Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-05-27
LATE NEWS FROM CALIFORNIA.

country, the mines, crops, &C., for the fortnight
preceding the LIST Of May is from the Alta
q California !"
In state politics there has been little news during the
4 fortnight law has passed to elect State printer
which is victory of Tammany. There continue to be
rumors about Senatorial election at this session The
18th Of May has been chosen for the adjournment Of the
i Legislature.
have been expressed that the crops would be much
large for the demand of California but this is pro-
babe The number of in wheat in the State
timated to be about s0000 which, at thirty bushels to
the acre. would produce and half barrels Of -four to
each person in the State The prospects Of the crop
good This estimate is too large, and it quite probable
that the demand will but slightly exceed the supply The
great majority Of the wheat fields in the countries
4 bordering the bay.
There have been four five days of rain during the
fortnight and the miners and farmers thus well sup
piled with water
The news from the mines presents little of striking i'm
portance though the is extremely favorable and
the gold produce corresponaingly large.
Report continues to represent the dggngs at Iowa Hill
very rich canal, to be nine miles long, is under
way to supply water throughout the summer to that To-
cahty from branch Of the American river.
rich vein of quartz Is said to have been discovered
| near Placeryille. .sj t. 81
cansed at Crescent City by the discovery of the Lost
Cabin In the spring Of 1861 small party of miners
had been TO work far from all other settlements among
hostile Indians, and made their fortunes, and their
scrbed the position Of their cabin in the midst Of rich
mines The acquaintance could not find the cabin but
told his story which circulated Every body in the
Crescent City county had heard of the Lost Cabin
and many had sought for it, 1t has last been found
but whether the mines rich represented is
not known
party Of twentyone prospectors started out on the
10Th from Los Angeles explore the Virgin river in the
Great Basin, for gold
small steamer has made exploring tour from Red
Bluffs to Clear Creek the Sacramento river distance
Of fifty miles higher than any steamer had gone It
is hoped that the channel may be improved permit Of
regular navigation for four or i've months in the year.
CASE OF THE MEXICAN AND FRENCH coNsULs.
The events of the fortnight that seem most to have alb
sorbed attention the trial of the Mexican Consul for
ensting for the Mexican army and the arrest Of the
French Consul attachment issued to compel him to
attend as witness that trial The following is COM
pete hisoryo the affair." far it has been developed
About the middle of February the French Consul, Mr.
DILLON, received information from Mexico that Count
Raousset was getting up fbusering expedition in this
city, intended for the invasion Of Sonora and nstruc-
tons to do his utmost prevent the departure Of the
petition Mr. Dillon inquired aud found that Count
Raousset had nearly organized his expedition had en-
gagged the ship Challenge and had of his provisions
on board Mr. Dillon published notice to all French
men, warning them from having any thing to do with any
flibusterng expeditions and he refused to grant pass
ports to Sonora Some days afterwards Senior Del Vae
Mexican Consul, called Mr.. Dillon thanking him for
warning against lllDuSerlng said that
he, the Mexican Consul authorised by his Govern
ment to draw off Raoussets by offering them free
passage to Sonora and employment in the Mexican army
and requested that Mr. Dillon would grant passports Mr.
Dillon gave the Mexican Consul introduction to the
of the Challenge partly for the purpose Of with
drawing that vessel from Count Raousset On the 4h of
March Senior Del Vale made contract with Messrs Ca
WALLER and Chauvteou to send thousand colonsts to
Guaymas the Challenge before the goth of March,
for which c. and to receive $14 for each person
on drafts the Mexican treasury. On the 9Th Senior
Del Vale requested c. G. to make list Of persons
going who to be told when they applied for passage
that they should in the Mexican army year. and
receive therefor the regular pay of the Mexican soldiers
grant Of land at the end of the year. and the rank they
might have held in previous service Such, he said,
his instructions from the Mexican Government On
the 9th he letter with the substance Of his nsruc
tions to Mr. Dillon. On the 18th he published note
Offering free passage to Sonora to those who wished
About this time Gen Wool entered into correspondence
with Senior Del Vale and Mr. Dillon regard to the ex-
petition. On the 18th Del Vae for motive not vet
clear wrote to Gen. Wool that tght be well stop the
Challenge On the Goth Mr.. Dillon communicated to Gen.
Wool copy of Del Vaes letter Of the 6h giving the
tenor of his Instructions and stating that the main pur
pose was to break up Raoussets expedition BY the 23d
the list had been completed by O. G. The list was
headed g List of going to Sonora !" contained no
written engagement but had the signatures ages pre-
vous occupations places Of BIRTH and rank in previous
military services, if any, of the The were told
that they should enter the Mexican army, but they were
not required to make any express promise to the
army. On the 23d the Challenge when about to leave
the port stopped by the Collector because she had
more than the lawful number of passengers board
She attempted to leave several occasions but was pre-
vented.
On the 9th number of Frenchmen about to 70 on the
Challenge" made formal protest against the deten
ton Of that vessel and asserted that they had made
engagement whatever to enter the Mexican army On the
18th the Challenge libelled, and Del Vale was
rested on the affidavit of G. c. to whom, it has been
repeatedly said in public good authority, and not de-
MED promise made by agent of Gen. Wool that
if they would furnish their evidence against Del Vale
the Challenge, with the expedonsts, should be per-
mtted to depart The Challenge did depart the Sd
of April, with $50 men, though not without some objec
tons the part of the Collector who induced to
sent by the military authority insisting upon the promise
During all this time it is alleged Gen. Wool did not in
form Dillon Del Vale, nor the Frenchmen though in
frequent communication with the two former that Uni
ted States law forbids enlistment that he would
force the law.
On the 18th the trial of Del Vale began was continued
on the 18th, and was then postponed till the 25th
On the trial the facts were fully proved and Senior
DEL VALLE the Mexican Consul was found guilty, and
admitted to bail in the of $4,000 to appear be-
fore the United States District Court for sentence the
third Monday in May His counsel moved for arrest
of Judgment.
The excitement naturally arising out Of this
heightened by the arrest of Mr. DILLON the French Con-
sui, already reported The history Of this
ment appears to be as follows:
At the commencement Of the case, the prosecution
deeming the evidence of the French Consul essential to
the establishment Of the facts charged in the Indictment
caused invitation be addressed M. Dillon,
quesng his attendance as Witness in accordance with