Southern shield., 1849-04-28
From the Independence Expositor of the 5th. Important from California.


 The following letter, received by Mir. z. Leonard, of our county, can be relied upon, concerning the true state of affairs now existing in California, as the writer is man ot welt known veracity, and was for many years a resident of this county:
 SAN FRANCISCO, U. O.,
 Oct 2S, lS4S.
 DEAR SRI take this, the earliest op- portunity to inform you of my arrival here. We arrived at the gold mines on Weaver's Creek, branch of the American fork of the Sacramento, where my family is at this time. after toilsome, tedious, and perilouS journey of five months and five days; but thank Providence, without loss or injury. l brought every species of property start ed with, which is worth more here in gold, than all 1 ever was worth put together, in all my life. 1 sold, when landed in the mines, the wagon 1 bought of Oldham, and three yoke of oxen, for $l ,00O in gold, and was offered $l,2OO for the other wagon and oxen, but would not sell it; it is worth as much 10 me as ysteanfDoat is to it's owner on the Missouri river. 1sod off all my horses--three, at $l0O apiece, the con- mon price for horses, and mules vary from one to four hundred dollars per head a great many sold at the latter price; the great depand is for transporting provisions and toc,s. sold the pistols bought of Henry Childs, for $200, and the belt for $75, in gold. 1 have been in the country some three weeks, and have raised the rise off three thousand dollars in gold.
 *
 these mines. They are scattered over an area of from 800 to 1000 miles, the richest ever known upon earth. The average cal cuation for the amount of persons engaged by men of superior judgment, including Indians, Mexicans, runaway sailors, dis banded soldiers, ConnacerS from the islands, and all kinds of men and monsters, are set down at $l6 per day, though you can hire no man tor that amount; you can hire some| men at $250 per month but not No. l. They will not think of less than from $lOO| to $500, $500 and $lO00 per day, and two men have taken from one hole forty pounds in two days; this is the most have heard of. There are new discoveries being made every day, and God only knows where it will end. do not like this country-I do not like the climate, and more than all ab- hor and detest the society, never expect to sow seed or plant grain in this country. l expect to continue in the mines, myself and family, each one doing his best, until we all get a sut1iciency to live on indepen- dently, which will not be long.
 My little girls can make from $5 to $25 per day washing gold in pans. So soon as we get ready l expect to ship at this port for Jackson county, Mo.
 You know James NJ. Harlin; he has just bought Mexican ranch, f6Twhich he has paid in gold $I2,000 for the stock and land, averaging the stock at $50 per head, and it is thought that he has made at least twelve thousand dollars in the operation, which makes him stand monarch of S24,000; but this is nothing. Jesse Beasley is said to be worth at least S40,000. Gov Boggs has made an independent fortune for all his children. You know Bryant, a carpenter, who used to work for Ebenezer Dixon; he has dug out more gold in the last six months than a mule can pack. have not spare time left to tell you the half want to. Old Capt. Sutter has rented out his Fort to tavernkeepers, grocery keepers, &c., at the rate of fifty thousand dollars per year, besides there are floating stores at the landing in launches, brigs, &c. The amount of trade done at this place is SUD- posed to be at least $I0,O0O per day, and is said by merchants of New York and New Orleans 10 be equal to those places at this time in money transactions. As old cousin Hugh Boyles used to say in his preaching, 1t is good for us we are here"
 The above account and description off matters and things, will seem strange toI you; but, sir, if you believe Divine Revela- lions or the sacred truths of Holy Writ, youl can believe this statement.
 From your friend, &c.,
 M. T. M'CLELLEN.
 ~--~~>~~~-~~~~~~ GOVERNMENT ADvERTIsING-Th Secre-l Lary of War having published an advertise nent in papers, with one exception, ex- 1ss''s ~--s.~ oStvvI, SOtlel tni f, h IL. af L: