Gold Rush Era Collections

What is to be done with the Indians? It would be easy enough to suggest a remedy, if honest and capable men were put in office. But put the question in this way and it is difficult to answer it: For reasons of political expediency, certain persons and classes must be patronised. It is true they may have neither capacity nor experience, but they must be rewarded. Now, as these men must have congtrol of the Indians, how are we to benefit the condition of that unfortunate race? In answer, I would say God knows--for I don't.

The Indians of this State are docile and easily managed. They would do well in the old Mission system if they were properly cared for; but neglected, starved and cheated, they will not do well.

I sincerely wish you could come out here and see their condition yourself. It is truly pitiable. You would do well to come out anyhow. You have many warm friends in this State. Already your name is in the list for the U.S. Senate, but your presence is necessary. No man in the State would stand so good a chance for the next election. The field may be said to be clear. Let me urge you by all means to come as soon as possible. I am well satisfied your success will be beyond question.

WIth kind regards of my family,

I remain, Very truly your friend,

J. Ross Browne

[bottom left] General James William Denver,

Washington, D.C.

Sonora July 7th, 1854 My Dear, Son

Your letter of June 2 1855 Came to hand by the last mail and I was glad to hear from you and learn that the power of attorney had been received by you and hope that you will be able to save something for the family. I hardly know what to write to you more than this that the times are awfull hard and the wheat crop is nearly a failure throughout the State. The rust has taken all of the club head wheat so that it is a total failure. I have lost all of my crop so I am nearly flat and last year my wheat was full of cheate so that I got but little for it and the land that I am on is confirmed to General Valejoh a mexican and all of the old forged and fraudulent claims are confirmed by Commissioners Farwell and Thompson two grand scamps as ever lived but the people here are going to hold them presumptions. They are forming a secret society called the Setlers Union to oppose the claimants from gaining possession of the land that is occupied by Sitlers or Squatters as you might term them they are organizing in every township throughout the entire State there is but about twelve on fifteen hundred voters in this Country and I think that there is about one thousand men enrolled in this secret order we have had two meetings in this township and forty five came forward and joined this order

and through them their wives and children penyless on the world what do you exspect of these hardy men but that they will be like the Bear when robed of her whelps if they are to be removed where are they to be removed to if you would pack them up and send them home there is not one in ten but that would jump at the chance but to reduce them to a State of ? or Slavish peonage is what they will never Submit to no it is not in the power of man to make the Squatter a Slave no he is freedoms bravest son he has even been the first to respond to the call of his country in the hour of danger who were the men that rallyed first under the Standard of the patriotic and brave Jackson in the defense of New Orleans it was the squatter of the western border and it is the same class of men that are now here and many of them the sons of the squatters that caused many of Englands bravest legions to squat their last squat before the cotton bales of New Orleans and this is the class of men that followed Taylor to the battle fields of [?] and Scott to the Halls of Montasuma and are they now to be left a [?] to landed [?] and Heartless Speculators no no the voice of justice forbids it no he that has been cradled in the lap of danger knows his rights and will defend them and God help him so to do my health is not verry good at present and I think of coming home and doing all

that I can for my family for it appears to me that I have toiled here as long as it is my duty to in this country I wrote the first of June to have two of the girls come out here and teach schools my Friends inform me that I can have no dependence on Mr [?] the man that came to me to get me to write for some of them to come and as I think of coming home I do not wish to have any of them come for I must come home and see them as soon as I can I have but little doubt but I could get this place if I would stay on it but it may be some years before the claimant gets his [pattent ?] from the United States government if ever and I am to old to fool away much more time as my course must be nearly run give my respects to all Friends Respectfully Mark ]Noostery ?] [ ?] Smith Esqu Humphreysville Ct

Sonoma July 27th 1855

Friend Bunton

I received no letters from you by the last mail so I just drop you this short note to let you know that I am kicking slowly my health has not been very good [illeg] time back and my wheat crop has entirely failed this year it was all spoilt with the rust and it gave me the blues badly and I received a letter from home by the mail of the 15th of July which caused me much trouble it stated that Eliza was worn out with Mother and was going to throw herself on the town and that John was running about the Rivers doing just as he pleased and that Martha had gone to the quakers and that every thing had gone to rack it took such deep hold of me that I slept but little for some time and you can judge something what my feelings must be when I had not the means to send to them to make them comfortable now I tell you Bunton it took me right down but my health is improving now quite fast I am so that I can work and be about so I must do the best that I can and hope for the best the situation that the land is in in the country nocks every thing flat just now

you are aware that there is much dissatisfaction here with regard to the mexican titles and the way that they are confirmed this land Speculation has been a whole sale robery of the public domain in California and there is no public land so it appears from the course that the commissioners here and the supreme court at washington are persuing many [pasturary?] land Claim has been a great business with a set of American and mexican cut throats here and there is verry few of these claims that are genuine or legal according to the laws of Mexico and the minors and Setlers have taken the matter in to their own hands and will mak all of the land public land they have formed a Secret Society called the Setlers and minors union there is a union in every township in the State and for every twenty members they send one delegate to the county union we sent six delegates to the county union so you can see that we have over one hundred members and it is but four weeks since we first be gain to organize here and from every county union there is delegates that meet in State union at Sacramento on the eight day of august to bring out candidates to fill all of the offices in the [gift?] of the people the creed of this

order is fair play first and foul if we must at any rate the determination is to get any of the land for one dollar and twenty five cents per acre and none to pay any more there is no kind of danger of any one even being put off from the land for it would take a army of thirty thousand men to clear this State of the Setlers and minors and I can tell you Burton that before the people of this State will suffer themselves to be robed of their dearest rights their homes their fire sides by a [cleik? clique] of Speculating Scamps the soil of this State will be died with the blood of its best citizens from North to South from East to west I know what these peoeple are and I know that their cause is a holy cause now I wish that you would write to me soon I have thought some of coming home but it is hard times here and if I quit now I loose all I can hold this place if I am a mind to remain but to be staying here and make nothin and have my poor wife and family be sufering at home is to much for me this is a good place and I dislike to leave it you can see that we are about having a stormy time in California and god only knows what the result of it will be at any rate I should like to remain and see the

Onboard Brig Swiss Boy San Francisco Bay Aug 31 / 50

Friend Groves I wrote by the last steamer informing you of my arrival (&c.?) I send you enclosed a draft on Willis & Co Boston for $300 - which you will please place to the C.r side of your adventure. I can not send you a perfect a/c of sales now - but it is all I have sec'd and I will tell you what I have left on hand so that you will see that what I have sold has brought a large profit. I have nearly all the clothing, all the heavy boots, all the tin ware. 16 looking glasses, 4 doz. boxes of pickles, all the preserved vegetables 1 doz lobster. 1 Tent. all the womens shoes, apart of the lamps & wicking. Most of which will sell at a good profit now except the clothing and womens shoes. I think that the clothing and thick boots will bring a high price in a month or two and studying our mutual interest I intend to hold on to them at present prices. I think I can satisfy you that I am doing right, by explain-

ing the present state of the market. you remember that at the time I sailed there was a large fleet of ships loading and many sailed before and after I did with cargoes made up for this market, most of the ships that sailed about that time have arrived. others are arriving every day. Situated as most of them are the are obliged to put their whole cargoes, up at Auction and sell for the most they will bring the consequence is that the market is overstocked and speculators are buying many things cheaper than they can be bought at home and people who (bro't?) out adventures like mine, rather than wait and take a little trouble, put them into evening Auction shops and sell them for the most they will bring. Now the ground I take is this, we have rec'd news here that very few vessels have been loaded for this port since the 1st of June and I think the greater part of the vessels loaded in the United States for this port will be here by 1st. of Nov or before then, these people who are buying and storing large lots will put their own price on to their goods and people will be obliged to pay them. The arrivals now are falling off daily and I think that you will find it prove as I say. I will give you a little idea of what some of the articles sold for by the next steamer. I will let you know how I have been obliged to dispose

of the goods to make anything of them and also an a/c of sales. The Brogans and slippers I sold together I got $24 per dozen for the Broges, & $9 pr Doz for the slips. the slippers were a hard bargain I feel well satisfied with the trade. The mattresses I sold for $5 a ps one of them got a little damp on the passage and one side was rather tender so I could not sell it. 1 doz pickles for $8 the ketchup I think for $6 pr doz. the pepper sauce for $7. The oysters for $20 pr Dz. I took them on shore and I (cast?) out of the 2 Dz. where bad making a loss of $11.50 alth'r. I nearly doubled the cost on the whole on what were good still instead of receiving $40 I only got $28.50. (By the way Underwood's name is a bad one here. never ship anything bearing his name again. more of his preserved meats & c have proved bad than any other persons. Just step in and tell him so from me altho. he has no doubt received the news before this. 1 Doz. of Lobster I sold for $14. 1 Tent for $25.Tents are a drag and if those had no been first rate ones I could not have got 1/2 the cost. The thin boots sold from $5 to $6.50 pr. I hope you will feel satisfied that I have done the best that I could do and that I am doing right not to force them off. I am satisfied that I have taken as much or more trouble to make it turn out well than most people would have done but I wish you to feel perfectly satisfied. I feel the same as I did when you were putting the things up, and to know that you feel satisfied that I have acted