Gold Rush Era Letters

Brig Osceola at Sea Lat 23 0.3° min south Long 41.9° Sunday March 4th 1848

Dear Brother Abrm

This being a perfect calm this morning and within sight of land & Not knowing how long we will remain in Rio Janeiro [Rio de Janeiro] our next stopping place I thought I had better give you an account of our journey thus far. We left Philadelphia January 16th on board the Brig Osceola Capt. Fairfowl with sixty six passengers nine of which were from Lancaster. In consequence of the ice being very thick in the river we ware [were] unable to go farther than New Castle Del [Delaware] the first day.

It being the last night we expected to be on Shore for forty or fifty day[s] we thought we had never have a joleification [jollification] in the way of a dance. So all hands went a Shore [ashore] formed a procession headed by the Bugle Violin Banjo etc. we proceeded up town and engaged a room for the purpose. After making some necessary arrangement we proceeded and I can asure [assure] you it was one of the greatest night[s] sixty men ever spent.

After which we returned to the Brig perfectly deleghted [delighted] with the long to be remembered dance at New Castle. We left next morning and proceeded as far as the Brakewater. It being very stormy we wher [were] obliged to remain there untill [until] next day at noon.

I being a perfect land lubber [landlubber] began to feel the efects [effects] of Sea sickness and for ten days after you never saw sicker fellow than I was. Nothing of importance occured [occurred] untill [until] Monday morning January 29th.

[In top margin, in another color ink:] Heny Gouce has written to Chales Nauman if he is not in town tell you or Johnson to get it and send it to him. I do not thin [think] you wile [will] leave him from a week at there.