A wag published in the Herald of June 6, 1851, a
caricature model business-letter of the day, from a
California correspondent of an eastern shipper. The
receipt of several hundred ship-loads of goods is
acknowledged, most of which were sold at half their
cost, and the remainder of the invoices wei-e closed by
the regular fire of the 4th ult. "Some two hundred
of your vessels," continues the letter, "have cleared
for China and the East Indies; the balance, say five
hundred, remain in port from our mability to negotiate
further drafts on you. Most of them are less liable to
sink, as they now lie on the sand flats, than they
would be if sent to sea, and we would advise their re-
maining as they are some forty or fifty years. We
would advise the immediate shipment of some five
hundred assorted cargoes as the supply in the market
is not more than sufficient for fifteen montlxS. Any
article quoted at high prices, the consumption of
which is limited, should be shipped in large quanti-
ties, in order to compete with the host of other ship-
pers. In shipping dutiable goods, you need never
provide for the payment of the duties, as w^e are at all
times prepared to advance the amount i"equired at ten
per cent, per month interest ; or, if you prefer it, have
the goods stored in the celebrated U. S. fire-proof
bonded warehouses, at the trifling expense of seven
dollars per ton the first month, and three dollars each
succeeding month. An anniversary fire is confidently
expected on the 14th inst., when we hope to close
most of our consignments."
Looking at the fleet of vessels at anchor in the harbor, one wondered how it was possible for three hundred thousand men to consume the cargoes of them all. But these three hundred tlu)usand were equivalent to a million of mingled young and old, women, children, and men. Cities were to be built, farmes stocked, and mines developed, and all this re- quired immense supplies and material. Little or nothing was then produced ; even lumber for building,
