CALIFORNIA. STRAWS FROM THE GOLD COAST. (Nrom the Polynesian.) No. VI.

New Zealander, Volume 5, Issue 388, 2 January 1850, Page 3

CALIFORNIA. STRAWS FROM THE GOLD COAST. (Nrom the Polynesian.) No. VI.

The "awi sacra fames" — Real motives of gold huntert — Love in the tub —Spendthrifts — Human animals. Drunken camps— Effects of prosperity— Mushroom Nabobs — Human nature developing — Ordeal of character - Gold and dross. My Dear Polynksian, — " Money makes the mare go. The true "primum mobile" of man's world it gold. One glance at California proves it. Here are men from all nations under the whole heavens, almost •—planning 1 and plotting, toiling and tugging, with a will aud an t ffioiency scarcely known eliewhere— and all for the accumulation of a few pints, or pecki, as the ca«e may bp, of that which they call "dust," and which lies buri.-d, or hai lain buried, in the Snowy Mountains. Here are several hundred beautiful and staunch vessels — huge "oak leviathans"— that have been floated hi 1 her from 15 or 20 thousand miles off, freighted richly with all manner of merchandise, and still more richly with thousands of intelligent and enterprising men from the cities and villages of the cast— men trained to industry and good morals, of lofty aims aud high hopes ; and all this because the wherewithal is understood to be attainable more abun- > antly than at home, in the defiles and gorget of our now famous Sierra Nevada. But analyse this organ of "acquisitiveness" — this apparent " hut of lucre,'" and is it lust of lucre, after all ? Is it for the mere hording of money that these thousands of noble youngf men ore crowding hither ? Oh, no ! -to say so is a libel on human nature keener j than it deserrm Could we read the heait, we should learn that human nature is really honored by ihe impulses which actuate large numbers of the comers to California and the r. 3 al motives that have brought men here, though all disguised under the desire of gain, are as Vaiioui as the springs of human action. One has found himself with a large family on his hands, which all bis exertions, in his circumstance at home, have been insufficient to maintain, and breaking nway from the strong tiei which bind man to his home and kin, he has exiled himself for a year or two in the hope of here accumulating the means of pi cinq his family iv a state of ease and temporary enjoy* me tit. Lait week I chanced to overhear the conversation of two young men, recently from the States, and pushing energetically for the muiei. One of them had hii lady-love there, but she was rich and he was poor, and the parents were inexorable on the score of the deficit of cash. His spirit is stirred, and he resolves that a few thousands shall not stand long as a bar between him and happiness. He will at once wiu his foitune and hu bride by vigorously plying his pick aud shovel. 1 know amther who aspires to the hand and has won the hem tof a gentle one, at home. But with chivalric delicacy, he ennnot think of making her a sharer in bis fortunes till he has the means of treating her ai he thinks so rare a bride ought to be treated. He braras the fierce sun of the gold regions, and works, slave-like, in dirt and water, at the peril of his life, tha: the one which he holds as dear to him as life, may not lack for any comfort or be reduced to the necessity of toiling for a subsistence; Another has an aged mother dependent on his exertions ; and he counts each day of toil and suffering in the mountains, a joy, in the anticipation of soon returning to the maternal roof w.th the means of making that beloved parent comfortable in her decliiy ing years. Now th'se are not fancy sketches. A. thousadd inch examples might be given — were the tablets of men's hearts visiole and legible. What man of sensibility does not honor such feelings, and to say that to hunt for gold with such aim is anything but disreputable. But among the crowd, it is true, there are some who appear to accumulate from eheor love of accumuhting ; and others, more in number, who did dig ju>t for the sensual delights which the gold they dig will enable them to purchase, Many a man spends in a we k at San Francisco or el-ewhere, in drunkenness and revelry, what it has cost him a month of severe fil to procure. Hundreds, especially sailon and so diers, within three weeks after they come from the mines, are as poor as the day they entered them — al h>ugh they may have brought away with them anywhere from one to five thousand dollars of pure gold. I kuew a camp of sailors in the mines, six in number, and their boisterousncsi attracting my attention, I

watched their way of life. Daily, all were drunk but one, who looked alter the cooking and the general affairs of the camp. The rest were shouting, singing, gambling, and rolickine; after every possible manner — or, which generally happened the latter portion of each day — they were slumbering in the embrace of Bacchus, like a dead log in the folds of a luxuriant vine. Tliey took turns in keeping sober— one each day — and the sole end of the digging they did, seemed to be to get liquor; for so long as the junk bottle contained a drop, not a pick was touched nor a bowl of earth washed. But to soon as the bottle became empty, and the party began of necessity began to get a little sobered in consequence, you would see some of the number making their way into some neighbouring ravine, and d gqing most resolutely, till enough gold bad heen obtained for a new supply of liqmor, at <S*IO or &lh a bottle. This gold wai quickly taken to the grog booth, and transmitted into drugged brandy, and this brandy as quickly, tvheu taken to camp, metamorphosed all the company but one into noisy, •enseless, roistering, degraded brutes, a curse to thft community and a disgrace to the name of man. You may see such camps all up and down the mountains ! Is it any wonder men die in lite mines ? — that sicknest prevails ? Itither is it not strange that of the regular " soakers" so many ever come out of the mountain* alive ? It is a matter of cuiiosity to notice the effect of tha ■udden acquisition of wealth on individuals. Them nre now hundreds of men in California worth from ■B*lo,ool to <5?27 ,000, who a year a^o were scarcely able to pay their tailors' bills. Some, the sudden change fills with pride, and they put oh ahs that say plainly '• the chief end of man" is to be rick. They have sworn allegiance to " Almighty Dollar," and fancy themselves preinieri and prime ministers, and all other ' prime' things, under the new-found sovereignty. Others, who before were counted generous, seem to have tlie " milk of human kindness* utterly dried up by their good luck — they become close-fisted and penurious. But lir^e nuiiuer* I have seen whom the rapid influx of weal h seemed not to affect at all, unless to make them feel more deeply their obligation* of their kind, and awaken in their bosoms new emot ions of thankfulness and philanthropy, which iti their more limited circumstances had never been called forth. No doubt, sudden opulence is one of the strongest trials of principle and piety. This country ii a great fiery furnace to the mauners and morals of multitudes. If the ordeal is successfully undergone, all the brighter and purer for the trial will shins the cardinal virtues which a man possesses. There will be a development of good and influential men in such circumstance*, which otherwise had not taken place. But that great, fiery furnace — how much of what has come hero labelled as virtue will it turn to dross. Wax iri the heart of Kilauea will not sooner melt and fly to vapour than will the " principles," so called, or scores that are New England born and New England trained. It is melancholy to see the havoc daily wrought in the habits and characters of men who all their lives heretofore have borne fair repu»ation3. But " all is not gold that glitters"— •"All are not Israel th»t ara of Israel" Thoße that return from California unscathed, may be noted with white chalk and admitted to tho seat of the honorable. Thanks to an overruling Providence, and to the spirit of all grace, the numoera of such will not be small ; and as moral jewels, they will exceed in fineness and in preciousness all the gold and gems that He stored in these mountains. I am, &c. &c, PanoiiamA.

ArsLEY House.— Tlie following are a few of tU costly ornaments of thii princely dwelling .— « «' The valuable gold and silver plate presented to the Duke of Wellington by the sovereigns of Europe, and displayed at the annual Waterloo fete ; the value of this magnificent service is e*timated at £ J 300,000. —The grand gallery, appropriated occasionally vi the banqueting, and also the ball-room, extends the who'e range of lha building from east to west— the latter e nd looking over the park ; it is 250 fret in lenglh by 86 in breadth. This appartment is hung with rich amber and citron colored satin damask, the cornice* and the ceiling ornamented with icroll work and carved elaborately gilt ; the pictures are composed of the chef d'eeuvres of the ancient masters of the Italian, Spanish, Flemiih, Venice schools. Upon the fast fete at either extremity were large oaken sideboards, containing his Grace's gold and silver plate, the most conspicuous object of which was the silver gilt shield of extraordinary magnitude, emblematical of the Duke* conquests, and presented by the crowned heads of Europe. Projecting through the dining table were two marble pedestal candelabra, spreading 12 feet from the floor, and weighing 25 cwr. cut out of a block of Russia marble, and prese ited by the late Emperor Alexander ; two large marble vases, also a present from the Emperor, ornamented the nor* them and southern extremity of the gallery, filled with rich flowers and exotics ; the gold candelabra presented by the corporation of London, repreiented in bold re* lief, and as large as life, a foot soldier with the standard of each nation that had signalized itself in the field, ornamented the tables, at likewise was displayed the solid gold vase, a tribute from the noblemen of England, and on which were pourtrayed the British Infantry forming a solid square ; the beautiful gertico of Dresden porcelain, ornamented with the most exquisite paintings, each piece representing some engagement or general officer engaged in it. The cupola in, the centre of the fretted roof is illuminated by a brilliant chandelier, of great magnitude ; the crimion striped drawing room is appropriated to the portraits of nearly all the gallant Duke's companions in aimi, but particularly a full length portrait and striking likeness of Marshal Lord Beresford, and His late Majesty William IV. This apartment also contains a painting of no ordinary interest, viz., the Chelsea Feniionem reading the Gazette with the account of the battle of Waterloo, by Wilkie, presented by George IV,

A Russian Cucesus.— M. de Tiszkiewiess, the richest landholder in Russian L-thmnU, dieiJ a short time dace. The St. Petenburgh papers inform m that lie lud left to his three sons 2U90 villages, con* taining more than 60,0u0 aerfu, and in ready inom'y, 10,009,0 0 crowns; and that it was this gentlamau who was 6a id to have refused the hand of hit daughter to Duke Alexander of Wirtemburgh, who afterwards married Princess Maria d'O.lean 5 . Hit daughter since mariiod Prince Sapicha, and lmd 2,000,000 crowns for her dowry. A let er from St. Petersburg says :: — ♦• Tlrs gentleman's property comprised 46 extensive domains, on which there are 20,000 families of peasantry, reckoning in them 60,000 male*. la money he possessed 56,000,000 Polish florins, iv. French money, equil to 21 ,6 iO, OOO franci. He, hud lix children, of whom three 10m besides his daughter burvive him. The eldest, according to the laws of Lithuania, inherits the whole of this immense wealth. He, however, has assigned one-fourth to be equrily divided between his two brothers.".