The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-07-29
The English and the Gold Dlggings Of
California,


[From the London Times, July l2l
The American mail which we YESTERDAY lished
neither the the raak of the writer were par
ticularly distinctive may very possibly have attracted
less than it's due share Of notice from the ordinary
reader Unless. however, We are much mistaken thio
short episte actually conveyed the rst official II noI
authentic, intelligence which has been tran shifted
from California Some months ago, twelve judges's
were gszetted having sailed from New York to San
Fancsco. supplying in their aggregate capacities Ct
least OF the traditional elements of a constitu-
tioDsl government to the State. We watched this
freight with considerable anxiety but at Chasres We
regret to say that lot sight Of it altogether and
whether tho extern ported nch of ever
arrived mt California or IL so whether they imms-
diatey disappeared in the aggpgs we are unable to
soy 1t is tleast certain that thew never commcnosd
the public exercise of their aud shortly a.
terwards an official announcement Informed us that
General Smith had been deputed to take the supreme
Command Of the province, and to organize admi-
nisration according to his instructions With this
governor we believe the writer Of the letter In question
to be Identical and he thus represents the whsle
authority Of the State in these mysterious regions and
has to all appearance resisted the attraction
other fuDctionaries may receive his report with
con.ideIsble confidence We are further bound to
confess that there Is little inherent improbabty In
any OF the statements to which about refer
AS regards In the frat place the important point q
the actual supply Of gold Governor Smith reports that
there has been no sxaggerstion rhs whole western
slope Of the mounta chain called the Sierra Nevada
being about 400 miles In eng and 40 miles in average
breadth IL really found To contain the precious metal
In greater or lefs abundance aud what Is remarkable
at an extremely mall depth beio~ the surface The
accounts transmitted to this country Of the character
s for the himself s 10
bowie knife a. one Of the most convenient
for extracting the gold IL is only to be hoped thaS
for these weapons they may be diverted from IN. more
professional but less ditablc. which thsy
ws,s .urh'a Is NOT every nation which is blessed
with such direct opportunities OF turning its
into ploue hshares
According to the Generals description the search
Tor geld after this novel fashion Is attended with ct
least many chances any other means OF pursuing
wealth 1t seems that all depends upon the exact To-
csy selected for the hrst stroke Of pcksxe ana
that In some spots few scratches will sard the Ia
borer with Jumps OF gold while in Others his toll 10
thrown away almost as completely 1t would be upon
lrimrose hill No indications have yet been disco
y.r.d by which the precise situation Of the
lie ceItained Tho whole district Civ upon its v.ry
sufsce such evident signs of metallic wealth tha. it Il
ony marvel how its riches could ned so long
unknown but when 1t comes TO question of r. vards
there nothing but chance to determine the Of
the digger When the fortunate spot has been hit
no machinery isrequred further operations
simple hand basin will all purposes Of rennins
and the goid can be washed aud packed few houes
without any further process trouble. A concerns
therto actually realised. Governor Smith can as ret
ray but little though he IL collecting Information for
an accurate Official return His opinion ct pre-
sent Is that up TO the present moment, less than
million sterling has actually left tins port Of San fran
to the time occupied ia digging than Europe oran.
ry receives from the Ursl Mountains Perhaps, how
ever sh.'v 90. I"rsv osus la the iutcror have
yet been ver.d for xportation Certainly IL the
Governtrs estimate is there must be very
Nous msstatements either in the af persons
,acb
Les uncertainty exists with regard to the other side
81 the story expenses Of living aud bresthiag in
this extraordinary province As hts Excsllenop tbs
Governor was not aware before his departure Of
the rule which he nov cbsritaby communicates "
ctber,-ttst each emprsnt whether gentle or sin pis
must bring his house with 1t became nsess,
TO provide this article of upon his
arrival In his province The Quarter m sster accord
ingy Engaged for him. the very moders e Of
tlOeO par; but the desert pton Of this governmeuS
hOus., by its ibbabitaut may perhaps resouotts
some OF our readers TO their limited accom- nsds-
tons The Of the chief person in IA Dor.de
would make poor toll house, tor country bridge
All the s,rvsnts lac carried with him departed for the
mines cock proved 20 be absolutely proc
ssy price One individual rcput.d to possess
kDowi.dge Il the noble science, was offered fsUa
year payable monthly, for his services which in his
fNceiis ney presence he deliberate Refused sin
gle cuizen too sick TO 60 to the mineu at length
consented to receive c2U n month Tor st.,iss brhlnd
anu ftrpbb hing the Governor with n servant of I'd
rorh Tor the limited period OF his indispo>,tion
Ire climate u seems though far from agreeable, IL
not OF its.lf destructive to heath IL cold all the
year round and fogvy In summer" Bat sxcitsment,
exposure dissipation Nand averwork combine 70 maks
the tenure ~ life IN sIifrps extremely trail Many
die uLbeeded," many retire With ruined coust.tu.
lions and fortunes unhapyily not approved rhsrs
appears not to te the slightest attention paid Any Of
tbs Agricultural tesources Of the country ali the
n,cessries Of life at present supp~d b, An porss
OF mutton We hear nothisg; b.cf H. execrabte I'll
nobody has time - cscbn aud vegetables have not
YET b'.n giosn Clothing food aud for sosx-
Ing and mining sell at enormous prices. bot fr nj,
other commodities L. thste the smallest demand swo-
mans gar Is particularly sp,ched by the soveraor
asa perfect drug" though whether e infer
hom the remark that there fw ladies in th. pro-
vince or that bots dress aliks the digsiux
We cannot exactly determine Sucn, however. ~ the
sec condition Ut the country according toe most
crecibie rtpvrt and do not dcover that ts moral
cehoion has ye' been Improved by the 1st Of
The new governor But ~ @ust BE- tc-raby clear - al
impartial ibqucrs that tn balance OF advantages in
California !, not s.topishiy favorable has auy
Englsh artis~n need travel 2Ot miles tn.n.