwlnds of century, and the
mountains rising In majestic granduer TO The clouds.
In passing out the valley Of San Jose opens to the
view In al the loneliness of the climate Of Italy and
beauty Of the tropics This valley il about sixty
miles in length, and ten In width. The Pueblo,
which means an Incorporated town. s The princl-
pal place Of business for the valley and Is about five
il Is termed here, "the embarcadaro." Passing on
from here northeast the traveller In few hours ride
reaches the Straits, which separate the sisisum bay,
formed by the confluence of the Sacramento and
San Joaquin rivers from that Of San Pablo Here
il seems thai the accumulated waters Of thousand
years had suddenly rent the opposing mountains as.
sunder, and flowed with tremendous force 10 the
great bosom of the deep On the north side of the
bay from the Straits TO Souslo, is Of the fines,
districts of country In all Upper California. Nexto
ferba Buena, Sousito Is the best point on the
whole bay tor a commercial town. It'll seven miles
little east ofnorlh from this place, the opposite
side OF the bay, and has long been watering point
for vessels. An attempt has recently been made TO
lay off and build up the town at the straits to super
scde the TWO last mentioned places II will no doubt,
however be an entire failure San Francisco bay
being the safest and most commodious harbor on
the entire coast Of the Pacific point on must
be the great mart OF the western world. We believe
Yerba Buena IL the point, commanding as u, does
now, all the trade Of the surrounding country, aud
there being already large amount Of capital con-
centrated here The town of ferba Buena Is called
in some of the old maps Of the country San Fran
cisco. 1t is not known by that name here however.
The town takes its name from an herb to be found
ull around II, which II said to make good tea; and
possessing excellent medicinal qualities 1t IL called
good herb, or ferba Buena.
Astronomical Discoveries by Lord Rosse's
Telescope.
At meeting Of the Royal Irish Academy,
in Dublin, on the 30lh Of January, Dr.
Robinson announced some interesting facts
in astronomy, which the gigantic telescope
Of Lord Rose has recently brought TO light
These relate to remarkable planetary ne
bula, Hersche's figure 45. This looks like
an oval disc, reminding one Of the planet Ju-
piter; but it appears now to be a combina-
ton of two distinct bodies. In both these
the centre consists Of cluster of tolerably
large stars in the first surrounded by vast
globe of much smaller ones in the other BY
a fiat disc of very small stars, which when
seen edgeways, had the appearance Of ray.
This nebula, recently observed through Lord
Roses telescope, has the central cluster, the
narrow ray, and the surrounding globe. A
remarkable proof Of the defining power Of
this vast instrument exists in the fact that
Dr. Robinson saw with it the companion of
the will known Gamma Andromedae, or two
blue stars, which he had never before seen.
1t was discovered by the celebrated Strive,
with the great Pulkova Reiractor, and is a
very severe test, The ring Of Saturn, by
the help Of Rosse's telescope, shows irregu-
larities, which are most probably mountains,
on its eastern side. It is remarkable that
this character Of Satuln's ring was anticipa-
ted By In Place, though no telescope exist.
ing in his day was sufficiently powerful to
make the discovery.