The weekly Anglo-African. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1859-1861, 1860-06-23
California Correspondence.
Our San Francisco Letter.
SAN Francisco, May 20, 1860.

Mr.. EDIToR:-The rainy season being
over, the exodus to Washoe during the past
month has been immense. II is evident
that our population has somewhat decreas-
ed from that cause An accession, howev-
er, in lieu of those that have left, has been
made the past week by the arrival of over
one thousand Chinese emigrants from Hong
Kong. These people are prescribed in
common with all other colored persons, as
you are aware, by the laws of this State
The most of them, it is said, are imported
here under system of what is called peon
slavery, to be held in servitude for num-
Der of years by contract, under the auspices
of Chinese capitalists, for the purpose of
working the mines It is from this system
that they are resisted by other classes of
miners-or, at least, this is one of the
causes Their females who emigrate here
are under similar system of bondage.
They are not eligible to any society, and
are justly looked upon as beneath the
standard of females of all other nations.
They exhibit no evidences of industry or
any kind of skill in needle-work or any do
nestle accomplishment. 1t is customary
with this race for the males to perform the
household duties The Japanese who re-
Gently arrived here were looked upon with
more favor. They are similar looking
people, but speak a different language,
and while here held no intercourse with
the Chinese merchants and capitalists who
dwell among us.
A banquet was given on the 9th inst. by
G. L. Button, at the Union Hotel, in CON-
memoration of his birthday, to which most
of the young men of the city were invited.
James Stevens presided, and delivered an
appropriate poem amid much merriment,
after which sentiments were proposed and
responded to- Much enthusiasm pre-
vailed.
A literary festival was held on the 18th
inst, at Barton's Hall, at one dollar tick.
et The proceeds were applied to liqidate
debt claimed to be remaining due to the
counsel who defended the case of the al
legged slave Archy, two years ago. Messrs.
Brown & Dennis, who recently lost num-
Der of horses by poison, had, at the time of
the Archy trial, endorsed note to the
amount of three hundred dollars in favor
of one of the lawyers, to pay him for his
services This note had been renewed by
them from time to time, but after the loss
of their horses the person who held it be-
came uneasy, and threatened its immedi-
ate execution against their livery stable. A
meeting was called, and a committee was
appointed to give the above literary festi-
val, which consisted of dramatic and poetic
readings, chronological lecture, address
es, &c. Philip A. Bell, Esq, recently of
New York City, was announced as the
principal attraction for the occasion. His
selections were from Talfourd's play of
Sion" Mr.. Bell was well received by the
audience. He read the third act, which
gave evident satisfaction as to his abilities
as dramatic reader. He is quite an avail
able accession to our literary circle. The
chronological lecture, by Rev. j. B. San
derson, was listened to with much interest,
and duly appreciated. The appeal in be-
half of the object, by Mr.. W. H. Hall, was
an able effort A gentleman was announc-
ed to read selections of poetry, but from
some cause unknown did not appear. The
concluding address was by Mr.. VIM. I'll,
Yates, which was appropriate and well de-
| livered. The festival was we'll attended
and resulted in the success of the object for
which it was intended.
A wedding came off on the 10th inst
Mr.. Ezekiel Cooper to Mrs. Elizabeth Free.
man.
No deaths have occurred among our peo
pie in this city since my last letter.
TALL SON OF PENN.