UNITED STATES. Upper or New California, lately ceded to the United States, extends from the Pacific Ocean to the Rocky Mountains, but the only tract inhabited by European settlers is the narrow strip of land along the coast of the Pacific, which is bounded inward by the maritime range of hills, at the distance of about forty miles from the sea. The surface of this region is very diversified, and consists of hills and plains of considerable extent. Along the coast there are several good harbours, of which San Francisco, in latitude 38°, is one of the largest and best on the west coast of America. The rainy season is in winter, from November to February. During the rest of the year there is no rain, but a few showers fall in some places. In summer the heat is very great. The country offers nevertheless a striking contrast to the peninsula. There is a profusion of forest trees on the western side of the mountains along the coast, and many fine fruits are easily cultivated, though few are indigenous. Among these is a species of vine, which produces grapes of considerable size, and so plentiful that considerable quantities of brandy are distilled from them. Among the wild animals are reckoned the American lion and tiger, buffaloes, stags, roes, elks, bears, wolves, jackals, wild cattle, foxes, polecats, otters, beavers, hares, rabbits, &c. Birds of various kinds are exceedingly abundant. But the great and most important article of produce is black cattle, the multiplication of which has been really prodigious. In seventy years the number had increased from 23 to 210,000 branded cattle, and probably 100,000 unbranded; and it is found necessary to slaughter 60,000 annually to keep down the stock. Sheep have increased with nearly the same rapidity, but are at present of little importance to the trade of the country. Between the maritime chain and the Rocky Mountains is a dry and sandy plain or desert, 700 miles in length, by 100 in breadth at its south end, and 200 at the north, which is traversed by the rivers Colorado and Gila, and forms the eastern limit of the inhabited, and indeed only habitable part of the country. The natives are a poor filthy pusillanimous set of Indians, in the most primitive state of barbarism, except those who have been converted nominally to Christianity, and who have been taught a few of the simpler arts and practices of civilized life. These reside in missions, where the men are employed in agriculture, or in the warehouses or workshops of the mission, while the women are occupied in spinning, grinding corn, and other domestic duties. They are in fact slaves to the monks who possess the missions; and the greatest part of the land, especially that to the south of Monterey, is in the hands of the missionaries. The total amount of free settlers, including those of mixed blood, does not exceed 5,000. Besides the missions, there is another class of settlements called Presidios, which were formerly under the charge of military officers belonging to the service of Spain or Mexico. The only place of importance, besides San Francisco, is Monterey, in lat. 35° N. "It is impossible," says the Philadelphia correspondent of the Morning Chronicle, "to convey any idea of the California excitement. There are now announced for California-in New York 31 vessels, Philadelphia 17, Boston 9, Portland 2, Baltimore 7, Charleston 2, New Orleans 11, and St. Louis (overland route) 5 vessels. Besides these, there are societies forming at Pittsburgh, Louisville, Cincinnati, Albany, and many other towns; and within one short month it is believed that nearly 10,000 men will be en route for the modern El Dorado. Men are leaving their families to go to California, in the hope of returning in a year or so as rich as Croesus. The movement is like the impulse of a mania-a crusade! It is probable that great suffering will be encountered by those who are anxious to reach the gold region by the shortest route and in the quickest time, namely, by Chagres and across the Isthmus of Panama. Chagres is about fourteen days' (by steam), twenty-two to thirty days' sailing, from New York or Philadelphia. Then fifty-two miles by land, across the Isthmus, in the most intense of tropical heats (say, three or four days' journey by mules); and then 3,500 miles by sea, in the Pacific, to San Francisco. From San Francisco, five or six days inland to the Rio de las Plumas (Feather River), a tributary of the Sacramento. The difficulty by this route will be chiefly experienced at Panama, where there will not, cannot be, for many months, vessels enough to convey the vast number of eager emigrants so soon expected there to assemble. Unless such adventurers are abundantly provided with money, they will not be able to live in the hot desolations of the tropics, where life is but little valued, and where death is even less regarded. At our last accounts, 2,000 persons were at that place waiting a conveyance-a prey to pestilence, and to the hope deferred that maketh the heart sick.' The bones of many will whiten the sands of Panama. The entire route by sea (round Cape Horn) is little short of 17,000 miles, with a voyage of five months; yet this route is cheaper, safer, and in the end probably quite as short as via Panama. The passage-money varies from 100 dollars to 350 dollars, (steerage or cabin) round the Horn, and about 500 dollars to 700 dollars in all by Panama. But by far the shortest route is from Fort Independence, in Missouri, across to the Feather River, by the Prairies, and over the Rocky Mountains-say about 1,800 miles. This cannot be travelled in the winter, but it will no doubt be dotted with straggling expeditions in the coming spring and summer." About 145,000 dollars worth of "dust" had arrived, and 35,000 dollars worth had been sent to the mint for coining. The " spangle " gold is found to be very pure-some of it above the assay of the current coin; but some of the "dust" has turned out to contain no gold at all; it is merely a sort of arseniate of copper. On the coining of 500 ounces of "spangle," the loss by refining and coining was only 2 per cent. It is stated that some 2,000,000 dollars worth of gold is now on its way to New York. A railroad across the Isthmus is to be commenced forthwith, or a road of some kind, under a grant from New Grenada to certain merchants of New York. The following are the chief advantages-An exclusive right of way across the Isthmus, with the right to gratuitously all the public land lying on the route of the road. An absolute gift of 300,000 acres of public lands to be selected by the company. All the materials used for the road, as well as effects of persons employed thereon, are declared free of duty. Two ports-one on the Atlantic and one on the Pacific Ocean, which shall be made the termini of the road-are declared free ports. The company have arranged with an eminent engineer, who is to make a further survey at once; and it is thought the road can be in operation by January 1851. The private advices by the Britannia, lately arrived from America, are occupied no less than the newspapers with the one topic of the California gold. "The whole nation," it is said, "is in a whirl of excitement." Vessels are fitting out at all the different ports with assorted cargoes, and crowded with adventurers, and twenty are now up at New York alone, some for Panama, and others via Cape Horn, the advertised passage money being about 401. sterling. The published accounts are sufficient to demonstrate that those who are first in the race cannot fail to make large sums, and it is seen that should the extent of the districts ultimately prove sufficient to reward the swarms at present rushing down, England will in no small degree participate in the profit by the sale of her manufactured goods. It appears there is now no question about the purity of the gold, as it has been assayed at the Mint at Philadelphia to the amount of 35,000 dollars. Colonel Mason, the military commandant of California, has made a report to the American government on the subject of the gold region lately discovered. For all its sober matter-of-fact style, this document exceeds in its wonderful statements the stories already prevalent and deemed romantic. These are some of the "simple facts and occurrences" which the colonel learned on the evidence of his own eyes. 66 The small valleys that run down into the stream called Weber's Creek are exceedingly rich, and two ounces were considered an ordinary yield for a day's work. A small gutter, not more than 100 yards long by four feet wide and two or three feet deep, was pointed out to me as the one where two men- - William Daly and Rowy M'Coon-had, a short time before, obtained 17,000 dollars worth of gold. Captain Weber informed me that he knew that these two men had employed four white men and about 100 Indians, and that at the end of one week's work they paid off their party, and had left 10,000 dollars worth of gold. Another small ravine was shown me from which had been taken upwards of 12,000 dollars worth of gold. Hundreds of similar ravines, to all appearance, are as yet untouched." "Mr. Sinclair, whose rancho is three miles above Sutter's, on the north side of the American, employs about fifty Indians on the north fork, not far from its junction with the main stream. He had been engaged about five weeks when I saw him, and up to that time his Indians had used simply closely-woven willow baskets. His nett proceeds (which I saw) were about 16,000 dollars worth of gold. He showed me the proceeds of his last week's work-fourteen pounds avoirdupois of clean washed gold." This incident occurred in the colonel's presence at Weber's store,-a mere arbour of bushes, under which were exposed for sale goods and groceries suited to customers. "A man came in, picked up a box of seidlitz powders, and asked its price: Captain Weber told him it was not for sale. The man offered an ounce of gold; but Captain Weber told him it only cost fifty cents, and he did not wish to sell it. The man then offered an ounce and a half; which Captain Weber had to take for it. The price of all things are high; and yet Indians, who hardly knew before what a breech-cloth was, can now afford to buy the most gaudy dresses." Colonel Mason considers, though thousands of ounces have been removed, that no serious impression has been made: " he has no hesitation now in saying, that there is more gold in the country drained by the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers than will pay the cost of the present war with Mexico a hundred times over." The improvement which has taken place in the new loan (now at 103 ex div.) in consequence of this state of things has extended to all other stocks. Pennsylvania fives are at 77; Ohio sixes (1860), 103; Kentucky sixes, 101; Tennessee sixes, 96; Alabama fives, 61; New York Life and Trust Company, 107. A statement of the affairs of Florida shows a surplus of receipts over expenditure at the end of the financial year of 1,328 dollars, but nothing is said of any attempt to wipe off the stain of repudiation. At New York the keel had just been laid down of a new London liner, to be of 1,400 tons burden, being larger than the Devonshire, which is at present the largest ship employed in the London trade.-Times. IMPROVEMENT of the MISSISSIPPI.-A committee has made a report concerning the "father of waters" to the American Association for the Promotion of Science, from which the following are interesting extracts.There is not by twenty or twenty-five per cent. as much water now passing down the Mississippi annually as there was twenty-five years ago. In former times the steam-boats ascending or descending the river were detained about half of their time by dense fogs, while now hardly any such obstructions prevail, so that packets succeed in making their trips to an hour with no fears of such a retardation. Assuming that the diminution of the waters will continue in somewhat the same ratio as they have recently done, the time cannot be far distant when all apprehension from inundation will have, in a great measure, passed away. It is further remarked, as an evidence of change, that the quantity of floating timber or driftwood passing annually down the river has diminished in a far greater ratio than that of the water, so that the aggregate quantity cannot now be over fifty per cent. of that which formerly passed down. LIFE INSURANCE IN THE UNITED STATES. (From a Correspondent.) You recently referred, in your Journal,' to the rate of assurance premiums as affording a criterion of the relative rate of mortality in the United States. On that point I have had occasion to make inquiry, and find a considerable difference in the practice of offices. The Scotch offices, however, are the most carefully managed, and I give the result of inquiries addressed to them. One names 58. per cent. as the extra premium for residence in New York; another fixes 58. per cent. for the first year in Iowa, with 2s. 6d. per cent. subsequently. The Colonial Office, if I mistake not, includes the latitude of Iowa in the table of ordinary assurances; and another London office allows residence there without extra premium. It is an established fact, that the rate of mortality bears no fixed proportion to the rate of sickness; and he comes to an unsound conclusion that, because ague prevails in the western States, therefore life is shorter. Ague there is certainly, but then consumption is unknown; and, bearing in mind that a majority of the settlers there have left sedentary occupations, the fair presumption is, that the ratio of mortality is less with them than it would be were they to remain in this country, or in the eastern cities. Everything depends on a settler's judgment in the choice of his location. Personally, I can say, that in the western States I have encountered with impunity circumstances which in my native land would prove speedily fatal. T. S. for INTENDING EMIGRANTS. BY A LATE RESIDENT LIP, the remarkably fine fast-sailing Frigate IN THE COLONY. O EMIGRANTS.-Parties proceeding to Cape of Good Hope, will find that the AUSTRALASIAN, COLONIAL, and GENERAL LIFE ASSURANCE and ANNUITY COMPANY offers greater advantages than any other Company, no extra premium being charged for residence, and one direct voyage allowed out and home to persons assuring for the whole of life. There is also a Board of Directors at Sydney, and agents in all the principal settlements, and premiums may be paid and claims settled in the Colony. Specimens of the Rates of Premium for Assurance of £100. OUTFITS FOR ALL CLASSES. of EMIGRATION, THE ADVANTAGESed by the comforts of a SUITABLE OUTFIT, E. J. MONNERY and Co., 165, FENCHURCH-STREET, CITY, having had many years' experience in that line, feel confidence in calling the attention of all classes to their Outfitting Warehouse, where a large assortment of shirts, clothing, hosiery, &c., &c., is kept ready for immediate use, at unusually low prices. Sea mattresses, bedding, cabin, and camp furniture of every description.-Lists, with prices affixed, forwarded by post. APTAINS, VOYAGERS, and EMIGRANTS will find CORDING'S WATERPROOF GARMENTS the best they can purchase, and indispensable to persons about to push their way where exposure to the elements is the order of the day. A waterproof suit adds vastly to comfort, and is a great saving in the end. As imitations that will not stand hot and cold chmates are being offered, observe (for security) the name and address, J. C. CORDING, 231, Strand, five doors west of Temple-bar, and 3, Royal Exchange, facing Cornhill. IN MPORTANT TO EMIGRANTS.FREDERIC BARNES, 3, UNION-ROW, TOWER-HILL, invites the attention of parties emigrating to the Colonies, &c., to his large and varied STOCK of GUNS, RIFLES, PISTOLS, &c., which he is now selling at very Reduced Prices for Cash, All kinds of Repairs attended to with despatch. GUN AND PISTOL MANUFACTURER, 3, UNION-ROW, TOWER-HILL, at the bottom of the N.B. The following are absolutely required by the Commissioners to be taken by each Emigrant, viz. :-Steel Table Knife and Fork, Metal Soup Plate, Quart Hook Pot, Drinking Mug or Porringer, and best Metal Table and Tea Spoon, which can be supplied as above, for 2s. 6d. with the Purchaser's name marked on each article. built Ship, DOROTHY, A 1, 700 Tons burthen, Coppered and Copper-fastened, ROBERT T. MOODIE, Commander, lying in the St. Katharine Docks. This fine Ship has first-rate Accommodation for Cabin, Intermediate, and Steerage Passengers, having upwards of 7-feet height in the 'tween Decks. The Captain and Officers are carefully selected for character and expeand a skilful Surgeon proceeds in the Ship. rience; For Freight or Passage, apply to PARSONS & REYNOLDS, 163, Fenchurch-street; or to J. F. CAMPBELL & Co., 4, Birchin-lane, Cornhill." EMIGRATION ON A NEW PRINCIPLE. and from Plymouth the 5th February 1849, to PORT For further particulars apply to HALL, BROTHERS, 2, Riches-court, Lime-street; T. B. MALLET, 4, Castle-court, Birchin-lane; or to W. L. HOTCHKIN, 3, East India Chambers, Leadenhall-street. EGULAR LINE of PACKETS to the AUSTRALIA, &c.-In order to enable respectable persons to proceed to the above Colonies at the lowest charge cousistent with the superior accommodation afforded, it has been arranged to place a regular line of First-class Packets in communication with them, leaving London punctually at regulated periods. The following Ship will sail at the time stated: FOR ALGOA BAY. ARAB, A 1, 288 tons, J. GIBSON, commander; loading at London Docks; to Sail, 13th Jan.; last Shipping Day, 11th Jan. These vessels have most excellent accommodation for passengers, to whose comfort and convenience every attention will be paid. They are lofty between decks, and well ventilated. A liberal Dietary Scale is provided for Steerage Passengers; and the fittings for sleeping berths equal to the intermediate of ordinary vessels. Each Ship carries an experienced surgeon, and an abundant supply of medicine and comforts adapted to medical treatment. Families can arrange so as to be entirely to themselves. For freight or passage, apply to W. S. LINDSAY, 11, Abchurch-lane, or to W. O. YOUNG, 1, Royal Exchange Buildings. TO AUSTRALIA. EMIGRAT to enable respectable persons, who are ineligible for a free passage, to proceed to the Australian colonies, at the lowest possible cost, it has been arranged to despatch a line of superior First class Ships of large tonnage, for the especial accommodation of steerage and other passengers, at an exceedingly low rate passage money. These vessels will be subjected to the inspection of her Majesty's emigration officers, and will be despatched on the appointed days (wind and weather permitting), for which written guarantees will be given: of Ships ... THE BOYS and the BALLOT; or, A LESSON for the LITTLE. I went to spend an evening "by desire," A most amusing incident arose. Friend Harrison is one who well enjoys A little pleasure with his little boys; And so you'll think, on reading this suggestion Of Mr. H., upon the night in question. My lads (said he), you know I make a rule To rig you out when you return from school. And now (said he), I tell you what I'll do, I'll buy the clothes, and leave the choice to you. Let each one choose whose dress he'd like to wear, And let's have Vote by Ballot '-that's most fair; You'll not consult together-each must choose According to his own unbiass'd views. Write down your fav'rite shops - and, after that, I'll put the slips of paper in a hat; And then shall Mr. Temple (meaning me), Make known your choices, just as they may be," The lads, delighted, did as they were told, And half-a-dozen ballots were "unroll'd." I took the papers, and, on opening one, I found it written thus:-E. M. and SON. YOUTH'S ATTIRE. I hear, my lads, that MOSES have on hand A HANDSOME HAT. Which I shall purchase there Are just the things for lads like you to wear. STYLISH FUR. For I suppose, my lads, your votes included UNRIVALLED HOSIERY. MOSES and SON, in this, have long been noted, To make your choice the subject of a tale." To Sail Doeskin ditto Wm. Hyde. 700 Stewart. Jan. 1.Jan. 11. and Port Philip. 650 A Ship... Jan. 15. Jan. 25. Do. do. Feb. 11. Do. do. Childe Harold 700 T. Lilly Feb. 1. These splendid ships have full poops, with first-rate accommodations for cabin passengers, and their 'tween decks being lofty and well ventilated, they afford most desirable opportunities for the accommodation of intermediate and steerage passengers. They will be fitted and provisioned in all respects on a similar plan to the vessels now being despatched by her Majesty's Colonisation Commissioners, and the same dietary scale will be adopted. They are officered and manned by thoroughly competent persons, and carry duly qualified and experienced surgeons. Other equally fine ships, similarly fitted, &c., will succeed; and sailing on the 1st and 15th of each month from London, and the 11th and 25th from Plymouth. Load at the Jetty, London Docks. For further particulars apply to the undersigned, who are constantly despatching a succession of superior firstclass ships (regular traders) to each of the Australian colonies. MARSHALL & EDRIDGE, 34, Fenchurch-street, London. DENT'S IMPROVED WATCHES and CLOCKS.-E. J. DENT, Watch and Clock Maker by distinct appointment to the Queen, H. R. H. Prince Albert, and H. I. M. the Emperor of Russia, most respectfully solicits from the public an inspection of his extensive STOCK of WATCHES and CLOCKS, embracing all the late modern improvements, at the most economical charges. Ladies' Gold Watches, with Gold Dials, jewelled in four holes, Eight Guineas. Gentlemen's, with Enamelled Dials, Ten Guineas. Youths' Silver Watches, Four Guineas. Warranted substantial and accurate going Lever Watches, jewelled in four holes, Six Guineas. E. J. DENT, 82, Strand, 33, Cockspur-street, and 31, Royal Exchange (Clock Tower Area). Autum and Winter Coats, in all the newest styles Milled Cloth Coat.. Tweed Trousers Tweed Wrappers 0 15 0 100 1 60 016 0 4 6 0 12 6 020 100 140 0 16 6 ..from 1 60 2 20 090 0 18 0 New Pattern Trousers, in all the approved styles 0 16 0 NOTICE.-The Shawl Department, 155, Minories, is now replete with every novelty of the season. OBSERVE. Any article purchased, ready made or made to measure, if not approved of, will be exchanged, or, if preferred, the money returned. E. MOSES and SON, Tailors, Woollen Drapers, Clothiers, Hatters, Hosiers, Furriers, Boot and Shoe Makers, and General Outfitters for Ladies and Gentlemen, 154, 155, 156, and 157, Minories; 83, 84, 85, and 86, Aldgate, City, London. **This Establishment is closed from Sunset Friday till Sunset Saturday. Printed by ALEXANDER ELDER MURRAY (of Fife Cottage, EMIGRANT'S CONDUCTED BY SAMUEL AND JOHN SIDNEY, AUTHORS OF "A VOICE FROM AUSTRALIA," "AUSTRALIAN HAND-BOOK," VOL. I.-No. 16.] "RAILWAYS AND AGRICULTURE," &c. &c. THURSDAY, 18TH JANUARY, 1849. PERHAPS there never was a time of more distress among shopkeepers, a class of persons who cannot diminish their expenses without sacrificing both present and future profits, whatever be the state of trade. The high rents of fashionable situations; the heavy rates, heaviest when the profits are least; the gas dues, wages, and all expenses must be kept up, or the customers fall away and bad debts increase. It is not many years since we chanced to hear from a prosperous farmer a story of the penalties that poverty-comparative poverty -inflicted on his landlord, a great nobleman, and heir-presumptive to large estates. This nobleman had inherited, with his ancient name and extensive estates, an overwhelming amount of debts. He had several fine scats, at one of which he lived,-hereditary custom obliged him to keep up certain stately expensive establishments, for the benefit of the neighbourhood, as it were; and so, for some years, his children being all very young, he resided entirely at Park, with a few old servants, living literally on the venison and mutton fed in the park, and the vegetables grown in the magnificent series of gardens, until the sight and smell of venison and mutton, was positively hateful to him. To town he never went, except to vote on some great occasion in the House of Lords. In fact, being of a spirit that would not incur either debt or favour, economy was carried to the most grinding point. In no poor person's family were expenses discussed more keenly. This same nobleman is now one of the wealthiest men in England. It would be curious to know with what feelings he looks back on his past privations. But without undervaluing the mortifications to which a proud and honest man must have been continually exposed, knowing that from his position in society his every movement was watched, and every economy canvassed, if not misrepresented, it must be observed that there was one keen pang of poverty spared him-he had no anxiety for the future. He knew that by force of economy the estate in possession, and by course of time the estate in reversion, would place his children out of reach of the annoyances under which he suffered-in a position suitable to their rank and birth-besides, the patronage of the army, the navy, and the church, was secured for them. Contrast this case of a nobleman in distress, and of a shopkeeper under like pressure. The latter presents a less picturesque picture, little pitied out of the pale of friends and acquaintances; but, if closely examined, infinitely more distressing. În years of general commercial pressure like the past, when every one who can, contracts his purchases and expenses, there are too many tradesmen who see ruin advancing upon them, eating up first their capital and then their credit, with scarcely a chance of escape. Such persons live perhaps in great shops in leading thoroughfares, instead of stately mansions embowered in oaks; and make a splendid display of plate-glass, gas, and goods, instead of servants and horses, and hounds; have a large establishment of assistants, and a numerous family to support. They find custom falling off, and bad debts increasing; stock left on hand as unfashionable, and consequently valueless; health perhaps failing, and children growing up and increasing in number; and yet they can scarcely diminish one important item of expense: dinners may be cut down, wine and amusements forbidden, country air so necessary for health discontinued, children taken from school, and friendly interchange of visits declined. But these are mere drops in the ocean of expenses. The funds fall to 75. Railway stock is un PRICE 2D. STAMPED 3D. saleable. The manufactories are all at a stand-still, and the town is filled with vagrants; the daily receipts do not pay the expenses. In the face of all this, rent must be paid, and Queen's taxes and poor rates daily increasing, and police rate and gas dues, and water dues, and shopmen's wages, and bills of exchange must be honoured to the hour-there is no relief to be had, either in economising or procrastinating. The unhappy man who has to struggle on against such a current of misfortunes has no hope for the future except in turning the tide. The preservation of his commercial honour is to him as dear as the unstained escutcheon of a nobleman, or the honour of a soldier. That gone, not mental or imaginary evils stare him in the face, but actual, positive beggary; a crowd of helpless, half-educated children dependent for bread on a bankrupt father, himself past the age for active personal exertion. It is of these, and such as these, who see, under the pressure of bad times and numerous families, their capital dwindling away, that a very numerous and unfortunate section of the emigrating movement is composed-men who desire to realize before their where money is dearer, food cheaper, taxes less, and where the means have entirely vanished, and re-invest in some country labours of children, that are such a tax upon resources in this country, may be turned to some profitable account. Here, for instance, is the letter of a man who has been more him to take his choice of colonies and countries for emigration, but than ordinarily fortunate, for he has a capital sufficient to enable his position may stand for that of thousands : Self, thirty-nine years of age, employed since sixteen behind a retail half-past four to five A. M., in summer), and gardening or farming in the counter in the hardware trade; been accustomed to early rising (averaging mornings before breakfast, having had a little land in occupation (and having kept a cow or two, and a few pigs on that land); and was never afraid of work of any description, and have made many and many a day's work in my business of eighteen hours long, and yet am not able to make the provision I should wish for my children, for after having been in business for nearly fifteen years, and lived economically too, I find myself barely able to make the two ends meet; and then the question naturally arises in my mind, how and what chances I shall be able to give to my children to enable them to get an honest living for themselves when of an I can use almost any kind of tools, although, of course, not age to do so. so well as skilled workmen in their trades; but can dig, or mow, or reap, or trim hedges, or do rough carpentering of any kind, and rough painting, with grinding and mixing of colours; also undertake common bell-hanging, and locksmith's work, and do a little in the working of the various sheet metals, such as iron, tin, brass, copper, lead, &c. ; likewise understand the making of cider, &c.; and in short, could turn a hand, with a little assistance, to almost anything I ever yet tried at. Wife, thirty-five years of age, has not had a very good share of health, being rather nervously inclined, chiefly, I think, from the want of more fresh air, and exercise out of doors, having when younger been used to the country, being a farmer's daughter, and never having lived in a town until married; can make dresses as well as any dressmaker, and boy's clothing as well as any tailor; also bake and brew, and cook anything as well as ten out of twelve professed cooks, wash and iron, and do all kinds of domestic work whatever, and take the management of a dairy, and make butter and cheese, &c. We have eight children, four boys and four girls, and every probability of more; the age of the eldest being thirteen years, and the youngest nearly one year and a half. The three eldest are boys, and all have been generally healthy, thank God. Our habits of living have been very temperate, and I may safely say that we have never indulged in one quarter of the luxuries of living that are usually indulged in by parties in our station of life. And thus we see that in the keen state of competition that exists, a man may work from morning to night, eighteen hours in the day, turn his hand to everything to save paid labour-be highly ingenious, and yet, if he have more than half a dozen children, find himself growing older and older, and poorer and poorer, every day. By the very same post that brought the letter above quoted, came one from an Irish miller, with eight children, all the sons brought up to useful handicrafts, and the daughters to domestic work,-all educated, industrious, and pious; but with no capital beyond a couple of hundred pounds. Now, such people as these two families, and scores more like them that apply to us, would make "model colonists." They only want fertile land at a cheap rate to become prosperous; such farms, for instance, as the pioneers of America have for sale. They are not well suited to enter on completely wild land,-none but very stout labouring men are. They have industry, skill, education, religion-all the elements of civilization. Their chances at home are dark, and they are positively driven to the United States, unless Canada suits them, because shepherds' wages are no temptation to them or their sons, and they cannot afford to sink first a capital in the long voyage, and then another capital in a large lot of wild land, when all they want is a small potato garden lot, of say 100 acres, to support them until they feel their way, and subside into the most profitable employments of the country. All that we can do is to recommend such parties, if they have less than 500l. to spare, after voyage and outfit is paid, and if any circumstances of health demand a warmer climate than Canada, to proceed to the United States where so many are going, and more will go now than ever. In the face of such advantages, it is vain to try to send such emigrants to Australia. We can only advise that, where it is possible, they should go in numbers, and by forming a settlement of friends and relatives near each other in the same township, strive to retain as much as possible British manners and feelings. TEMPERANCE EMIGRATION SOCIETY. WE hear, with regret, that this society has met with a check in the The following passages are extracted from a letter addressed to the editor of the Eastern Counties Herald. society would have gone on gloriously. As for my own distressed circumstances, I will show you how they are. I calculate I have upwards of two hundred bushels in wheat and flour. I have two good yoke of cattle, one milch cow and calf, ten pigs, and plenty of milk and butter, with as like to my dinner or breakfast. My land is excellent. In sinking for my much pork as I can eat; also potatoes in abundance; with a fowl when I cellar it was four feet deep of soil, and then I came at clay." Sir, you will see that if we could have made men honest, this society would have flourished, but some men cannot be credited without making them rogues.-I am, Sir, yours, &c. JOHN PICKup. Horsford Woodside, near Leeds, Sept. 11th, 1848. How much it is to be regretted that means have not been taken to induce such associations as above described to settle on British possessions, where lawless dishonesty could not go unpunished. Has the Canadian Legislature nothing to tempt a thousand such emigrants to settle on their rich uncultivated wastes? We fear the want of sympathy between official personages, and the wide gulf that prevents even a proposal from reaching a Secretary of State, unless backed by strong parliamentary influence, will some day lead to lamentable results. Can our Colonial Ministers see with indifference industrious workmen settling in the United States by thousands, because they cannot get land in our own colonies? Fantastic theories give our American friends what we most need ourselves. Some people talk of systematic colonization. The Wisconsin emigration clubs practise it as far as lawless men will permit them! THE PRISONER'S PROSPECTS.-If a boy or man in England, however unexceptionable his natural disposition and previous conduct, be guilty of one crime, whether under the influence of poverty, drunkenness, love of forbidden field sports, or one of those incomprehensible temptations which our fathers not unwisely attributed to the direct agency of the devil, if he once be defiled by the hands of a constable, and pass through the avenging portals of a gaol, he may bid farewell to all hopes of an honest living within gossip-shot of the locality of his offence. He may leave the prison a wiser and a better man, well taught in religious truths, of which he was before ignorant, perhaps gifted with a new trade, but no one will have anything to do with him. In a country where competition for work is so keen, that the best characters can barely get constant occupation at remunerative wages, a man with a blotted character has no chance at all. If he has strong arms and strong lungs he may get work on railroads; but prison fare and silent, quiet sedentary pursuits are a bad preparation for a navigator's life; so he walks forth, with hunger in his belly and poverty in his pockets to see wealth in every window, and welcome at no door, unless it be at those dens where wretches like himself sell and spend the produce of their felonies. I once had a servant who afforded a complete illustration of the advantages of transportation. He was born and bred a London thief; all his family had been either hung or transported. He had been transported at eighteen years of age, for stealing jewellery from a shop in Bishopsgate-street; what is called in thieves' slang, starring the glaze. In prison he had been taught boot-making. He was very clever, very active, and very fond of dress and amusement. After a twelvemonth's hut-keeping, during which time he worked hard at boot-making; he would, with a fund of sixty or a hundred pounds, dress himself smartly according to colonial ideas, lay in a stock of pickles and preserves, and amuse himself with pigeon shooting, until his money was spent, about three months, when he would again return to hut-keeping. In England, unless he had been born to a fortune he must have been a confirmed vagabond. All persons with any magisterial experience know there are a great many young men who, with an overflow of animal spirits, a strong taste for amusement, not indolent, but periodically idle, combative, with more benevolence than reverence in their composition, are liable to be in constant trouble in thickly populated countries, where they are continually offending some prejudice, or exhausting their superfluous energies in some incorrect manSuch men make gallant soldiers and sailors in time of war, and famous emigrants. In the bush they don't get drunk, as there is no liquor to be had within a hundred miles, except at sheep-shearing time. All the game there is, they are at full liberty to pursue. Constables and stocks do not exist, any more than squires or other authorities, to whom well-bred ner. For the first three or four years it surpassed our most sanguine expec- The settlement is in Dean County, Wisconsin, 114 miles from Mil- bumpkins touch their hats. As for any fighting propensities, if they are not absorbed in breaking in wild colts, and stubborn bullocks, herding in wild cattle, and standing the spears and boomerangs of a hostile mob of blacks; why, there are bullock-drivers who will give and take any amount of bruising, and no soul will interfere until either party has had enough. GIPSIES IN AUSTRALIA. —In England, no one ever knew an instance of a gipsy steadily pursuing any honest employment, but in New South Wales many of that mysterious race, who have been convicted for horsestealing and similar offences, become invaluable bush servants. In bullockdriving, they find an employment congenial to their errant disposition. Bullocks are curious animals, of very diversified character, and no one can equal gipsies in their thorough knowledge of the ways of quadrupeds. Then, the constant travelling through the bush, the camping in the open air in a fine climate, is an agreeable translation of their European roam A GOOD RECIPE FOR MAKING BREAD WITH CARBONATE OF SODA. (From a Correspondent.) Take three pounds of flour (avoirdupois weight), four drachms of carbonate of soda, five drachms of muriatic acid, about a pint and a quarter of water, four drachms of common table salt. Bread made in the above proportions contains nothing more than flour, salt, and water, for the proportions of muriatic acid and carbonate of soda used are those which, chemically combined, make common salt. The ingredients should be well mixed together; the soda and flour first (stirring them together by the hand), the salt should be then dissolved in the water, and added to the muriatic acid (stirring them with a wooden or glass rod); the whole should be then thrown together and kneaded thoroughly, and as speedily as possible. The dough thus made should be baked in long tins, and is sufficient to make two loaves; about one hour and a half is required to bake them. A RIDE THROUGH THE BUSH. BY "THE BUSHMAN." THE following account of one of the long journeys on horseback The object of this long journey was to settle, before the Com- Having some business to transact at the Peel River, I got a couple The next day I went to Fitzgerald's cattle station. Here I found a married man and his wife ;-whenever there is a woman in the bush, the unfortunate husband leads a dog's life looking after her. The day after, I got on the far-famed Liverpool plains. I stopped on the Mochi, a head station of Mr. F.'s. I turned my horse into a paddock. Hitherto, there had been plenty of grass, but now there was not a blade to be seen for miles; in vain did my poor horse prowl about, there was nothing but a few herbs; at last he gave it up (as he was not very hungry, having only come seventeen miles that day). The superintendent had been living, for the last ten weeks, on dry bread, and tea without sugar or milk, expecting the drays every day, and this was all I got myself. Poor L-had lost all his horses, he had sent them away into the mountains, where there was good feed, and somebody had maliciously planted them (in colonial phrase), which means hid them, to get a reward for finding them-a common practice about Liverpool plains. He begged me to stop the next day, as he had observed, the day before, several horses come 123 down to water:-he thought one of them was his, and, if so, he could, with in getting to Hera's Creek, whence there was a direct road to the Peel Having left the Mochi, I steered across a plain for a gap in the mountains, twelve miles without any road, and succeeded, without any trouble, tell me that he was making his way back along the road in hobbles-he house, that is to say, the usual bush fare, but no spirits or wines. He wants. It is the custom in the colony to give any man who calls-stranger or Liverpool plains and the Mochi, the settlers could not get their drays up from not-accommodation for the night, and let him spell (rest) a day if he Maitland, and were half starved, living by borrowing of one another, and But about the Namoi, in consequence of the drought prevailing in frightened to see a stranger. Not so with us on the Darling; no sooner is a man in sight than a pot of tea is put down for him, and every body makes him welcome. I travelled 450 miles this journey, and it never cost Namoi he was noted as the best man in the district to give a feed. I me one penny, except at Paddy Fygh's, and he has so many callers, ten or always carry tea, sugar, and tobacco, with me, but at many of the stations fifteen of a night, that he could not afford it; but when he was on the the people are offended if you pull out the tea and sugar bags. The day after this I lost my horse; for three days I was searching for lot of blacks sleeping before the fire, as well as the whites. my horse's feet. He was very glad to see me after so long an absence of |