Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1851-01-23

| as a DOWN Last SHOW url1t, ana eNnlOlt ali tne
fanciful appearances which the snow is made
10 assume in high wind. Isn't it a delight
| fnl place to live inl And then how convenient
the apology for sore eyes, which it affords to
hard drinkers!
A word in relation to the markets of San
| Francisco and the want Of system in prices.
1t is notorious to those having occasion to do
business here, that the published prices can
afford no true exposition of the state of trade,
and of the markets: nor is this the worst of
the thing ii is absolutely impossible to tell,
at any given time what the state of trade is
To-day sugars will sell at ls to 20 cents, and
tomorrow you can purchase for 10 to 10 ID
cents. Coffee a short time since was quick at
| 40 to ~ cents,-a small lot was taken down
from Oregon on speculation, sold for 80 cents,
and down went the price at once 10 2l to 80
cents. Indeed, you go into shops upon oppo-
sites sides of the street, on the same day and
YOU will find the same lack of systematic
same want of uniformity In prices,-and all
this in lcholesale trade too. An Oregon mer-
chant goes 10 San Francisco and purchases a
bill of goods; takes them on board the steam
er and returns home, and there, as likely as
not he finds his neighbor selling the same kind
of articles, bought at the same time and per-
haps at the same house, for less price than
he actually paid for his. So much for the
want of systematic lack of uniformity in
trade in this country. This lack Of system is
exceedingly ly veXatious TO merchants who are
obliged to purchase there-particulary the
merchants Of Oregon; and the vexa,ion will
be removed only when mportations are made
direct from the States or from Europe by the
Oregonians. Thanks 10 Yankee enterprise,
this desired event is fast being brought about,
for one vessel direct from New York - he
Emma Preston arrived in the Willamette
few weeks since, and now, as | am writing
this communication, the bark "Dcsdemona'' -
a Maine vessel and lately owned in your city
lies at anchor just above, having arrived
within the last hour. She is direct from New
York, consigned to Messrs. Abernethy &
| Clark, of Oregon City, twelve miles above
this place, but will be obliged TO discharge the
most of her cargo before she can ascend the
river. In future communication | will give
you 4 list of the Maine vessels which have
been the present season, or are now trading al
this ort,-and depend upon it, the number,
considering the long ways from home, affords
no mean commentary upon Maine enterprise,
and Maine commerce. Suffice it now TO say,
that of the four vessels now in the river at this
town, three are from the old knnebec, while
not less than three Maine vessels have sailed
from here within the last ten days.
But my business is now with California, and
not with Maine commerce, or the Willamette
river, or the town of Portland-named in hon
or of your o'rn Portland-on lis pleasant bank,
so am off for the region of dust and smoke
again. As have dwelt 50 long upon matters
aud things in and about San Francisco, may
as well inger while longer, as no one after
taking leave of her is over-anxious TO renew
his visit. ! have spoken of the trade and COM
merce of the city, and upon this point let me
remark that very false notions prevail at home
in relation to the ,rdnts, and the capacity for
consumption of this country. Out Of the cities
and it is out Of them that large MAORI
ty of the population soiourn-there is very
small demand for lumber, for clothes, for hard
ware-except round pointed shovels--for stoves
for provision, sexcept flour, pork and Bacon
with a sprinkling of coffee and sugar-for
books and stationery, for groceries of any kind q,
save those already excepted, or, indeed, for
almost any article of commerce. | should ex-
cept liquors of all kinds, particularly of the
baser sort, for these are carried into all parts
of the country. The merchants in the mines,
like the grocers in some of the Northwestern
States, are well stocked when they have a tin
cup, barrel of whiskey, and a sack of brown
| Chill flour, side of bacon, box of cigars
and gress of playing cards, they may take
( the talest side of the walk. and few will be
found 10 dispute their claims 10 the upper
ten circle. Seriously, however, the store OF
the mining trader is very meagerly supplied
A few coarse boots and shoes, a few picks,
manufactured in the country aud shoyels, a
dozen or two of red shirts, plentiful supply
of liquors, and the indispensable but most
common articles of provisions, make up his
stock in trade. | have alluded to this fact II
show that the demand for a large class of the
most common as well as the most valuable ar
ticles in the States, is very limited, and thai
the capacity of the country for consumption is
much less than might be supposed A single
vessel load of coffee, molasses, sugar, -four
pork, or even an assorted cargo, is enough al
the present time 10 glut the market, anC
knock prices down from the highest TO very
low figure. know the statement here made
to be correct, and no person acquainted in the
San Francisco market, unless swayed by sin
lister motives will undertake to affirm the con
trary. Those of your citizens at home VIII,
suppose that second London, or Liverpool
or New York, or Boston, or even Portland, il
built upon the bay of San Francisco, arr
egregiously mistaken. Either of those cities
except the last named, consumes and pays 70
larger amount of merchandise, than all O
? California put together; and even the except
ed city, with her fertile back country, ha
, greater capacity for consumption than tn