The Arkansas banner., 1849-01-30
SCRAPS ABOUT CALIFORNIA.

The story of " sSiabad the SailoT.r has become no longer the visionary creation of dist-mpered imagination, but real sketch. true 10 life, of gbls facts, that may bc realized in the Fl Do- rado of the wess. our California possessions that same country which the whig party, about one year ago. vero abusing poor. miserable, and unfit for human habitation; the purchase of which, they eontcndod. ruinoas to the country, and another stain upon the administration of Mr. Polk.
 The papers, from Maine to Mexico, teem with accounts, probable, possible. and incredible of the untold millions, of the shining iBgOts and the gilt tering das, that is daily "pcked up by those who are so fortunate as to be the fist occupants of |" them diggins.s The following extract from the letter of New York volunteer, dated October l.
 s4s. contains history of the discovery of the exIs tenes and whereabouts of the precious metal;
 The discovery was made in this wise: Two small children, who were picking up pebbles os the bot tom of the ta-race ts a sawmill then progress of division of their collection. The question was re- feFred to their father, who, npOpexsmination, found golden pebble aEDSHE the tcf T he news spread like Adfire, and all our inhabitants rushed in hot haste with pick and spade, aud pan 10 the Piacsr. The merchant. the physician, the sheriff the aicade, closed shops books. offices and doekets, and rode like mad mlch to this Fl Dorado. Even thoseim- macalate called soldiers, waived patriotism and cath to serve their country, and bent their steps towards the miaes.
 The New York Sun of the lth inst, gives the following:
 The Richest Accoaais Ytt--Seyera merchants in this city have received letters from California, via Chagres and the British W est Indies. probably by the same conveyance which brought the recent dispatches for government
 The tenor of these adyces is, that large deposits of gold discovered in the hills, and that people from Oregon, Saata Fe and Mexico, were pouring into the country in thousands
 Such was the scarcity of coin, that gold dust had fallen al the mines to six dollars an ounce. being less than third it's real value al the United States mint. The Ghoa amount gathered was about three millions.
 Captain William C. Marcy. son of the United States Secretary of War, WIS dsposing of every thing in the shape of supplies al his camp in ex- change for gold dust. He had collected ffteen barrels of 9oid ore, and having of protect ing the treasure, he had buried it; until vessel of war should arrive on the coast. which was daily expected.
 Provisions and food of every kind were very scarce. and daily growing dearer. Pork was $2o0 per barrel flour Si09 per barrel, bread $50 per fb, beans SI0 per bnshel, brandy $50 per gallon, and other thinks in proportion.
 There was much suffering at the mines and even !
  arriving from all quarters. The Indians being able 10 endsre more fatigue and poorer fare than the whites, were gathering mos, ot the gold scme parties had commenced killing herses and mules for food.
 The people were in hopes of getting a speedy supply of food from Mexico. Vessels at San Fran cisco, which had been abandoned or neglected, were once more ia request. to proceed along the coast for food he latter ing become more Valua- bie than gold. Whale ships were selling of their outfits at Monterey, al enormous profits.
 Thatgold haS been discovered; that people " were pouring into the country by housAnds;'' that coin scarce, and provisions searcer sill, K all very pfobable. and has been confirmed by the innn- r1rrshie zeSuuurSthaT have been received from san Francisco and Monterey; but, when the simple truth is sufficiently extraordinary and wonderful, there is surely necessity forexAggeraied missta,ernea,s Yet, since the excitement of the presidential cam Pagn is over, esger some of the opposition presses to find some new charge agains, the present administration 70 iaven, nsation with winch ,s eriafe is last moments CT existence that aa6er ths head ef " asieaaaiag o5Setai intelligence from Caio Eio, sag2sssssa sy iae sOsFTnmeaf," they have eadeayored to cast suspicion upon the cab9ei, and to charge them with sappFsssing. from selfish and sinister motives, some iraPor,an, items of in- tsllsgenee from the mining districts of California AIlading to these charges. the Washington Union. of the 2s,h ul,., says:
 w. have already blown these insinua'ons and misrepresentaiious sky-high. We have asserted upon the best authority, ,ha, nothing has been "szp- prvtse1" by the government which t was inpertan, fcs any citizen 10 knew; and '.tsat every Item oG information, cAicIsi or private. wbieh has been re- e~ived a, the War Department. (sad ws understand it IS true oGthe othersl relation 10 the god region eoIiec ,'an of goid n any way relating 10 ihe sub Ject has been patilsh%c'' 10 tne county.
 If ID intelligence has been sRypyessfa. fhen oG course he charge of sinister motives fails 10 the ground.
 The only specification which has been saiared to prove suppseseica which does not exist Is the sxlravagan, charge upon ycung Marcy. We have already eoa,racieied the charge that shs gsn,lemsa