hammock. My provisions are stored in the back part of my arbor, while my kitchen is all out doors. July 30th. We have to-day commenced our labors. So much has been said of the mining operations upon the rivers, especially upon the Tuolumne, which is believed to be very rich, that I am led, for the information of my readers, to go more into detail in describing this, the closing portion of my mining life. The gold is often found, in rich deposits, in the channels of these rivers. To be obtained, the river must first be turned by dam and canal. As this is an operation requiring the united labor of many individuals, it is customary to form companies, which elect their officers, form their laws, and mutually share the expense and labor of the preparatory work, and also divide equally the profits. The Hart’s Bar Draining and Mining Company was organized in May. The following Articles of Agreement were adopted in July, at a meeting of the company, when twenty-one entered their names as members, and elected their officers. It should be remarked that mining associations enjoy all the privileges and immunities of corporate bodies; their just claims and rights are sacredly regarded; and any violence done to these rights would be visited by the vengeance of all the miners for miles around. No code of laws or staff of police could more fully establish a miner in the possession of his ten feet square. No well-drawn writing, from the royal charter down to the simple deed of conveyance, could be a surer guarantee. He would not be obliged to wait a tedious process at law, or pay his last dollar for a bill of ejectment. The work of restitution and retribution at the mines is speedy, summary, and effective. ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT OF THE HART’S BAR DRAINING AND MINING COMPANY. PREAMBLE. We, the undersigned, having associated ourselves together for the purpose of draining and mining that part of the Tuolumne River known as Hart’s Bar, and to work out the portion of the bed of the river so drained, do adopt the following articles of agreement, to govern us in the prosecution of the said work: ARTICLE I. This company shall be known by the name of The Hart’s Bar Draining and Mining Company. ARTICLE II. This company shall not number over twenty-five members. ARTICLE III. The officers of this company shall be a president, a secretary--who shall likewise perform the duties of treasurer--and four directors, which shall be elected from its own body, in such manner as they may see fit, a majority constituting an election; and the officers so elected shall continue in office during the pleasure of the company. ARTICLE IV. It shall be the duty of the president to call all meetings of the company, and to preside at them. He shall put to vote all motions duly made, and, in all cases of a tie in voting, he shall give the casting vote.