Grass Valley telegraph., 1854-03-30
SAN FRANCISCO. March oath. 1854.

There has been very perceptlDle improve
ment within week or two, and besides our
receipts of gold from the interior have been
so large as materially to help the money mar
ket How long this improved state of trade
will continue, or whether it is really rerfna-
nent. it is impossible to foresee.
By the arrival Of the regular mail steamer
on Tuesday morning, we have papersfrom N.
York to the 21st and New Orleans to the 2Qd
February, inclusive. Aside from the politi-
cal world. there is but little of interest in the
news The agitation caused threughout the
country by the action of Congress upon the
Nebraska bill OF Mr.. Douglass is tremendous
In the Northern and Western States, meetings
were being held without distinction Of party,
which resulted generally ir sdcnouncing the
measure. Many Of the State Legislatures
have instructed their Senator's and Represen-
satiyee "a Congress tosvote AGAINST the mea-
sure,-and should ii be pressed BY it's friends,
there is every reason to apprebeHd q bFeakiHg
up Of old party lines, and the formation of
new ones based upon the slavery question.
The latest news from Washington would seem
to indicate that the passage of the measure IN
the Senate is extremely doubtful
The prospects Of any thing being done in
regard to our Pacific Railroad the present ses-
sion is very gloomy. Not only are aspiring
politicians attempting to make capital out of
it, but it is being mixed up and identified to
some extent with the Nebraska question In
the meantime, the Legislature of Wisconsin,
Iowa. Missouri, Arkansas and Texas, have
passed acts of incorporation to companies,
with view of securing the terminus in their
respective States. Thus the question is be-
coming more complicated every day.
The most important news by the last mail
is that from Europe which is up to Feb. Sth.
1t seems to be almost certain that the conti
nent is to be embroiled in war, in which its
most powerful governments will be active
participants. The British and French gov
ernments were making the most active pre-
parations for war, and some of the Cunard
steamers had been chartered to carry troops
to the scene of action. Unless Prussia and
Austria recede from the quadruple alliance
with the two former governments, they must
also become parties to the fight.
The reflection of this news in the Atlantic
States had the effect to cause very material
rise in the price of breadstuffs- in n.
York, rating shade higher than in this city.
1t is fortunate that California has so large a
supply on hand, else we should undoubtedly
have been subjected to the evils Of another
-four monopoly speculation. Thank Heaven
we are fast approaching time when we shall
no longer be dependent upon any other soil
than our own for this commodity, as we'll as
the other necessaries of life.
The trial of Col. III. P. Watkins, Vice Pre-
sident of the New Republic of Lower Cali
fornia, on charge of violating the neutrality
laws by embarking in Walkers expedition,
has occupied the United States District Court,
since Monday morning. The jury was COM
posed Of some of our most respectable citi-
zens, and every advantage has been afforded
the defendant that he could desire. The jury
retired yesterday afternoon after receiving an
able charge from Judge Hoffman, and this
morning brought in verdict of guilty, with
a recommendation to mercy. The punishment
is fine and Imprisonment. The trial of Capt.
Davidson will come off next week.
Considerable excitement has been caused by
the fact that the Mexican Consul here, by di-
| &c hoc
grants to Sonora from this port. He takes
none but French and Germans, who have not
been naturalized, pays their expenses and
passage to Guymas and gives them grants Of
lands upon their arrival. No American will
be permitted to avail himself of this privi-
lege.-The object of Santa Anna in this move
is undoubtedly to form a strong military pro-
lection on his northwestern frontier against
all future fillibustering parties bound thither
The number of foreigners he has invited there
is to be 10000. On Wednesday last, the ship
Challenge was about to leave for Guymas
loaded with these adventurers, when she was
seized by the United States Marshal. Gen
Wool found his military authority insufficient
to prevent their sailing, and recourse was had
to the provisions of the revenue laws, which
prevent any ship or steamer sailing from our
ports with more than certain number OF
passengers as per tonnage. In this instance
the ship would be allowed to carry 25O, but
she had 700 or 800 on board, and was thus
stopped. She is now lying off North Beach
under the guns of the Revenue Cutter Frolic
This move on the part of Santa Anna should
be looked into by our government.
A duel took place on Tuesday morning, Z
miles south of the city, between Mr.. A. c.
Washburn of the .4lto California and Colonel
B.F. Washington of the Times and Trans
crypt, the latter being the challenged party
They fought with rifles at thirty PAGES. On
the third fire Mr.. Washburn fell, his opponents
ball having struck him near the left shoulder
and passed entirely across the back. inficting
severe, though not dangerous wound he