The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-05-18

The following intelligent letter has been commu-
nicated TO the New York Commercial advertiser;

nicated 10 the New York Commercial advertiser:
SAN FRANcisco, March, 1850.
Every one seems bound TO give his description
and opinion Of California, and each is governed by
his own experience, and success or misfortune.
Many speak at random or by exaggeration; and as
some make fortunes and friends, and others suffer,
get sick and discouraged, their stories vary so
much that you good people who remain at home
scarcely know what TO think. Health, some sur
plus of ready money, good trade profession, or
ability to labor hard, with temperance, industry,
and fair sagacity indispensable 10 fair success.
With them persons chance is as good or better
here than in the United States Without them,
any person had better stay at home Expenses in
California being enormous, man is sure TO either
go ahead or retrograde. The two great extremes
Of wealth and destitution are apparent at every
turn; but am convinced that there Is little of the
latter, except from sickness dissipation and in
San Francisco man of prudent habits may gen.
orally avoid both. There is nothing but the water
which necessarily renders man, who can afford
a comfortable lodging and table, more liable to
sickness than at home. And if tea a small guam
tity Of wine is drank he can keep well as easily
he there
The mercantile prospects of California are won
derful. Those of the Atlantic coast were never
greater, say Immediately after the independence
Of the States, and from that time forward-no not
one fourth as great--yet what has American com
merce become, and what fortunes have her mer-
chants made! But this is now the field for success
full labor. Property must increase in permanent
value with rapid strides and the new fields of com
merce, opening every hand, afford for years te
come scope for immense enterprise and enormous
profits The gold is the only magnet. The per-
manent resources of the country are agricultural
manufacturing, commercial. The day for making
very rapid fortunes is perhaps past, but 1t ID still
the country for energetic, enterprising men, and
will be for years to come.
There is rapidly growing intercourse with Chi
ma, Manila, South America, Mexico, the northwes
coast, the Sandwich Islands, and Oregon. vesse
leaves here as often as once week for each OF the
last two places named. There will be a weekly
communication by steam with the United State:
very shortly, and at present steamship leaves
here for and arrives from Panama about once
fortnight.
The accounts from the mines are of the most en-
couraging nature. They have found gold every
country, in California Lattery it has been foune
on the west side of the Sacramento anew feature
and in immense quantities.
Government, society," and commercial bushes.
may now be considered as fairly organized, ane
rapidly approximating the refinement and strength
of character which distinguish the country on thu
Atlantic coast Property is exposed here j
never could be at the East. Stores with valuable
| stocks, money and gold dust, with windows imper
fecty fastened and without shutters. Yet we sci
dom hear of robberies-never Of large robberies
burgaries, &c. All the murders, ARRAYS, ant
scenes of violence occur from drinking and gam
bling places, and if man avoids these and othe
bad places he is as safe here as he could be IL
Washington street at Boston, or Broadway in New
York.
Glasses gradually assuming the same dis
tinctive character as at home. The day has gon,
by when gentlemen made their own beds, cooked
their own victuals, and washed their own clothes
Every kind of labor can be had, but frequently thu
porter boatman teamster or laborer is richer thar
his employer. In association, intercourse, and
ciety, however, the classes maintain those newt
able distinctions which are found everywhere
Aristocracy is yet out of the question, but every
thing is rapidly assuming the features of com
mercial, civilized, and wealthy community.
H. NJ H.