A Gold Miner Writes From California

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/28/2005

Manuscript letter, 4 pages, quarto, March 12, 1850, “California” to family in the East. It reads in part: “...most of us arrived after a land journey of 105 days to the first settlement and after a few days rest continued on 65 miles more to the town of Sacramento...I went to the dry diggins to build a cabin and provide for the rainy season...so as to be able this spring and summer to do all I could in digging as much gold as I could and get home again in time to eat a good christmas dinner...I believe I can boast of the population of Calif as being the most peaceable I have ever heard of it being made up of so many different nations though the Americans have much the largest number and of course have the ascendancy in all matters I have never yet seen a fight since my arrival here although there is a great deal of drinking and gambling...”. Toned paper, else sound and Fine condition.

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