The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-11-08

Lettsr frsn slIas =. Dssrsvs, EsS.
Ths Whaling Flssl-Division ef CS1yornia-
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept 3Oth, 1851.
When promised to write you, We both ex-
pecte4it would be from the old world bat hay-
ing become satisfied with travels there, Joined
the great caravan of nations, bound to the land
Of the settirg sun. We sailed from Spain, passed
through the Straits of Magellan, where | had
the opportunity of becoming familiar with the
Indian character, and arrived safe ia the United
States, on the shores Of the Pacific, among the
most intelligent, active and brave population that
have ever met with through fifty nations. !
have never known population who transacted
business with higher principles OF honvF, 40 far
as my personal dealings and knowledge extend
Having done all ia my power to MD the search
for the missing ships Of Sir John Franklin on
the Atlantic side, in which was so literally aid
cd by the noble muniicence Of Henry Grinnel,
On y, who added brliancy to the character OF our
country, and in the departure of which expedi-
ton you took 40 much interest, was induced
to visit tho Pacific to enter the Arctic sea by
Behring's Straits, and if possible unite with our
expedition from, the Atlantic. A long voyage
and some disasters prevented my enjoying the
pleasure of an excursion this season, to thessea
Of the midnight sun.
BY tho last steamer report went forward to
you of the whaling fleet disasters, which have
taken pains to investigate, having visited the
CurIew, and seen Capt. Griffin, whose vessel was
boarded by boat from the ship John Wells Of
New Bedford
The whaling fleet encountered ice south Of
Behring's straits and were constantly beset with
gales the John Wells having lain to through
ffty-two The following disasters were re-
ported French ship Ajax, total loss; Cosmo-
polite, do; Aramata,. Now London, do; H.
Thompson, do; Arabella, New Bedford, do ;
America, do; Mary Mitchell, San Francisco, do ;
John Wells, clean this season; Neptune OF New
London, do; Magnolia of New Bedford, do; A.
H. Howland, do; Vineyard Of M. Vineyard, no
oil this season, 450 sperm, the TAIL Generally,
the whaling feet had done nothing, and sixty
ships would lose the season most of which had
gone to Hong Kong to refit."
The report that sixty whaemen were lost, the
captain of the Curew assures me was an error,
ard which it affords me great pleasure to desire
you to correct, as there are too many whose feel
ings correspond with Lady Franklin's; and let
them BIZ assured, their friends are safe. "Early
in the season the whaling feet concentrated in
the Gulf of Anadir; and on their passage to
Behring's straits, encountered the ice between
on the shores of which, many of the lost ships
were driven" The mate Of the John Wells
stated that the British ships in search of Sir
John franklin, which wintered last season in
the Arctic sea, had abandoned the search. Capt.
Griffin says the John Wells sustained no injury
that was perceptibIe, except some copper broken
on the bow; and from the best information
can obtain, believe the first accounts to be ex-
aggerated.
| believe the bold spirits Of N England, who
have distanced all competition in pursuit of oil,
have been enabled to take good care of their
ships and will return with good cargoes to their
homes. do not believe the ships have all been
lost that are now reported | do not think it
could have occurred by ice, where it is reported
to have taken place.
The recent State election has given the Dem
ocratic party control of California, and the
State will be divided, in my opinion, this winter,
the Southern becoming slave State. The val
ue of our possessions on the Pacific are incalcu-
lably great in the march to greatness of our
nation; and the attachments of the inhabitants
to the ties they have left at home, are strong as
| have ever konwn; but still their wishes and in
terests must be consulted. or they will set up
for themselves. Every thing they desire for
their protection, and to aid in facilitating their bu
siness operations, and in developing the great
resources of the State, should be with pleasure
and promptness conceded to them by the ex-
ecutive Legislature aud Judicial department of
our government at Washington. In case fwar,
San Francisco and her great fleet of merchant
ships are entirely unp detected; and nature has
given us the strongest position of defence, on
which Notifications should ct ONCE be con
structed.
No resources should be withdrawn by the
government Till the port of San Francisco is in
a state of perfect security, and government
buildings erected worthy of the State which
will furnish all the gold and silver required for
the enterprise of her sister States A railroad,
no matter what the expense, should at once be
commenced to connect by gold, iron, steam, and
our citizens in the Pacific State, with
their parents on the shores of the Atlantic.
How happy should We feel, after having en-.
SO much 10 reach California, If we
could return, when our industry is rewarded, di
rectly home, without being compelled to visit
the sickly lattudes near the Equator, where the
disease is contracted, for which California is
charged
have never known healthier climate, and
those returning from the mines, look as if they
had not known sickness.
The countenances we see in New York, are, 10
my opinion, in many instances, acquired on the
passage home. Heaven has given us healthy
climate, from the Atlantic TO the shores of the
Pacific, and we can travel on our own soil from
sea TO sea. We do not WISH in travelling be
tween our sister States. TO be compelled for
great length of time to leave healthy climate,
and go many thousand miles out of our way,
into climate where sickness is sure to arrest
the traveller, A railroad must be completed to
forever our land of gold with our land
of industry. Then our lovely daughters will
be induced to visit California, and with the rose
and lilly on their cheeks, make Paradise Of this
far West, the sons of which only require their
society to become the happiest and most en-
viable of mortas.
1t took two campaigns for Napoleon to reach
Moscow; and nov. in ninety hours, nm army
IAN be transported from rsris to Warsaw.
Complete a railroad from this to the Atlantic
States, and we shall live TO see as important
changes Oh this continent. Most truly yours, &c
SILAS T.. BURROWS.
We clip the following from the Troy Budget,
without vouching for its accuracy: