The Daily Union Sacramento, Cal. Wednesday morning, September 15, 1852 MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT - On Monday night, as the steamer Jack Hays was coming through Suisun Bay, on her way to this city, when opposite New York, Capt. William SMITH, the pilot, accidentally fell overboard and was drowned. Mr. SMITH has been a pilot on the river for the last two years; was formerly from Massachusetts, and aged about 40 years. His body has not yet been recovered. REAL ESTATE - J.B. STARR will have on Monday, Sept. 20th, at the Orleans House, one of the largest real estate sales of the season. It is his intention to get out the catalogues this evening, and parties wishing property inserted in the catalogue, are requested to send a memorandum of the same to his office. We have noticed the real estate sales made by Mr. STARR have given general satisfaction, and parties purchasing on Monday next, may rest assured of getting good titles and desirable property. We have received a communication from the Justice of the Peace for Colusa with reference to the case of Bernard and Willis. As the subject matter referred to has been disposed of long since, we must beg to be excused from lending our columns to the publication of statements which may provoke and prolong a discussion. CATTLE FROM THE PLAINS - We noticed on yesterday a team consisting of thirty-three head of oxen, drawing an emigrant wagon through J street. This long train was made up mainly of cattle just in from the plains. They had been purchased by one of the ranch owners of Napa, and are by this time quietly browsing on the rich herbage of that lovely valley. Sonora The Herald, of Saturday last, just received. The following additional improvements are chronicled in that town by the Herald: Since last we chronicled the improvements in the course of erection, Messrs. BOYER and PATRICK have far advanced in the completion of a handsome and auspicious two-story building upon their old lot. Its roof is of an octagonal form, and the building will, when finished, be the largest and finest frame store in Sonora. On the opposite corner of Main street, Mr. ____ has completed another splendid store, of the same description as the one last mentioned, though somewhat smaller. Mr. B. FORD has nearly completed his one adobe and brick building, next door to his old stand. It is one of the best houses of the kind in Sonora. Dr. GUNN has nearly completed the cellar and basement of his new stone building. The front is of hewn white marble, and makes a most handsome appearance. He intends to add yet another story to it. We notice another adobe going up, to connect the building of Messrs. THEALL, PERKINS & Co., with that of Mr. J. HUNTINGTON. When this is published it will complete a range of five fire-proof adobes, owned by those gentlemen, and constituting the most extensive improvement in this city. The El Dorado has been completed and handsomely fitted up as a respectable family hotel, a great desideratum in Sonora. It will soon be opened for that purpose - the saloon has been open for a month past. Its name has been changed to that of the City Hotel. The adobe of M. LABUUREAU is nearly completed; and the handsome two- story house is going up on one side of it, while Mayor DODGE has commenced a fine large fire-proof adobe building on the other. Houses of lesser importance are going up by the dozen. FROM THE SOUTH - The steamer Sea Bird arrived below on Saturday evening, from San Diego, with a number of passengers, and a large quantity of fruit. We condense her news from the Evening Journal: Among the passengers was A.C. RUSSELL, Esq., of the Sacramento Union, upon which the vile and cowardly attempt at assassination was recently made at Los Angeles, by Wm. A. CORNWALL, private secretary to Gov. BIGLER, because Mr. RUSSELL, exercising his privilege as an American citizen, had chosen to write a political article, reflecting upon the political and official conduct of the Governor; and the which, CORNWALL fancied, applied to himself, even after Mr. RUSSELL had disavowed it to be his intention to reflect personally upon him. A full account of the affair is given in the Los Angeles Star. Society has arrived at a pretty state indeed, that a man cannot express his honest sentiments on political affairs and official conduct, without subjecting himself to the hazard of being cut down in the streets with a bowie knife for it. Mr. RUSSELL is now at the Niantie Hotel, confined to his bed by weakness occasioned by an affection of the lungs, aggravated by CORNWALL jumping upon his breast as he lay upon the ground, bleeding and helpless. THOMAS COLLINS, shot in the rencounter of Sunday evening, still lives, and last evening the symptoms of his wound assumed rather a more favorable aspect. The Times and Transcript estimates the population of San Francisco, in 1860, at 200,000. DIED Suddenly on Tuesday, September 14th, J.B. PATCH, Esq., of the banking house of McNULTY, PATCH & Co., of this city. The sudden death of Mr. PATCH will carry deep sorrow to a wide circle of kindred and friends, to whom he had endeared himself by his many manly qualities. Mr. P. was formerly connected with the banking house of Messrs. RHODES, STURGIS & McNULTY, and but recently made a visit to the States, and returned with his amiable lady and daughter in May last. Upon them this terriblebereavement falls most heavily, and the only solace that can be offered them is the deep sympathy of a large circle of friends who will ever stand ready to sustain them under every trial. Mr. PATCH was from Milford, N.H., and was 33 years of age. Sustaining a high character for integrity and business qualifications, his loss will be deeply felt in our community. His funeral will take place from his late residence, on 3d street, between M and N, this day (Wednesday) at 3 1/2 P.M. His friends and acquaintances are respectfully invited to attend. In this city, on the 13th inst, after a short illness, Hugh DAVEY, aged 38 years, formerly of Baltimore, Md. In this city, on Tuesday, September 14th, Mrs. McARTHUR, formerly of Akron, Ohio. At Staplesí Ranch, Sept. 13th, of inflammation of the bowels, Mrs. Sarah E. HARRIS, aged 23 years, consert of John HARRIS, of Galena Ill.