Page:California Historical Society Quarterly vol 22.djvu/258



San Francisco, Sunday, Sept. 8, 1850. My dear V.

I have taken my morning ride, smoked my cigar and conned over some letters. I am all alone in a pleasant little room, for strange as it may seem I have now a place where I can be alone at times with my own thoughts, and that is rather strange for California ... I have sold all my interest in the Barque Galindo^ and consider myself very fortunate in so doing, although at a sacrifice, so all I have to do is wait patiently a few weeks and I hope to close up all business in California. Meanwhile I have taken a contract from the Corporation for grading Stockton Street, the finest street in the city, merely to keep myself busy for a few weeks; when it is completed, hey for Yankeeland once more. I shall have many sketches to show you and many a wondrous long yarn to spin. ..

It is now late at night, I have just written up my account for the week and can scarce keep my eyes open, my weary lids will come down in spite of me. My contract keeps me very busy; ten hours a day I have to be upon the street, some twenty five or thirty men are to be attended to beside a dozen teams. Oxen, ploughs, etc., etc., I am pushing it through in true Cali- fornia style and 'twill not last a great while. With all this you may imagine that by the time night comes I am glad to retire to rest.

Sincerely, W.

Sunday, October 27, 1850. Dear V.

Another week has passed away, and I am one week nearer home, although it is now decided that I cannot leave in the steamer of the first. The reason we could not leave then is simply that we could get no money from the city, that you know is an all important item; I now hope by the 12th of next month to secure the main portion of our dues and leave the balance for collection with Jas King of Wm.^^ I leave here on the 12th Nov., on the Steamer Antelope, 'twill take 20 days to reach Panama, then allow four days or a week's detention on the Isthmus, that brings us to the 9th Decem- ber, then say ten days from Chagres to Charleston, that will make it Decem- ber 19th, so that I think on, or about Christmas day you will see me.

A few days since we received the news of our admission into the union, I was on the roof of a high building in Montgomery St. when the Steamer Northerners^ arrived; she came gallantly up the Harbor, gaily decorated with flags and firing minute guns. As she advanced the news was announced in the street below, and never did I see so much rejoicing, every counte- nance beamed with joy, and "God bless the glorious Union" was the response of every heart. In less than five minutes the Star Spangled Banner was waving from every ship in the harbor and every flagstaff on shore.