Letter From California.

As many of our readers had relatives and friends on board the British Ship Sir Charles Napier, which arrived at San Francisco after a voyage of 90 days from Panama, we give the following account of the voyage, which we are allowed to extract from a private letter written by H. P. LOTT, to his brother, Dr. Lott, of this county.

“I wrote to Martin from Panama, informing him that we had purchased tickets on a sail ship, and that we would embark on the 20th of February, but did not until the 21st.  After sailing about 9,000 miles, and 90 days, we reached California on the 21st of May.  We sailed from Panama a south course, and after sailing 25 days, we were ten degrees S. of the equator, where we lay 15 or 20 days.  We then sailed parallel with the equator a west course near 30 days, and reached the degree of 122 west longitude; after which we sailed North-west until we passed San Francisco.  Being then 20 degrees west of there, we then sailed in a due east course.  You can take the atlas and mark out the voyage.  You will find that we sailed three times as far as we should have done, from the fact that the Captain had never made the trip before, and was destitute of any knowledge of the route.  She is an English ship and constructed for the purpose of carrying heavy draughts.  She is very ?? and filthy.

“Our fare was horrible.  We had for breakfast a half pint of coffee and a cracker baked at Liverpool two years since; for dinner we had salt beef and a do.; for supper a half pint of tea without sugar.

“We were allowanced to one pint of water in 24 hours, for 9 weeks; the remainder of the time we got half a pint, and that so filthy that it bore the hue of weak coffee.  This was the best fare we have received since we left home.

“The disease and mortality of the passengers was great.  Out of 217, there were 36 died, all in less than 40 days.  The principal disorder was the Panama Fever, which made its appearance with a violent headache and misery in the bones.  It rendered them senseless in a day and night, and usually terminated in three or four days.  One man only recovered that had an attack of it.—This was caused by lying at Panama so long, also in the torrid zone after we embarked.  The diarrhea raged to a great extent, and in many cases proved mortal.  There were also several died with the measles. Out of the deceased there were nine from Cass and Gordon. The ship was supplied neither with a physician or medicine, except a little oil and salts.  There were not ten men on the ship who escaped an attack of some disease.”

“Mr. Pierce has withstood the voyage very well.  He had an attack of the diarrhea.  With that exception, he has been well all the time.  He says he weighs thirty pounds more than he did when he left home.

“I have one request to make of my friends who may start to California: that is never to embark on a sail ship at any price or under any consideration.  But, in the first place, I advise them not to start in anywise.

“The emigration is still great.  Since we have got in yesterday, two other ships have landed, laden with passengers.

“The news from the mines is very good.  A man can get $5 a day, for common labor, at this place.”

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Page 4.

Letters of Dismission From Guardianship

W. C. Wyly, guardian of Salina Pinson, applies for letters of dismission from guardianship.