wing from San Francisco,
under date 5th July:--

The emigration for Fraser River has gone on for months with no signs of
growing less. The best means of judging what grounds there are for the
belief in the existence of gold in large quantities on its banks, is by
letters received from persons who are engaged in mining. It is worthy
of note that there is no discrepancy between the accounts given by
different individuals, all their statements agreeing. The mines are
reported to be exceedingly rich, and yielding large returns to those
engaged in digging. The river is very high, and miners have been driven
from several of the most lucrative bars until the water subsides. Mr
Hill, from whom Hill's Bar took its name, is mining some distance above
that point. He and six hands were making from an ounce to an ounce and
a-half of gold dust a day to each man. For three weeks prior to the
freshet, Mr Hill and one man averaged one hundred to one hundred and
fifty dollars a day. The freshet, however drove him off for the time
being. Mr E.R. Collins, who has spent some time in the Fraser River
gold region, and who brought down last week a quantity of dust, has
communicated the following intelligence to the _Alta California_. Mr
Collins is a trustworthy gentleman. He left San Francisco in March
last, and was at Olympia when the excitement first broke out. He then,
in company with three others, proceeded to Point Roberts, from whence
they proceeded up Fraser River to the mouth of Harrison River, about
twenty-five miles above Fort Langley. This portion of the journey they
performed without guides or assistance from the natives. The current
was moderate, and occasionally beautiful islands were discovered with
heavy timber, which presented a beautiful appearance. From Fort Hope to
Fort Yale, a distance of fifteen miles, the river runs narrow, and the
current running about seven miles per hour, though, in some places, it
might be set down at ten or twelve. At Fort Yale, the first mining bar
was reached. It extended out from the left bank a distance of some
thirty yards, and was about half a mile long. Twenty or thirty squaws
were at work with baskets and wooden trays, while, near by, large
numbers of male Indians stood listlessly looking on. Here some of Mr
Collins' companions, who had now increased to twenty, proposed to stop
and try their luck, but the majority resolved to go on, having informed
themselves satisfactoril