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It can not be denied, however, that the climate is an enervating one even
here on the sea-coast – much more in the interior. The old inhabitants are
all lazy. The new comers [newcomers] gradually lapse into indolence. It is abso-
-lutely impossible to keep up the rigid habits of New England life, or to perform
the same amount of toil in a given time which one would accomplish there.
One must content himself with doing less work than formerly. Over-exertion
has been one potent cause of disease and death. We are not compelled to
be lazy, but we must not practice too much activity, nor take too little
relaxation. The heat of the day forbids any toil, & the chill of the nights de-
-mands every care. The physical man needs more than physic.

I have been been here a week or two longer than I at first ex-
-pected to be. I shall probably leave in two or three days in a brig which
is going to San Francisco. I hope to be in Sacramento before the Second
Sunday in March – i.e. – ten days hence – though I may be constrained
to spend that Sabbath in San Francisco. Unless we have a fine run up
the coast, I shall be on board of the vessel during the next Sabbath.
I have preached three sermons since I came to this place without much
apparent harm, though I, of course, spared myself as much as possible. I
have attempted no intellectual exertion – have written nothing but letters –
and have nought [naught] on hand that has been freshly excogitated. I concluded to
let my armor rust, till I became strong enough to wear it – and then to
burnish it piecemeal as I buckled it on. It is of the old, homely, sort – it
is not made of gold, nor made by gold – therefore it will rust, unused.

I took a very long walk yesterday – carrying a lunch – and
having a fine time of it. We started at 11, and returned at 4 o'clock. The
spot visited was "point Conception" distant 3 or 4 miles – situated about mid-
-way between Point Pinos at the entrance of the bay, and Point Lobos,
where the black seals abound, 7 miles below Point Pinos. We went after shells,
but the water was so high – the surf so heavy that we could not get out
among the rocks. The breaking of the surf – the roar – the spray were