LEW
SBUM
c
LE,
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an
H. C. HICKOK, EDITOR.
Th Iewlsbars Cbronlrle i issued
very Wednesday morning at LwiDurg, Lmou
county, Pennsylvania.
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For Vit Lcvislurg Chronielt.
LINES
BV MRS- SARAH H. HAWS.
nggtrd Ij Slat c' ap. of John, 3d, 4th, 3ib v.
When the soft breath of evening stirred
The wave' of Gslilee,
A bark was launched hoe snowy aail
Crept soitly o'er tl.e sea
A birk by hardy fWhers manned.
Who spread their nets to brave
Through the deep hub of solemn nighl
The dangers of tbe wave.
For food liny toil but. faint and worn,
Tlietr weary vigils vain,
All s'ow and sad at dawn of dsy
They st'ik the shore to pain,
V hnn. I! what glad suipiise is theirs
A voice familiar, sweet.
With tender, kindly interest ask,
' Children, have ye any meat 1"
And Jiiuly tlii'meli the misty ligbl
f sen the God like form
Of Him whose mirnlite once allayed
IV fwv of the slorm :
- The Lord is near !" and courage now
And T5ure fill each brea-t.
Fall soon will their abundant cheer
Refresh the Heav'uly Guest.
Toor way worn pilgrim, heir of grace,
H re on through gloom and fear,
Tboeah unrewarded toil ia thine,
A Friend unseen is near ;
With the compassion of a UoJ
Hi hesVnly breast o'eiflows.
He listens to thy slig' te-t plaint,
A it J fetle thy smallest woe.
He who assumed a fallen stata
Rrinentbrrs thou art clay.
And access to Hie mercy -seal
Is open night and day ;
His tender love aa treely flows,
Hia lonea are still aa sweet,
Aa when ha breathed tbe touching worda
- My children, have ye meal ! "
Lewisburg, Feb. 1850
roa thi tiwisai o cuboxicli.
UNCLE GREY AND HIS NEPHEW.
I hope you will take care that James is
at home this alernoon," said Mr.Bel! to his
wife, as he was about leaving the house to
walk down to his office; Uncle Grey
told me ome time ago that he was coming
to spend a Stturday with us; aud the
weatner is so fine, that I think he will pro
badly come to day."
- am glad you mentioned it to me,"
replied Mrs. Rell ; " I will lake care that
James nhall be here, aud everything in
good order." j
Presently the house and yard resounded
with the name "James! James !"' uttered
in every variety of tone by the various
members of the family. Even the baby,
ho could scarcely lisp her brother's
Msme, joined in the general clumor. At
length J nine made his appearance. He
was a lad about fourteen years of age. His
countenance was rather prepossessing, but
(here w&s a general air of recklessness and
carelessness in hjs whole deportment which
to a close observer would appear a very
unfavorable symptom of the boy's moral
character. His clothes were torn and
covered with dus'.his face was heated with
pession, and his tangled hair hulf concealed
his eyes.
Hi mother did not seem to notice these
indications of a quarrel, if not of a fight,
but exclaimed.
"Oh, James, I am so glad you have
come at last. U'herehatc you been ! Run
'; stairs, and put on your Sunday suit,
our Uncle Grey is coming thi morning.
I urhapc he may be here) ia au hour or two.
And, James," added the mother, in an
anxious tone, "1 do hope you will J J credit
1 yur schooling ; your Uncle will be sure
'o a!c about your studies.
' I dare say he will a tiresome, inquia-
1 ie old fellow I" muttered James to him--lf
as he went up stairs (o obey his mo
ther's injunctions.
L'ucie Urey was tb it important person
's a rich, old, baclielor uncle. Jams
as his namesake, and in childhood1 had
'jeen the object of the old gentleman's par-
''hty, who used often lo declare thai if
Jines turned out a good boy and a scholar
he would leave him every dollar of his
property, Knowing Uncle Grey predil
ection in favor of learning, Mr. and Mrs.
Bdl rttpftred that James should be schol
inocpcnocnt Jomtljj
ar. " They -often declared that. "they sent
James to the best school in the town, paid
the highest price for his tuition, and bought
for him every book which his teachers re
quired.' After this enumeration, Mrs.Bell
would often conclude with a sigh, "Ah, it
is unknown the sums of money that boy's
education costs us. It will not be our fault
if he is not a scholar."
Mr. Hell was not mistaken in his con
jectures. Soon after ten o'clock wheels were
heard approaching the house, and Uncle
Grey made his apprarancr. All was in
the nicest order for his reception. The
children in their best clothes and on their
best behavior crowded around him. while
Mrs. Bell was profuse in her expressions of
surprise and delight at this "unexpected
V1SII.
1 he old gentleman looked around him,
evid' ntly much gratified by these tokens of
respect and affection.
"I suppose your good husband ia busy
as ever in his office, said he, addressing
Mr. Bell, "but where is James? Not at
school to-day, I suppose. His father writes
me word that he is a hard student always
book in hand. But the bow must be unbent
sometimes, eh T I was once young myself
and studied with the best of them. But I
loved Saturday, and a good game of play.
Where is the lad ! out w ith his bat and ball,
or gnne a fishing, eh
At this moment James entered the room.
A book was in his hand, and w hile he
warmly returned his Uncle's greeting he
kept a finger in the half closed volume, as
if fearful of losing the place.
'Ah, 1 see your father was right in say
ing that you. loved your books," exclaimed
Mr. Grey, as he noticed this indication of a
studious turn of mind. "But, my boy, you
must allow the body a little recreation, and
the mind a little rest- Come, lake me
around your garden. It is a long, long
time since I have seen the old place, and I
want to look around me a little. You chil
dren are all growing out ol knowlerlge.and
I suppose the trees and shrubs have sprout
ed wonderfully since I was last here. Come,
children, get your hats and bonnets. And
you. James, put away your books, for the
present ; we will have a little conversation
about thorn after dinner.''
James winced slightly at this observation,
and his brow contracted. However, the
whole party soon adjourned to the garden,
w here the old Uncle was the merriest of
the noisy group.
Business required Mr. Bell to return to
his office for an hour or two in tbe after
noon, uncle Uiey passed an nnur
after dinner enjoying hii afternoon's doze
ia hir easy chair. On awaking he called
for James, who had been uneasily expect
ing the summons, and proposed they should
go together into the library.
"Your favorite resort, eh, James! said
the old gentleman, palling his nephew on
the back. "I can not tell you how proud
and hippy I feel, my boy, to think that
you will prove a scholar, and that you re
ally love learning."
So taying. they entered into the library,
and the door closed upon them.
More than two hours passed away before
the door re-opened,aod Uncle and nephew
returned to the parlor. Mr. and Mrs. Bell
were seated there awaiting their appear
ance with some impatience.
Uncle Grey has been questioning James
pretty closely, I expect,'' remarked Mrs.
Bell to her husband before they entered.
"I have no doubt he is surprised at the
boy's learning. How much was -the last
quarter's bill at school V
The reply to this question waa prevent
ed by the entrance of Jamea and his Uncle.
The old gentleman's brow was clouded
J a me.' countenance bore evident traces of
mortification and discomfiture.and he spee
dily made his escape out of the room.
What nas happened. Uncle!" inquired
Mr. Bell, anxiously. "What ia the mat
ler with James ?"
"The matter, Madam!1 replied the old
gentleman, somewhat testily, "why the
boy is a fool or a knave, or perhaps both
"Oh, Uncle, what do you meant How
can you speak so unkiudiy V exclaimed
Mrs. Bell, bursting into a passtouate flood
of tears.
Mr. Bell turned an inquiring look to
wards his Uncle, who replied :
"Look here, nephew" Bell, either that
boy has deceived you.or you have deceived
me. This lavt supposition ia out or the
question, therefore llie first roust be the
e ise. That boy a scholar ! Why; he ia a
perfect dunce. I have seldom cone aeroas
such a specimen of the genua ignoramus
I have tried hia oa every subject be pre
tends to bare studied, and he knows . noth
)opcr bcuolcii
ingabsolutely nothing. Tell me now,
frankly, how came you to fancy that he
loved his books, and wis making progress!
Have you examined him lately !'
Why, no,'' replied Mr. Bell ; "to say
the truth, t never thought of doing such a
thing.and I am perfectly astounded at what
yoti tell me. 1 always see him engaged
with his books when 1 am at home.nnd his
mother tells me he is always eager to start
for school at the first sound of the bell. So
f thought all was going on right"
"Yer," interrupted Mrs. Bell, "and his
father has always sent him to the best
schools in the place and never begrudged
any expense, either for hi school-books or
his education. It is too bad !" and Mrs.
Bell began rocking herself violently, while
her tears flowed afresh.
"I doubt not your liberality with respect
to James' education," resumed Uncle Grey,
in a milder tone. H From what I elicited
from the boy himself, I perceive that he
has had every, advantage which money
could procure. But his own obstinate
idleness has frustrated your efforts and
those of the excellent teacher under whose
care you have placed him. 1 only ask'
you to examine his school books, and you
will at once perceive the system of decep
tion he has carried on. And you have
only to ask the boy himsell a few of the
simplest questions, on the subjects which
he professes to have been studying, in
order to discover that he knows nothing
about them. He has succeeded completely
in deceiving his tcacher.deceiving vou, and
heating himself. For, of course, the
foolish fellow is himsell the greatest loser
by the line of conduct he has pursued."
On hearing this last remark, which Mrs.
Bell imagined referred to the inheritance,
she exclaimed,
" Oh, Uncle, do not judge poor James
loo severely. On Monday morning I will
myself go around to the school and see
Mr. Smith. And H!
Here she checked herself, for she knew
Uncle Giey's high opinion of Mr. Smith's
attainments as a scholar, and abilities as a
teacher ; and she did not think it safe lo
give vent to the thoughts and feelings to
wards that gentleman which were awellinz
in her breast.
The afternoon was wearing away, una
Uncle Gray requested that his bugoey
might be brought around ; for he lived
several miles out of town, and was anxious
to reach home before the dews of evening
began to fall. He shook hands with all
the group (except James, who was ashamed
to show his face,) and took a friendly leave,
promising to repeat his visit in the course
of a few weeks.
" And tell James I shall want an hour's
conversation with him in the library ;
when I shall hope to find him a little bright
er than he proved this afternoon. He
must turn over a new leaf -he must lie
MUST."
So raying, Uncle Grey drove off.
" Well, I declare !" exclaimed Mrs.Bell,
as they returned into the house; I never
was so provoked in all my life. Mr.Smith
has been acting shamefully by us. I'll
tell him a piece of my mind on Monday
morning, that' certain."
" My dear," interposed her husbano,
" I wish you would leave it to me."
"Leave it you, Mr. Bell! no, indeed.
replied his wife, in much excitement. A
few fair words from Mr. Smith would pac
ify you in a moment. I will talk to him
mvself, and let him know that we are not
going to let ourselves be cheated in this
way. For it is downright cneating. we
oav him handsomely to make our boy a
scholar.and it is his duly to make him one.'
Mrs Bell was so much excited, mat sne
did not perceive Mr. Jawson, an oiu
fiiend, who had eutered the parlor while
she was speaking, and had heard her last
remarks.
" What doea this mean, Mary 1 sa'd
Mrs-Lawson, seating herself. "May I take
tbe privilege of an old friend, and ask the
cause of your vexation, and of your anger
against Mr. Smith V
Glad of the opportunity to unburden her
heart, Mrs. Bell related to her friend all
that had passed, and terminated with vio
lent exclamations against Mr. Smith's con
duct, i
But it seems to me that it is James,
and not Mr. Smith, whom you ought to
blame." remarked Mrs. Lawson. " You
have no evidence that the teacher has
failed in i duly, while James' idleness
and deception seem to have been made
verv clear to your Uncle. But how ia it
possible, Mary, that all this has burst op
m you at once ? How happens it that
you never discovred James' deficiencies
before V
lo Nctns. fiileralurc,
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 3.0, 1850.
" Why, my dear Mrs. Lawson," re
plied tbe mother, " I never even dreamed
of deficiencies. We pay Mr. Smith, and
handsomely, for teaching James ; and we
take care that he has all the books that he
requires. What can we do more ? What
can we be expected to i!o more V
"Pardoanie, Mary, if I ask jou one
question. You have a good and faithful
nurse for little Bessy, aud you pay her
well for taking charge of the child. But
do you think that this exempts you from
all personal care and watchfulness I Do
you say, I pay a curse for taking care
of Bessy, and I provide her with food and
clothes; I need therefore trouble myself
no further about the child !"
' Oi course not," replied Mrs. Bell ; "I
trust I know my duty as a mother too well
for that."
" You do not consider it right to confide
the care of your child's physical well-being
wholly to anoiher,howe ver faithful and ex
perienced she may be. And yet, when it
comes to more important points, when a
child's moral and intellectual training is
in question, you think that the mere fact
that you pay another to ttke charge of that
training relievesyou from all responsibility!
How can you reconcile such contradictory
principles! If it is your duty to watch
over and care fur little Bessy's physical
comforts, is it less your duty to watch over
and care for James' progress in education,
and above all to guard him from sin and
vice ? Are not your duties towards James
even of a more important and higher char
acter than those which little Bessy now
requires of you !'
Mrs. Bell remained silent and half con
vinced by her friend's arguments, while
her husband, who had remained a silent
listener to the conversation, exclaimed,
" You are right, Mrs. Lawson, perfect
ly right ; 1 have neglected duty, that I per
ceive, clearly. And I, as well as James,
must turn over a new fcu.''
The result of this determination may
perhaps be shown at some future time.
Suffice il for the present to say, that
the new light which had dawned on the
minds of Mr. and Mrs. Bell, saved Mr.
Smith fiom the threatened visit on Mon
day morning. X. X. X
For the Letoitburg Chronicle.
Mr. Editor : What does it mean 1 What
period of the world' progressive d velope
ment have we reached ! Has the world
become worse! Are these the evil days
spoken of in the divine chart ! Has the
world lately become so corrupt, or are we
become so much belter that we now see
what has always been, unperceived, the
case ; Ur is it so, mat age nas caused my
moral vision to become so dim, that I am
in a s'ate of dotage ! Verily something is
the matter with me or the world. Can you
or will you enlighten me, Mr. Editor !
Nearly 71 years have elapsed since our
political fathers in the assembled wisdom
of their representative capacity declared
that in order to institute and sustain self
government, Ireedom of speech and the
press was not only a duty, but an "inil-
ienable right," and that "all are and of
right ought to be free." In these latter
days, periodicals are sent to a Southern
post-tiffice, containing the doctrine that the
P'nll" in the above passage means every
one, and not an aristocratical few. What
was the result ! The indignation was so
great, that a band of the few, who came
within the meaning ol our declaration ol
rights, drove the functionary of the "tittle
tattle of a busy world" from his moorings,
and themselves performed the duties of
Uncle Sam's official deputy, claiming the
rjhl in violation of law to suppress the
circulation of a doctrine of such dangerous
tendencies ! ! Now for a moment look at
the difference between the reception of a
truth, and a lie, by the people. An indi
vidual of the Empire City, covering his
real name under that of a said to-be French
ohvsician of celebrity, with impunity sends
to alt the post-offices, North and South, a
newspaper bv the tens and hundreds, con
taining an advertisement that for a fee of
10 he will mail to any part of the U.S. a
desideratum that will enable the purchaser
to commit infanticide, not only with
impunity, but containing and advocating
the sentiment that infant murder is morally
right ! ! Towards these publications what
is the conduct of our Southern chivalry,
and Northern too? Does their indignation
burst into acts in violation of the laws ol
the land ! No. It is a delicate matter-
so much so that no one except in whisper
ing circles can be found to allude to it
our nublic press, secular ana reiigioue.
guardians of our dearest interests, dumb
3olitics, dgruuHarc, Science anb IHoralitn.
dogs," and "Gulio like," neither heed nor
care for any of these things. Instead ol
raising the warning voice, they sleep on.
while the insidious seducer from moral
recitude is permitted to spread brnad-caM
over our land his Satanic abomination.
Parents united head of the fainilv !
Ministers watchmen on Zion's walls'
Statesmen guirdians of the citizen's pr
tection ! reel you no responsibility in this
matter 1 Are your skirts clear when you
stand silent and careless, when uch a
derimn of moral destruction is let loose in
the fielj which seems realty while unto tde
harvest, in which immorality instead of!
good shall bo reaped ? What greater evi
dence need we that the bimnn heart
corrupt and desperately wicked, than the
fact that our community will violate the
post cfliee law to suppicss the circulation
of lheifA, and look silently on when the
most demoralizing of all immoral doctrine
is permitted without reproof to go thro'ojt
the length and breadth of our (said to be)
happy land ? Again, what more irrefutable
evidence need we thtt the Vicar of I5ray as)
.1
well .is John liunyan have descendants in;
our land, than the fact that in many cases j
unpopular sins are driven to the lanes and
""eys of the world, from which they dare
not show their deformed heads, whilst
popular sins walk in open day-light, scot
tree? Shall the community, prepared by
a long series of labor by the novel-fabricating
fraternity. from Scott and Bulwer down
1 1 Eugene Sue, be permitted to run into
licentiousnessifindelity, and atheism.whilst generally requires irrigation. It ia a good ! Tl-8 following letter from Wm P.Bur
the "salt of the earth" are crying Peace i! grazing country, and the beef is of much ; 'clt r1 'at0 0 l's 'l,a&e, has been
peace ! w hen there is no peace ! I hope
j not L know the pulpit, the press, and the
rostrum will wake up to their privilege and
duty. " OTHO.
Our correspondent is rather sweeping
in his statements. Il is too true that many
papers of high pretensions have been guilty
not only of not warning readers against this
last device of demoniac licentiousness, but
have opened their columns to admit its false
and polluting inducements to- lead on the
young, ihe ignorant, the thoughtless, and
unwary, from sin and crime to suffering,
shame, and early graves. But all journals
are not obnoxious to the charge. The
Pottsville Emporium, and others we could
name, nave spurweu ib umiik) umiv.
the price of infamous and wholesale fraud
and morn I and physical corruption ; and
have exposed the guilty to merited scorn
and reprobation. The lwisburg Chronicle
while under our control has not in?erted an
article tending to deceive silly youth by j
sham pretensions of relieving them of the
certain end dreedful and varied results of
violations of the law of purity nor yet to
encourage universal prostitution nor to
advocate child (and as a consequence also
adult) killing, to conceal prinr guilt. But
it has sought in a prudent and fitting man
ner to caution community against these
monstrous modern agencies of iniquity and
death. If those who should and do read
this journal are not guarded against city
and country periodicals fi'led with this
worst of moral plagues, it is their fault, not
ours. Pun- Chron.
From the Levrisburg Californians.
Correspondence of the Chronicle.
Sas Francisco, Dec. 30, 1S19.
Dear Friend W.: I suppose the rea.l
era of the Chronicle are constantly receiv
ing intelligence from this region : I will,
however, add a short but impartial account
of "matters and things" as they exist in
this land of excitement and specula' ion.
We are now in the midst of winier. or
tke "rainy season." Ihe first rain Ml in
he latter part of October. On the II ih
of this month (Dec.) it commenced raining
and continued without intermission until
the 23d. The country is now completely
saturated, and in many portions oi it im-
oassable for waaons, &c. Persons in the
r -
mines will be compelled to remain there
until spring opens at least, the getting
out will be very difficult. It is predicted
that there will be a great deal of suffering
at the mines this winter, ihe amount of
provisions not being sufficient to supply the
vast numbers that are wintering there.
Mining can not be carried on successfully
during the wet weather, which continues
until the 1st of March. About the 1st of
May the streams begin to vise, caused by
the snow melting io the mountains. They
subside about the 1st ol July. From that
time up to the 1st of Nov. a period of four
months is the only time that mining can
be carried on successfully.
The Southern Diggings were most heal
thy last season thousands having died on
the tributaries of 'he Sacramento. The
VOL.
j fresh graves of twenty-five hundred per
sons can now he seen at Sutler's M il.
Imprudence and exposure bring on disease.
In most cases the sufferer is deser'ed by
his Lest friends, and wanting medical aid
and the comforts required for the restora
lion of health, he dies, unlamented and
uncared for. Notwithstanding this frightful
mortality, thousands are ruhing lo the
mines, regardless of the consequences.
As to the abundance of gold in this
country, it is exhaustless, stretching over
an area of six hundred miles in length and
forty in breadth. From the base of the
Sierra Nevada mountains up to the regions
of perpetual snow, it can be found in every
isiarroaand gulch, and frequently on tbe
sides and tops of the mountains, proving
conclusively that it has been revealed by
volcanic eruption, and deposited in these
streams and arroyas by washes. Those
coming to this country for the purpose of
discovering the "fountain-head," may rest
assured that it can -not be found. 1 can
believe almost anything that can be said in
regard to the abundance of cold. The
1
accounts that I read before leaving home.
and cousidered fa'te or greatly exaggera
ted, have proven true. 1 have seen lumps
of golj'weigh'ng from one lo six pound,
and know persons of veracity who say
they have seen lumps of fifteen and twenty
(even pounds. The future prosperity of
California will depend upon the productive
ness of the gold region. The amount of
land adapted to ajri'-ulture is small, and
finer flavor than in the States. One
Spaniard frequency owns fifty thousand
head of cattle. Withia three years, the
price has risen from $2 to $20 per head.
Of course the former staple business (ex
portai on of hides and tallow) of this coun
try, is thrown in the shade.
We have now a Territorial G vernmen
organized, and both branches of the Legis
lature are now in session at Pueblo De
Sn Jose, making laws as fast as thev can
at the following rates : Governor Burnett's
salary. 10,000 per year. Clerks Zio per
day. Members an ounce per day, Xt ;
these wages are considered very low. Hon.
J. C. Fremont, Dr. Gwynne, and the two
Con resume a elect, sail by this steamer,
sion into the Union as a State.
I have ree'd several No.'s of the Chron
icle it does me good to read them. I had
scarcely begun the above, when the hour
for closing mail arrived. I will write by
next steamer. I can not pay the postage
on this, the crowd beiog o great that I can
not g"t to the box letters have to be pass
ed in by the crowd.
Yours respct'ly. W.H C.
San Francisco, Bve. 31, 1349.
Dear Buother : I have reo'd but three
letter from the Slates since I have been
in this countty, and those were dated in
the early part of summer.
G. and myself came lo this city about
two months since. I wo.hed at the car-
pemer business a few diys, for which I j
ree'd S13 a day. I was then unable to
work for some time on account of sickness.
We next purchased a team lo mulas
and a wagon and went at h luling around
the city ; but we hud hauled but one day
when G. was taken sick. I then hired a
man to help me team, and in one Jay we
made S90, but G. getiing worse I quit the
team and waited on him. The driver was
not worth a cent, so I sold the team after
getiing but thtee days' work out of it, and
cleared $127. G. hzd the typhus lever
first, and was recovering from it when he
taken with the dysentery, which in
ten days carried him off, Bnd we buried
him yesterday.
There is a great deal of sirkr.ess in this
city, and many deaths, owing lo the want
of proper houses, and persons not taking
care of themselves. A great many live in
tents, and a it frequently ra ns for 10 or
V4 days at a time, the ten's become damp
and cold. 1 he roots on two-thirds ol tne
houses here leak like seives, and people
are crowded into them as thick as bees.
To give you some idea of the rates of
rents in this city. I i" s te what we have
to uive for a room 6 feet wide and about
14 feet long we have to pay fja per
month, ia advance. I know one building
here, that cost $5,000, the rent of which
pays for the building four times in a year.
Everything else needed we have to pay lor
in the same proportion. Some of the
hotels here rent for 160,000 per year
boarding and lodging from $20 lo t40 per
week, to be paid in advance.
On last Monday there waa a fire in the
VI., NO. 47-307.
priucipul part f the city, which burned
about half d square. Il hapenrd at as
good a time as possible there win no
winJ, and the houses were wet, or it would
have burned nearly the whole city. If a
fire happens to break out here during
dry time and a'high wind.it will sweep the
city and no mis'uke, as there is no engine
or any other means of suppressing fire.
The population of San Francisco at the
present time is estimated at from 30.000
to 35,000. A great many have come down,
from the mines to spend the rainy season.
We still have accouots from tbe mines that
gold is as plenty as ever ; but during the
rainy season, more than half of the miners
eave the diggings and spend the winter in
the different towns along tbe coast, and
return in the spring.
I in'end going to the Red woods to make
lumber or shingles until spring, when I will
go to (he mines and try my luck at dig
ging. I think I can make something in
the Ked wood : they are just across the
Bay from this city ; the wood is very soft.
something like the red cedar. Lumber is
worth from $350 to S-100 per thousand
shingles from 30 to $40 per thousand. If
I can not make anything at it, I can at
least live cheaper and more comfortable
than I can in this city.
Yours, &.2. D. IL
Mr. Thomas Howard.
Selected for the Chronicle.
California the Dark Side.
poiitely communicated to us for publicity.
Mr-Burdick went to San Francisco arouud
the Cape, in charge of property belonging -to
the Ithica Company. Ithaca Daily
Chronicle.
San Francisco, Oct. 29, 1549.
Esteemed Friend : In accordance
with your request, I once more do myself
the pleasure of penning a lew thoughts for
vour considera'ion, knowing as I do your
solicitude, with many others, to be inform
ed of the views I entertain of California.
And first, in regard to California as a -whole.
From what I have seen, and from
what I can learn from those who have
been in different pnrra of ibo .y. ia
has been most grossly misrepresented by
that would not sutler iV6paYi,if!i'Wi4n
the valleys of Italy, for richness and pro
ductiveness cf soil, they are for the most
part complete barren wastes. 1 am informed
from reliable sources, that you may travel
for hundreds of miles in the interior at this
lime, and no a vestige, of anything living,
such as grass, plants, or herbage of any
kind can be seen. I have wandered a lit
tle nlnuf thesubuibs of this place, and not
a flower or what you wouJJ term vegeta
'iwn exi ts. This fact is sufficient of itself
to prove the correctness of my assertions.'
Do t.ot however understand me to say thai
there is no tjcli thing in- a ay. part of the
country as productiveness ; for you will
in some districts find some valleys near
rivers where there is some vegetation. I
have diligently enquired for the large
wheat belds ol lcpt. aialter, out as yer.
have seen no ne that has teen able to
see a spear or str v of them. It in true f
have set n some grapes in this market that
have been grown in some isolated spot ;
also some onions, squashes and green pea,
but in very small quantities. "Now when
I state to you and my friends in Tompkins
county, tl.e prices of vegetables and fruits
in this maiket, they will not be very like
ly to discredit my statements in regard to
the ability of the country to produce : for
instance, a bunch of grapes not as large as
I have seen in Ithaca, being 3s, a peach
of a diminutive s :ze Is. a pear 6J,a waters
meliori of small size 10 to 16s, potatoes-4
to 6s ner lb ; butter 8s ; cheese 4s ; onionsr
8s ; dried peaches 4 s ; do apples 3 to 4,
Fresh fish 4s ; beef Is 6J ; pork 2s : egg
4s each ; wood per cord 820. I saw a
bi'4 of three cords receipted to a friend of
mine, Dr. White, was interested in the
purchase, and it was fCO. Here I woulJ
state to you that most all kinds of vegeta
bles are sold by the pound. Now judgr
for yourself; if California is that CaroVn oi
Eden that has teen represented in the
books. From what I nave stateu you win
see (if true.and it is so,) what inducements
are here held out for a man of the North,
to leave a comfortable home and all thai
is dear to him on earth, and come to thia
barren country.
You ask, where do ihe-articles I have
enumerated, come from! I answer, ih
Sandwich Islaods, Valtaraiso, Oregon,
and some few things down lb coast, an.
from Monterey.
nr