Loss of Pacific Mail Steamer Northerner while on a voyage between San Francisco and Portland, Oregon. The Northerner struck on a rock between Cape Mendocino and Humboldt Bay in a heavy gale 5th January. It became apparent that the ship would sink in a few minutes, so the Captain ran her close on shore as possible. A line was made fast to the shore by means of which many lives were saved; others got ashore in boats, and six passengers went ashore on a piece of the wreck; but at least 32 of the passengers and 20 of the crew are lost. We publish an extract from a private letter received by us from a friend in California. The letter is dated Grass Valley, Nevada Co., California 17th Jan. 1860: " I cannot let this mail close without paying a tribute of regard to the memory of St. John Hero, Arthur FRENCH, who lost his own life in saving that of others from the wreck of the ill-fated Northerner of P.M.S.S. Co. of which ship he was first officer. By his death a wife and several children have been deprived a kind husband and father. His brother, William FRENCH was a clerk in the St. John Post Office and his mother and sisters still reside in St. John. " (see original)