New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-05-17
CALIFORNIA.
Society and NHoBey-Gctting.

We have been kindly furnished, for The
Tribune, with the following extracts from a
private letter recently received from an en-
terprising young San Franciscan
SAN Francisco, Tuesday, March &c, 1850.
For the last two weeks we have been looking
for the arrival of the mail steamer California from
Panama, and had almost given her up for lost, when
two hours ago boom went big gun away off in
the Pacific, and we knew that she had come. An.
other hour and hall, and she rode Enthusiastically
into the harbor her decks literally black with fresh
adventurers from the States taking their first, long
| ga:e at this Golconda of their Dreams G0lg0.ha
perhaps, OF their Awakening.
quickly brushed up old telescope, opened
the office window overlooking the lay, and for the
last fifteen minutes have had my turn at gazing,
too. The vessel was off some three miles distance
taking wide circuit around the shipping but as
the dense living crowd passed slowly across the
field ofny glass, imagined could discern many
anxious doubt depicted on their changing faces,
many sober, second thought" Anging irs first
deep shadow on the brow, with minging signs for
home and friends melting in liquid crystals down
their checks, as brea,hess and voiceless, Mey
g0.ed on stu. But what OF that? They have
"come to see the Elephant and are taking their
first close look.
Twas distance lent enchantlnent 10 the view
And robed the ragged monster In so sleek blue7
And SO they begin to think, suppose, on discern
ing what coarse, dirty, corrugated and clumsy.
looking animal bis ma iesty is 1t is a disappoint-
ment common to most children on paying their first
six for q siUht of bct 1r,u "a
in California, We think nothing Of IT,
But let's see: What else did my glass reveal
Mingled with the black throng of hats few gaiy.
dressed toaaets. Eagerly scanned each of these
in turn but oh, not one for ne mo face | hal
ever seen before, and almost disappointed drop
ped the Instrument. will not say disappointed
gentle sisters; for, greatly desire to see you,
/, is at your own good home; not in this country,
tecming with weekly shp-loads Of men and women
from Botany Bay. No, no. But looked again;
aud 10! avast pile Of mail bags doomed up like a
hay stack In the middle Of the deck. That was
crafty ing for surely among so many thousand let
tiers there must be some for me. But alas could
lot endow my glass with clairvOyant powers, nor
sharpen its vision to pierce the leather bags so
shall have to wait three long days for the mail to
be distributed ere j can know whether you have
all really forgotten me or not. The Post. Office is
Immediately opposite mine, bat long before it is
opened there viii be string OF some thousands Of
persons formed in line, each waiting his turn to be
served 1t is so for many days after the arrival of
the mail steamers from the States; and unless |,
like many others, take my blanket and sleep over
night under the POST Office window, may not be
able to know whether have letters till after the
nj xt steamer leavek
Tcaming during the last season, has been alto
sether the best BUSH going here for man VIII
email capital. and +. was very fortunate in being
able to own one so early. He has been offered
$500 cr his team alone ard if he retains his
health and gets ali his pay, he will not be one of
the very unlueky majority who come to California
Never fear, sisters, tat shall make California
my future abiding place; nor father, "lay the
fatteripg junction tc yotr soul" Greatly as love
you all and much rs absence" does strengthen
love- shall no. manifest the strength Of my NJ
tacbmept by SO desperate an act. California has
but one attraction for me, and that is the hope Of
making B,ostey 10 spend al home. III should have
the GOOD fortune TO succeed 10 that, shall resign
il. " it'll all its charms, TO such as wish 70 wed. As
TO poltictA promotion, Office holding. public preach
ing and Tie hike, ! have DO aspirations tbencewsrd.