The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-02-03
g.T OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS. bsss
Interesting California Gold.

Ertract of a letler from Thomas o.
Larkin, Esq, laie consul, and noy,
mary agent Of the Unitea States. ~.
the Ssctetarys0 81, State, dated at Moa,l
terey, Norember, Is, 1848, and ryn
ceirrd ln This city an Friday evening,
last. 3, efsst {.ass 7sa
sThe digging and washing; for gold
continues to increase on the Sacramenr
to placer, so far as regards the NUM-
berof persons engaged in the. businesses
and the size ana quantity of the metal,
daily obtained. lhaye had in my hands,
several pieces Of gold about twenty,
three carats fine, weighing from one to,
TWO pounds, and have ii from good au.
thority that pieces have been found,
weighing sixteen pounds. Indeed, I
have heard of one specimen tina, weigh
ell twenty-five pounds. There arc
many men at the placer, who in June
last. had not one hundred dollars, now
are in possession of from FIVE to twenty
thousand dollars, which they made by
digging gold and trading with the In.
dians. Several, ! believe, have made
more. A common calico shirt, or even
"a silver dollar, has been taken by an
for gold, without regard to size;
and a half TO n ounce Of gold-say
So to Sl6-is now considered the
price OLA shirt, while from three 10 ten.
ounces-is the price Of a blanket. One
hundred dollars day for several days,
in succession was and is considered q.
common remuneration for the labor of
a g~old-digger, though few work over a
month alta tlne, as the fatigue i. very
great. From July to October one-half
OF the gsid.hunters have been afflicted
either with the ague and fever or the
intermittent fever, and twenty daysl
absence from the placer during those
months is necessary 10 escape. these
diseases. There have not, however,
been many fatal cases. The gold 10
nownsold, from hhe smallest imaginary
plecein size to pieces Of one pound in
weight, at SIG per troy ounce for all
thes purposes of commerce.; but those
who are under the necessity OF raising
coinato pay duties to- the. Government
are obliged to accept from $40 to Sill
per ounce. All The coin IN California
isdikeIy. 10 be locked up in the custom
house, as the lastytarif of our Congress
is in forcehese inregard to the receipt
oil money. l=ah iRS,s 8 II InU ass eBl'
ia"Could you,know sthe value Of The
California placer rass know it, you
would think You had been instrumental
in o blaming a most. splendid purchase
for our country, TO put no other con-
struciion onIdhe date treaty. ,sE s,sl
H"The placer scknowns TO be two or
three hundred miles long; and as dis
c~oyeries,ars constantly being made, it
may lproye one thousand in Iength--in
lact,i IL iss %notceunling the intermediate,
UNEMPLOYED. ,Fr@nufv to-
tsn miAionsof gold must be our expoit
lhisoand me XII year. How many more.
years. this stale lol things will continue
bcannoi say asYou may wonder why
continue my correspondence. lan-
swer, from habit, and your many re-.
marks Of ,besinierest you take in my
+etters." sd lsguw 81 sSEidi saaoi a7ah
sbaai ai&gg STR yzilB % Irstg4g
sd F+As SH'saoAl9' 5 Ns..s,1 ns 3 TEA
Sir: In nv letter No. "a, FROM Il
Paz, Treeommehded the retention Cd
HE yn,s+ atJar3aTEn, ,~h;s.l.l8xIQ