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278 REVEREND EZRA FISHER

hard. I think the climate tolerably good, but washing day after day with feet and hands in the water, and drinking to intoxication and carousing through the night and sleeping like pigs in the dirt, will generate disease in any climate. I do not know whether it will be necessary for me to send you any funds before I return. Should I conclude to stay till July or August, and I have a good, safe conveyance, I will send you $100 or $200. If you need anything to make yourself and the children comfortable and can get a credit till I come, do not let the family suffer. We hope to find better diggings as soon as the rivers fall. We have a toler- able variety of provisions in the mines, but it is not like home. We have few religious privileges in the mines, and nothing would induce me to spend three or four months in the midst of profane swearing, drunkenness, gambling and Sabbath breaking but the hope of providing for my dear family, and that, too, while California and Oregon are in a state of confusion. Next year probably these privileges will be measurably past. We shall hardly expect to get any let- ter from you till I go to San Francisco. I wish you would write me to that place, to the care of Dr. C. L. Ross, and let me know 7 what articles of clothing and groceries the fam- ily will need and I will do as well as I can for them. I spend little time in thinking about moving while I am work- ing hard every day but the Sabbath. I hope to see you in August or the fore part of September at the farthest. Pos- sibly in July. I would like to see you all and enjoy the so- ciety of my family and neighbors a few days at least; but I hardly dare to think of it now. Give my best respects to Mr. Robinson and wife. I shall never forget their great kindness, and should like to be their future neighbors, if God so directs.

You can have no adequate idea of the vast influx of popu- lation from all parts of the world to California. Do not have Lucy Jane teach and work at home so as to make both you and her sick. I hope Timothy will do well and take