Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-12-30
FROM CALIFORNIA.

The operations of the miners in some parts of
the State were much impeded from the want of rain
Some excitement was created in San Francisco
on the 25th ultimo by the issuing of writ of ha-
beas corpus to discharge the Russian prisoners (wo
only confined on board the Sitka, one Of the vessels
recently captured by the Pacific Allied feet at Pc
tropolowski. The writ was served by the deputy
sheriff upon the commander Of the Stka and the prison
ordered before the court the 9th utmo On
Sunday, the 26th at daylight the Stka hosted anchor
and sailed out Of the harbor for Vancouver. Premi-
nary steps taken before the court the following
morning for issuing attachments against the officers in
command of the Sitka, should they again within
the jurisdiction Of the court
Speaking of this affair the San Francisco Times init
mates that the departure of the may have been
resolved upon before the service of the writ and that if
she had remained it is probable that the District Judge
would have decided that he had jurisdiction in the
matter. The treaty Of 1884, between the United States
and Great Britain guarantees to each Power the right
bringing their prizes into each others ports and protects
them from search interference of any kind during
reasonable length of time Under this treaty it would
seem that the Stka would have been secure from inter-
ference.
Commander BUCHANAN, of the steam frigate Susque-
hsnnah taken before Recorder WALLER the 18th
utimo charge offase imprisonment preferred against
him by one Of the named Joseph s. Chapman, who
charged that he wfully and maciousy imprisoned
Son board the without authority He had
been convicted Of derelicon Of duty by
whilst the ship in the China Seas and sentenced to
confinement until the vessel should touch American
port This sentence having been approved Commodore
PERRY the Recorder declined to interfere and dismissed
the But soon as this jugdment pronounced
second warrant, issued by Justice Rx, served
Commander Buchanan for assault and battery one
Of the musicians belonging to the ship. The band had
been ashore by the permission of the commander and
the complainant with several Others failed to return at
the time specified He called up the next morning
and the commander rrated at his conduct slapped him
in the face. Justice Rix fined the defendant $780,
novel case came before the Recorder in the latter
part Of November. The ship Louisa, Capt. WEBSTER,
arrived at San Francisco from the Naygators Islands,
having on board named Henry Carleton, who was
forwarded by Mr. VAN CAMP the u s. Commercial Agent
at Samoa, to be tried for the murder of named
Eppes Carleton consigned to the Collector Of Gus
toms at San Francisco Mr.. Van Camp also drew note
for $780, and requested that the Collector would endorse
it, being the charge for the passage of Carleton This
the Collector refused and Carleton deveredup to the
city marshal He is native Of Dublin and subject of
Great Britain, and stated when he brought before
the Recorder that after giving bail Of to appear
at Samoa for trial. he forciby carried board the
Louisa where he put in irons. He stated that the
difficulty had already cost him $780, and that his bond
would be forfeited which would be 81 900 No
appeared to prosecute him, and there evidence
except several adavs taken at the Navgators Islands
The Recorder said that nothing had been produced
show that he had jurisdiction the case and he dis
missed the prisoner.
The pilot boat Dancing Feather had returned from the
wreck of the Yankee Blade, and reported that
she had succeeded IN raising four boxes Of treasure from
the sunken vessel, amounting to $4,000. The rough
Of the weather prevented her from recovering all
lost by this wreck and she to make another
effort to obtain the remainder.
fire occurred at Happy Valley the 3Oth November
by which thirty houses were destroyed.
The Editor Of the Stockton Argus mentions remarka
BILE lump Of quartz gold that had been exhibited to him.
1t is described weighing 1904 pounds 1t taken
out about fifteen feet below the surface, in Caaveras
county It is estimated that the lump contains at least
eighty per cent Of pure gold which, at SIT per ounce
amounts to the Of $26262. 1t found by COM
pany Of five men, of whom states that they have
larger lump STILL They refused to give names er the To-
cay from which the gold taken More definite nfor
nation concerning these nuggets is necessary before
the ncrelulous viii believe the story.
The United States Boundary Surveying Party, orga-
ned for running the boundary line under the Gads
den treaty, left San Diego the 18th ultmo. The fol-
lowing the of the party: Lieut. N. Michler;
A. c. Won Schott Geologist and Botanst E. A. Phillips,
j. ODonoghue, T. Cozzens and c. Michler assistants.
Senator GwrN and part of his family had been visit
to Los Angeles where he handsomely entertained
There of another flibusering expedition,
having for its object the overthrow Of MELENDEz, in
Lower California. Senior CHAvIs, who appears to be
the chief instrument in the movement endeavoriDg
to raise and He pretends to hold commits
sion from the Mexican authorities at Mazatlan, delega
ing to him the command of the northern frontier The
Southern Californian says Of him:
1T will be remembered that he made attempt to
drive Melendez out Of Lower CALIFORNIA; but failed and
he is here to obtain the necessary force to make
another attempt Whether his commission is valid not
he is clearly acting in defiance Of laws in enlisng
men within confines for this purpose and would
caution the public be careful in this matter and be
led astray By magnoquen profers The pitiful finale
of Walkers expedition should be impressive lesson to
aspirants for military fame in Lower California
The Indian Reservation the Tehon Is represented to
be still in fourishing condition. The Indians appear
to be conented and well pleased with their mode of
life and living. The Times says:
I" The attempt to cyilize the red man is no longer
probematica Already has he learned the of manag
ing the plough and using the hoe, and is delighted
in the enjoyment Of the fruits of his labors Daily
cessions being made their numbers from the wilder
mountain tribes and every thing seems full of promise
for the future The report which recently crept into
the public prints that the Indians who had spent the past
the Reserve dissatisfied and leaving in
great numbers is without foundation"