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CHRONICLE & SENTINEL.'
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BY J. W. 8c W. S. JONES
DAILt, TRI-WEEKLY «fc WEEKLY
OFFICE IN RAIL ROAD BANK BUILDING.
TERMS—DaiIy Paper, perannum,in advance**Slo
Tri-Weekly Paper, “ “ “ •• 5
Weekly, (a mammoth sheet) “ ! •• 2
CASH SYSTEM,—In no case will an order for the
paper be attended to, unless accompanied with thr
money, and in every instancewhen thetime for which
any subscription may be paid, expires before the re
ceipt of suds to renew the same, the paper will he
discontinued. Depreciated funds received at valuem
this city.
From the N. Y. Tribune.
Mr. Atherton’• Lecture on California *
About eight hundred persons assembled in the
Tabernacle last evening to hear Mr. Ather
ton’s Lecture on California, or rather to see
a live Californian—a man who had actually
been at the “diggins/, both ‘‘wet” and “dry,.”
Although Mr. Atherton would have doubtless
felt more at home, in the Valley of the Sacra
mento, as he himself suggested, the plain,
straight to the-mark manner in which the sum
and substance of his knowledge was imparted
to his hearers might be copied to advantage
by racny persons who have had more expe
rience in public speaking than Mr. Atherton.
A gentleman whose name w® were not able to
ascertain, having made a few introductory re
marks, introduced to the audience Mr Ather
ton who commenced :
Ladies and Gentlemen : On my arrival in
thi. city, three or four days since, I was ap
plied tft by a large number of persons for relia
ble information in reference to California.
AH the imformation I have in reference to that
country, I have freely imparted to the extent
of my ability, to all who have sought it; but if
I were to answer all the inquiries that have
been put to me, I should have no time left to
attend to the business for which f left Cali
fornia. Numerous letters have been sent to me
requesting me to give a public lecture; several
of the papers of the city have called upon me
to do so, and personal applications have been
made to me to the same effect. I consented, but
gentlemen I assure you that it was reluctantly.
I would willingly decline the honor, even now,
if it were possible. I have reduced to writing a
portion of what I have to say to you, that ii
may be presented with some method, and in
proper order; after which it will give me great
pleasure to answer any question which may
be put to me. As my appearance in public as
a lecturer, is unusual, I beg you to excuse
my many imperfections. I shall make of this
lecture four general divisious, as follows;
First —The face of the country, climate, pro
ductions, of California, its healthfulness, River
Sacramento and branches, price of freight,
launches, government of the country, &c.
Sf c.
Second —The mines, manner ot procuring
the gold, average quantity per man, probable
supply, wet or dry diggius compared; and
some instances of success within my own per
sonal observation.
Third —Advice to Emigrants to California,
articles necessary *or an outfit &c. &c.
Fourth —The different routes to California,
the expenses of each, with full particulars of
the route through Mexico (over which I travel
led on my return from San Francisco,) with
distances, expenses and manner of travelling in
Mexico, and which is the most advisable
route.
Under the first general division of my sub
ject, I will remark that the soil is generally good
and capable of producing all the ordinary
grains It is a good wheat country. The
red worm which destroys so much of the wheat
here,is unknown in Callifornia, so far as my
knowledge extends.
When I first went to California, in the month
of January, 1847, land at Bodago, which is a
bout thirty miles north of San Francisco, was
worth two dollars am acre only—when I left, it
was worth twenty dollars an acre, San Fran
cisco, or Yerba Buena, as we call it, stands, as
you know, on the large and beautiful bay of
San Francisco, and ctffitains the most magni
ficent harbor in the world, and the only safe,
harbor in all Upper California, except San D.e
go. All the navies of the world and its com
mercial marine could ride in perfect security
and repose on its bosom. The harbor is en
tered from the ocean by a narrow passage a
bout one or two miles wide, with high bluffs
on each side. This bay extends about sixty
miles to the east of the town of San Francisco,
and about one hundred miles to the northwest,
and is from five to fifteen miles wide. The
town is four or five miles from the ocean. In
January 1847, there were about six hundred
inhabitants in San Francisco.
In April last, just before the gold placers
were discovered, there were about one thou
sand inhabitants there. There were, in May
and June, only a few women and children, the
majority of the population having gone to the
mines. When I left, many had returned. The
town was filled by emigrants arriving from
Oregon, Sandwich Islands, Valparaiso, and all
the neighboring places. There are severa.
other towns on this bay. The principal ones
are Sonoma, San Raphael, Sania Clara and
San Jose. I have visited all these places, but
my residence has been at San Francisco from
January, 1847, un to the 10th day of Decem
ber, 1848.
In relation to the climate of California, I can
safely say that it is not an unhealthy country.
Fever and ague is somewhat prevalent along
the banks of some of th® rivers; but I hazard
nothing in saying that the valley of the Sacra
mento is much more healthv than the valley of
the Mississippi, or the State of Illinois. I am
often asked about the “sickly season.” There
is what is called a“ rainy season,” which lasts
about four or five months—from November to
April—and continued exposure and want of
food and irregular habits would, of course, in
a rainy or dry season, strongly predispose to
dis«ase, and during all seasons it is necessary to
exercise ordinary prudence and care in relation
to health. During th® “dry season,” as it is
called, the climate is clear and delightful. The
atmosphere is bracing, and though sometimes
warm, is not weakening to the system, as it is
in some of our Southern States. I would re
mark, however, that in the summer season
heavy fogs are prevalent on the coast. The
river Sacramento and San Joaquin are the great
rivers of Upper California. The Sacramento
is a most beautiful stream. At its mouth it is
about two-thirds as wide as the East River at
Fulton Ferry. There is a small island in the
middle of th® river, a s its mouth. It has a mid
die bed, and is navigable for three or four hun
dred miles above its mouth. I have never been
on that river above Sutter’s, which is about
one hundred and fifty miles above San Fran
cisco. It is navigable for ships drawing eight
feet to the mouth of the American Fork, and a
email steamboat drawing two or three feet of
water could go two hundred miles still farther
up. A branch of the Sacramento called the
Amencan Fork.”. empti,, into the Sacra
mento, about 100 miles from its mouth. Cap
tain Sutters mill is 40 miles above the mouth
of, and on, the American Fork. This is the
place wher® the gold was first discovered. The
discovery was made by some of Captain Sut
ter’s men who were employed to dig a race to
discharge the waste water from his mill.
All articles of merchandize are carried in
what are called launches, which are large boats
that will carry from eight to fifteen tons. It
takes about a week or ten days to go from San
Francisco to Sutter’s, and back in one of these
launches, and when I left the freight on a bar
rel of flour was sl4. A common steamooat
could make the trip in two days. When I left
California, a launch, which but a short time be
fore could have been bought for SSOO, could
not be hired for one trip to Sutter’s for that
aura. The price of passage was slo—each
passenger te carry his food and bed with him ;
if he had any to carry. Nothing is found for
the passengers, except passage. Every man 1
has to does the Irishman did, “ eat himself,” on 1
the passage. It it quite unnecessary for me to I
allude to the political regulations of California.
You are well aware that, as yet, we have no j
government there. Congress neglects to pro
vide a Territorial Government for the country,
and although the Alcaldes are obeyed, the peo
ple are not obligated to obey them.
I now approach that portion of my lecture
which will probably be of tbe greatest interest
to you, to wit: the mines, manner of procuring
the gold average quantity per man, probable
supply,'wet and dry diggings, and some in
stances of success within my own personal ob
servation. I may very safely tell you that the.
accounts you have in the papers, from Califor
nia, are not exaggerated, however well they
may be calculated to stagger belief in them.
Gold is found in great abundance over an ex- )
tent of country 300 miles by 1000. I have ex
plored only a small portion of this vast area,
and new discoveries are constantly being made.
The fir* gold was discovered in February,
1848, about one year ago ; but although it was
reported in San Francisco that gold was found,
yet it did not at first seem to make any impres
sion on the people at that city. They did not
believe the reports, or rather they did not re
alize the fact that gold was found in such abun
dance, so near them. It was not till April and
May that the whole population became fully
awakened to the subject, when all the meu, and
many of the women and children, went to the
gold diggings. It was not till people came
down with the gold dust and reported $3 to
$lO per day, that the people of San Francisco
credited the reports. In the firsi six weeks af
ter the rush commenced, S6OO 000 were col
lected The quantity collected by each person
varied from one ounce toslooo perday.
It is now ascertained that gold exists on both
sides of the Sierra Nevada, from latitude 41
north to as far south as the San Josquin, and
although! the country has not been fullv ex
plored, there is no doubt that the gold region
extends 1,000 miles along the valley of the Sa
cramento and San Joaquin, and still further to
the South. The supply of gold is absolutely
inexhaustible. In my opinion, one hundred
thousand people could not exhaust the supply
in ten or twenty years. The ore is in its vir
gin state, and is found among the sand and gra
vel beds, in slate and granite, rocks, also in
good tillable soil. Some machines were used
when I left, but tin pans were generally pre
ferred. Some Indian baskets were also used,
and were considered good being very light and
handy. I saw, yesterday, a machine invented
by a gentleman of this city, living, 1 believe, in
Eldridge street, which I consider a superior
one ; and I would advise those who intend go
ing to the gold diggings to examine it. It is
very simple and easy to transport. The quan
tity of gold now extracted is estimated at about
four millions of dollars. The labor of wash
ing the gold is very severe. People wash gold
as long as they can stand up, often paying no at
tention whatever to the demands of their health
living without adequate food and sleep, or
when they do sleep it is in the open air, and
thus nature gives way, and the individual sick
ens and perhaps dies.
If a person has sufficient strength of mind to
build his house before commencing to procure
gold, and can be contented to work only a rea
sonable time every day, devoting proper lime
to sleep, he may be sure of retaining his health
and amassing a fortune. The difficulty is
that every body is crazy, frantic with the ex
citement for gold. Each fears that his neigh
bor will get more than himself. The Captain
of the vessel in which I came from San Fran
cisco to San Bias (Captain Blanchard) gather
ed in three weeks gold dust of the value of
SIO,OOO, and of this sura S3OOO were gather
ed by him in the last three days he was at the
mines. This amount he had on board the ves
sel (the brig Laura Ann.) He informed me
that in washing out the last, he must have
thrown away 2 or 3 ounces from each tin
pan full of earth, as it would pay better not to
wash it carefully. The largest lump of pure
gold I ever saw weighed seven pounds. It
was obtained by some Indians in the employ of
a man by the name of Weaver. I saw it
weighed, and it was pronounced 19£ carats
fine. A statement was published in the Cali
fornia Star, a few days before I left, that
one man obtained $12,000 in six days, and that
three others obtained 36 pounds in one day.—
Os the truth of this I have no doubt whatever.
It may seem impossible, even ludicrous, but
such is the fact. Such occurrences are by no
means uncommon. The ‘ dry diggins’ are
considered preferable to the wet. The gold
can be procured in the winter asd rainy season
as well as in the dry season, in else the miners
provide themselves with houses and a supply
of food In the present state of society in
California, or rather in the absence of all law
but “Lynch law,” mining especially in the
winter or rainy season, should be carried on in
companies, say from ten to fifteen in each, with
adequate buildings for their protection, and a
good supply of food. Companies larger than
ten or fifteen would be likely to break up. So
far, they have not sacceded as well as smaller
companies. Those ofyou who have read the
official communication of Commodore Thomas
Ap Catesby Jones, of the 23d December, 1848,
twelve days after I left San Francisco, may
have observed the following remark—‘lncred
ible quantities of gold are yet daily collected,
and scarcely a week elapses without some new
discovery of the precious metal, more startling
than any previous one.” The Commodore al
so alludes to the fact that a few days previous
to the dale of his despatch a small party of five
or six persons obtained, in two days, $30,000
worth of pure gold I have no more doubt of
the truth of the statement by Commodore Jones
than I have of the fact of my existence. Yet,
to one who has never seen similar instances
of success, such an announcement seems ab
solutely incredible. Gentlemen I think itcan
hardly be necessary for me to say more to you
of the actual existence of gold in immense,
quantities and comparatively easy of access in
California. Whatever may be the effect upon
the money market of the world, other persons
that myself can better determine, but 1 am per
fectly satisfied that the supply is immense.—
The gold region , part of which has been explor
ed, embraces, as you have observed, a larger
area than the Slate of New York, and new
dis overies are being made daily. There are,
I am told, a little less than 50,000 square miles
in the State ofNew York, and if two persons
only were digging on each square mile, you
would have 100,000 persons. Now it is possi
ble, though hardly probable, to my mind, that
during the next summer there may be 100,000
persons in the gold region digging lor gold.—
But they will be scattered over a large extent
of territory, and you may depend upon it, gen
tlemen, that there will be room enough for all.
If a Government and a Mint could only be es
tablished in California the gold would be as
valuable there as in New York. But such is not
the case at present. As an evidence of this, I
may say that lots in San Francisco when I left
were held and actually sold at prices higher
than lots of the same size in Wall-street. That
portion of the mining district which 1 have vis
ited, extends along the valley of the Sacramen
to and American Fork, about fifty miles above
Sutter’s, and covers an area of about a hundred
miles.
One panful of common dirt in which the geld is
found, when carefully washed, yielded on an average
about half an of gold. It usually look about
fifteen or twenty minutes to wash a panful, provided
the dirt was procured near the river or washing place.
Os course it takes some time to dig the earth and
carry it to the water. I have known instances of per
sons going in search of gold, who came back disap
pointed, unsuccessful. They did not fall into the
right “digging” and did not get enough to pay their
expenses. Those who fail are generally those who
go in too large companies, or those with delicate con
stitutions, who break down under fatigue and expo
sure. It is something of a lottery to find good “ dig
gings, ’ When a person or a company has found a
right spot, others are not allowed to dig in the same
hole, but they may dig near it. The exclusive right
to dig in the spot selected is, however, only allowed
j whil® actually occupied by the digger. There are
but very limited facilities for storing goods at San 1
Francisco. I should by all means recommend that j
materials for a fire-proof building or store-house be j
sent around Cape Horn.
I will now speak to you of the articles necessary
for an outfit to California. In the first place, an In
dia Rubber Tent is, 1 consider, indispensable. This
can be procured ip San Francisco at less price than it
would cost to buy it here and transport it there.
Every man who is going to dig wants a pair of India
Rubber long stockings. These can be had in San
Franciseo, also in it»w city. A pair ofthick shoes should
be worn over the India Rubber stockings, to prevent
the gravel from cutting the feet of the stockings, and
thus admitting the water. The India Rubber stock
ing would prevent perspiration from being checked
too suddenly, as the labor of digging up the earth
will necessarily cause perspiration, which, if checked
too auddeniy, would certainly produce colds and fe
vers. Every emigrant should take or send furniture
' sufficient for his own use, but not more than is neces
sary, for freight is very high to San Francisco and up
the river. I would not advise any man to go to Cali
fornia who is doing well here. If he is doing well
enough, let him stay. The inconveniences will be
very great, such as always attend the settlement of
every new country. There will be a great many
privations and difficulties; but to such as have good
health, who are accustomed to labor and are doing
nothing here, or are laying up nothing, I say by all
means go to California. The laboring man will suc
ceed best in California. 1 would not recommend that
wooden frames for dwelling houses be shipped to
California to be put up in San Francisco. The whole
town is built ol wood, and when the houses are com
pact, as they will be very soon, all would almost in
evitably be consumed if one should take fire during
the pravalence of the strong northwest winds that oc
cur during the summer. Brick houses ought to be
built. There is a great abundance of good clav,with
in two miles of San Francisco, and lime is easily pro
cured. The only difficulty in building brick houses
is ' great scarcity of labor.
i would not reermmend any extra amount of cloth
ing to be taken to San Francisco by the emigrant, as
it can be had there as cheap as the cost here with the
freight added. Don’t go to any unnecessary expense
for clothing. There is plenty of provisions at San
Francisco—beef and flour in abundance. The flour
comes from Chili and Oregon. Provisions are high
at the mines, but only in consequence of the difficulty
and expense of transportation. Farmers would do
well to go to California. The soil is so well adapted to
Agriculture that a great deal of money might be made
by farming on an extensive scale. A friend of mine
at San Raphael, on the bay of San Francisco, raises
green peas, and has them every month in the year —
all raised in the open air. Grapes are also raised in
great abundance, from which excellent wine is made,
and fully equal to the best Port Wine. Houses
could not be obtained at Sau Francisco when I left.
The influx of population is so great that every house
was overflowing, as there are but few houses in San
Francisco, perhaps not over two hundred and fifty,
and those very small. There are no schools in San
Francisco. A good school, with a teacher who could
speak the Spanish language, wolfid be well patron
ized, and get scholars from Chili, Peru, and the
whole Pacific coast. Tothose who intend to settle in
California, without reference to the gold excitement, I
would simply say, that the country affords every in
ducement to such settlers. In Monterey and other
towns than San Francisco, there would be no difficul
ty in obtaining houses at a reasonable rate —at a rent
of from one hundred dollars to two hundred and fifty
dollars a year.
Chronicle emit Sentinel.
A usost a, ga7
MONDAY MORNING, FEB. 20, 1849.
Usury Lavra.
The Legislatures of New York and Massa
chusetts have had the usual number of petitions
laid before them, at their present sessions, both
for and against the usury laws of those States,
which have given rise to the repetition of the
old sawa on this subject for the thousandth
lime, to the great reliefof new born, and most
sapient legislators. No theme is better adapt
ed to form the basis of a maiden speech; no
matter which side the fledgeling statesman
shall adopt. Usury laws are trade—
anti-lhe largest liberty—and of course anti de
mocratic. This is enough to secure the con
tinuous agitation of this hot-interest question,
for at least a century to come, unless all re
straint of the kind on the avarice of Shylocks
is sooner removed. If the borrower of money
agrees to pay a pound of his flesh in the way
of forfeiture, or usury, the law must enforce
the contract. Something like this seems to
be the notion of the Charleston Evening News
which thus concludes an editorial on this sub
ject:
“ Now, there is no greater error involved in the
reasoning of these restrictionists than the not : on that
it is one of the functions of government to regulate the
currency—in other words, to impose limitations on
the quantity of money which the commercial and daily
wants of the public make necessary. This was the
great mistake oft the Peel restriction act, which de
clared that the maximuui issues of the Bank of Eng
land should be £ 14,000,000 —that is, as this sum suf
ficed during a period ol high mercantile confidence, it
was sufficient when panic had stricken all classes, and
the wants of the public, from excessive hoarding,
would perhaps have required an issue of twice the
above sum. Our limits preclude farther remarks
at present on this subject, but aa it is an important mat
ter, we intend to resume its discussion.”
We shall look with interest to the views of
our considerate and reasoning contemporary.
And by the way of helping him along in the
discussion, we would suggest that he is bound
to show that free trade in the use and interest
of money will be restrained without the aid
of usury laws, within proper limits ; and that
all contracts made by the crafty with the igno
rant and the necessitous, should be enforced
by law. This is what the money lenders ask
of Legislatures. They are opposed to all re
strictions on traffic in the legal currency of so
ciety. The government must not undertake
to regulate the currency of the country. Shy
locks can organize banks and mints, regulate
and manage the currency of the public much
better without, than with law. Legislatures
may rightly purysh all offences, where the
wrong extends only to a few dollars, between
man and man. But when it swells to the
amount of tens of thousands, in the shape of
exorbitant and unjust interest, the wrong must
go unrebuked. Public justice must be silent.
No protection is needed. All legislation with
a view to effect that purpose, is alike unwise
and inexpedient.
Insane Avarice has yet to learn that there
is such a thing as overreaching one’s self—
that the abolition of usury lawg, instead of
benefiting money lenders, would in the lor g
run do them an injury. They of all men, have
most reason to pray—“lead us not into temp
tation.” The temptations to drive sharp bar
gains are numerous enough, and strong enough
already without a repeal of laws against usury.
Heavy Hogs.
Mh. John Gamble, of Yates, Orleans county,
N. Y., recently sent a lot of dressed hogs to
Albany market, which gave an average weight
of 540 pounds. They sold at $5.87i per 100
pounds: bringing the handsome sura of $37.13
each. They were packed, says the Albany
Journal, for the eastern market.
The American Bible Society has applications
from Constantinople, Syria, Persia, South
Africa, and India, for nearly thirty thousand
dollars worth of Bibles or Testaments. During
the month of March S4OOO worth are also to be
sent to Franee. These heavy calls upon the
sociey require that its friends should move
actively in its support.
Mr* Polk’s Territorial Acquisition.
The Constitutionalist opposes Mr. Pres
ton’s bill, and seeks to shift the responsibility
of bringing non slaveholding Mexican territo
ry and States into the Union, from the should
ers of President Polk, on to those of Presi
dent Taylor. This will hardly be permitted.
The out-going Administration must bear its
own sins, both of omission and commission.
Mr. Polk has been a traitor to the South ; and
we call upon his partizanshere,to show what lie
has done to render it possible to establish one
slave State in the territory which has been
made to cost the South so much blood and so
much treasure. This they are bound to do,
or admit that their Southern President % has
been false to the trust reposed in him, by a too
confiding country. Come forth ye supporters
of James K. Polk, and of Lewis Cass, and
exonerate these gentlemen if you can from the
stain of Wilmot provisoism. Name one act of
either demagogue which favors the extension
of slavery one inch beyond its present limits.
We call upon you to do this or forever to hold
your peace about the introduction of slavery
into the territories purchased of Mexico by the
present knowing as it
did, that if left “to the option of the South,”
slavery would never be established there.
It is for the purpose of sectional agitation
that the Constitutionalist puts forth paragraphs
like tire following :
“If a State government is allowed to be formed bv
the present residents of that immense territory, ex
tending over near ten degrees of latitude, and embra
cing a country large enough for ten large States, the
South is betrayed, and her rights sacrificed.
“ It would be practically just as well for the South
(olet New York or Massachusetts form a government
for the whole of thjt territory, as to yield the right to’
its present inhabitants, for they are all Wilmot provi
so men.
“ We suppose however we must wait and see what
‘ Old Zaak’ will accomplish for the South, as nothing
is expected to be done this session.”
If “Old Zack” does as much as Mr. Polk
has to extend the area of free States,the friends
of the latter are bound in honor to be satisfied.
Mr. Polk has established two important prece
dents. One in approving of the W|lmot pro
viso in the territory of Oregon; and the other
in declaring in his last annual message that
slavery cannot exist in New Mexico and Cali
fornia.
The Kentucky Market for Horses.—We
were surprised the other day on being told by a Ken
tucky grazier that he now found the best market for
horses and mules in New York and New England.
His custom now is to send his best animals in that di
rection and his poorest to the South.
When the people of the East first begun to make
railroads it was supposed that the horse-dealers’ trade
would soon be broken up; but twice the old number
are now required. A division of labor in that section
gives the means of paying high prices ; the South
clings to one staple and employment, and can afford
to buy only the second best.
It is ceitainly convenient to have a market on both
sides of us, but our graziers would save 15 or 20 per
cent, if the railroads, manufactories and market were
all at home.—Louisville Journal.
We hope the day is not very remote when the
South will cease to be a good market for all the
poor, mean horses of Kentucky ; and for the
second and third rate Cheese of New York.
The best Cheese is exported to England ; and
the poor to the region where the Kentucky
grazier sends his “ poorest horses. ”
This statement, although true in the main,
(loubllesshas some exceptions. But why should
we not make our own cheese and butter, and
raise our own horses and mules ? Our neglect
to do so, excites the derision of those that pro
fit most by our strange and unaccountable
emission.
Life Preservers.
The Newark Daily Advertiser gives the fol
lowing account of a trial with a new apparatus
for keeping persons from drowning in case of
shipwreck :
“ Two men clothed with them jumped from the
drawer of the bridge at 1 o’clock, sinking only to
about the arm-pits. The head and shoulders were
kept out of the water, and were always uppermost
during various gyrations. After floating and rolling
about for some minutes they-came out, and on putting
off their Preservers their clothes were found to be as
dry as when they jumped in. It is said that a per
son wearing one of these Preservers can carry from
50 to 100 pounds, additional weight and float four
persons in the water without sinking.
The entire person, save the face, is enclosed in the
dress, parts of which are inflated, enabling the wearer
to float in an erect, or sleep in a reclining posture.
The heat of the body is retained in the coldest weath
er. Provisions for a week may be stored away.
When not inflated, the dress is not more cumbersome
than an ordinary overcoat.”
If the inventor of this ingenious air-bladder
can surround the body of a floating person
with an iron frame or case, so that no shark nor
other ugly customer can bite through, we see
no particular danger in being a week or so out
at sea, in case of afire or other accident to a
steamer.
Afire broke out in Boston on Monday eve
ning last, and destroyed the printing offices of
the Chronotype and Washingtonian—loss
$15;000 covered by insurance.
Frozen Up. —The Delaware is now frozen
tight from Five Mile Point above the City, to
the Falls, at Trenton. Within the last day or
two the river was crowded, at Bristol, "with
vehicles and horses—so we are informed.—
Phil. N. Amcr of 22d.
Steamer United States.— We have already
slated that this steamer had been sold to one of
the German Stales. The Journal of Com
merce says the Prussian Government is the
purchaser, for the sum of $265,000. The nego
tation was conducted through a German house,
and the ratification guaranted through the
Rothschilds. She cost $300,000, has run
her owners into debt $50,000.
The brought news that the Aca
dia and Britannia steamers of the Canard line
had also been purchased by the Prussian Gov
ernment, and would be converted into war
steamers.
VVe regret to learn that a young man named
Snider, in the employ ofthe Macon & Western
Railroad Company, as a freight conductor, met
wih a shocking accident, oti Wednesday last, at
Forsyth, from which it is feared he cannot re
cover. The poor man’s left arm was so badly
crushed as to render amputation necessary. He
was otherwise seriously injured.— Atlanta
Miscellany 2'3d inst.
During the past year, about two millions
three hundred thousand yards of lawns have
been manufactured at Portsmouth (Mass )
Steam Factory. The product of October. No
vember and December, was about 675 000
yards, which is at the rate 0f2.700,000 per year.
A marble bust of the late John Q,. Adama has
been finished by J C. Kins, a Boston artist,
from sittings given him in 1845. It is said to
k® 1091 - P er^ect ar *d characteristic likeness of
the illustrious statesman. It is to be sent to
Washington in a few days, to be set up in the
Speaker s room, in the very spot where Mr.
Adams died.
California and New Mexico.
The propositions for the disposition and I
government of these territories are becoming
very numerous, and we fear in the multiplicity
of plans, none will be adopted for adjusting this
question. The following notice of two propo
sitions submitted to the Senate on the 33d inst.,
we extract from the correspondence ofthe Bal
timore American: *
Mr. Webster rose to present a proposition,
providing for the temperary government of
California and New Mexico, as a substitute for
Mr. Walker’s amendment to the Civil and Di
plomatic Appropriation Bill, if the Senate shall
deem that bill a proper place for it; and, if not.
as a substitute for the bill for the admission of
California and New Mexico as States into the
Union, reported from the select committee of
the Senate on that subject.
The Senate, he said, had been engaged for
some days in the discussion of the important
question, and of the kind of government at this
time necessary and expedient He had listen
ed with respect to the several speeches which
had been made on the subject, and had care
fully examined the several propositions, in the
shape of amendments, to organize the territory
into States, now before the Senate.
To these there seemed to him objections, as
well from the manner of their introduction as
from the character of the propositions them
selves. He wished now, in the form of a bill,
to suggest what appeared to him to be the most
expedient course to pursue at present in regard
to these territories. If it be the opinion of the
Senate that some government shall be provi
ded for them at the present session, and that
this may with propriety bj done in the Civil
and Diplomatic Appropriation Bill, he would
offer his proposition as an amendment to that
bill; but if it be the sentiment of the House
that the California bill shall be considered,then
he would offer it as a substitute for that bill.
This proposition of Mr. Webster authorizes
the President to hold possession and employ
such portions of the army and navy as he may
deem necessar,, to protect the inhabitants in
the enjoyment oftheir liberty, property and re
ligion ; that such civil and judicial officers as
are now there or may be appointed by the Pre
sident, shall be continued in the exercise of
their functions; and that this law shall continue
ill fnc<V3 until theclose of the next session, un
less superseded by act of Congress—provided
that martial law shall not be declared, other
than the ordinary courts martial for the trial of
persons connected witn the military and naval
service. Ordered to be printed.
Mr. Dayton also presented a proposition
which he intended to offer as an amendment,
and which was ordered to be pinted, authoriz
ing the President to govern the territories in
the same manner as Florida and Louisiana were
governed under similar circumstances, being a
copy of the old law authorizing temporary civil
and military government in the latter.
The amendment of Mr. Walker—to which
the propositions of Messrs. Webster and Day
ton are to be offered as substitutes—after un
dergoing several modifications, at the sugges
tion of Mr. Foote and others, now provides—
That the constitution of the United States,
and all and singular the several acts of Con
gress respecting the registering, recording, en
rolling, or licensing ships or vessels and the
entry and clearance thereof, and the foreign
and coasting trade and fisheries, and all the acts
respecting the imposing and collecting ofduties
or imports, and all acts respecting trade and
intercourse with the Indian trills, and all acts
respecting the public lands for’the survey or
sale thereof, and all and singular the other act*
of Congress of a public and genera! character,
and the provisions whereof are suitable aud
proper to be applied to the territory west of the
Rio del Norte, acquired from Mexico by the
treaty of the 2d of February, 1848, be, and the
same are hereby extended over and given,
and made in full force and efficacy in all said
territory.
And that the President of the United States
be, and he is hereby authorized to prescribe
and establish all proper and needful rules and
regulations (in conformity with the constitu
tion of the United Stales) for the enforcement
of said laws in said territory, and for the pre
servation of order and tranquility, and the es
tablishment ofjustice therein, and from time to
time to modify or change the said rules and
regulations in such manner as may seem to him
discreet and proper, and may prescribe aud es
tablish, temporarily, such divisions, districts,
ports, offices, and arrangements proper for the
execution of said laws, and appoint and com
mission such officers as may be necessary to
administer such laws in said territory for such
term or terms as he may prescribe, whose au
thority shall continue until otherwise provided
by Congress; said officers to receive such com
pensation as the President may prescribe, not
exceeding double the compensation heretofore
paid to similar officers of the -United States, or
its territories, for like services ; and to enable
the same to be done, the sum of $200,000 be
appropriated, out of any money in the treasury i
not otherwise appropriated.
Col. Fremont. —A letter to the* St. Louis
Union from Puebla, New Mexico, dated on the
28th November, states that Col. Fremont and
party had commenced the ascent of the first
range of mountains near Puebla, and were
pursuing their toilsome march, through snows,
toward the Pacific ocean. Col. Fremont left
last fail to complete his enploratioiis and sur
veys. This trip by Col. F. has been taken at
his own expense, but we suppose that Con
gress will make provision for defraying the ex
penses of the expedition. We have an extract
from the letter:
On the 26th, Col. Fremont commenced the
ascent of the Snowy mountains. The last we
heard from him lie was slowly wending his
way through snow about two feel deep, and
was within five miles of the top of the first
range of mountains. It is the intention ofCol.
F. to go to the Pacific by an entire new routa,
south of all his former routes across the conti
nent. His present survey will be of much in
terest. Should a southern route be determin
ed on for the greatrailroad across the continent
this survey will greatly aid Congress in deter
mining the western terminus.
Wealth of the Union.— lt is estimated
that the value of the crops in 1848 in the
United States will exceed $640,000,000. Value
ol livestock on farms is estimated at over
$557,000,000. The sums invested in manufac
tures for the same time amount to $34,300,000,
The sum invested in merchandise amounts to
$344 000.000, exclusive of $149,000,000 em
ployed in the commission business and foreign
trade. The aggregate of the productions and
business of our country then amount* to the
enormous sum of more than $2,000,000,000.
Land Sales in Wisconsin.— The entries of
Government land, during the year 1848. in the
three districts which compose the State of Wis
consin, show the following total. Cash entries
277,935 acres, warrants 754.509. Total 1,014,-
444. Sothe of the Wisconsin papers complain
at the quantity of land warrants located in their
State, urging as a reason that they will serious
ly retard the settlement and improvement of
the State, as the land warrants have been made
matters of speculation and bring butfew, if anv,
settlers thither. This is an evil for which Con
gress should provide a remedy.
OATS AND LARD,
QAA BUSHELS SEED OATS,
O i/U 8 Bbls. LEAP LARD, for sate low bv
fe24-6 GIBBS & McCORD. 7
SWEEDISH LEECHES, for sale by
I*s HAVILAND, RISLEY & CO.
PRIME PORTO RICO and New Orlean.
SUGAR, just received, and for sale low
fe2o HAND, WILLIAMS & CO.
PLANTING POTATOES) of excellent qual
ity, for sale by
j‘ l6 HAND, WILLIAMS A CO.
Bg tl)e Magnetic telegraph.
Transmitted for Hie Chronicle & Sentinel,
Savannah Market.
Satchdat, Feb. 24.— Cotton.-- Sales 800 bales
at extremes ranging frem 5| a 7*o. The market is
unsettled by the Europa’s advices. Prices are about
the same as on Thursday.
of an interruption in
the Telegraph line between this and Charles
ton, we failed to receive any despatch last eve
ning either from Charleston or the North.
We are indebted to the courtesy 0 f a friend
for the following extract of a private letter :
The Charleston market was not affected by the
Europa’s news ; sales only 100 bales ; fair Cotton
6| ; extremes of the market 6 a 7{c. The advance
in freights, the scarcity of vessels and the desir- of
holders to press sales and the tightness of the money
market, are given as the causes of this dull state of the
market.
From the Charleston Courier of Saturday — By
Telegraph.
The Europa’s News*
England. —The British Parliament was open
ed by the Queen in person. The speech,
which was more lengthy than usual, gave clear
indication that it was the intention of the Gov
ernment to adhere to the free trade sys
tem, and to carry out these principles to final
consumation. The Government were equally
decisive in reference to the navigation laws,
and a new bill for their modification was to be
introduced, The Ministry had expressed their
determination to pursue every course of re
trenchment compatible with the complete effi
ciency of the various branches of Civil, Naval
and Military Departments. The decision,
which has given general satisfaction, and the li
beral policy that has been determined on, in re
ference to trade, will probably prolong the ten
ure of office of the present Ministry farbeyoud
what was anticipated previous to the upending
of Parliament. Sir Henry Lytton Bulwer has
received the appointment of Minister Plenipo
tenitary to the United States. Thee holera still
continues to prevail, its progress being about
the same as at last accounts. The California
fever has considerably abated.
Ireland —Charles Duffee has been brought
up before the Court on a ne w bill, and is to take
his trial at the present term under the Crown
and Government Security Act.
France. —Another breach between the As
sembly and the President of the Republic, the
nature of which is not stated, is said to have
arisen, which excited fears that a general out
break was in prospect. A real or sham plot
was reported to the French Ministry, and for a
short time Paris again assumed the appearance
ofabaleagued city. The streets were occu
pied by the military, said to be 80,000 in number
and Gen Changarnier gave out that the first
attempt to create a disturbance, or raise a barri
cade, should be the signal for a general slaugh
ter, without regard to the political opinions of
those who resisted the government. The mal
contents whether taken by surprise by the
prompt movement of the authorities, or un
prepared for action, in the face of the expensive
military arrangements that were made, did not
move. Marshal Beaugaud was dispatched te
bring up a division of the army of the Alps, os
tensibly to command Bruges, during the time
the Slate trials were in progress, but the true
object was, without doubt, to overawe the Red
Republicans in Paris.
The capital, for a few days, appeared to be
on the very verge of a Revolution, the issue of
which, however, from the prompt action o£.
the government, could hardly have been doubt
ed. The differences between the Guard Mo
bile and the troops of the line, added fuel to the
flame, which hourly increased in intensity.—
After a vote to gel rid of the question of the
dissolution of the French Assembly, which was
defeated by a majority of only eleven votes —416
to 405—more tranquility prevailed. The
struggle consequent on the excitement created
by that question, passed off without persona!
strife, although numerous arrests were made
in the National Assembly on the 26th ultimo.
The Minister of the Interior announced that be
had been instructed by the President of the
Republic to present a bill for the suppression
of the clubs. The Assembly had already en
acted a bill imposing penalties, with a view to
prevent excesses, and dissolve these
and dangerous associations. Government or
dered a number of the clubs to be closed in the
Capital and in the departments, and denounced
the offenders, and declared it impossible that
confidence could be restored, while the clubs
continued to exist, as they attempted to govern
the State, and no free government could per
mit such an anomaly to exist, without endan
gering its own existence.
Manufactures. —From the manufacturing dis
tricts, the accounts are decidedly encouraging.
Holders of goods are firm in their prices, and
sanquine in their anticipations of a good sprint;
business.
Monetary Matters. —Money continues plenti
ful, and easily to be obtained. The stock Mar
ket continues to improve in England. Both
English and American securities are on the
rise. United States six per cents continue to
be in demand, and an advance of an eighth per
cent has taken place, and appearances indi
cate that they will command a higher rate.
Very large amounts have been invested in this
stock. Maryland sterling five por cents have
been sold at /5 to /Sand 80, and an advance
to 85 is anticipated by the sanguine, Pennsyl
vania quoted at 74 to 75. Consols for monev
selling at 92£. and closing at 92£.
Liverpool Markets, Feb. 9,
Colton.—' The demand for this article has contin
ued to be extensive during the fortnight that has elaps
ed since the sailing of the Niagara, and the sales have
been to an unusually large extent. During the week
ending 2d inst., 67,850 bales were
which were American.* The prices of these [refer
ring doubtless to American] experienced but little if
any change, but Brazils and South American de
scriptions being in very active request, both for con
sumption and speculation, had advanced £d per lb.
Throughout the week following, ending on the 9th
inst., the market was firm and active, and the sales
during that time a mounted to 61,000 bales, of which
speculators took 12 500 and exporters 6,500, of these
52,000 were from the United Sta es.t The official
quotations were as fallows: fair Upland and Mobile
4i ; fair Orleans 4|; middling Orleans 4| a 4§; or
dinary Orleans 3f a 4d.
♦There is unquestionably an error in this state
ment, as the proportion of American must be much
larger than here stated.
+ We have no doubt that this amount, like that above
noted, refers to imports, and not to sales.
From the Charleston Evening News.
T 'he Markets. —Cotton has been in active demand
during the past fortnight; the sales ending 2d inst.
having reached 67,000 bales, of which 31,000 were
American. Prices of American but little changed ;
bat Brazil and South American descriptions are in
active demand for consumption and speculation, and
have advanced a half penny.
The market was active on the 2d inst. and the
sales to speculators amounted to 12,000 bales. The
imports during the two weeks was 65,000 bales, o\
which 52,000 were from the United States. The
following are the official quotations: Fair Uplands,
4fd, ; Pair Mobile, 4|d.; Middling, 4f a ; Ordi
nary, 3| a 4d.
From the charleston Courier of Saturday—By
Telegraph.
From Washington.
Friday, Feb. 23.—1 n the Senate the bill
granting bounty lands to substitutes serving m
Mexico was passed. The Civil List Bill came .
U p —the amendment providing for the tempo- f
rary government of California, was debated by
Messrs. Dayton, Webster and Foote, without
any final result.
In the House, the Post office appropriation
bill came up, and a slavery debate ensued
Mr, M’Dowallrnade an eloquent speech against