Southern shield., 1858-08-28
Where is EraZer's River.

The recent discoveries of gold on Frazer's river will lead many to examine their maps in vain foGthe purpose of finding the pre- else locality of this important stream. | Frazer's river empties into the Gulf of Georgia, branch of Puget's Sound, few miles north of the 49th parallel, which is the boundary between our territory and the British possessions. It's head waters inter- lock with those of the Columbia and the Athabace. For the first half of its course it runs in a southerly directions, when it turns westward. At the distance of I6O miles from it's mouth it is joined by Thomp- sons river, a considerable stream flowing | from the eastward. The Cascade range of mountains, which may be regarded as a con 1 tinuation of the Sierra Nevada, ceases here. l At the junction of the two rivers, and in the immediate vicinity, lie the diggings which are causing so much excitement on the Pacific coast. They have been worked more or less since last summer, but the real importance was not ascertainedu lately.
 Fort Langley, the lowest post of the Hud- sons Bay Company on Frazer's river is sit uated on the left bank, about 9 miles from its mouth. Thus far the stream is naviga- ble for vessels of considerable burden. The next post is Fort Hope, at the mouth of Que-que-alla river, 60 miles above Fort Langley. To the ' Falls" is l2 miles fur ther, and thence to Thompson's river forks is 5 miles. Thus the whole distance from the mouth of Frazer's river to the gold dig gings at Thompson's river is lG0 miles or thereabout.
 Above Fort Langley the river is practica- H., Ho@ Al. 1-. slow and tedious navigation-but after passing the "Falls" canoes only can be used. But the journey must really be made on foot from the Falls, and is exceedingly laborious and rugged. There areno horses or mules to be procured in all that region.
 It is by the route above indicated that most of the gold-seekers will find their way to the new placers. There is, however, an- other route, via the Columbia river and the Dalles but the distance is four or five hun dred miles.
 The latitude of the Thompson river Forks is about 50 degrees 30 minutes, or nearly three hundred miles further north than Quebec. But 1t must remembered that the climate on the Pacific coast is mild in comparison with that of similar attitudes east of the Rocky Mountains.
 On the bank of the Frazer river, in the Hudson Bay country, gold has been found in the greatest quantities. Though we are informed the auriferous fields extend to the American side, it is certain the best lie on the English soil. The region extends from the vicinity of Fort ColylIle, Washington Territory, where successful mining opera tiOns have been carried on for years, in q northweSterly direction to Fort Thompson, in the British possessions, and is principally east of the Cascade range of mountains, and between Frazer river and the western base of the Rocky Mountains. The diggings are located between As degrees and 5I min utes north, and l27 degrees west longitude, covering a space about one hundred and forty miles square.
 Several steamships, loaded with miners and others, have left the American cities for the gold fields. It seems that the Hud- son Bay Company, whose lease of British | Oregon does not expire until May. 1859, im- pose a tax of five dollars a month on every American for the privilege of digging for the precious metal. Of course the Ameri- cans grumble loudly at the imposition, and not few anathemas are occasionally hurl- ed at the heads of the Administration who, under the Ashburton treaty, surrendered the territory on which those gold fields are sit uated, to Great Britain. The New York Times mournfully remarks that if < 54-40 :" had been insisted upon, the whole of this auriferous region would have belonged to the United States.