Gold Rush Era Collections

executed ------- say to Maria I have not forgotten that Sleigh ride neither have I forgotten the promise to answer that letter. Think she will not have an excuse very long William I dont [don't] know what to write if I should attempt write particulars that would perhaps be entertaining to you one ream of paper would be insufficient to contain them — I will just give you a little information in regard to California prices common laborers are gitting [getting] $8 pr day Mechanics on Government work in Benicia $11- and 1^1/2 rations pr day common seamen $15⁰ pr month Vegetables are very high Potatoes 31¢ pr lb [pound]. Onions from 25 to 50¢ a piece green Apples & Pears very small 4cts Green Corn $3 per doz green Peas 50cts pr lb [pound] Watermelons $1 a piece scarce at that Pork, Beef & Flour can be had on reasonable terms Butter $1.50 pr lb [pound] Milk $1.50 pr (hole in page) [?] all very scarce --- Lumber has fallen some, it can no[w] (hole in page) [b]e had for $3.00 pr M. Rents are very high shmall [small] rooms from (hole in page) [?] 14 feet square vary from $350 to 500 pr Month Ships Gallies [Galleys] ar[e] (hole in page) renting on shore for $60 pr month small building lots vary from $5000 to $20,000 all is excitement and confusion led on by Speculators and designing men from the union — while we were on our way to the Mines we fell in with quite a number of the first men in California who were out on an exploring expedition as they pretended but from their conversation, I believe their true Object to be land speculation and Office seeking --- The party consisted in part of the following named men Commodore Jones, Gen. P. F. Smith, Col. Stone Maj. Winton, Buller King of Georgia and about 20 others whose names I do not now recollect they had been all through the mining districts. They treated us very politely — gave us some inform[ation] that will doubtless be advantageous if heeded Commodore Jones is quite an old man very much bowed down but he is a jolly good hearted old man as you ever saw — Gen. Smith I should think about 60 sandy complexion heavy built and in personal appearance very much resembles Mr Noah Chapman he had a very lame foot occasioned by his horse stepping on it the day he started on this tour as he told me. he is in every respect a Gentleman — Mr King is one of those ease [easily?] familiar men whose only object appears to be to make every one hapy [happy] about him —

Yours, Respectfully John S. Lester

[written sideways down left of page] August 29^th our Schooner has just been sold for $8000 and in a few day[s] we shall be free again Remember me to all those Messrs Bulls, Alfred and his family in particular tell him I looked for him the first night out with his boat to take me back, but was not much disappointed in not seeing him