AN ENGLISHMAN ON CALIFORNIA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VII, Issue 80, 3 April 1872, Page 2

AN ENGLISHMAN ON CALIFORNIA.

An Englishman in California thus relates his experience on the Pacific coast, in a letter from California in the London Spectator. This traveller appears to differ very widely from most of his countrymen who visit America. His estimate of the difference between Californians and other citizens of the United States is novel, at least. He says : — All Englishmen with whom I have talked agree that there is a marked difference between Californians and other Americans and in favor of the former. It comes out, I think, most clearly iv the manners of the lower classes, who have a certain frank courtesy that I have not met with elsewhere in the States. Our explanation is that California has been settled by picked men from all countries in the world. Perhaps the general prosperity has something to do with it ; it is easy to be good natured when you are well off, as Becky Sharpe felt that she could be virtuous upon three thousand a year. But lam inclined to think that the habit of wearing and using arms, which prevailed almost universally till quite lately, has had something to do with the puuctilious politeness of field laborers. I remember being told, three years ago, by a late inhabitant of Julesbure, when that remarkable little township had only just ceased to exist, tbat it only recognised two codes : six-shooter law and lynch law ; you shot a man if his manners were bad and hanged him if his morals were unsatisfactory. Both codes were rather vigorously enforced. For remainder of news see fourth page.

There is a story of a miner who shot his opposite neighbor at the breakfast table because he had helped himself to too much gravy. I have seen the spot where a drunken lawyer was shot down for ill-treating an Indian, by a philanthropic blacksmith, who had tried remonstrances without effect, and whom a jury declared to be not guHty of murder. And I have been myself iv a gambling saloon iv Cheyenne where every man was armed to the teeth, aud have admired the stately decorum with which the occasions of quarrel were avoided. A trifling incident that occurred to myself in a small miners 1 town the other day may perhaps show that something of this spirit has lasted over into peaceful times. I was glancing at the names in the visitors' - hook of the hotel, when a man of the roughest type came behind me and began reading over my shoulder. I drew back, observing tbat he was no doubt in a hurry, and that I could easily wait, as I had the evening before me. But the man was so obviously disconcerted that I had to resume my place. Later in the evening I passed by him in the hall. He was evidently waiting for me, and came up to speak : " I should be very sorry for you, sir, to think that I was one of those bnmmers who loaf about a hotel and try to force themselves upon gentlemen. I thought my old schoolmaster had come lo town by the stage this evening, and was so anxious to see if I could find his name tbat I took the liberty of looking over your shoulder. But I didn't mean to disturb you." I assured him that he hadn't done so ; and I hope I left him at peace with himself. But it certainly struck me that there are not many countries in the world where such a man would have been troubled for such a matter. The pleasant side of such deference to a stranger's feelings is a selfrespect which makes the lower classes in California among the most agreeable companions I have known anywhere iv a corresponding class."

The Spectator says :— Mr. Boutwell, the American Finance Minister, has the most delicious ideas of political economy. All materials used in shipbuilding being •' protected " in the United States, the yards cannot compete with British builders, and the carrying trade has gone over to Great Britain. Mr. Boutwell does not like this, and suggests that a bounty of 13 dols., or £2 12s. a ton a year shall be paid to every American vessel of not less than 2,000 tons burden. This boous is to be given for five years, during the whole of which time Americans are to be taxed in £rder that Pennsylvaniau ironmasters may make profits, and New York may engage in a trade which, as the demand for bounty shows, it is not fitted to carry on. After the five years, Mr, Boutwell thinks the shipbuilders can get on alone, American iron being so good, that American vessels can carry ton for ton, teu per cent, more goods than English vessels. If lhey can, and protection is no injury, why do they not oust British vessels without any bonus at all ? Our merchants certainly will not let patriotism stand in the way of a saving of 2s. in the pound. In an American paper we read : — ,-." Some years ago, when one of our staff was a reporter upon an opposition paper, it devolved upon him to write for the same edition an account of the presentation of a gold-headed cane to the Rev. Dr. Mudge, the clergyman of the place; and the description of a patent hog-killing aud sausage machine which had just beeu put in operation at the factory. Now, what made the Eev. Dr. Mudge mad was this. The inconsiderate buccaneer who made up the forms of the paper got the two locals mixed up in a frightful manner, and when they went to press something like this was the appalling result : — *' Several of the Rev. Dr. Mudge's friends called upon him yesterday, and after- a brief conversation the unsuspicious hog was seized by the hind legs, and slid down along a beam until he reached the hotwater tank. His friend explained the object of their visit ; and presented him with a very handsome gold-headed butcher, who grabbed him by the tail, swung him round, split his throat from ear to ear, and in It ss than a minute the carcass was in the water. Thereupon he came forward and said there were times when the feelings overpowered one, and for that reason he would not attempt to do more than thank those around him for tbe manner in which such a huge animal was cut into fragments was simply astonishing. The doctor concluded his remarks when the machine seized him, and in no less time than it takes to write it, the hog was cut into fragments, and worked up into delicious sausage. The occasion will long be remembered by the doctor's friends as one of the most delightful of their lives, the best, pieces can be procured for 15 cents a pound, we are sure tbat those who have sat sp long under his ministry will rejoice that he has been treated bo handsomely.'"