The weekly Placer herald., 1852-12-04
San Francisco Correspondence.
SAN FRANCIsCO, Dec. Ist, 1852

|
Dear .M;tcheN:-We are now enduring
one of those cold, raw, disagreeahle rain
storms, for which the winter of '49 was
proverbal. The streets, although plank
ed, are in such dlapidated condition,
that the travelling can scarcely be called
better than at that eventful period alluded
to above. For the past four or five days
the food gates Of heaven have been
brased upon us, and portion of the time,
the rain has poured in the old mountain
style, i, e, several drops to the bucket.
The high wind is bowling through our
streets, and creating a great commotlon
among the shipping in the harbor, and
no doubt ere the gale subsidies, much
damage must inevitably be done, to say
nothing of the foundations being washed
away by the undulations of the sea, which
is becoming every moment more bolster
Gus. Many of the brick buildings in pro-
cess of erection are suffering considerably
from the storm, and on Monday afternoon
brick house on Commercial street, be-
tween Kearny and Commercial, was en-
tirely Frustrated, leaving scarcely one
brick standing upon another. 1t was
built up to the upper part OF the second
story, and in its fall stove in the side of
an adjoining frame building, which has
been used for a gambling saloon. The
report frightened many of the residents
in that vicinity, who thought they were
being visited by an earthquake. 1t would
be ap advantage to our city if every such
house could before it were occupied, as
they are put up with no claim to durabll-
ty. The material of which this house
was constructed was examined after it fell,
and the mortar was found to be nothing
more than sand and water with scarcely a
particle of lime in it, and no hair. The
law ought to be very stringent upon this
subject, where now it is silent, it not IN
letter, assuredly in act,
This morning three steamers took their
departure from this port, with passengers
on their way to the Atlantic States. The
Pacific Mail Steamship Co.'s steamer
Panama, Capt. Watkins, left Long Wharf
with the mails, $2,710,505 in gold dust
on freight, and $50 passengers, this is
the largest shipment of gold dust since
gold was discovered The N. /. l..
steamship independence, Capt. Lucas, for
San Juan del Sud with about 800 passen-
gers, and the New York and San Fran
sisco Steamship Co.'s steamer Cortes,
Capt CrOpper, with - passengers; they
will have as bad time getting out thro'
the gate, as any vessels have had since the
lines were established, owing 10 the vio-
lent storm blowing and consequent heavy
sea.
Miss Catherine Hayes made her debut
before California public last evening at
the American Theatre: her reception was
Of t,rIn
command, and while it was in the highest
degree complimentary to her, it spoke
volumes tor the good taste of the San
Francisco public. The house was filled
to overhowing, and it is asserted that no
other occasion had ever brought out the
array Of beauty which adorned the Dress
Circle and Boxes upon the occasion.-
Upon the appearance of "Sweet Kate"
before the curtain, the applause was for
a long time unbounded, and she was for
an instant almost enshrouded in shower
Of boquets. During her singing. a pin
might have been heard to drop, save for
her voice, but as she closed thirty-two
FOUNDER would scarcely have been heed
ed above the acclamations of delight In
this her first concert, she has complete
triumph, and 1t will be long before we
hear one who may be considered her
equal Her assistant Herr Mengis, was
also received with tremendous applause
and he proved himself worthy of the de-
monstration. The orchestra under the
direction of that universal tavorite, Mr..
Loder, performed their part to the salts
faction of all, and although they have not
yet had opportunities for practice, still
they manifest the perfect control of Mr..
Loder. Miss Hayes is an accomplished
artistic, highly cultivated, modest, grace
fu and unassuming. Her second concert
comes off tomorrow night, and will
doubtless be as brilliant as her first. The
tickets were sold at auction this noon.
The American Theatre Company, on
alternate nights with the concert, continue
to perform to full houses, and may he
ranked as second to none in the State.
This evening, Miss Mary Chapman takes
benefit, on which occasion Mr.. j. r.
Booth, jr, plays Richard III, assisted by
.Messrs. Proctor, King, Harrison, Mrs
Booth, Mrs. Proctor, Miss Chapman,
and the rest of this talented company
Two Engine companies, Emrite Engine
company No. 1, and Howard, No. 8, are
to be there in uniform, and no doubt, al
though the evening is inauspicious, large
audience will welcome their tavorite.
Signor Alexander Bscaccanti publish
ed letter in this mornings Herald, in
which he proposes the establishment of