[From the "Illustrated California News," Sept. 1.] THE GOLDEN GATES!

New Zealander, Volume 6, Issue 480, 20 November 1850, Page 2

[From the " Illustrated California News," Sept. I.] THE GOLDEN GATES !

If we may put faith in Geology, opened by Naton bat a abort while previously to the first exploration d the Western Coast, as if to invite appropriation < treaturet to be had for the gathering within ; and ther as though she repented of her generosity, reiled fro tight during the greater portion of the year by deq fogs, a source of much vexation and delay to the in patient Mariner. But the curtain seemi to rite wh within a short distance of the coast ; his tassel glid forth from the mist, and the long eipected heads i presented to the view, bleak and dreary enough m tide, giving little promise of the fertile country it lies behind. It is a grand scene after a favorable slant of wit Wealth pouring in towards greuter wealth, by wl may be called attraction of reciprocity :— Quis pauper scribitur haeres t vessels laden with the produce of every clime, son uraes numbering fifty or more in a amgle day, bound alike upon a gambling venture, the consign !ia»m? shipped whatever they could lay hands up in perfect ignorance of the nquireoaents of the cot try, or of anything appertaining to the country, s only that there is gold in plenty, for those who get it Some laden to the very bulwarks ; otbt looming large, high out of the water, as if in balh their stores, which constituted the greater portion the bunfen when leaving; port, having been cnasun by the living cargoes which crowd tfieir decks. 1 tnott wonderful and varied assortment, perhaps, tl was ever btfore raked together from the corners of earth. Id they pour, a resistless tide ; some led by au unquiet spirit, and a love of adventure, All the uniettled spirits of the land, Rash, inconsiderate, fiery, voluntaries, Have told their fortunes at their native homes, . Beating their birth-rights proudly on their backs, J To make a trial of new fortunes here; some, already well enough to do in the world, t grating, they hardly know why,' but following, li sheep through the same gap in the hedge, been every one is away for California ; while over many i such as Falitaff would have been ashamed to mar through Coventry with " discarded unjust tervii men, younger sons to younger brothers, revolted ta sters, and ostlers trade-fallen, the cankera of a on word and a long peace :" all having sacrificed hon and country to the lust of lucre, save only the Am rican, who boasts of having completed possibly a fi months' voyage, and of still being able to set foot up bin own domain. The bar is crossed ; a heavy toll is levied under tl specious name of pilotage, the foretaste of heavi exactions to come. The Fort, los Angeloi, los Alcatrazas, Yerba Beun successively open int> view, and then appears such forest of masts as not ten other ports in the world cs shew. A glorious sight (o all but the muter ot tl ship, who»e profrsiioual eye perceives with a glam that this mighty fleet is by no means indicative of corresponding trade, here and away again in obedient !o tbe legitimate calls of commerce, but an acumuli tion of ancient date, still gathering like drift wood j the mouth of a river, floating idly on the water. Sob contrive by dint of enormous outlay, to effect a escape ; but by far the greater number are doomed t lie in idleness for some indefinite time, possibly ti they fall to pieces with age. For the port i», in truth a gigantic ship trap ; the Golden Gates, so easy o entry, seeming to close behind the unsuspecting vessc so soon as she shall have passed between. On thei might fairly be inscribed the words which Plautu wrote for the portal of an edifice dedicated to Faphia Venus at Rome s— Pandite, atque aperitc propere januam hane Orcf, Nam equidem haud alitur esse duco ; quippe quo nemo aaveni Nisi quern " spes reliquere omnei."

Tub Golden Gates — Among the embellishment: of the first number of the California Illustrated News is a spirited sketch of the Golden Gatei, or entrance U the Bay of San Francisco. There has been coniiderabli discussion ai to the origin of llie name of the Golden Gates at thus applied. Major Noah, in one of his articles attempting to shew California to be the ancient Ophir, whence Solomon drew his cargoes of the precious metals, states that the name of Golden Gates ii "found on the old maps of the country," and scriptura in its character. Major Noah is mucakan, hosrerer, in supposing the name to be found on old maps. The name is first found on Col. Fremont's map of t'.ie spring of 1848, and in bis "Geographical Memoir ol California," published at the s»me time. The poetic and clsasical name, Chrytopyla. or Golden Gatfs, ii there suggested by Colonel Fremont, not in allusion to the gold depositcs of California, which were then, in fact, not discovered, but in anticipation of taa£ golden commerce of the east which formerly otei flowed with its riches the Golden Horn of Byzantium, and has clothed «ll the different countries that hare lUfll ceuiveiy enjoyed it with wealth, and power. W« an warranted iv believing that bci'ciu California, outeriu]!

through the Golden Gates, is to be the last permanent teat of that vast and commanding traffic. — Alia Cali' Jbrnia.