The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-02-02
ARRIVAL or THE PROMETHEUs.
The Prometheus isR San Juan On she 18Th

were lying il the harbcr. The frigats AFRO.
CANT had been dispatched by the Admiral OF
the w. /. station with the assurance 10 Com.
Parker that the British Government hisavowed
the acts Of the Counsel and Capt. of the brig
Express in the exercise Of any authority what
ever in connection with the Mosquito Govern
ment, or interfering in any way with The fo-
reign commerce with San Juan.
The Saranac and Arrogant would leave in
few days. The U. s. sloop-of-war Cyane
was expected daily from Chagres 10 relieve
the Albany. We left San Juan on the even
ing of the 10Th. Soon after, leaving a severe
Noriher set in, which lasted three days.
The most friendly feeling existed between
the officers of the ships OF both countries
Salutes were exchanged on the 10th on the
commandry visiting each others ships. Com.
Parker wos highly complimented by Captain
Robinson, of the Arrogant, by hosting the
American ensign at the main during the salute.
1t was returned by the Albany, with the En-
glish ensign at her main,-a compliment rare
ly if ever shewn but to crowned heads or Pre-
sidents.
We are informed by Com. Parker that the
subject Of the Mosquito question with the gov
ernments of the United States and Great Bril-
tain were in progress of adjustment, and that
the whole matter would, without doubt, be
soon settled to the satisfaction of all parties.
California ltemss
The survey of the railroad from San Fran
cisco TO San Jose, has been completed. Its
total cost is estimated at 81 ,53O,126 IL. We
fear that considerable time will elapse before
the work can be commenced. No further steps,
that we have heard of, have been taken with
regard to the other railroads proposed in this
State.
Money was not much in demand. Few spe-
culations are afioat, and building has, in a
measure, ceased, and will not, probably, be
resumed with vigor, until the dry weather Of
spring enables the brick makers to resume ope-
rations.
The Mines.
The rains had been abundant, and the ope-
rations of the miners more than usually sue
cessful. One party Of three or four men, near
Ophir, in the Northern part of the State, had,
before the rain, prepared 10000 bushels of
earth, and had since found it to yield two dol
lars bushel. Other parties had been equally
successful, though at some points in the North
the SHOWS had interfered much with the ope-
ratiOns of the miner. Some sections, as Bear
Valley and Mariposa, which had great reputa-
lions, had proved failures. Quartz mining
has thus far turned out, comparatively, badly
the enormous expense of the operations swal-
lowing up all the profits. 1t is true that the
stock of the many companies on sale in the
East is founded on valuable mines, but it is
thought, that, as general thing, investments
in them will prove loss and injure this branch
of mining.
San Francisco Items.
During the night of Dec. %, the storm of
wind and rain, which had prevailed quite
stoutly during the two previous days, reached
the acme of IFS violence and caused some dam
age in the harbor. A number of vessels drift
ed from their moorings and came in contract
with each other, bat beyond the destruction of
spars and rigging, trif1ing damage ensued.-
The tide rose TO an unusual height, and flooded
some of the more exposed portions of the town
bordering the bay.
At IL o'clock, on the 9th Dec, large
mass of rock On the eastern slope of Tele-
graph Hill, having been loosened by the rains,
slid down upon two iron ware houses, the
property of Capt. Griffing, and tffectually de.
inolshed them They contained some 5000
tons of U. S. bonded goods, which were much
injured by exposure to the rain. The build
ings cost, in erection, Sl04,OO0.
A settlers and miners convention is pro-
posed to be held shortly, for the purpose of
taking into consideration the various ques-
tons effectng their interests, and taking such
action upon them as may be deemed most aG-
visable:
On the evening of the 18th inst, party of
men boarded the brig Callao in her harbor, and
brought ashore Capt Ellis, her commander,
who is alleged to have betrayed the Irish pat
riot Smith O'Brien, when that gentleman at
tempted TO escape from Van Dieman's Land.
The captors conducted him to near the Mis-
sion Dolores, some three miles from the city,
where he was requested to refund the money
he received from Mr.. o Brien's friends on the
occasion referred to. On his promise to do 80,
he was released. Popular feeling was very
generally against him.
With regard TO the MayoraIty, majority of
the Supreme Court, to the astonishment of the
legal profession and the citizens generally,
have lately decided that DR.. Harris was the
Mayor of San Francisco since September last,
although Captain Brennan has been acting in
that capacity.
The location of the seat of Government is
involved in deep mystery as ever--the par
tibans of San Jose and Vallejo sparing no ex-
erton on either side to secure il. On the Both
ult., meeting, consisting of forty-one men,
bers elect to The Legislature, was held in San
Francisco, for the purpose of consulting to-
gether as TO the place where the next Legisla-
ture should be beld-when the question was
decided in favor of Vallejo, by majority of %
stitue one half of the members Of the Legisla-
ture, it is impossible, ofcourse, to consider that
vote as setting the question at rest.-San
Francisco Picayune.
EARTHQUAKEs.-Yeste there were three
distinct shocks of an earthquake felt In our
city. The first was quite severe, and was no.
ticed about three O'Clock in the morning, wax
ing up many of our citizens: The second hap
pened at twenty five minutes of ten, the third
at twenty minutes of twelve.-Afta Cai.for-
nian, LIST.
On the 18th Oct, the British barque Jane
Shong, of Shields, Urquhart, master, was run
ashore on the rocks at Gualpen 10 the north
ward Of io-Bio, Peru. She was from Jehique
in Peru, with cargo of Saitpetre, and was in
a very bad state when she left Jehique, though
not leaking so much as TO cause alarm till she
arrived in 40 deg s. The Captain endeavored
to reach Taleahuano. bat after five days inces-
SAINT labor at the pumps the crew were SO ex-
hausted that they could no longer keep the
vessel ahoat, and it became necessary to run
h. L..