John S. Lester

[top right] San Francisco August 26^th 1849

Sir,

I fall under many obligations for the information imparted in your letters of March & June both of which were duly received The first should have been answered immediately immediately on its had I seen the Elephant but that was not the case and now as I have both seen and paid for seeing him you shall have the answer – you will understand by this expression that we have been in search of those "large lumps" that were said to be so numerous in California – We landed in this place the 16th day of July all in good health and spirits, found the Golden fever at its height the [hole in page] (s)tandard high above any reports ever circulated in the States. This rai(sed) [hole in page] the anticipations of many of our Co. so high that it was a(lm)ost] [hole in page] impossible to keep them any where and consequently were compelled [hole in page] to commence our journey to the mines in the most unhealthy season amidst all the disadvantages of inexperience and change of climate &c. We sailed up the San Joaquin to Stockton about 160 miles where we landed pitched our tent and stored our cargo and commenced making arrangements for going to the "diggings" – The vessel and crew commenced running as D. Packet between Stockton and San Francisco with fair prospects of doing a good business. 4 men were left at our camp and the remainder 23 in number left with our mule team purchased at Stockton for the mines on the Mokelumy [Mokelumne] a branch of the San Joaquin distant about 60 miles There we arrived in good health though much fatigued next day commenced gold digging found there was hard labor attached to it but that did not discourage any one there

[written sideways, down left of page] Mr Brown from Norwich is here staid [stayed] on board of the Velasco with us one night he was on his way to Sacramento I believe. Faulkner and Devotion are also here they have purchased a lot and erected a building that serves as Printing office and drug store – they paid $43.00 for the lot

being some of the mindfull [mindful] to cher [cheer] the weary arm, but, change of climate and the extreme heat experienced in the mountains and on the river soon brought us to believe we were too fast in our operations and our Co. wise in a very few days found on the sick list unable to do very little at any thing – not a man escaped all have been sick and consequently they commenced as they were able returning to Stockton our general Depot and a little more than two weeks we found ourselves all in camp unanimous in the opinion that large Cos. could not to advantage remain together, and on the 14th of August by mutual consent the Groton California Co. was dissolved, it was agreed by said Co. that the cargo and vessel be immediately disposed of and Agents appointed for that purpose. We are a few of us (hole in page) for the purpose of selling the Velasco and appointing (hole in page) after which we shall go immediately to Stockton and si[gn] (hole in page) up with D. Co. and so endth the first lesson – I must have daily people from all parts of the Union many of them as rash as ourselves, who heedless of advise [advice] to the contrary rush into the Mines when they are as sure to be sick as they are to arrive there – Mr Harris Fitch of New London is stopping here with two friends, with the view of going to the Mines about the first of Sept. his anticipations are very high. hope he will not be disappointed – I saw Capt Daniel Stoddard Orlando Capt Perkins, C. G. Rogers, E. Rogers and Lathem Brown on our first arrival in this place all well they were then running the Odd Fellow up the Sacramento [River] have not seen them since, understand the vessel is laid up at Sacramento City his Co are somewhere on that river or its branches. The weather here is cool and bracing and I think must be healthy, my health is very

[written sideways, down left of page] Tell Elisha the Judge and Aunt Betsey the Ship Robert Browne from New York has just arrived have just paid her a visit found my old friend Capt Thomas Bailey on board in good health wished to be remembered to them I am sorry friend Dixon cracked his [credit?] but acidents [accidents] will happen, give my respects to every body

good but not so with all of our Co. we left some invalids at Stockton though I think you are not acquainted with any of them Courtland Morgan and Mr Paslin from Norwich are here slightly affected with Scurvy but are getting better – Roman Allyn, Cust Osmore Morgan and some others left Stockton for the mines on 16 Inst. all well – Allyn had his arm broken on the voyage but is now strong though not quite as good as before. I have not dreamed of being sick of my being [?] yet, when I do tell the people they will see me back again in good earnest – I wish you to thank them for their good wishes and assure them that their (hole in page) [?use] will never be regarded with indifferen[ce] (hole in page) by me let my situation and prospects here after (hole in page) be what they may, I am sorry, Jo & Ed have got into trouble but if they are guilty they had better be there than here – Crime is punished here with the greatest severity – while we were at the mines a theft was committed – The rogue caught a trial immediately had – sentence 100 lashes on his naked torso both ears cut off head shaved and if found in the mines again, to be shot immediately without judge or jury during an absence from Stockton a man was tried condemned and hung for theft this being the law for the second offence. Since we left for this place another who was on trial at that time known here by the name of Red Davis has been condemned and

[written sideways, down left of page] The Beef and Pork held out well and there is a little more left same sort the Quakers it appears are getting rather now the worse but guess they will get quiet in the course of time remember me to Uncle Peters folks all of them tell Avery there is gold here and he will have to pay some of his for portage one day and that not very distant I suppose my aunt Betsey Lamb's house will look so slick when I get back that I shall not know the place but no matter I will stop and enquire some in time about the diggings (hole in page) I have not seen Edwin or Ralph since we came out have written to them once but received no answer if you can read this letter you can beat me no mistake write by first Steamer and you shall have a more intelligible answer next time Doctor you have had a job this time

Yours Respectfully

John S. Lester

executed ------- say to Maria I have not forgotten that Sleigh ride neither have I forgotten the promise to answer that letter. Think she will not have an excuse very long William I dont [don't] know what to write if I should attempt write particulars that would perhaps be entertaining to you one ream of paper would be insufficient to contain them — I will just give you a little information in regard to California prices common laborers are gitting [getting] $8 pr day Mechanics on Government work in Benicia $11- and 1^1/2 rations pr day common seamen $15⁰ pr month Vegetables are very high Potatoes 31¢ pr lb [pound]. Onions from 25 to 50¢ a piece green Apples & Pears very small 4cts Green Corn $3 per doz green Peas 50cts pr lb [pound] Watermelons $1 a piece scarce at that Pork, Beef & Flour can be had on reasonable terms Butter $1.50 pr lb [pound] Milk $1.50 pr (hole in page) [?] all very scarce --- Lumber has fallen some, it can no[w] (hole in page) [b]e had for $3.00 pr M. Rents are very high shmall [small] rooms from (hole in page) [?] 14 feet square vary from $350 to 500 pr Month Ships Gallies [Galleys] ar[e] (hole in page) renting on shore for $60 pr month small building lots vary from $5000 to $20,000 all is excitement and confusion led on by Speculators and designing men from the union — while we were on our way to the Mines we fell in with quite a number of the first men in California who were out on an exploring expedition as they pretended but from their conversation, I believe their true Object to be land speculation and Office seeking --- The party consisted in part of the following named men Commodore Jones, Gen. P. F. Smith, Col. Stone Maj. Winton, Buller King of Georgia and about 20 others whose names I do not now recollect they had been all through the mining districts. They treated us very politely — gave us some inform[ation] that will doubtless be advantageous if heeded Commodore Jones is quite an old man very much bowed down but he is a jolly good hearted old man as you ever saw — Gen. Smith I should think about 60 sandy complexion heavy built and in personal appearance very much resembles Mr Noah Chapman he had a very lame foot occasioned by his horse stepping on it the day he started on this tour as he told me. he is in every respect a Gentleman — Mr King is one of those ease [easily?] familiar men whose only object appears to be to make every one hapy [happy] about him —

Yours, Respectfully John S. Lester

[written sideways down left of page] August 29^th our Schooner has just been sold for $8000 and in a few day[s] we shall be free again Remember me to all those Messrs Bulls, Alfred and his family in particular tell him I looked for him the first night out with his boat to take me back, but was not much disappointed in not seeing him

[round postage stamp, top left] SAN FRANCISCO SEP 1 Cal.

[on right, in red] 40

Mr. William Larrabee Gales Ferry Conn. U. S. A.