“THOMAS O. LARKIN.”

DESERTION FROM THE SHIPS.—­We collate from other sources several other interesting letters and documents, and which will be found well worth perusal.

“Monterey, Sept. 15, 1848.

“Messrs. Grinnell, Minturn, and Co.: 

“Sirs—­I embrace this opportunity to inform you of my new situation, which is bad enough.  All hands have left me but two; they will stay till the cargo is landed and ballast in, then they will go.  Both mates will leave in a few days, and then I will have only the two boys, and I am fearful that they will run.  I have got all landed but 900 barrels; on Monday I shall get off ballast if the weather is good.  There’s no help to be got at any price.  The store-ship that sailed from here ten days ago took three of my men at 100 dollars per month; there is nothing that anchors here but what loses their men.  I have had a hard time in landing the cargo; I go in the boat every load.  If I can get it on shore I shall save the freight.  As for the ship she will lay here for a long time, for there’s not the least chance of getting a crew.  The coasters are giving 100 dollars per month.  All the ships at San Francisco have stripped and laid up.  The Flora, of New London, is at San Francisco; all left.  You probably have heard of the situation of things here.  A sailor will be up at the mines for two months, work on his own account, and come down with from two to three thousand dollars, and those that go in parties do much better.  I have been offered 20 dollars per day to go, by one of the first men here, and work one year.  It is impossible for me to give you any idea of the gold that is got here.  Yours respectfully,

“CHRISTOPHER ALLEN,
Captain of the ship Isaac Walton.”

Another letter dated St. Francisco, September 1st, contains the following:—­

“A day or two ago the Flora, Captain Potter, of New London, anchored in Whaleman’s Harbour, on the opposite side of the Bay.  Yesterday the captain, fearing he would lose all his men, weighed anchor, intending to go to sea.  After getting under weigh, the crew, finding the ship was heading out, refused to do duty, and the captain was forced to return and anchor here.  Last night nine of the crew gagged the watch, lowered one of the boats, and rowed off.  They have not been heard of since, and are now probably half way to the gold region.  The Flora is twenty-six months out, with only 750 bbls. of oil.  Every vessel that comes in here now is sure to lose her crew, and this state of things must continue until the squadron arrives, when, if the men-o’-war-men do not run off too, merchant-men may retain their crews.

“The whale-ship Euphrates, of New Bedford, left here a few weeks since, for the United States, to touch on the coast of Chili to recruit.  The Minerva, Captain Perry, of New Bedford, has abandoned the whaling business, and is now on his way hence to Valparaiso for a cargo of merchandise.  Although two large ships, four barks, and eight or ten brigs and schooners have arrived here since my return from the mineral country, about four weeks since, with large cargoes of merchandise, their entire invoices have been sold.  Vessels are daily arriving from the islands and ports upon the coast, laden with goods and passengers, the latter destined for the gold-washings.