Gold Rush Era Letters

always have done thus far since my arrival in California. It is also a pleasure to me, to write you but I do not think my letters, can prove as acceptable to you, as your letters do to me still I do not doubt but what you are always happy to hear from me, so I shall continue to write you often. I was very happy to hear, (as I did do) by way of Miss Lewis that you were all well, and getting along as well as usual with all your affairs. Miss L. wrote that she had commenced her school and that she likes it very well. She praises Harriet up, a great deal and considers her first, of all her scholars. Says she should like forty scholars just like her

I hope she will enjoy good health through the summer and be able to attend school regularly, for I consider Miss L. an excellent Teacher

As for Charles I suppose he will remain at home this summer and attend to your outdoor affairs, work a little at farming &c, and as he attended school so closely last summer, I dare say he would like a vacation this summer and as he is always disposed to do what is right you will of course allow him him, to do just about as he likes in regard to remaining away from school. If Mr Perry had remained in town, probably C. woud [would] liked very well to have gone to school there, but if I remember rightly he is not very partial towards the Academy.

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Aug. 15th the Clipper Ship "Stag Hound" arrived here yesterday after a passage of 109 days from New York. She looks as nice as when I left New York in her.

I almost forgot to write that I was as well today as usual.

The mail leaves here tomorrow for the Atlantic States and the mail from there is now fully due which I hope will contain two letters for me from you.

Your Son

H. A. P. [Henry A. Parker]

As for myself, I am getting along just the same as usual. My health is as good as I could wish it to be, and I enjoy myself as well as I can expect to while I remain in California.

Business is rather dull, still I am probably doing better at the present time than I could do in New England if I were there, as far as financial affairs are concerned, but after all I do not consider money much of an object to be gained, when one sacrifices the enjoyments, and a good share of the comforts of Life, to obtain it, but still we are all apt to do so, and I suppose I am as eager to make mony [money] as the majority of the people, although I do not think I am willing to work as hard, nor lay the plans that some do, in order to obtain it ---

Within the past month I have bargained for some property in East Bridgwater [Bridgewater] consisting (as I suppose) of a Pond, with an Island in the centre [center], on which are swings bowling alleys dancing platform, seats table &c. [etc.] the whole being shaded by a beautiful grove. Then on shore, is a House, Stable, &c. [etc.] with about two acres of land, which is partly covered with Fruit Trees. On the Pond are three sail boats the largest of which will carry thirty or more people easily. Last year the place was visited by about 3000. persons. I have purchased one half of the above, of my partner here in the Book and Cutlery business, Mr Noyes. I have never seen

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Give my love to Miss Lizzie Lewis and tell her that I shall omit writing her by this mail but shall write her again soon.

mony [money] very fast. Now I should like to know how they got their information for they appear to have found out more about my business, than I know of it. I gave you a pretty correct idea of what I was doing two or three months ago, but if I remember rightly I then told you that I was then but little better off than I was when I first landed in California and I can say the same now, for a part of the time within the past three months I have done but little aside from the Book and Cutlery business which continues to pay us about the same as when I wrote you about it, soon after I went into business with Mr Noyes. So you will tell the Truth if you tell them I am but little better off as far as mony [money] is concerned than I was when I left home for I am not. My prospects are very fair for doing very well for a year to come, still I may be worse off instead of better for I have got $3000 invested in risky property. (I mean vessels,) so risky at any rate that it is impossible to get them insured without paying about as much every year as the vessels are worth. For my part I cannot imagine where Valentine got his news to write home that I owned a share in four vessels and

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James Bolles did not go to the Sandwich Islands in that Bark as I wrote you that he intended to do. He is now in the United States Revenue Cutter Jefferson Davis. He is well as are the rest of the Pepperellites

and that for my interest in the last one I purchased, I paid $1200 Until about three weeks ago V. and I never held any conversation whatever upon the subject and then I put him off with questions which could have enlightened him but little.

I should not care one half as much as I now do about what they have heard if it were only true but I do not wish to have them think I have made much mony [money] when such is not the case.

So you will do me a favor if you will just give them to understand that I have done different from what they imagine I have -- My business remains about the same as when I last wrote you. Mr Noyes is well and we continue to get along together first-rate. I have now held on to the book stand a little longer than I ever have to any thing else that I ever took hold of in California and have been very well paid for so doing. My health is as good as usual, and last week I worked the most of the time on board the Schooner Ostolan painting &c.

I am glad Harriet recieved [received] the specimen of Gold which I sent her about the 1st of Jun You say you should like to know the value of it. At the rate of $17.50 per ounce (which is the

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Aug 31st Am well today as usual. Should be happy to know just how you are all situated at the present time, but as I cannot know, must content myself with a letter giving an account of your situation, about four weeks ago, which I hope to recieve [receive] in the course of the day tomorrow as the mail is now fully due from the Atlantic States

The Nicaragua Steamer arrived here yesterday morning.

I have heard that Sam Lewis was coming out here. Mr Shipley told me, and he got his news from a man to whom Sam wrote a letter.

How I should like to ask him the questions now that he asked me just before I left home, to come out here which were as follows. After I told him that I thought of coming, he asked "What I was coming to California for?" and "what I thought I could do here?" I told him in reply that I guessed I could make a living here if I only had my health.

It would perhaps have been easier for me to have told him what I couldn't do, as it was very evident that I could not fool away $10,000 which was left me as he did. But never mind, with all his learning, and money, I do not think he "will ever set the sun afire" Do you?

I have written these few lines in a hurry as you will readily perceive, but you must excuse the bad looks. Give my love to C. and H. I will try and answer H's letter (which was very acceptable) by next mail. I shall send C. a Paper by this mail as usual.

Hoping that you are enjoying health and happiness. I remain Your affct [affectionate] Son

H. A. Parker [Henry A. Parker]