Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-09-12

press any opinion, but he unhesitaiDgly declares
that none of the passes except Mobiles and that
adjoining are or can be adapted TO the passage OF
a railroad In this report, TO be submitted 10 the
Secretary of War Immediately after his arrival at
Washington, accurate details Of the surveys OF
these various passes together with all particulars
connected with the topography and geography of
the country examined, will be furnished
\ Lieut.. Beckwiih furthermore Informs us that
the greatest difficulties Of the contemplated route
for a railroad are 10 be encountered in the foot
hills of the Sierra Nevada that but for these
there would scarcely be any serious impediments
10 the construction ofthe road.
Lieut. b. also says that the stream, usually
termed Pitt river, in the upper part OF this valley
is really the Sacramento, and that al the point
where he struck what is known generally as the
Sacramento, he could easily leap from one TO the
other bank. The stock and other effects Of the
party were sold at Shasta by Lieut. b., and brought
good prices, being purchased by ranchmen, miners,
and others. The amount received for this prop
erty was in the neighborhood of $4,000
Lieut. Morris, of the escort, who accompanied
the surveying party, and who was announced by
us as having arrived in town some days ago, has
returned 10 Fort Reading for the purpose OF turn
ing over the detachment TO Col. Wright.
Lieut. Beckwith, who has been absent on his
arduous official campaign for the last four months,
returns on the 10th instant 10 Washington, in COM
pany with his assistants, when be will Immediately
lay before the Hon. Secretary Of War the fruits Of
. those laD0rlOuS ana sclentlnC researches WHICH,
perhaps, are to have no slight influence on the fu
ture destiny Of the race. rg
FROM THE SANDWICH IsLANDs-By the last
arrival, il will be remembered, We had intelligence
that the Russian frgate DIANA Of sixty guns, left
Honolulu on the LIST of June, on cruise, sup
posed TO be to the northward. BY the papers re-
ceived, we learn that she gave the British rigate
that was logging her, the slip, and put back to
Honolulu. Il
H. l. Majesty's frigate Diana, Captain Les
soilsky, returned TO this port the 10th instant,
having been cruising in the vicinity of the islands
for the last fortnight, instead of proceeding 10 Sit
ka as was anticipated. We hear il rumored that
she was awaiting the arrival of the Aurora,
another Russian frigate daily expected; and
again, that she was holding on for the receipt OF
the intelligence of the actual declaration of war
by England and France. AS our last mail brought
this news, all doubt upon that point was removed,
and after lying of and-on for few hours, she
again stood off to the westward with studding-
sails set allow and aoft *,
July LIST, the same paper says: Since our last
issue, the Russian friSaie Diana has been twice
seen on the leeward of Oahu, once just at day
light, scudding of, having got little too near dur
ing the nights at another time, visible fom the
highland at Diamond Point, hull down, and lying
nearly stationary off, the district of Waanae.
What is she waiting for is the question in every
body's mouth.