Washington telegraph., 1850-07-24

weighing ten pounds was found the day
before In the same vicinity. These pie
ces were taken from the side of a noun
| tain not more than four feet below the
surface.
Serious difficulties had occurred in the
vicinity OF Sonora on account OF an at=
tempt to collect $50 per month for the
privilege of mining,
Bodies of MeXicans, Chilians and
Freuchmen assembled TO consult on the
means of evading the payment Of the TAX
Deputatons calne into town, and a
scene ensued which is described as fol-
lows by letter writer:
During the discussion an American
who wished to get out of the crowd be-
gan elbowing his way from the place
where he stood, when Mexican or Chill
iaE in front of him drew a pistol. In
moment dozen revOlverS were out, and
a precipitate retreat was made by the for
eignerS. No shot was fired, but the
Mexicans were alarmed and the town
was cleared in five minutes. Our peace
now seemed threatened by about 5000
men outside The citizens armed them
selves and expresses were sent to Nor
mon Creek and Sulivan's Diggings,
from which places about five hundred
well armed Americans arrived and march.
ed through the streets with guns and
rifles Oh their shoulders. The demon-
stration was sufficient; the crowd in the
vicinity soon dispersed, land quiet was
restored The foreigners are acting un-
der strong excitement, prevailing from
nd n
heavy tax. Few, if any of them, have
heard the collectors uame, and are not
aware who are authorized to collect the
tax They complain, aud most justly to
my thinking. thai they have never re-
ceived the slightest intinatlOn to prepare
them for this action on the part of the
Government before men unknown 10
them, with no apparent authority, deman-
ded a payment of twenty dollars for the
privileges Of working one month IN the
mines.
The tax which Is imposed under
law of the Legislature aiteuls foreigners
alone.
Agriculture seems TO be improving in
California Boxes of garden seeds which
had cost 50 have been sold for 500, and
scvthe~ which cost So were disposed of
for Sl5 The seeds which We're sent
around Cape Horn were almost useless,
while those which Went over the 18th
mus, hermetlraHy sealed. came mp fir-j.
One mau mar San lose had made 500
000 10y raising potatoes
The following remarkable para -ra Ph l.
from the Stockton Times:
T - II n nI-
fee on "Wednesday last, and informed
thai a mass of quartz aud gold weighing
five hundred pounds was few days ago
found near the town of MaripoSa. The
mass was believed to contain at least
eighty pounds OF the precious metal
Four gentlemen, named Abraham
Power, Thomas Thomas, Richard Hodg-
son and James Matthews, have shown
us-lhe result of seventeen days work
at the Marposa nearly fifty thousand
dollars worth Of specimens. One speci-
men weighed eleven pounds. and was
nearly pure gold; another weighed one
hundred and ninety three pounds and an
offer of 5000 has been made for it.
The diggings around Sonora, in the
immediate vicinity, are becoming more
profitable every day. Within the last
week upwards Of thirty pieces Of gold
weighing more than three pounds EACH
have been taken out,
The journal of Commerce has been
favored with brief and very satisfactory
letter from DR.. Henry Nelson Lloyd
dated Humbolt Harbor, May l4th, 1850
DR.. Lloyd says:
The distance 20 The north and south
branches Of the Trinity is ahonu thirty
miles, and here. on the North Fork, the
diguinys commence There are at pres
ent on the North Fork, for about the dis
tance of seventy miles mp, about one
thousand persons. The principal bulk
of the miners are about thirty miles from
the forks of the river
The digginys are situated distant from
Sacramento City to Reading fifteen days
mule travel, and from Reading to point
thirty five miles above The forks, six addl-
ional days of mule travel, making IN all
twenty-one days from Sacramento.
Douglass reports the diggers, at the
presen: high stage of water, realizing
from eight to twenty dollars per day.
R. Semple, III company with John ).
Fowler, of Sacramento City, have on the
stock and are about completing the douh-
Ie-eng;ne steamboat, after the Mississippi;
stvle, one hundred feet long. with upper
cabins, &c She is intended to run from
San Francisco to the Upper Sacramento
river,
MORE SuBsCRIBERs-A Western Editor
holt had he
previous day presented him with "a
twelfth little responsibility, and imme-
diateIy below makes the following appeal,