The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-06-12
TIL 1 r E P u Bill c /.
The london :. Times" ON CALIFORNIA;.

The old world is very slow TO comprehend Cali
fornia. II is as amazed and stupehed at the spec
tacle man who has seen wild beast or me
teor, or exceedingly impertnent stranger.
Every step in the progress of this dashing new
State seems TO take us by surprise and by the
time we have opened our eyes wide epough to take
in wonder, another II announced While our
geologists we're talking about auriferous streams,
and granite, and quartz, there was assembled on
the bays and rivers of California a community OF
hundred thousand men-now perhaps of double
that number. While our humorists were indulg-
ing in grim jokes at the vicissitudes and perils OF
Californian existence, conventions had been held,
a council had been elected, order had triumphed,
and the laws were obeyed. BY the time ready
made house had been sent out from the Thames
city had been built half destroyed by fire, and re-
built of more durable materials, and on a grander
scale At last our people did begin TO move, and
they committed all sorts Of blunders. We have
now news from San Francisco TO the first of last
month, and our correspondent writing in that city
at that date informs us OF all sorts OF gaucheTies
committed by merchants, usually sharp
enough but fairly distanced by California Their
shps, il appears, have arrived in the dead Of win
ter when the roads were impossible, and when the
port was already choked with goods, which there
were no means OF conveying 10 the interior. They
all sorts OF rubbish, thinking that any thing
would do for the rough subjects with whom our
fancy had peoped that fabulous region. They
were dressing the gold hunter with slops from the
ininores, and buying his dust with gaudy furni-
ture and other refuse of our shops These cargoes
they sent out with little precaution they
would an investment of red cloth and glass beads
to a newly discovered island in the Pacific, and
they now find out to their cost that they ought TO
have despatched skilful and cautious supercargo,
consigned their goods to some respectable house
at San Francisco; that they ought TO be prepared
to draw on Messrs. Rothschids agent at that city;
and above ALL that they ought TO have complied
with the custom house regulations administered
by very efficient officer.
But even the United States good deal puz
zled by their very forward and independent pro-
geny. While the politicians at Washington are
discussing the " Wilmot proviso" and while the
slave States are ingeniously planning large i'm
poration of slaves into California, the represen-
tatives of all the States at San Francisco have de-
cided against slavery IL ia, indeed, impossible to
say at New York as in London what may be the
next turn ol affairs. Cities, we told, spring up
like mushrooms. The population is on the move,
and at the of larger lump of gold than
usual, productive " pocket" or rich vein, OIL
they all fly TO the spot, and should the rumor prove
TO be true city soon rises at the nearest habItabe
site. The other day, apparently on false report,
five ships sailed at days notice from San Fran
cisco TO part of the coast three hundred miles to
the north Of that city, with what result remains TO
to be seen Gold itself is the least profitable and
most precarous speculation in California. The
more ardent or more ingenious class of adven-
urers speculate in "real estate''-that Is in bits of
land tlinlsy buildings. AS the buyers and sellers
are equally in advance Of their actual means, every
Bit OF real estate" in San Francisco is mort
gagged nearly up 10 its value. On these mort
gagcs-and, indeed on all loans-there is paid
monthly rate OF interest, amounting sometimes 10
cent per cent. per annun; and In the United
States there prevails very natural apprehension
that, shoud the existing pressure of the money
market increase, the bill brokers will refuse TO re-
new, the mortgages Will be compelled TO ioreclose,
and California will exhibit the familiar phenomena
of a crisis, panic, and a depression. To judge
from our own experience, this contamination can
not be very disiant-lbs money market ut the last
date was 'excruciatingly" tight, as the above rate
OF interest shows SO long as the gold pours in
from the interior at its present rate-and the last
| steamer took out from San Francisco ) 200 900
worth Of dust-the crisis may be averted; but wo
TO these mushroom cities when supplies begin TO
flag.
Our latest intelligence of the California markets
embraces almost every conceivable description OF
imports, from ale and porter To bricks and coals
Incidentally few articles are specified beyond the
usual range Of the prices current. Hertz, the
pianist, arrived at San Francisco a few days before
April |, and announced a concert. The men, how
ever, our correspondent remarks, were too busy
for this sort Of thing; and AZ Tor ladies. there
were none. So ladies, II appears, are a very scarce
article in California, and II the new cities are de-
tined 10 endure there IL an opening for such adj
vcnturous women may choose 70 emigrate from
a cheap o market into a dear one. Men, too, in
undiminished request As yet there is surplus of
hands for the ordinary operations Of life. Strength
and skill have their price, ana II any young man
finds he cannot elbow his way through the crowded
competition Of hese long settled countries, he will
be- able TO turn his natural powers 10 some useful
aud profitable account in California, only a seven
weeks post from 'hls hcfopohs Morc thah aNlslt
or mere sojourn, unfortunately, as loyal men, We
cannot advise But why should not some OF our
! youth, who now hang so heavy on their parents
hands, see little OF the world and pick up little
experience, as well as few soyereigns, in visit
| 10 this veritable Fl Doradoy Almost the earliest
hero that we read OF Jason, who sailed nobody
knows where, but half round the old world, in
quest of the golden fleece, which was doubtless a
deposit of gold. II is not dishonorable 20 Geek an
independence, nor is it rash 10 encounter dangers
in that search. Far better is IL 10 plunge into a
throng Of strangers ten thousand miles from home,
than 10 spend ones early life in courting patron.
aud soliciting advancement the heads of ones
contemporaries, companions aud friends. Hard as
the alternative IL, would rather quit the crowd
/ cd at and try fortune "in fair field
and favor" somewhere or other where man Is
/ not weed