Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1851-01-02
CALIFORNIA.

The California maria, which has ragged for
over two years throughout the length and
breadth of our land, with virulence uncquall-
ed in the history Of human, or any other kind
of speculations, has finally reached its zenith,
and is now rapidly abating. The excitement
over, it is well TO cast retrospective view up
on the prominent incidents, and note the re-
Elections that they naturally awaken.
California emigration has ever been viewed
in speculative light. From the first, it has
been considered as great lottery, and the re-
suit shows that like all lotteries, there are very
many more blanks than prizes. Yet, SO long
as there was uncertainty, enough were found,
anxious TO try their chance at the hazard of
health and life itself. Every city, village,
town and hamlet has furnished its quota of
emigrants and have thus secured an interest
in the r-of land. Nay, might say that
scarcely family in the country can be found,
that is not more or less intimately connected
with it. Every mail brings tidings that strike
desolation in the hearts of communities, as
well as families. Thousands, we have reason
to believe, desire only means to enable them to
return to their homes, while large numbers
who have been able to secure enough TO meet
their expenses home, are on the backward
track. Yet there is little doubt but that the
many have and will reap rcmuneratiHg har-
vests for their risks.
These remarks have been suggested by a
statement recently published in the New Or
leans Delta, Gan extract from which we ap-
pend below which represents the prospects in
California in rather gloomy light. 1t asserts
that adventures have been attracted to that
country. by unfounded and grossly aggravated
statements. The number who have returned
during the present year is estimated at 20, 900,
and the number of Americans now remaining
in the country. at 200,0 The statement is
under the signature of ninety nine passengers
from California, on board the steamship Ala
bama, and concludes as follows -
If asked what is the condition and prospects
OF this large number of American citizens, we
would say "most deplorable." The forty or
nifty thousand who have been engaged in
dammins and turning rivers during the sum-
her, nave been almost universally disappoint-
eu. Having lost the labor of three summers,
anu inc means they had previously procured,
.iou'ahus oi them reduced to want and
h'o'eu III ueot for subsistence etc Those
VINO were engaged In the dry digsings. depots
etc., nave also been Unsuccessful d,,;, ~
past season. N"''io VIC
1t was the general opinion Of the ninors l., :,
mentioned, that not more than eicb,y ~ 80: ,aS'
ty in every hundred had reaI;zcd -
enough to enable them to return 10 tho;r
hes: and that not more than one in ,
had realized dollar clear of expenses a..
the season. All hopes of making fortune. =
California are lost sight OF in ninety-nine cas-
out of hundred, and the almost universal
feeling is to get home And it is truly hear.
rendins to witness the general despondency
which exists among the miners, and to seq
stout hearted and brave men shed tears at their
hopeless condition.
P.-S. Since writing the above, we have
fallen in with genuine, Yankee Californian
mo other than the celebrated RICHMOND, who
has accumulated pretty fortune in the apoth-
ecary business at San Franciseo-and whose
poetical efusions in the form Of advertisements
many of our readers will recolec, to have seen
rcpublished in our Maine papers. lie has
only returned to attend to the slight matter of
raatyinsony. and intends to return with his "fair
ladye" in the February steamer. He repre-
sents California IN more favorable light, and
declares it to be the. greatest country for max
ing money, by all who possess the common fac