Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1849-06-07


From the Liberty (lNo) Tribune.
We are under obligations to Col. Doniphan
for the following extract from letter addressed
to him by Peter H. Burnett, Esq
SuTfER's FoRT,
Upper California, Feb. 2, ls49.
Col. A. W. Doniphan am here a, this
point, having been attracted hi,her by the un-
limited gold region of California. r
Men are here nearly crazy with the riches
forced suddenly into their pockets have had
some opportunity, in the course of my life, TO
study human nature but the school here 10
upon grander scale than you or ever saw
before. Perhaps few anecdotes may illus.
trate the state of things, and afford you some
amusement. An honest, close -fs,ed shoema.
ker, by the name Of Spec, came from Oregon
to California about year ago. After the gold
was discovered he went into the mines, and
was soon making his hundred dollars day. A
quizzical, shrewd fellow from Philadelphia met
him one day
"Wel, Mr.. Spec, how do you get along I"
First-rate, sir. | would no, be a member
of Congress with his eigh, dollars day, nor
the President Of the United States. can make
more money than they"
well, Mr.. Spec, l suppose you will make
no more shoes"
Our shoemaker though, himself suited, and
Indignantly replied: No, no, /. Let those
make shoes who will, make no more"
He is now merchant, and deals in goods,
ware and merchandise.
was here during the Christmas HOLIDAYS,
and saw great numbers of young men who had
never worn cloth coat before with at least
ST. 900 worth of finery upon them. They were
almos, loaded down with trinke,s saw one
fellow dressed in splendid suit of black, over
which he wore a superb black cloth cloak and
instead of drawing his cloak around him TO
shelter him from The cold wind then blowing,
he was careful 10 let it be unfurled, like flag,
TO the passing breeze, tina. he might catch the
admiring gaze Of the passersby. Another gsy
fellow, dressed equally as we'll. save the cloak,
was strul,ng up and down before the dotg of
a large tavern. In his right hand he held al
large bell, and at short intervals he would stop
and Jingle his beIl as much as to say "Look
here! this is me !" Another dandy went into
a store and took out fine silk handkerchief
and commenced wiPing the mud Of his boots.
The merchant said "you will spoil your
sir." "Oh that's no difference,
have another. l wipe my boots with one and
my nose with the other." Some time during
the las, autumn young man was at work in
the mines, who had his heart set upon marri.
age. Whether he had courted the fair one,
and she had refused his offer, or whether he
had always considered himseIf,o TOO poor to take
upon him self the suppor. or family do not
know. At all events he had one day rolled
aside by means of levers and props. large
stone. under which there was deposite of sew.
eral hundred dollars Of pure gold, in small pie
ces, The size of fax seed. The momen. he
cas-. his eye upon the shining treasure, he threw
himself fiat upon his back, in an ecs,acy, a.
mong The rocks. clapped his hands, kicked up
his heels, and exclaimed, I" A marred man by
gosh" Colonel, you have been through Mex
co, and elsew here, but you never saw any
hing like The state of affairs here. The ac-
counts you have seen Of The gold regions are
not over colored. About 25 dollars per day is
he amount of the produce of one hand. l was
n the mines forty days, and was careful TO
make an accurate estimate. The gold is posi-.
iuely ineahaustible One Hundred Millions
will be taken out annually in the course oftwo
years Town lots a. San Francisco are worth
10000 for the best, and no ttle at that.
Yours, &c. PETER H. BURNETT.