Gold Rush Era Letters

Oct 19th 1852

San Francisco Tuesday 9..PM

My Dear Mother

As Mr Walton [Henry Walton] was going to send letters to his partner Mr Turnbull (who left him for the Atlantic States last Friday) tomorrow morning he kindly offered to see one forwarded to you if I wished to write & as I had business which I wished to write you about I thought I would improve the opportunity of doing so.

About two months since I wrote Esq Jewette [Esq. C. Jewett] desiring him to send me some money & I shall expect to hear from you & him with regard to the matter by next mail which has been expected to arrive here for two days past, but as I am in need of the money & fear that he may not have it on hand to send me at present I am a going to make the following proposals to you which I hope you will be pleased to agree to.

If Mr Jewette [Esq. C. Jewett] has not got $500. on hand that he can send me. I wish you would lend me the money from your own property for six or nine months. If I remember rightly you have now got $500 lying in the Concord Savings Bank on which you recieve 5 per cent per annum. Now if you will draw that from the Bank & send it to me I will pay you California interest on it that is 10 per cent per annum or I should be willing to pay even more & will return it to you in six months or any time after that you may wish & I will enclose a Note for $500. in your favor & if you see fit to send me the money please do so if not -- destroy the Note.

I have borrowed today of Mr Wm Walton [William Walton] $700. which

shall do) we shall then be satisfied to remain there & enjoy those comforts which can be enjoyed at no place but a good home, & thank Heaven that we both got a home & kind friends which we may well feel proud of.

I was pleased to hear that you had been visited by so many of your old Friends during the past summer as it must be pleasant to meet with those who were your friends & school mates in your youthful days & relate to each other the scenes of life through which you have passed during your separation from each other & I think as your health has been pretty good this summer, that you must have enjoyed yourself very well at least I hope you have done so although I fear I have caused you to pass many unhappy moments, but I hope in you receive this you will rest assured that all my resolutions are such as will tend to make me what I once was "good & respectable" & if I ever again am allowed the privilege of reaching Pepperell & meeting you all, I shall endeavor to return your kindness which you have continually shown me.

By last mail I received a few lines from Esq Jewett [Esq. C. Jewett] also from H. A. Walton N.Y. containing a draft on Turnbell [Turnbull] & Walton for Four Hundred Dollars & it came in good time as you will see by the letter which I wrote you the 19th inst. by Express informing you that I had again made up my mind to go into business & as I have done so the money from Esq Jewette [Esq. C. Jewett] was very acceptable. I have bought one half of a Meat Stall with the Fixtures, Horse, Carb &c. The Stall is situated in what is called "The New World Market. So you see I am now engaged in the Butchering business. All the particulars I will not related to you until I see how I prosper. Suffice it to