niSTORT OF CALIFORNIA. 251 



"WTiatcvcr may be the truth of the reports, there is no 

 doubt of one thing — the whole population of Marjs- 

 ville and its vicinity have become infected by the news, 

 and are taking up their march thitherwards in crowds. 



The Transcript speaks rather doubtiugly on the 

 subject ; it says — " The reports come as a general 

 thing, through teamsters and other persons whose 

 interest it is to give as favorable accounts as possible. 

 The statements are very conflicting." 



To this we may add the statement of a gentleman 

 who reached this city from Marysville, direct, on 

 Tuesday night. The excitement, he says, is great ; 

 but no one could give any definite information of the 

 locality or of its productiveness. Yet all seemed to 

 think there was no doubt in the matter, and as many 

 as could get away were starting, or getting ready to 

 push for the new El Dorado. Upon his way down, on 

 board the boat, he conversed with a man who professed 

 to have explored that region lately, although he did 

 not claim to know where Gold Lake was. But between 

 the North Fork of the Yuba and Feather Rivers, at 

 the foot of the great chain of mountains, he reported 

 a series of lakes of various dimensions, and " two 

 thousand people," prospecting all about. The snow 

 was very deep — " six feet" — and but little gold. 



The following extract from the Placer Times, is the 

 most positive information within oui' knowledge. 



On the arrival of the "Lawrence," yesterday, from 

 Marysville, we received more news of the Gold Lake 

 excitement, now prevailing in those parts. It pro- 

 mises to spare no one. Many who would not be 

 understood to have yielded to it, seek, under various 

 pretences, to get away — some pleading business in 

 other quarters of the mines ; others desiring the recrea.- 



