AMERICA. [From the Sydney Morning Herald, March 31.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, 12 May 1852, Page 4

AMERICA. [From the Sydney Morning Herald, March 31.]

We have receive i San Francisco papers to the 30th of January, which contain news from ihe Atlantic States to the 3rd of that montn. We commence oar extracts with the latest items of interest from the "New York journals. The -Prometheus'^ affair takes precedence-even of the Kossuth excitement. -The follewing'isthe ' version of the untoward occurrence :—: — " The steamer Prometheus, of Vanderbilt's line* arrived at Greytown in November last, and after receiving on board a large number of passengers from California, by the Nicargua route, prepared to depart. While in' the act of getting off, a bill was presented to her captain from the authorities, on shore (of which Her B. M. Consul Green is head avid front) for one hundred and fifty dollars, claimed as port charges. This the captain of the P. refused to pay, and an order was sent for his arrest. He disregarded the order, and immediately began to work out of the harbour, when Her B. M. brig Express, whose anchor had been hove short, as if in the expectation of the course pursued by the captain of the Prometheus, loosened her topsails and got under weigh, standing out so' as to intercept the Prometheus. The decks of the P. were crowded with passengers, whose first intimation of the intentions of the war vessel in steering. after them was received with a discharge from one of her ports. This summary method of reminding them that other port charges were behind doubtless had its effect in counselling the return of the vessel to port, although it is said that Mr. Yauderbilt, who was on board at the .time, declared his wish to be to put the Prometheus about and run into the bullying Englishman. It was at first stated that the Express levelled her guns

upon the Prometheus, but it is probable that alia, intended to throw a shot across her foro foot ■only. Four guns were fired, tho shot striking ahead and astern of the steamer. Tho Promo* theus then returned to her wharf. ' A boat was sent aboard the Express to demand the cnuao of the outrage, and the reply returnod <by tho English captain was that he meant to bring tho steamer to, and that his next disohargo would have been of canister and grope ! The captain of the Prometheus paid the port charges under protest, and after being detained several hours, was permitted to depart. By the arrival at San Francisco of the steamer North America, intelligence was received of the matter having been brought before congress, when Mr. Coss presented the following resolution; — Resolved — That the President of the United States be requested to communicate to the Senate, if not inconsistent with the public interest, any information he may have received respecting the firing into the American steara-ship Prometheus by a British vessel of war in November last, near Greytown, on the Mosquito coast ; and also, what measures bad been taken by the Executive to ascertain the state of the facts, and to vindicate the honour of the country. A New York paper says : — The President's message in answer 'to a resolution of the Senate calling for information on the subject of the firing into the Prometheus, was received and read. It declines to furriish the precise instructions forwarded to our Minister at the Court of St. James, on this delicate question. But the instructions to Commodore Parker afford an unmistakable index to those of the Ambassador. In those it is unqualifiedly stated that the United States do not recognise, but absolutely deny, the sbips of Great Britain any right whatever to exercise a police over the United States merchant vessels anywhere. And, further, it is asserted that such right or authority is expressly forbidden by the Clayton Bulwer treaty. The instructions direct Commodore Parker to repair at once to the harbour of San Juan, and protect all merchant vessels from such surveillance in future, of which he is to notify the British officers on his arrival. His orders are peremptory. The following is the Alta California's summary of news from the Atlantic States, in respect to Kossuth's progress, and other matters of minor interest : — The Kossuth excitement carries everything before it. Contribution funds for the aid of the Hungarian cause are pouring in from every quarter. The Democratic party propose to raise a subscription of one dollar from every Democrat favourable to the cause of the Nation's Guest. The fifteen days of Kossuth's stay in New York has been a round of brilliant triumphs. At last accounts he was on the eve of departure for Philadelphia, where another magnificent reception awaited him. He is represented to be quite unwell from the effects of speechmaking and exposure to the inconsiderate calls of the enthusiastic multitude. One of his last great public receptions in New York was given by the ladies, who assembled to the nuraher of 2500 in Metropolitan Hall. The greatest enthusiasm, prevailed. Deputations from mercantile establishments, clubs, and private parties, tendering large sums of money lor' the aid of Hungary, were continually, received by Kossuth. The New York Herald of 1 the 22nd says :—": — " He has now received, or shall have received to-day, about* 25,000 dollars, besides the amount deposited in the bank to his credit. If, as is stated, the Democratic party are about to organize 1 dollar subscriptions, a vast amount of money will be collected. But if the Whigs give at the rate of 1000 dollars to 1 dollar, which is the example set by their central committees, then Kossuth will be as rich as Croesus before he goes back to Europe, and be can afford to purchase out both the Emperor of Austria and the Autocrat of all the Russias." The startling news from France has somewhat disturbed Kossutb's arrangements. It has, says the Herald, fallen upon him like a bomb- shell. It is probable he leaves this morning for Philadelphia, but will not go so far away that he will not be within reach of the next steamer at its departure for Europe. Mr. Joel R. Poinsett, formerly minister to Mexico, and during Van Buren's administration Secretary of War, died in South Carolina, December 19. Advices of late date from Jamaica state that the<cholera is making frightful ravages on the Island. The peasantry is being swept off at the rate of 30 to 40 per day. A telegraphic despatch in the Saint Louis papers of the - 15th from Memphis, says that the steamer Clermont sunk in White River, and 23' lives were lost. The ship British Queen was wrecked and went ashore near Nantucket, December 18. She had 270 passengers — two or them bad perished with the cold — the rest were saved and reached Nantucket. It is with great regret that we hear of Mr. Clay's continued illness. He has sent in his resiguation to the Senate, which has been accepted in qualified terms, that is, not to take effect till nextSeptejnber, the, object being to alloVthfe Legislature, which is now in session, to elect a successor for the residue of the, term. The only items of intelligence from Congress of moment to California, is Mr. Marshall's. at-, tempt in the House of Representatives to.get'his bill for refunding the duties collected under the the de facto government referred to the Military Committee instead of the Committee of Ways and Means. Although he exerted himself to the utmost, and with much spirit, he failed, and the' Ways and Means will probably smother it as they did last session. It is said there is an intention among the Arctic officers in England to propose a national testimonial to Mr. Grinnell, for his noble and humane act in fitting out, at his own private expense, the expedition to the Arctic expedition. The trial of the Forrest divorce case was proiceeding at New York, and exciting much interest. The evidence is said to give some very peculiar disclosures as to the composition and practices of fashionable society in that city. From California the news is of trifling interest. The Slate Legislature was in session at Sacramento, to which city it adjourned pursuant to a vote which we notified in our last published advices from this State. This removal of the seat of Government'was brought about by the Vallejo contractors having failed to provide suitable accommodation for the State officers and the. Legis-

lutnre, . On the Ititli of January, bath Hounps rnoi.ui the sew sent ef ©overiinitfiit, whore/ «<s* cording lo ihe very fumbling rt'porta i)Ql'oro us,, they werp, nt the dale of the last papen ; whicli wo have received, ilttlngin qul^t iohlq», wiihout accomplishing or attempting a»y important ;bußiMOBB, ' . 'ihoJUa Cal\fominmy9 t tlmtth« State archives-, had botm jetoovod by ordor,of Governor M'Dougal, during his administration, to San Jo.se,; andithat tho people of that town, when an attempt was mado to remove them, obtained an injunction, and detained the archives for several .days, They^ have since boon romovod, however, and the question, Where is tho State Capital f will soon be settled by a decision of the Supreme Court. But little doubt exists that the Capital rightfully belongs to San Jose. [ From the same journal we extract the follow- , ing items :—: — A Settlers' and Miners' Convention has been iheld in Sacramento. It is by no means a full .representation of the Settlers' and Miners' interests of this State, its long pretentious title to the contrary notwithstanding, and but little interest is taken in its proceedings. Colonel It. M'Kee, Indian Commissioner, has been quite successful in his treaties with the In- ? dians of the North^coast country. He has made treaties with four large tribes, arid it is the belief, of the people of that section, that they will be. respected, and that Indian difficulties in that quarter are at an end Tor the present. In Southern California peace and contentment > likewise prevail. The 'last act of the Indian Insurrection terminated with the death of Antonio Garra, the chief of the rrost powerful hostile tribe. He was captured by a detachment.under command of General Bean, brought into San Diego, and after a fair trial was condemned and shot, on 10th. The Indian Commissioner, Dr. Wosencraft, afterWards went among the disaffected tribes and concluded treaties of peace with the Cabuitla, Pablo, Calientes, and San Luis Hey Indians. The advance guard of the Boundary Survey arrived in San Diego on the 7ib instant, and they report the Indians along- the Gila as an ugly set,' requiring the strong arm of military law to keep them in check and proper position. Mr. Gray, Chief Engineer of the Expedition, marie the journey from the junction of the Gila and Colorado to San Diego in six and a half days. The , party were destitute of provisions most of the journey. The survey of the Gila was commenced in the latter end of October, and prosecuted about 350 miles. It was abandoned about 50, miles above the confluence of the Gila and Col-, orado, where the party had no alternative .but, starvation. j A battle occurred January 4th between the in- , surgents and Government forces of Lower Cali^ ifqrnia, in, which the former, under Negrete, were, defeated snd dispersed by Lieutenant Ant. Chavis, commandante of the military colony called La Ftontera, in Lower California. The fight ( occurred at Santa Thomas* The loss on either side was slight. ' • , The most gratifying 'feature in, the progress of ■our affairs is 'he great excess of immigration over 'the passenger departures by the Panama' steamers j€V,ery mpiitli. Xbejide of human' beings setting towards our shp^SsgJjres *mpl^*s^»atee^J>bjiBir' ,ness prosperity, auchfrom its character, promises 4 stability in the future. ■ - Quartz. — The' Republican publishes the fol-^ lowing extract from a letter receivedvby Captain J. F. Hardy from Dr. Holland, of Westfield, Massachusetts, in reference to a new process for separating the precious metal from black sand and quartz. Dr. Holland sajs :—": — " You know the softness of the gold, and may conceive how great a proportion of the fine laminated filaments may be rubbed off by any process, stamping or crushing, from the quartz in which-it is contained. It invariably amounts to from one-fourth lo twofifths of the gold, and this film, by attrition, can never be detached from the iron and sand by quicksilver, in any plan of amalgamation. Now Dr. Speiker has patented a solvent, and has tried it upon sand from Gold Bluff, and upon various -sands made by the stampers. He succeeded in both cases in obtaining gold very abuo- ' dantly, when quicksilver had failed to obtain one grairV. His solvent process is cheap and' simple, and I think when General Winchester; returns, he will be able to prove and demonstrate the fact. Spiekei look hi 3 idea 'from a Dr. Pfercy, ' who read a paper to the London Chemical Society on the 'Subject. Dr. Spieker's -patent is untenable. I have used this solvent sinee T1822. T 1822. The, process cannot be put into practice until the solvent is made in California, as it is neither more or less than a fresh and liquid bleaching chloride of lime. I will, at the earliest opportunity, detail the whole process to you. In the mean time, if you know any 'miners treating with Dr. Speiker, advise them to wait until Gen. Winchester arrives, when the process will be thrown open to all ; and you had better publish this significant notice in the San Joaquin Republican., The solvent may be obtained at the rate of 5 dollars to the" ton of quartz or black sind. They are stamping auriferous quartz at Grass Valley, and amalgamating, and obtain from 120 to 140 -dollars iogold jppt ton, ajficl Speiker-s igottl solvent takes out as much gold froiq the refuse cast away. ' This is a fact, and you'ean estimate the value of this hyppcblorous, (Solvent at 5 dollars cost to the ton.