Gold Rush Era Letters

The Mate on board this Brig is the same man that was on the vessel that John Michael was on his name is Howell and a first rate fellow he is to [too]. On Saturday moning [morning] last the hatches being open I found one of my box being wet over hale [overhauled] it & found all my saws & squars [squares] also my shovels to be intensely damaged. I dried them off and put them in the Caps care. I expect to recover damages but not as much as they would be woth [worth] to me then. Good [Goods] going to sea should be put up in tight casks and as much straw as possible. As to advise [advice] in regard to the most preferable rout [route] to Califerney [California] I dare hardly attempt to give. We have pretty hard liveng [living] on this rout [route] but we can get along if our teeth I have lost one of mine hold out. The only obejection [objection] is the length of time required but should any of my friends be disposed to come this rout [route] let them take the precaution not to take stearage [steerage] passage and not having to [too] many passengers on board or are cumbered with deck to [too] much freight this being an en cumbrance [encumbrance] we sensebly [sensibly] feel. I would also advise them to put up a tolerable sized box of preserved fruit sweetmeats cake & corn meal the latter [later] should not be fergotten [forgotten]. You may think them unnessery [unnecessary] but let me asure [assure] you that if they should ever under take a sea voage [voyage] like this with out [without] them that before they would be out two weeks they would willing pay ten times the cost.

Rev Jameson March 7th We arrived at the port yesterday after noon [afternoon] at there 3 O'Clock after sailing seventy five hundred miles. Ther [there] are twelve or more vessels an [and] at least three thousand persen [persons] here on ther [their] way to Caleferney [California] all of which are frm [from] the Northern States. some have made the trip in much shorter time then we have Time wile [will] not allow me to give you a description of this place as the vessel that is to take this letter to the States is to leave this after noon [afternoon] at two O'Clock. We wile [will] stop but are more better the and Caleferney [California]. The men her [here] primss [promise] Calefrny [California] is of the most flater [flatter] kind. The only mistake I think we have made [written up the right side] is in not buying flour & corn meal. Persons bringin [bringing] flour or corn meal should have this put up in firs [first] rate barrels.

[upside down across the top] I was with great difficulty we got a plan to sleep on last night and this we had to pay fivty [fifty] cents to lay on the floor and be half eaten up with bed bugs.