The New York Herald Newspaper, December 27, 1850, Page 6

‘espondence. San Francisco, Oct. 25, 1860. . Life in the Mines—Appearance of the Cowntry— Success of the Miners— Excwrsiow to the Intertor— | Downtarns— Forrest Trees—Scenery— Mining by | Individuals now over— True Statements, §c.,4¢- | ‘There has been so much written about Califor- nia and the mines, that I feel not a little hesitancy in writing anything more myself; but as thereare | @ great variety of representations, or rather mis- representations, afloat, I have concluded to write once more to your favorite, invaluable, and widely- circulated Herald, for the purpose of giving such representations as are facts, derived from my own knowledge, observations, and experience in this country for more than a year, and nearly the whole of the time in the mines, as a miner. Most letiters written from this country are filled with nothing but mines, mines, and gold, gold, gold. You must, therefore, excuse me if I deviate | somewhat from this gold beaten track, and write | about somethingelse. For my part, I am tired of this everlasting jabber about gold, and seek a little relief by getting alone and by myself, away from the noise and confusion of the crowd, to reflect a iittle upon matters and things in general, as con- nected with this country upon tbe shorea of the wide Pacific, for it certainly is a wonderful country, and worthy the calm consideration of all who will give ita thought upon its present state and future destiny; yet of the latter it is an enigma not easily to be solved—yet, any one who has a knowledge of the country from facts and experi- ence, of its mines and resources, he will come to nearly the same conclusion with others. ‘ But a short time since this country was a wild and desolate waste, enlivened only by the presence of the red men and a few Spaniards and Mexicans, or the wild beests of the forest. Gold is discover- ed, when it rises into notoriety; another race of men have taken possession of it; cities and towns have risen as by magic; its rivers and harbors are beautified with numberiess craft, bearing upon them products from ali parts of the world; cerond end magnificent steamboats are ploughing throug its waters, while the whistle of the steam engine, together with the noise of the busy scene hear upon all sides, seem more like an old commercial country than one that is so new. Thousands upon tl.ousands of human beings have rushed hither, and there is searcely a single spot of earth throughout this vast region but has been explored by the enterprising Anglo Saxon. Hills are being levelled to make room for stately edi- fices; and, with the seeming single stroke of a mage wand, @ city rises. é ‘ou make an excursion to the interior, and pe- netrate even to the Sierra Nevada mountains, and ‘ou will there see usristakable evidence that it 9 been previously explored by the white men. The ved men geze with astonishment to see the an t hills and mountaius undermined and torn down, rivers and brocks turned from their beds, drained and rooted up, while the eager gold seek- ers rush in crowds, )ke macmen, over the moun- tains and through its deep and silent gulches, throwing up the earth upon all sides, ia the pursuit of the root of al! evil. 2 ‘i The Indians follow on and gaze, with seeming wonder and astonishment, at these herculean | peratiens of the white mea; they shake their h with the well known (ndian humph, their excla- mation of wonder, and exclaim Marlo, mowncha marlo! Americannos no Buano! §. And they have reason to think them bad, for they are destroying their old accustomed land marks, and trghtening off their game. A stranger, visiting the mines, cannot but be astonished to find the whole ane couutry lite- . Tally torn to pieces—the rivers and brooks, for miles in extent—every gulch and ravine, as well as every hill and mountain—undermined; one would scarcely believe that such an amount ef labor could possibly have been performed in the time that it has been, and by the number of men employed; he would naturally suppose that many years must have been occupied, with the labor of myriads of mean. No one can form the least idea of the work that bas been done; and to see it himse‘f, he would scarcely believe his own senses. livery gulch and creek where gold could be found, has been pt the entire length and breadth, and a man looking for a place to mine will look almost in vain for one single spot that has not been thorougly yeeere ed or worked out, together with the gulches running into the same. | both went some seventy-five feet my enthusiasm subside, and [ found! could be eaily ne places were so Sey rocky, our only way to get down was ov Hf and slide or camble feed with our as best we could, over rocks and through the bushes. During one of these operations, in attempt- ing to just the k upon my mule, which threatened to tumble over his side, he became frightened, and giving a sudden jump, away we yt jown the moun- tain, over rocks and through the some- times the mule above, and sometimes below me, until at last we brought up against a clump ot bushes, with an avalanche of stones after us, and amid a cloud of dust; my donkey looked round at me with a snort, and workiog his long ears back- ward and forwards rather mysteriously, seemed to ask me how I liked that, which was not very well, as | was somewhat bruised and scratched, yet thankful at ese with my neck. After gather- ing up our utensils that rolled down the hill, we again set off to reach the foot, only to ascend upon the opposite side.‘ Thus we journeyed onward, and I began to think about returning. We de- scended to the river, prospected, but found no gold; ascended and journeyed onward, and in doing so, 1 obtained a view from an eminence we had clambered up, which repaid me for all my fatigue. I stood upon an immense mass of strcerig some one hundred feet im perpendicular height, upon the brink of an almost perpendicular mountain of some three thousand feet in height, at the foot of which, the waters of the Mockolume were dashing on- ward in a perfect foam. Before me lay spread out in wild and matchless beauty, mouo- teins and hills as far as eye could reach, until relieved by a still higher ridge of mountains in the, distance. On my right, in the distance, were the valleys of the Sacramento and San Joaquin, with the blue outlines only discern- able of the range of mountains upon the sea coast, while upon my left, and but a few miles distant were towering high above the snow crowned summits of the Sierra Nevadas. Here my enthusiasm obtained the ascendancy over me, and I gazed until I could gaze no longer. It was one of the finest views | have ever had; and could I have known there was such an one in store for me, | should have thought nothing of penetrat- ing even three days further onward for no other pur] than obtaining one view. javing now travelled far enough, we concluded to descend to the Rio Mockolume, in doing which we found it a long and tedious operation, butarriv- ed in safety, where we spent some time in digging a deep hole and weoepectng 6 bar, with no success; and having become satistied in our minds, that there was no gold, we commenced our jour- aud homeward, which we reached in due time, fely, but somewhat fatigued. Parties this season have penetrated into the ravines and gulches of the Nevada but with no success in finding gold, and there is little doubt in my mind that it is only to be found this side of the mountains, and not very nearthem. The whole country, after travel- ling fifty miles from the Sacramento valley, is nothing but hills and mountains, rising higher and higher until you arrive at the Sierra Nevadas. re is scarcely a valley of more than five acres in extent, and the whole cut up into gulches, ra- vines and dee gorges. The entire country, go where you will, bears evident marke of volcanic commotion. The nearer you approach the Neva- das, the woods grow thicker, and the trees are larger and of greater varieties, yet there is very little young tim! The pines are the largest and most beauuful I have ever seen, rising straight a3 an arrow, with no limbs within fifty feet of the Sty oo toa height, I have no doubt, of overtwo undred feet. Cedars are also found here of large dimensions. My friend informed me of three redwood trees, that he saw south of the Mockolume, some eighteen miles southeast of the South Branch, one of which he assisted in measuring, and they found it to measure ninety feet in circumference; the other one, standing, measured over eighty feet, and one that has fallen was somewhat smaller; these, certainly, are giants of the forest. Being well ac- quainted with my friend, I doubt not his statement, a J have no doubt the majority of people will. Lhad intended going to see them, but the waters of the Mockolume were too high to admit of crossing at that time, and I was obliged to aban- don it; yet I shall ever regret being obliged to do so, as [deem them among the greatest curiosities in this country—to fancy a tree of thirty feet in diameter is certainly gigantic. My friend also formed me that they were of a single shaft, with- out a limb in less than seventy-tive feet, very straight, and rising as high in proportion to their size as other trees, or the pine, to which they are somewhat similar. Yet have no doubt the cre- dulity of my readers will be somewhat brought to atest. When | inform them atquibering pure white eugar from pine trees, | think I can see th il Rivers have been turned aside, and their beds explored wit jiture of an enormous mount of eneral thing with poor success, while exp! en to and beyond the Ne success; ard those who have been in the mines for a year past, with thei: knowledge and experieace having met With poor suce couraged; and, and privations, leave this L. ble homes at the east. Some individuals have met with good success at — whilst a large majority have not; and since | have been in this city, for a few days past, I bave been surprised at the large numbers return- ing home who ure worn out, sick, with ruined con- sututions, and without safhicient means to enable them to pay their passage This country is one of the very worst in the world for a man to be taken sick in. When once sickness takes fairly hold of him, if he lives, it will be @ long time ere he can regain his strength, or even tuflicient to enable him to periorm a small amount of labor. And, in addition to this, are the enormous expenses of a sick man, especiaily if he is obliged to have medical aid at sixteen dollars per wien’; also, a sick man ie unavoidably subjected to every exposure, and must suller for the waat of attention; and, tekiog all things into considera- tion, it is sufficiens to cause the death of any sick man. Since | have been in this country I have seen more sickness and suffering, and witnessed more trying scenes, than | ever before imagined. Durmg the winter ia the mines, to witness the death of a fellow being, in his dreary, uacomforta- ble eemp, @ stranger in a distant laad, with nota relative to soften bed of death, sewed up in his blanket, (as boarde could not be obtained for a ‘coffin, and thus deposited in the silent geave, with hone but sympathising friends to drop a tear of sorrow upon his lonely tomb—to me these have truly been sorrowful and melancholy scenes. They have mace an impression on my mind lastipg as life itself, and | sincere ly hope chat I may never see the like egem. Yet such scenes are almost an every day occurrence in the mountains, and many become #0 accustomed to them that they make only @ momentary impression. Bat I will not dwell upon such ecenes i ™ Having been i many months in miniag, and finding the digg! r, and the immediate country aronnd me nearly worked out, I deter- mu sion to Ure mountains, partly to ty_ for seeing some of the wild mo Jifornia, as wellas to exp ore for gold who come ecrors the pl tomed to mountain tra we provided ourselves W sions, apiece of clothforat consisting of one packed therm, tog vive,it up disheartened, and dis- worn oat with hardships, €xposures: idorado for their hum- our bisnkets, upon two mules, and buck plements of warfare, ols, bowie knives, &c., we mounted our don- nd setofl by the guid compass. My friend being better acquainte diug a mule throvgh the woods over the ains, with a pocke: compass, than myself, he, of course, took he lead. We set off from the south branch of Jackson's creek, a few miles from the Mockolume, | in an old Indian trail, ina northeast course. We ‘were soon out of sight of the camp, in the wilder- nese, among Indians, cayotas, and grizzly bears. We had gone but a few miles, when we were suddenly startled trom our quietness by a tremen- dous yelping of dogs, which warned us that we were approaching an Indian ranc we examined our firearms and other imp od fearlessly ap- proached the gamp, midst the barking of some fifty dogs ; fortunately there were only avout a dozen old squaws, pappooses, and dogs atthe ranche; the Indians had probably gone off to the camp of the * Americans for liquor is | did not regret, although I was not much alarmed ; but the [advans in the mountains are not quite as friendly to the whites of unbelief; but such is a fact, and | hav box of it that Lintend bringing to the East as a curiosity. These pines are plenty in the moun- tains, a8 you approach the Nevadas, and differ but little 1 others, with the exception of their bark, whic! larkerand smoother. Tne suga: ed from places that have been marred, the same asgum. All the pines bear large burrs, some of which are a foot and a half in length; they coatain under their shells hundreds of small nuts, in taste much like filberts, of which the Indians are very —_ and they are one of their principal articles of After returning from my mountain excursion, I removed to the Rio Mockolume, where I remained and worked until [ came to this city, a short time ¢. While on that river, | had an opportunity of seeing much, and learning more, of what miners were generally doing. It was estimated that over 5,000 people were upon that river within the of five allen, and vicinity of the Middie Bar, which T should think an wader estimate. The settlement here at the Middle bar is worthy being quite extensive, and will give a little large Hing on | post in the southern mines upon both sides ofthe Kio Moekolume, and contains from five to eight hundred oes. It is built by planting posts in the ground, with cross pieces, aad covering the whole with bushes, large and extensive interior, where the live, with their horses, mu! ied to the posts, and where tra: iz The principal occupants were Chiliane, with Spaniards, Mexicans, Chinese, Kanackas, Indians, and nuime ers, together and several ©; a and Mexican truly a motley group. The even- ings are paneed ia gambiiog, and findangoes to | the music of fiddle, hie and ¢ram, with much | drunkenness, fighting, and « title shooting and dirking. Being tented myselt the hill side back of the town, | could look @ upoa the whole | group; it is called a settlem bat it is in reality | 8 perfect Sodom. The Americans camp under the trees around the place. Several companies had spent many weeks ia digging canals and building dams to turn the river, which they succeeded in doing, but with little or no success in mining. While | remained there, miners were not averaging four dollars per day to a man, and the diggings in the vicinity had given out for the want of water; and when even there is water, miners will be obliged | to wash over that which has been worked the past seavon. Having given them an experiment myeeif, and finding it would not pay, as well as the dig- girgs in the whole vicinity, | became perfectly sa- | made nothing, unless we worked Sunday: coms made phe. gale ising: bot 7 the countr! as been so explored and prospec do not believe there will ihe maay, and mass of », this winter in the mines, it a doubtedly be hard, and there must be much disap- intment and distress. I hear of num- rs who intend wintering in the places that I have been du my stay, and for the purpose of mining. From w! I know of these mines and the country for several miles around them, I know not where they can make sufficient to pay for their provisions. And these are the facts, Ream from sod gms of the mi district. Many who wintered here, and intended to return this fall to the East, are prevented from doing so by meet- ing with such poor suecessduring the summer, and they will remain in the mines another season, to raise sufficient, as some have informed me, to enable them to return in the spring; and be assured there a thousands te ty not a to pay the passage, w! ey would gladly ped, the country, and that edily. It is useleas to tell people busine: ere about the mines, for they will not believe them, and the rea- son is they do not want to believe them, and con- sequently will not; butthe thousands ef hard work- ing and disappointed miners can testify to the truth, and the time has gone by to decive many more with false impressions or by false statements of the richness of the mines. Many who came to this country poor have returned home with fortunes, and they are reported throughout country as lucky Californians and lucky miners; thereby conveying the idea that they have made Wait mpebey St iaabng, yeben, in on | bemoan er of ten, they have le trading an ing, while many have pei even Motted the mines, who have returned with their thousands. A ter number of men have been made poor and miserable, with no success in the mines, with the loss of health and broken constitutions, by coming to this country, than those that have done even mpneneey well. Yet, atv lee such facts, thousands have arrived, and probably will continue to arrive. It is reported that some 30,000 have croased the plains this season, and are now here, besides those who have arrived by other routes; and from the numbers that have returned, and will continue to leave this fall, there must be more in the mines the ees i season, ip far, than the last; and what they are all going to do, to even enable them to live, is certainly a mystery to me. At this time, all kinds of provisions are high, and those who lay in a stock to retail out to miners during the winter, must necessarily make la profits, to enable them to pay themselves, and tl expenses of transportation, \c., thus making it expensive living for the miner. During the rainy season a miner cannot work more than half of the time, in consequence of rains and the rush of water in the guiches and creeks; therefore he must have his health, and make good wages when he does work, to enable him to pay expenses, especially when he is ae to pay from fifty to seventy-five cents per pound for flour, and every other article in proportion; and should he be short of funds, and health poor, it will readily be seen what must be the consequence. For my part, I have not the heart to misrepresent this country in the least, and far be it from me to do so. Ifthere were the in- ducements here that are represented by many, nothing would afford me ater satisfaction or pleasure than to recommend others to come; but as | know there is no inducement, from experience, Ican but recommend all to stay at home rather than emigrate, as | hesitate not in saying that by coming here they will be disappointed. 1 can speak for myself in regatd toa winter in the mines—that, having passed through one—or, as itis termed here, after ig ‘seen the ele- phant”—I am perfectly satisfied, end wish not to eee itagain. It would take not a small fortune to induce me to go through another rainy seasoa in the mines and at meee 5 I think I hear you ask me how I have succeeded?—to which [ readily re- ply: I cannot complain, although | have not made a fortune. I have done moderately well; much better than thousands around me; yet not one y me ined up to my Ce yoy es or even moderate lesires; and what I have has been i hard working, constant, unceasing, and energetic perseverance, at all times and seasons, and amidst every exposure of health, and even life itself; and more especially am I indebted to fortune, or an overruling Providence, in giving me conetant and perfect health, to enable me to perform the labor and to endure the hardships and privations of a miner’s life, and to gather by littles what I have, than to the richness of the mines or an abundance of gold. The actual state of the mines, and calcula- tions being made by speculators and traders for the future, in this country, in widely exteaded city improvements, and humbug cities and towns, in the face of the actual resources of the country, natu- rally lead to a few reflections upon its present state and probable future destiny. But I find my letter has me rather lengthy, and will occu, too much room in your valuable Herald. | wil therefore close this, and write you another soon. Marysvitte, (California), Oct. 12, 1860. The Trials, Difficulties and Dusappointments of life in Californra— Unproductiveness of the Mines —Description of Them, §c. I am almost ashamed to write to you, hav- ing nothing to relate but the same chapter of misfortunes that has attended me since | arrived in this infernal country. When I last wrote, May 8th, I was on the eve ol starting for the mountains, to try my luck once more at the shovel and pick. I did start the next morning with my bed on my back, and traveiled five days over mountains and rocks until ‘I arrived at a place called Indian Valley, which is an Indian settlement, with very few whites. The first two or three weeks | work- ed on the bank of the river, as the water was too high to attempt cutting races or making dams. I made out pretty well, wz enough to feed me, and lay a little by. I then joined a company of eleven, and we commenced to cut a race for the river, intending to make a dam and turn the water off the bed of the river. We went to work, and cut a race two hundred and seventy yards loag, fourteen feet wide, and twelve feet deep, this kept us busy for seven weeks, during which time we id our two hours resting time, during the extreme of the sun. This I generally did, and made enough to keep out of debt at the provision store, while the rest of the coreetny, were running in debt for everything they used. When we wot the race done, and the river low enough, we commenced our dam, and finishnd it in four weeks anda half. We ail had to work oe our hips in water all day while at thie partof the work. When we hadall finished, and the water ready to turn into the race, we were offered 5,000 dollars in cash for our fwork by a company near us, but we would not take ten, as we felt confident of taking out a hundred thousand dol- lars, and every one round us thought so likewise ; everything looked more favorable than any other —- on the river, for twenty miles at either side of us. We turned the water into the race on Saturday morning, and allowed it to driin all Sanday, on Monday we went in with our picks and shovels, tished, and concluded to seli out and leave the mines to others, which | have done, and am now m this city. During the last few weeks | remained | in the mines, | heard of more robberies and mai- | ders than during the whoje of the previous time. | The mines have become so poor for individual la- | bor, that it is hard, at the present expense of liv- | ing, for all to pay theit way; and as there are so | many now in the country who must remain during | the winter from necessity, Who must have food | and clothing, that, should there be no new and ex- | tensive overies made, there must be conside- | rable suffering. Desperadoes are becoming nu- merous throughout the mines, and should it be | known thata miuer has even a small amount of dust, he is io danger of lo ing his life. The mines being poor, having been worked out the past sea- son in the guiches, and there being so largea number in the region during the winter, | doub not there will be an unprecedented number o robberies and murders committed. At this time, the continued reports of murders in all parts are truly alarming, and it is to be feared that, with the banditti upon the roads and with the excited state of the Indians, there will truly be a hard time in the mines. Speculators are doing all in their power to keep up the excitement, and, for that purpose, seraple not to misrepresent the country, or falsify all who ae those near the valleys, and several whites had disappeared rather my iously of late, and who ‘were supposed to have been killed by the Indians; yet it wasnotknown, We didnot stop, but par- sued our course quietly onward. | will not attempt to devtride eur journey, as it would be impossiole for me to do so. Suffice it to say, we travelled over come of the steepest and highest hills and Mountains, and through some of the deepest and most dreary gorges te be found in the region. The weather was very warm, and | soon began to feel some what fatigued, and the want of water, which was scarcely to be found, excepting in the Macko- Tume, which we now and then would see dashing onward, some two or three thousand feet below tis; but nature, ever bountiful, provides fountains in the wilderness, and at last we found one, where we drank freely, partook of out moan repast, and camped for the night. The farther we pro- ceeded onward, the mountains grew higher and steeper and more diflicult of ascending and descend- ing, but our mules being sare-f |, we went oaltly onward, continually risiag ; ever and anon we would obtain a view of mouatain scenery, Wild ‘and beautiful, which would make up for the velin Oe ceaeweat ol an enthusiastic admirer of mature, | had thovgnt that | coald uadergs almost any hardship and fatigue to satisfy my ¢ itiosity; But T had not traveled many miles mp hill aa dowa, and dodvinz through the wools to keep cing braised vy arexting draaches, before write truth. Some of the papers in this couatry back them, and continually publish, in bold cha- ractets, the new and numerous rich discoveries that are being made, and one would suppose they were extensive; but it certainly would be remark- able if an individual, or individuals, did not now and then strkie some rich deposit, of a few feet in extent, which are the actual and only discoveries that are made. But the time has now passed for pee oe | more, as the thousands who are now returning to their homes will publish facts from knowledge and experience. That there is gold, and plenty of it, no one can deny; and | re- ‘at, what | ever have said, that itie inexhaustible jat I do say, the time has past for individual enter- prise at mining. The surface diggings are nenrly | exhausted, and the mines can only be worked to | advantage, in foture, in a scientific manner, by | companies with capital, employing machinery aad laborers at a reasonable compensation. You read, in the paver, of the rich discoveries being made, of the gold bearing quartz; people would suppose the for obtaining the ore so simple that it would be within the reach of individuals, but such is not the case; and it requires working scientitic- ally by machinery, ani large investinentof capital; and, after all that has been published about them, they are not near as rich es represented. Com pames are being formed for working these beds, and theit serp will be thrown into market for epeculation—theretore it is for the interest of those concern d to keep up the excitement There will undoubdte | going to the | from morning till night. | months work | were generally from ten to tweive miles apart. | ing typhoid fever on me, wh and eunk ten holes, from eight to tweive feetdeep, rock in each instance, and ima- gine our feeliogs when the most we could get was six cents to the panful of dirt. This would not pay more than five dollars a day to the hand, and even to make that we would have to work We concluded that night to abandon the place, and each man do the best he could tor himself. When I went to bed I lay aweke for the greater part of the nigh’, thinking what | should do, and I cried bit- terly, with vexation, at the loss of my four An hour before daylight | was up, and having tied up my blankets, and pat them on my back, | was half way up the hill be- fore the sum was up. I travelled this way for tive days, eating only once a day, and drinking a large quentity of water at every spring | came to, —_— arrived at Marysville on the fifth day, and got ts a friend’s house, where I knew I would be welcome. I was not there more than an hour when | fainted, and was carried to bed. The next day | had a rag- h kept me in bed for seven weeks; in fact thi he second day I have been up Atone time I thought | was geing to die,aud had made every arrangements with my friend as to writing to you, to inform yor my death. I never felt more reconeried in my li | thought it waean end end to all my troutles, and looked forw: itas such. However, contrary to the expecta of _? doctor and every one round me, | gota vorable turn, and recovered as quickly as could be expected. [now weigh 1541bs.—1 weighed when I left New York, 232 ibs.—so you see I have lost flesh considerable Now, a few words as to mining in general thi season, and as | know every yard of the Yu river for three hundred miles, better than | kaow Broadway, | will take it es a sample, and | be- lieve, from all | can learn, the success on the Yuba is about equal to the other rivers. The first bar, or mining district, on the Yuba, is thirteen miles from Marysville, called Long Bar. retiye wi ‘This place was ell worked out iast fall, a aa paid, this season, from five to eight dollars a day to each hand. It ia worked entirely | with quicksijver, as the gold is too fine for the common rocker. The next, two miles from Long Bar, called Se- ar’s Bar, has turned out well. They have dammed the river, and it is at present yielding a pound of dust a day to the hand—worked entirely by qnick- — Shares selling at five thousand dollars, cas! Park’s Bar, ten miles further up, a failure—men cennot make five dollars a day. Rose's Bar, do ; fifteen mules futther. Frenchman's Par averages from five to eight dollars a day. Slate Range a failure; averages about five dollars aday. Foster's Ber a failare; with a dam and race that cost twenty iu thousand dollars, cash. Bullard’s Bar, with an extensive dam and race, a complete failure—not wo at all. Tht y.—Here there has been twenty- nine dame and races put in, occupying about twenty mules of the river; and when | was leaving, twenty- eight were total failures, and the twenty-ninth had too much waier on it to be |, and in all ec 4 never can. Next comes Goodyear’s jar. The banks of this bar paid well last fall, but the bed of the river, this year, has proved a com- plete failure. Nowcomes the fre the grand place of the Yuba, called the “‘ Forks.” the different branches and streams empty them- selves into the mein Yuba, and for two miles at either side, it may be truly said to be rich. At this side, or below the Forks, there are four dams, with companies of from were ee forty men on each; these four dams occupy all the river that ia worth an . They are taking out from three to five hun dollars a day to the hand. Shares, when in the market, are worth ten thousand dol- lnrs. Above the Forks, for two or three miles, it is aleo very rich, but not so rich as below. This is aleo taken up by companies. Now, a person wishing to write a letter in of the mines, if he would only take the Forks for his subject, could give a most flattering descriptioi by sticking to the dams, and giving the actual amount taken out each day, by each company. But let us look at the other of the picture. I am I am outside the mark far, when [ put down the number of men making money at the Forks, at eight hundred. Now, when I was there, about two months ago, the population at the Forks, and for three miles round, was six gang id there are eight hundred making money, and five thousand two hundred barely making their board. Men can be hired in any number you like, for three dollars a day and their board, and very few wanted at that . After you go 2 or 3 miles above the Forks, it becomes , unl come to where there is scarcely a color of gold. Now, you may depend on this being a true statement of the Yuba river. I have travelled every mch of it, and at each bar and made myself ac- quainted with the yield of each place. There is no doubt but a vast amount of gold will leave this country, this year; but it has to go, as the merchants here are all heavily in debt, to the merchants at your side. Money here now can command any interest you wish to ask for it. I have seen twenty per cent a month paid for money, with real estate given as security. This cannot last long, as it would break down the strongest concern in California. We have failures eyery day, and this winter expect all the large houses to go by the board. ‘ The cause is obvious. The merchants have eold every article to the storekeepers at the dif- ferent mines, on credit, and, in order to do a large business, have used little or no discrimination in their ci . The storekeepers alse- had to give be yp credit, as hone ane in building ams and cutting races, could earn nothing to pay cash for what they wanted. When the dams failed, as they have in nine cases out of ten, the miners could not pay the storekeepers, neither could the storekeepers pay the merchants. As soon as I get a little stronger, I intend going to San Francisco, to see if I can get any: to do. You are very much mistaken if you thi rson can write with ay of safety as to aving his letter forwar from the mines, for although there are some good and safe expresses from the different towns to San Franc:sco, and from thence to the States, it is a different thing in the mines. There is no regular express comes or goes from the mines, at least, not from the distant mines. If a person is leaving, he posts up notices that he is going to San Francisco on such a day, and will deposit letters safely in the post office for a dollar and a half, or two dollars, a letter; he gets perhaps from one to two hundred, and gets paid for them; he then leaves, and, instead of goi: to San Francisco, oes to some other miae, ani throws his package of letters into the first ravine he meets. This has been proved in a great many instances, and the letters found. Our West India Correspondence. Frencu St. Marmin, Nov. 25, 1850. Movements and Dengns of the English <Aboli- tromasts and English Government—Texas--Cali- fornia—Cuba—and Guadaloupe. The abolition society of London, the parent of the society of Les amis des noirs, of Paris, and the Boston abolition society, professed, in the commencement of its career, to have no other object in view than to secure a legislative prohibitien of the slave trade. They disclaimed all intention of interfering with the institutions of sla- very in the plantations, knowing the sad truth that three-fourths of the negro race in Africa were held in naked arid abject slavery by the other fourth; and, intact, they went so faras to declare, pub- licly, that instead of a blessing, emancipation would be acurse tothe negroes. But although such was their ostensible motive and open declaration as a publicfbody, they had different views, and pursued a course of action diametrically opposed to the inter- est and safety ef their colonial brethren, exciting their negroes to rebellion and bloodshed by the most inflammatory speeches and writings. This society, purely philanthropic in its origin, soon became a powerful political party, through the fanatical ranks of which talented and desigaing men climbed into parliament and into power, and atter agitating the country for more than a quarter of a century, the government itself yielded to its irresis- uble intiuence, and despite the protest of some of the most distinguished statesmen, with the Duke of Wellington at their head, sacrificed to them her splendid colonies, and joined the crusade against negro slavery in the new world, with the unmis le intention of bieaking up the surpassing i perity of her great rival, the United States. ‘his policy, having for its direct object the aboli- tion of domestic siavery in the South, and as a natural consequence the death of the cotton pro- duetion, could not be carried out without expos- British commerce and manufactures to a severe ock, which she is skilfully seeking to avoid. The mount of raw cotton imported into England, annu- ally, from the United States, is 700,000,000 of pounds, which raw material furaishes work for, and checks the outbreak of communism, among pineee pad renee Before, therefoce, her ant- merican policy can be vigorously pressed against the United States, she must find this 700,000,000 pounds of cotton somewhere, for the double pur- pose of employing her own operatives, and break- ing down the cotton market of the South, and with « the institution of domestic slavery and the integrity of the Union. So far, she has failed to draw this cotton from her East or West ladia pos- sessions, er from her African and Australian colo- nies, notwithstanding the vast sums expended in purchases and premiums, American planters and Awerican machinery, allemployed and applied to anextent, and at an expenditure commensurate with the great abolition or anti-Americaa policy, of which they are a part end parcel. ‘Texas, however, seemed to furnish a solution for the difficulties growing out of her anti-American policy. Great Britain made every eflort to secure the control of this fine country and her infant gov- ernment. Her vast cottoa regions would have furn- ished, toa great extent, the raw material for which England muet be ever cependent on the U. States; her geographical position would have offered a field for the operation of her abolitionists, trom which Britieh emissaries would have poured their pesti- lential doctrines into the heart of the Southern States, and shaken the Union to its foundation. There never was, since the declaration of Ameri- can independence, a moment of such intease inter- eet to the destinies of America as the apparent political vecillation of Texas between the Gaited States and England. Never had these two great nations so completely measured the strength of their respective statesmanship. The Uaited States triumphed—the brave Texans joined their Ameri- con brethren—the lone ster assumed its natural position in the American and England was event packing with heraboli acts and emissaries. Nothing daunted by this diplomatic defeat, she prosecuted her policy against the United States through her emissaries, with indefa'igable perse- verance, and with such an entire contidence of success, that itis a grave question in England, in and out of Parliament, where she isto obtain a sufficient supply of raw egtton, now that her policy is about to extinguish slavery in the United States, and produce a civil war between the Northern and Southern sections of the country, that would check the United States in her brilliant career of power and empire. Thus i» England again goin; her old cotton hunting grounds, with her arts and iences, and premiums, and planters, with an in- irpose that portends destruction to her rival, and again 18 she doomed to disappointment, and (o the contemplation of this singular fact, that 8,000,000 of her population are completely depend- ent, for their business and subsistence, to those very Southern States she would redace to ashes and éelage with blood, with the help of her aboli- tion allies of the North. Of these latter, permit me to say, that it ie a melancholy truth ia the physi- naticiem, that ite votaries can neither be d oy, the obligations of patriotism or the rece: eof national policy. This is a truth that Mr. Van Buren, the ambitious, has lately found owt, and, with his free soil ai abolition party, would consolidate and centralise a general govern- ment of delegated and limited powers, for the pur- of arriving at the nal chart, and treat- ing the sovere and independent States of the Sonth as eo many colonies, breaking up their do- mestie institutions, and with them the constitution of the United States, notwithstanding what he swore to the late Mr. Foreyth, of Georgia, and many other Southern friends, to the contrary. Dat there pure de moeracy covering the length and breadth of the republic, that will not allow fickle sates e through the glorious the United sii aarnieee cecingoes ot ech government and civilization. “x Now Cuba, rich and wealth is as and more Califo: would guardi step- 5 ay for the double purpose of helping to break thy Southern States, by the abolitisa Cuban slavery and the establishment of a negro consti- tuency, and to prevent the United States obtaining possession of an island which is of such vital im- tance to the Northern as well as the Southern tates. To the South, the possession of this island is essential, to secure her institutions from sudden and disastrous transition, and to assist her in car- g would not be the less warmly Cabinet at Warhington, will never ved. sanctien aught that may prove troublesome to her ee baal gate a jen whom she has sworn to pro- Gens. Paez and Monagas. ing out her enlightened policy of the gradual MERAL extinction of African slavery, by African coloniza- In ee cl the peees of yooterday eppeared a ie. to the North, and to the whole confederation | oommunication in answer to a pi lh pam: of ates, from Oregon to Maine, “yo Maine phlet entitled “¢Monagas and Paez,” which has to the rande, is the possession island lately been published and widely circulated against essential, to protect and control the hundreds of | Gen’ Paez. We copy the following extracts from millions of ee 4 Y> = the Will fost om, | ‘he article—they speak for themselves. = parignion of ae nr Me os In a New York paper of the 7th November last, and ne Carribbean sea. Whether this island is | U8der the head of * Later from Veneaue a peared the information foilowing, viz: By a private letter, which we have seen, it is at that the government int nds to an histori narrative of all the evente which have eccurred destined to come into the Union, by revolution and annexation, or by negotiation and purchase, no prudent man will pretend to decide; but there is not an American echool boy, who reads geography Venezuela since the elections of 1846, together with and the Braid that wi aoe eovigend rede bee ve ag mege ss a ‘wily “is ogre commerci: an tic is oever has read ‘ ee Ssecatial to the Unite Sor is there ‘a Cuban | tion, must have perceived thet assertions and school by, who, when he beholds the negro em | pretended facts in Senor Acevedo’s paper, rest of Hay ¥ within a few leagues of him, and ae | solely on the authority of his name. The enquiry, himself surrounded by all those elements that | then—whois this Senor Acevedo?—becomes mate- were excited to such a and fatal struggle in | rial. On page 72 of the pamphlet io question, the St. Domingo, by the French abolitionists, but will | following passage, taken from his above mention- tell you that the salvation of Cuba depends on her | ed answer to the Revisor, occurs: going over to the United States. It is also well known it Venesuela what Guadaloupe yet remains ina state of siege. Is | ¥#8 the conduct of Paes with regard to the President is melancholy to beheld these rich and beautiful | $f, the Republic, Doctor Jose Varges, in 1836 and 1436. islends falling into ruin and decay—the result of | sicai notes on the times of his Presldeney; and inthem British pohey, and the 8 sinking deeper and wil ‘ deeper’ eve "day, into all the revolting supersti- showed Uimerree te eee snaarene oagnt tions of an African m) only his own glory, at the cost of the Republic an the man w! he had called bie friend. ‘What must be the astonishment of the public at the impudence of the publisher of the anonymous phlet, and at the audacity of the Honorable Wy nlogy: Many of the poor West Indians are taking their sorrowful route to the Southern States. trust that among them will be found men who will imitate their countrymen—Davesac and Alex- | ander Hamilton—in usefulness to their adopted tael Acevedo, when apprised that this falsehood country. In my next, I shall ca of the Boston | of the “ Honorable” was exposed to public execra- slave trade and of the Boston Abolition Society. tion by the “* virtuous”’ Doctor cape himeelf, in Caracas, more than two years since! Doctor Var- gas published a card on a loose sheet. printed ia the printing office of Tomas Antero, of Caracas, and it also appeared in several of the public papers. ‘The following is the card, viz: Affairs in Venezwela—The Presidential Electton— | ~ A Connection.—In the paper entitled “Brief Answer to the Manifesto of Paez, in 8t.Thomas,”’and subscribed The Gold Washings, §c. §c. a fae — the ag I <——— to “ive ‘tne SENG thie em (De Some Vargas bee writen you in my late letters, Gen. José Gregorio Mona- notes on the times ‘residency. 2 gas, brother of the present incumbent of the Presi- een eet rg coin be ne'c Gamer saan ae dential chair, came near being elected the chief | sought only his own glory, at the cost of the megistrate of Venezuela. This, so say they here, | 424° the man whom he had called his f is the beginning of the end. This bas given occasion to have it believed th The President that may be is not the man to Bit Affairs In Venezuela, OUR VENEZUEAN CORESPONDENCE. Caracas, Nov. 26, 1850. bave had or now have correspondence, or other docu- ments of that General, which, it published. might sully his public conduct during that period. Out calmly down, and bearup patiently under the many sary | Teepe et te ‘truth and justice, and for ‘the sake ef insults which have been heaped upon him, and his | ™y own honor, I must deelare that this is absolutely JO3E VARGAS. dey of retribution will, I fear, be a gloomy one Caracas, Beptember 14, 1848. for Venezuela. You will naturally ask, how is it There never was a more servile, grovelling flat- | that they have elected this man to succeed his | terer of Paez, in his days of prosperity, thaa this brother, when the people do not wish him Presi- | *#me Acevedo. He wrote and published several a papers highly laudatory of the haracter and dent. The people—those masses, who ia other | corvives of eal Poss: It Ewell ant quests and more fortunate republics, put their shoulder to | yews in Venezuela, that he now owes Gen. the wheel, and who prove that right is might, and _ ez, a considerable sum of money, and that he is : . | indebted to the General for innumerable services. whoee united strength nothing can withstand, are | | wil| now present to the getter up of the let here afraid to cast their suffrages. They argue in question, a sketch of the character of thus: If we vote and become the minority, Gen. | drawn by the same hand of Acevedo. Under date Monegas will yet be elected, and cut our throatsfor | of the 28th May, 1847, when Acevedo was Secre- tary of Monagas, he wrote a letterto Angel Quin- tero, which contains the following passage :— J hold that in Venesuele, no administration can pos tibly exist that does not reckon onthe moral support of Gen. Paez, and indeed it is yroper that he should always be heard, whenever it is possible, in all impor- tant affairs—I will not say officially, but in * friendly way; and it is with this understanding that [ act if | continue to be ary. I have told you, and you know that I say it ape, at all times and in all Places, thet Gen, Paes tet man in Venezucla; that Venezuela owes to hi existence, her preser- tovally, bing exceedingly grateful for the setvloes tad son y img exer wor Kindneores with which he has honored me, will never be other than his admirer, even that he should change his conduct towards The original ;letters of this Acevedo to Quintero were submitted to Mr. Antonio Jose de Irisarri, an eminent South American writer and author, and editor of the Revisor, a paper pu in Curacao, n 1846 and 1549, and tie above extract, and others, were published in the Revisor of the 15th June, 1849, number 9. Mr. Lrivarri is now residing im Brooklyn, and has a collection of the Revisor. Now fora specimen of the blackest ingratitude of the Honorable Senor Acevedo. History knows no parallel to it. After the capitulation of General Paez, ckoowledged benetactor, and whea he was mm prison, and in the power of Monagas, this same Honorable Senor Acevedo, who was thea Governor of the Province of Apure, i pce got up a paper, signed caused others in Apure to sign ¢, demandin, vating sanest, him ; if we do elect our candidate, eull it President has the command of the militia of the country,—they are his creatures, will obey him, and he will command and use them to the overthrow of any one who attempts to usurp the seat, which, par excellenee, should be his brother’s. And long ere the result was known, rumor had been busy in the east, in the provinces of Cumana end Barcelona, in one of which Mona- gas possesses immense estates, in raising a force of soldiers, and with this force he had determined to support his pretensions. With qaive as eager a display of courage did the inhabitants of Valencia | declare, in their public prints, that were José Greg- oro Monagas elected President, they alone, and unaided by the remainder of the republic, whom they requested to leave the matter in their hands, would march on the capitals ana prevent the suc- cession of the said unpopular, and yet successful, candidate. Now, that nis election may take place in January, we will eee the value of this threat. With spirit, depend upon it, will any infringement of Monages’s nghts be met, for neither the actual President nor the one elect is of 4 character easily to be alarmed ; both of them ranking high among the soldiers of the country. What appears more singular in this recent election, he fact, that though there does not seem to have been liberty of action, nor even of ey the liberty has been unbounded. Never hava I seen im any country, nor in the wildest politi- cal excitement of any canvass, more unbridled expressions of opmion, than have characterized the poli organs of this capital, and the | express terms,jand sigting, that General Paez ¢ 3 anne, a the late Pres- | chouid be put todeath! See thia infamous paper, idential campaign. The reigned un- | published entire in El Repudblicano, (a ne controlled, and apparently untrammelied. On the ‘tile to Paez, and edited by an e ee O- one side, epithets Which no whig, democrat, tory, r, Li ‘0. 240, in nages,) of the 12th Septem! Caracas. All Venezuela was horror-stricken; Robespierre and Marat had been outdone. The sight of the bloody head of Paez coald alone extua- or orangeman would be guilty of mouthing, mach less writing, have been thundred out agaiast Mona- gas and his brother, and as bitter ones have been Teady tomeet them. Guillotines have been sed | guish the immense debt of gratitude, and the peca= aga restorative of quiet, and as a mea: niary debt, due him from the Honorable Senor the country of the present chief mi te’s ene- | Acevedo, mies, and no name in the vocabulary of insult seemed too mild for the expression of the feelings of his countless enemies. itenewals of the bloody and memorable 24th January are talked of as the fate of the approaching Congress, but I am in hy ll will be quiet. ezuela has unrivalled aivantages, both com- mercial and agricultural; she might be indepen- dent of the world if she would; scarce a mineral ean be named with which her rich hills,mountains and rivers do not teem, and her herbarium is the richest, or at least has the faculty of being made the richest in the world. All she requires is a coa- tinuance of the industry and patriotiam which made her free, and gave her a rank among the re- publics of the world, and her tri-colored flag would ‘wave as proudly as that of any of her sister states. Republicanism must blush for her now—may she soon redeem her fallen name! Many have left for the gold washings of the Yuruary, but the mea- cures of the government, which have been adopted | oppear so stringent that few foreigners, when once they become aware of them, will venture to the golden field, Among others | would mention that each gold-finder is obliged to hand over to the One fact mote in relation to Acevedo and his collesgues, the slenderers of Gen. Paez. Monsgas government has commenced a criminal ane ig for an alleged conspiracy against the onorable Senor Acevedo, and the regutsit or order for his apprehension, has been issued, Isee, in the Caraqueno, of the Lith November last, No, 12, a newspaper published at Caracas, that the criminal prosecution was then pending against Aceved Our St, Louls Correspomdence. Sr. Louis, Dec. 18, 1350. Execution of James Gallagher for the Murder of Mary Croshy— Another Conviction for Murder and Sentence of Death—Nuvigation of the Mur stast>pt River. The death penalty, for the first time in six years, has been executed, to-day, in our city. The ferer was James Gallagher, an Irishman, who was convicted at the last term of our Criminal Court, o the murder of Mary Crosby, a widow, residing verument one fifth, or twenty percent of his liggiogs. This seemes severe, but it is only one ot the exactions. How they are to secure this one fifth is more than I know; but thousands of accusations of defrauding the revenue, aud as meny defences, will have to be gone through, be- fore the coffers of the government will be glad- dened by the 20 per cents of the Yuruary wash- ings. ‘BSTUS. with her infant children, in the northern part of the city. The murder was committed on the night of the 4hof July last, when the parties were intoxi+ cated. Mrs. Crosby was a woman Of bad charac- ter, and Gallagher had visited her for the purpose of passing the night. Both beecame intoxicated; and in the morning the woman was found dead, ‘Venesucian Matters. with marks of violence about her throat, and Gal TO THE EDITOR OF THE ALD. | logher lying by her side, stupetied with jiquor. He 1 donot here present myself to reply to any one, | was arrested, tried, and convicted for the marder, pa ony aos and — in advance againstail | , nd executed tod y malignity, my object to enli , Ameloas ha a For several weeks past, the prieoner has been General Montages, at this time President of Ve- | egularly attended by Father Paris, of the Catho- nezuela, desirous, from the moment of his eleva- | icehurch, to whom he has persisted in declaring tion to the presidency, to make himself welcome | his innocence. He has, latterly, expressed him- to the people who had called upon him to govern | reif willing to die, and hee eaten heartily aad them, deemed it proper to conciliate certain inte- | slept soundly. Last night he was several hours in ps th oa "hy taevkesta cron ut religious conversation with hia spiritual aavarts ie . ore, pt 10 i the ex: President's ministry, which he had retain- pf ar rahe tape ed, in order to have all taken into consideratioa, The Four appointed for leaving the jail was 12 but what was his surprise at jindiog those thus re- o’clock, at noon, long before which a dense crowd tained, hostile and unwilling, sincerely, to proceed | had gathered im front of the prison, About half- pest twelve, the prisoner was placed in a close cat- to useful reforms. He perceived the necessity, without loss of time, to reform the ministry and | siege, attended by Marshal D. McWuliough, Father the chambers, circumvented as he waa, but it was Pais, and Rev. Mr. Hennisee; and, gaarded by & no easy task to do so. The trifling shifts of diplo- | company of light horee, commanded by Captain macy, offered, it is true, the means, but these were | Tirinckman, and the city police, was conducted t» repugnant to him, preferring more open measures. | Duncan's Jand, below the city, where the gal- itis always @ great misfortune when the chief of a | jows had been erected. When the religious exer- ciees had been gone through with, aad the death state is ss toemploy such means to obtain | 8 warrant was read, the Marshal formed the pri- necessary for the welfare of the This severely judged act is not without | coner that if he desired to make nay public state- ment, he then had the privilege of domg a9 historical precedence, even in the annals of iliustri- legher bowed in achnowledomen', and advance ous nations. to the front of the platform, seit: _Afier all, is the fault that of Monagas or that of bis hostile ministry? Would no: the evil ultimate- “Citizens and Friends—I am now making my last ly to have resulied by preserving so unpopular a dying words, and do protest my innocence. Ihave ministry have been greater? Surrounded by pow- | been wrongfully sworn against. I die erful enemies, the acts of his administration were | cent as a lamb, and as happy at heart as a saint.”” always retarded, frequently annulled; and the The rope was then adjnsted, and at sixteen_mi- course which he had laid do vn was annihilated, | nutes past one o'clock, the drop fell. so that his term, which would soon have expired, | pave no struggle, and peared to die would have been absorbed by vain projects. la After henging twenty- minutes, the body was this, his enemies would have entirely suceeded. | taken down, when it was ascertained that the neck Monages is not, as represente ao cruel and fero- | was broken” It was placed ina neat walnut coffi; cious tyrant; on the contrary, displayed much | decoraced by a silver cross, and given in charge ot moderation and clemency, and it is only necessary | Faher Paris, for Christi fowh 4 to review the acts of his short administration The crowd wae very large, the number present with impartiality and without prejudice, in order to | heing estimated at ten thousand, yet the uwimoat (ucover that, diiven, vexed, and exposed as he has | crder was observable ; m, by the partirans ", " A " rder much tif control, not te bars been driven to acts ot | «Jtmes H. Cassidy, convicted of the murder of 1 be Monagas will not allow moe! rman, was sentenced, a day or two since, to be executed on the 24th of Janwa 's bat it is thought that in his case there will be a atate counsels, or by improper He is not of thy inventions of the Unvaatee of bie sonst cad . , and will eur. | commutation of ishment, the Exeoutive, to round himself by trae patriots, who will counteract all | imprisonment for hfe, Tt was pt the evils intended aimed af the destruction of his | but Oaesidy was drunk when he commitied tha rdministration it in of the onuse of the | crime, bas inflaential frienda. so-eniled partisans of Paen, whom the ex-ptesi- | The weather has been very cold for the dent haa mo evnneetion, they should so far forget them. | gy alec reves, as to prefer anarchy, Monagas must then 1 2 Missiseipp ail dosing i the devoted citizens of the stm order t> coun. | "RE filled with floating ica.