CALIFORNIA.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 266, 8 June 1868, Page 3

CALIFORNIA.

(From the Panama Star and Herald.} The Hon. Anson Bnrlingame, Envoy Extraordinary and minister Plenipotentiary from the Chinese Government to the treaty Powers; Chih Tajen and Son Tajen Chinese Ministers, John. McLeary Brown, First Secretary of Legation, Monsieur E de Champs six student interpreters, two of whom have studied to speak English with considerable facility, two have studied French and two Russian ; two writers, a native doctor and about fifteen servants, arrived at San Francisco by the Pacific Mail Steamship Companye's steamer China, and took up their abode at the Occidental Hotel. Their Excellencies Chih Tajen and Son Tajen, are High Ministers of the second rank, attached I to the Mission to learn and qualify! themselveß in the modes of diplomatic ; intercourse, and to assist Mr. Burlin- • game in his communications with the Chinese government. On the Ist some of the party appeared on the streets, and the two Ministers attraced some attention by their dress—the single red button and peacock's feather. They expected to leave by the"G-olden Age," on the 6th of April. It does not appear that the Embassy are provided with an Imperial flag, as the stars and stripes were flying over the hotel in their honor. The British ship Viscata, Captain Drummond, drifted ashore at South Bright near San Francisco on the 7th of April and will probably prove a total loss. The Viscata was beatiug out under charge of a pilot when getting too near land, she got caught in the back eddy, missed stays and went ashore. The San Francisco Times of 9th says : —So far all attempts to get her off have failed, and the sand has banked up around her, and is still banking up so much that the task of floating her becomes more difficult every tide. Up to a late hour last night she had made but very littlo water, but was pounding heavily at times, and had lost her starboard quarter boat. There was a fresh breeze, and a swell was rolling in rendering her position more and more critical. She draws twenty-one feet of water, and at low tide has nine feet by her stern, showing that she is embedded twelve feet in the sand. The Viscata is an iron ship, and owned by Jos. Steele, of Liverpool. She was built at that port in 1864. Her tonnage is 1065 tons, and her length from stem to stern 204 feet. She is registered at Lloyd's m Class 2, model N. Her consignees are Messrs. Faulkner & 8011, who loaded her. Her cargo consists of 32,731 sacks of wheat, valued at $90,885. All of this will doubtless be saved, with the exception of that which was as many believe needlessly thrown overboard. The pilot who had

charge of her, Mr Jolliffe, is the same who was in command of the Oliver Cutis when she wont on Alcatraz. No doubt an investigation will be held to determine the causes which led to the disaster, and ascertain who is to blame for it. That some one was in fault can scarcely be doubted, and in such weather, in broad daylight, there should be no excuse for putting a vessel where the Viscata now lays.