the latter port and Vancouver's Island, from whence easy access is had
to the diggings, by means of small steamers. The steamers at present
running on the coast make the voyage from Panama to Vancouver's Island
in fourteen or fifteen days. The following statistics of fares and
freights are supplied by the _Times'_ correspondent:--

"The rates of passage at present from San Francisco to New York are--
Steerage, 150 dollars; second cabin, 250 dollars; first cabin, 300
dollars per berth for each passenger. An entire state-room is the price
of two passengers--600 dollars. From New York to San Francisco the
fares are the same. San Francisco to Panama, sometimes the same as to
New York, and sometimes one-third less. Freight on specie, 1 per cent,
to New York; and three quarters per cent to Panama with a slight
discount to shippers of large amounts. Freight on merchandise from
Panama, 2 dollars 10 cents per foot. The quantity of freight is
considerable in French silks, cloths, and light goods, but the bulk is
in Havannah cigars, nearly all the supply for this market coming _via_
Panama. The fares up by the steamers from San Francisco to Victoria
are--Steerage, 30 dollars; cabin, 60 dollars."

This route, besides being at present the most direct and expeditious,
presents another great advantage. Passing along the coast of
California, it gives passengers an opportunity of either settling there,
or continuing their journey to British Columbia. That this is no
unimportant advantage, will be at once conceded when it is borne in mind
that it is not the gold-producing country on the Fraser River alone that
offers strong inducements to emigrants.

In a letter published on 4th August, the _Times'_ correspondent
remarks:--"In a few weeks, with a continuance of the present drain upon
our mining, mechanical, and labouring population generally, as good a
field for labour of every kind will again be open in California as there
was from 1849 to 1851, when the country became flooded with immigrants.
In fact, the openings now being made in the mines and in labour of all
sorts, and the rise of wages in consequence of the exodus hence, offer
greater inducements to emigrants than existed in the first years of our
organisation. Then there was little besides mining that a man could
turn his hand to. Now the gradual development of the resources of the
country has opened many avenues for labour of various kinds, and mining
claims, whi