The Nevada journal., 1858-02-19
For the Nevada Journal.
SAN FRANeIsco, Feb. Ia, 1858

'n""Sh IL IL houfly expected, anu yol
may have telegraphic news of its arriva
before this reaches you, 1t is much tc
he hoped that The loag-talked-of oppo
sition will come to a head, and furnisl
the public with cheaper and speediel
travel. The uninterrupted monopoly o
the last two years has made the Pacific
Mail Steamship Company careless, ant
although orders have been issued fol
better time to be made, no visible effect
has been produced.
Yesterday was the new year of the
Chinese population, and was celebrate ed
by the explosion of irnumerable bunch,
es of fre-crackers, which was kept up
until late hour at night; and resumed
again to-day. The Celestial beaux and
bellies are promenading the streets,
dressed in their richest clothes, the pig
tails of the former beautifully long. and
"stentatiously displayed. Much hilarity
seemed to prevail among the moon-eyed
strangers, and tables loaded with sweet
meats, cordials, and other tempting con-
diments, are displayed in the doors of all
the Chinese shops and houses. joss
seems t" be very pop lar, and incense
in quantity has been burnt for the delec-
tation of his divine nostrls. Strip, of
golden paper futter from the windows,
giving much the appearance of flames
issuing from them. This is said to be
the time when the Chinese square all
their accounts, and scrupulously pay
their debts. Wouldn't it be a good idea
for the natives" to initiate their exam
pie i'll that particular!
| spent several hours to-day in visit
ing the elegantly fitted rooms of the
Mercantile Library Association, to which
was introduced by member. From
the intelligent librarian, Mr.. Moore, |
received every attention, and card en-
titling me free access for one month
The association has over ten thousand
volumes upon their shelves, an extensive
reading room, &c. 1t is apparentl y very
prosperous, and furnishes a useful and
pleasant means of passing leisure hour.
Among other rare works l noticed set
of ''The Gentleman's Magazine" ex-
tending from 1871 to 1S4O, one hundred
and nine volumes. This (London) pub
l;caiion is the only one of the old peri
odic Magazines that has survived the
days of the Spectator, Taller, etc, and
has been published by generation after
generation of the same family, and the
style of the original editors is still
preserved.
There is general complaint here of
dull business-the influence of the sea-
sons mining not having yet reached
here. A very pretty speculation i'll
flour is now raging. but is declared to be
caused by an unprecedented short crop
of wheat last year, and the fact that
there is now less -four in the State than
there has been for several years before.
The Duly Argus in this city is ably
edited 10y Mr.. George F. Dawson, form
erly of Nevada. l am glad to perceive
an enterprising and talented young gen
tleman making | is way to distinction.
People here laugh at the ant;-vigi-
lance bill, and keep busy. They are
perfectly mconcerned what result fol-
lows all the gas in the Assembly upon
the question. Any philosophic observer
of society must know that when an
emergency arises. when the necessity
for self-defence is forced upon people.
they are not apt to stop and inquire the
exact form of the laws upon our statute
book, but only, Go those laws protect us!
When society is at peace, no such law
as the anti-mob bill is needed. When
revolution is in progress, it is inopera-
tive. Human nature cailnot be legisla-
ted out of a man, or out of society, and
the feeble bonds now being invented at
Sacramento will snap like the green
withes that bound the limbs ofSampson,
when the day of trial comes. 1t may
well be hoped that no necessity for an
other summary execution of justice may
arise in this State-but, if it does, anoth-
er law. more or less, will not impede the
car of fate.
The weather here is execrable. 1t
is neither honest rain nor pleasant sun
shine, but compromise between them,
like C.......s politics 1t is cortin-
ual alienation of sullen drizzle and
smoky sunlight. My wonder at th. pre-
vailing mania for suicide that is timing
tie ranks of the Democratic party here