Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1849-01-26
Official from California.

The following is an extract Of letter from
Thomas o. Larkin, Esq, late Consul, and now
Navy Agent of the United States, to the Secre.
tary Of State, dated Monterey, November lG,h,
is4s, aud received in Washington on Friday
eyenng last
"The digging and washing for gold continues
10 increase on the Sacramento placer, so far as
regards the number of persons engaged in the
business, aad the size and quantity Of the met
NJ daily obtained. have had in my hands sew
cral pieces Of gold about twcnly-three carats
Inc, weighing from one to two pounds, and
have it from good authority that pieces have
been found weighing sixteen pounds Indeed,
j have heard of one specimen that weighed
twenty-five pounds. There are many men at
the placer, who in June last had not one hun
dred dollars, now in possession of from Eve to
twenty thousand dollars, which they made by
digging gold and trading with the Indians
Several believe have made more. A COM
mon calico shirt, or even silver dollar, has
been taken by an Indian for gold without regard,
% size aud half to one ounce of gold-say
SS to Sl6--is now considered the price of a
lhirt, while from three to ten ounces is the price
ri blanket. One hundred dollars a day for
feveral days in succession was and is considered
common remuneration for the labor Of gold
bigger, though but few work over a month at a
lime, as the fatigue is very great. From July
been afflicted either with the ague and fever, OF
ihe intermittent fever, and twenty days absence
from the placer during those months is necessa-
BY to escape those diseases. There have not
however, been many fatal cases The gold is
bow sold, from the smallest imaginary piece in
size, TO pieces Of one pound in weight, at SIC
per troy ounce, for all the purposes Of com
Inerce but those who are under the necessity
pr raising corn to pay tributes to the govern
rnent are obliged to accept from $40 to Sll pei
ounce. All the coin in California is likely to be
locked up in the custom house, as the last tariff
of our Congress is in force here in regard Il
the receipt Of money.
"Coud you know the value Of the Caforni,
placer as l know it, you would think you hat
been instrumental in obtaining most splendid
purchase for our country, TO put no other con
Etruction on the late treaty.
The placer is known to be two or tire,
hundred miles long and as discoveries ar,
constantly being made, it may prove one thou
sand miles in length-in fact it is not counting
the intermediate miles vet unexplored. From
| five to ten millions of gold must be our expor
this and next year. How many more year.
this state Of things will continue, cannot say
II A letter from Commodore Jones says, thing
are in deplorable condition-anarchy prevail
4-even his officers are disposed TO desert. ii,
adds, the Indians are selling gold at SO cent
l the ounce.
Many vessels are deserted by captain, cook
nnd seamen The ship Isaac Walton Offered
discharged soldiers fifty dollars per month to q,
30 go to Callao, which was refused She wa
supplied by Government sailors. All the navn
vessels on the coast short of hands Tn,
chip Ohio wants one hundred and fifty to max,
pr her complement. Oregon and the Sandwich
Islands are pouring their population into Cali
fornia. Nearly the whole Of the Third Arter,
have deserted. Provisions are scarce and high
Board, 81 dollars day. washing, sc a dozen
merchants clerks get from $4,000 to $4,000
wear.
n The Indians are so anxious to obtain spirits
that they freely give an ounce Of gold for a sin
gle glass Commodore Joues states that con
siderable anarchy prevails in the fleet, the off
gers and crew having been attacked with the fe
yer. Many of the petty officers and men hav,
gone in search Of the gold. Much Sickness j
said to prevail although, as yet, no deaths hav
been reported.