Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1861-12-19
From California.
TERRIBLE STORM ON THE PACIFIC COAST.

TEKRIBLE STORM ON THE PACIFIC COAST.
SAN FRANCIsCo, Dec. l0.--Durng the past
four days the heaviest rain storm that has been
experienced for years has prevailed in Calior-
MIA, causing severe freshets in the valleys and
great destruction OF property The American
river rose to n great height, breaking through
the levce ard flooding the city OF Sacramento
from one end to the other The water is four
feet deep in the streets this morning, aud the
people are driven to the second story Of their
houses. Business is entirely suspended.
The freshet from the recent heavy rains ex-
tends throughout the valley portions of the State
The damage done is immense The farmers
have suffered great loss by the drowning of
their stock, while, bridges, fences and other
property have been swept away by the flood.
A part Of Maysvle and Stockton, as well us
Sacramento is entirely under water. A mum.
Der of lives have been lost, but how many is not
known. Several brick buildings Mt Maysville
were undermined by the flood and fell heap
of ruins. The loss Of property at Sacramento
is estimated at over half a million of dollars,
and falls upon all the people of the city. Com
muncaton with many districts is Gu, off and
DuSincSs is suspended.
Intelligence from San Francisco to the 1lth
inst says the weather for the previous two days
had been more pleasant, and is apparently be-
coming settled The waters are generally re-
ceding,
About So 900, have been subscribed here for
the relief Of the sufferers at Sacramento by the
flood. The water has been from two to twelve
feet deet in every house in that city. One-third
of the city is still overfowed. The water, how
ever is slowly receding.
Later adsices from England are Of an III
tensaly exciting character. 1t seems that the
British government has decided to consider the
seizure of Mason and S idel as an outrage on
the British flag and has scot special courier
with Instructions to Lord Lyons to demand the
return of Mason and Sli1ell to the British al-
thorities, and in case Of refusal to demand his
passports and return home. Afterwards the
tenor Of advices from this side is said to have
caused modification of the Instructions to
Lord Lyons, to what extent, however, is not
known. The following, cued from the mass
Of conflicting statements give the main points
of the English position -
An extra OF the Liverpool Conr;sr says, 1--WE
have been informed that private telegram has
been received in this town this morning, stating
that the Warrior is forthwith TO proceed to An
napois with the British cabnets ultimatum-
the delivery Of prisoners and full PREPARATION"
The London morning Post says :-"It has
! l. a L. - q,
that the action CT Capt Wilkes Of the San
Jacin,o, was uuiustiiab'a. He had no right to
arrest peaceful passengers, sailing under the
British flag, and the deed lie HIS committed A.
mounts to iagran; violation ot the code of ma
tons and direct insult to this country. tn-
der these circumstances VS. need hardly point
out that the government will lose no time ia
seeking TO- prompt ard complete PREPARATION,
which it is its duty to require. In this case it
HiIl aSsuredIy receive the unanimous approbn-
ton Of public opinion. We are unwilling to
place the worst construction on the outrage
committed 10y Capt Wilkes, and to look Oh it
as an intentional atfront on the part Of the L.
nited States We hope that the government
will at once djsapprove the act Of their officer
make suitable apologies, and restore the per-
sons ofthe gentlemen arrested and in fact make
every compensation ia their power Wild as
are the verbs written and spoken by Seward,
and reckless as American policy not unfre-
qucntly is, we can hardly suppose that the north
ern states are seriously disposed to accept war
with England. We have in American waters,
/ including the Mexican expedition and ships al
ready there, force amounting TO not far short
of Il thousand guns. which We could largely in
crease with the greatest case and rapidtty 10
one month We could sweep all the San Jacntos
from the seas, blockade the northern ports. and
turn to speedy issue the war now raging.
This is so obvious that we find it almost impos-
sbe to tuppose that the cabinet at Washing
ton can commit an act so madly suicidal az to
reject our earnest and positive demands"
The London Tines says; "Tho dispositions
oil the officers of the Trent have been submit
ted to the law officers Of the crown and their
opinion has been given, that the proceedings Of
the American frgate are not Ius'ihabe by the
law ofnations 1t is we understand the npin
ion of these iuriss, that the right of the federal
to visiting and searching the mail packet that
if any men or things believed to be contraband
Of war had been found on board other, the prop
Ter course was 10 take her into port and subni
the question to prize court which would hear
evidence and Arguments on both sides. This
proposition seems 80 clear that it requires only
to be stated to obtain universe =. assent. The
cabinet meets on Friday, to cons -,r wha acti n
shall be taken on the opinion Of the law officers.
We do not wish to speculate as to what steps
they may consider necessary. IF Mason and
S lidell were wrongfully taken, they must be re-