The Larkin Papers: Volume 8 1848–1851 [Reprint 2020 ed.] 9780520321243

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The Larkin Papers #

JOHN BAUTISTA ROGERS COOPER, n o t e d sea c a p t a i n , w h o c a m e

to California in 1823. H e married Encarnación Vallejo, sister of Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo, and obtained several Mexican land grants. H e and Larkin were half brothers. Courtesy of Miss Frances

Molerá

THE

Larkin Papers Personal, Business} and Official Correspondence of Thomas Oliver Larkin, Merchant and United States Consul in California J^Edited

hy George

P Hammond} Director of the Bancroft Library #

V O L U M E

VIII

1848-1851 #

Published for the Bancroft Library by the UNIVERSITY

OF

CALIFORNIA

BERKELEY AND LOS

I 9 6 2

ANGELES

PRESS

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA P R E S S B E R K E L E Y AND LOS ANGELES

CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY P R E S S LONDON, ENGLAND

COPYRIGHT, 1 9 6 2 , B Y THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA

PRINTED IN T H E UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

PREFACE #

E

like a flaming volcano, the news of the California gold discovery flowed out over the country and permeated every nook, every village, every city with consuming vigor. The basis for the conflagration, laid in 1848 (as seen in Volume VII of The Larkin Papers), came to maturity in 1849, when a significant proportion of the manhood of the country descended upon California by any and every means of transportation that could be procured. This rush of gold-seekers, men of every profession— day laborers, professional men—inundated the established Indian, Spanish, Mexican, American society in California to the extent that the old was submerged and something new created. So fast did the change take place, so sudden was the invasion, and so great its magnitude, that not many realized what had happened or were able to cope with it. Few were able to take advantage of the opportunities thrust upon them so unexpectedly, but others gambled and made spectacular fortunes. RUPTING

This is the theme of the Larkin Papers for the years 1849—1851, which make up the bulk of this volume. In some measure the documents are not as complete as in earlier volumes, for in the main we miss Larkin's outgoing correspondence to relatives and business associates, of which, unfortunately, he did not keep copies. This is particularly true after July, 1849, when his official duties for the government of the United States came to an end, but we do have an extensive amount of incoming letters, enough to picture the birth of the dynamic, roaring gold-rush society that excited the envy and admiration of the whole world. The center or vortex of this new organism was in fact the city of San Francisco, then utterly unprepared for such a phenomenon. There was in reality no "city" in 1848—only a few shanties scattered over the sandhills close to the cove of Yerba Buena. The mission lay several miles to the southwest over a sandy trail, and the presidio almost as far to the northwest. The cove of Yerba Buena, that curve of the Bay which then stretched like a half-moon between the streets [v]

of Broadway and Pine, was the most readily available shelter to a newly arrived ship, and here, without wharves or other landing facilities, ship after ship dropped anchor in 1849, and the gold-hungry Argonauts stomped ashore, eager to stretch their sea-weary legs, to have a look at the fabulous land of California, and to be off to the mines, or to the placeres—the placers, as they were generally then called. T h e first shanty or trading-tent to be pitched in the chaparral above Yerba Buena cove was that of William Richardson, who in 1835 moved over from Sausalito to become San Francisco's first citizen. H e operated a couple of schooners which brought produce and hides from the missions and farms about the Bay for the sea-going vessels anchored in Yerba Buena cove. T h e next year Jacob P. Leese came up from Los Angeles and, with two Monterey friends, William Hinckley and Nathan Spear (who had a store in Monterey which they continued to operate), put up a substantial frame building for commercial purposes on the nearby rolling sandhills. Their store adjoined Richardson's on the south side near the present Clay and Grant streets. Gradually a cluster of tents or houses spread around the cove, with Leese leading the way in 1838 with a larger building on the beach at what is now Montgomery and Commercial streets, and Richardson replacing his shanty with an adobe building, soon to be called the "Casa Grande," pulled down in 1852. By the summer of 1846, San Francisco's population numbered about 200, with 79 buildings, including shanties, frame houses, and adobe structures. B y April, 1848, when the local rush to the "diggings" commenced, the town had increased fivefold, with nearly 200 buildings, mostly dwellings but including a dozen stores and warehouses and 35 shanties, and a population of about 900 or 1,000, most of whom were people from the United States or Europe. T h e native Californians played little part in the founding of San Francisco, though the resourceful Leese married Rosalia, a sister of General Mariano G . Vallejo in 1837, and their daughter, named Rosalia also, was the first child born within the city limits of San Francisco in April, 1838. T h e boundaries of the city, then much circumscribed, were surveyed in 1839 by Captain Juan Vioget, a Swiss sailor and surveyor who had come to the Coast two years earlier as master of a ship. T h e city then extended from Pacific to Sacramento streets, and from Montgomery to Dupont, the present Grant Street. In the Jasper O'Farrell survey of 1847, these boundaries were enlarged, including 1 5 blocks south of Market on Second and Fourth streets, and some of the older streets were straightened and widened.

When the news of the gold discovery was substantiated in 1848, San Francisco was the first area to feel its impact, as the local citizens deserted en masse for the mines. Those who returned a few months later found a city vastly changed, more ships in the cove, and gold-seekers trooping ashore in steadily increasing numbers. Where would they live till they could go to the mines, get food to eat, or a place to sleep? They did the best they could, and the resourceful ones among them, perhaps some of whom had already had a fling in the mines, put up buildings for accommodation of the newcomers, erected rooming houses, hotels, or stores, often of canvas or occasionally of frame, and found here the real gold in the gold rush. Some bought lots, occasionally at public auction, as the authorities used this means of raising money for the city treasury. T o his surprise, the returning miner found that lots which had sold previously from $ 1 6 to $25 had greatly increased in value. In fact, speculation in real estate, particularly during 1849 and 1850, was fantastic, with lots changing hands at ever-increasing prices. A m o n g the most valuable were the water lots, or those on strategic corners along Montgomery Street, as will be noted in some of the documents of this volume. Before going into greater detail about the period covered in Volume V I I I of this series, it is desirable to observe its scope and its limitations. Chronologically, the documents extend from October 1, 1848, the winter when the gold fever began to rage so violently throughout the United States and nearby countries, to M a y 15, 1851, when the first flush of the excitement had worn off. It marked the exodus of thousands of Argonauts to hunt for gold; the phenomenal growth of San Francisco, and indeed of all of California; introduction of steamer service on the Pacific, from Panama to San Francisco; creation of new fortunes by the lucky and the daring; and finally admission of California as a state in the Union. Some topics receive much emphasis in Larkin's documents, some hardly any, depending in part on where Larkin was. When he was in Boston or N e w York, friends and associates had to write to him to keep in touch; and likewise, when he was in California, friends, business associates, and relatives in the East had to rely on correspondence for communicating with him. Matters that had to be recorded, such as legal transactions, appear in the documents, but many things that were disposed of in personal contact were never written down and hence do not appear in the historical record. Within these limitations, the documents are a remarkable lot, a cross-section of life as seen by one of the chief actors and his friends and associates of California during the height of the gold-rush turmoil and of the orgy of speculation

[ viii ] that followed. They give an intimate picture, too, of the effect of these changes on Larkin and his family, as well as on some of the other early Californians— Cooper, Dye, Leese, Green, Semple, to name a few. Above all, Volume V I I I marks a change in Larkin's own career, then at the height of his personal fame, known everywhere as one of the government's representatives who had authenticated the existence of virgin gold in vast quantities. Henceforth, there was no need for a United States Consul, Confidential Agent, or N a v y Agent in California. H e had played his part for his government and played it well, but the need for such services was past. From now on he was but one of the "old Californians," that small band—Anglo or native Californian—who referred to themselves as "paisanos," men of the country. They were but a handful, but they knew one another well, whether they were from Los Angeles, Monterey, San Jose, San Francisco, or other small pueblos. Most of them had been in California for many years, some from birth. They had been through many a tough experience together. They had seen darker days, indeed—as when in 1840, Isaac Graham and his band had rebelled against Mexican authority and the loyal citizens, like Larkin and Vallejo, had been forced to oppose them and see them carried off to Mexico as prisoners; the dark days of Governor Manuel Micheltorena, when their properties had been robbed and pilfered by the government soldiers; and the constant struggle, during Spanish and Mexican days, of importing goods from abroad, in spite of a prohibitive tariff, to supply their most essential needs in manufactured products. Now, some of them were to rise to great heights of power and wealth, but more, unsuited to the unscrupulous competition of the new era, sank into comparative obscurity within a short time. By training and education, many of them lacked that vision of the future, or the wit and resourcefulness which would enable them to stay on top. But they surely enjoyed the swirl while it lasted. A t the close of 1848, Larkin still held appointment as N a v y Agent for California and the Northwest Coast of America, and as Naval Storekeeper for the Port of Monterey—though he was sorely puzzled to know what his duties were, because of the slowness of communication with Washington or to some failure of officialdom to send the proper papers. Early in October, Secretary of the N a v y John Y . Mason informed him that Commodore Thomas ap C. Jones, in command of the U . S. Squadron in the Pacific, would issue his instructions, but nearly two months later Larkin was still running the office, lacking an official guide as to his new duties. Indeed, something went awry with his

bond as N a v y Agent, for his official bond, set at $20,000 by Commodore W m . Branford Shubrick and executed in October, 1847, was by order of the Department in March, 1848, increased to $30,000. A n d though Secretary Mason on June 6 acknowledged its receipt, there was still some irregularity about it, possibly in the signatures of the guarantors, which had not been clarified by December 28, 1848. But Commodore Jones, a practical N a v y man, suggested patience, and evidently the problem was soon clarified, as there seems to have been no further correspondence about it and Larkin's term as N a v y Agent ended a few months later. Even the belated instructions as N a v y Agent finally came, as Larkin acknowledged in letters of January 13 and 23, 1849, after he had filled the office for a year and a half. But if Larkin had difficulty in getting official instructions, he faced a greater hurdle in getting money from the government as reimbursement for the expenses he had incurred in protection of Naval property, or in payment of Naval bills he had honored, a subject that demanded his constant attention, as evidenced by the numerous letters on this topic. Eventually, a modus operandi was worked out with Purser Rodman M . Price in San Francisco, representing the N a v y , but throughout the spring of 1849 he sent a stream of letters to Price, complaining of delays in reimbursement of funds he had advanced. With money at 2 % per month in California, and his compensation for these services as N a v y Agent 1 % in lieu of office expenses, it is not clear how Larkin fared, in terms of dollars and cents. N o r was he able to carry the burden of correspondence personally, and clerk hire, as he wrote in April, 1849, was then $1,500 per year in California, whereas the government allowed but half that amount for this purpose. T h e record indicates that Larkin considered the office an honor, that he served more out of a sense of patriotism than in a mercenary spirit. H e continued these duties as N a v y Agent until June 30, 1849, but those of Naval Storekeeper he had relinquished to Charles T . Botts of Monterey in July, 1848. The latter office, as the term suggests, required him to store or provide proper facilities for warehousing N a v y goods and supplies, of selling damaged goods, or paying employees in charge of the N a v y Storehouse, and of keeping the Secretary of the N a v y informed of conditions in California as they affected that arm of the services. Termination of Larkin's office as N a v y Agent, the last of his several government responsibilities, left him free to devote more energy to his personal interests, with the exception of his service as a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1849, in which he was one of the Monterey representatives. This

body, called by Governor Bennett Riley "to frame a State constitution or a Territorial organization," met at Monterey on September i and finished its duties on October 13, 1849. Shunning apprenticeship as a territory, California was ambitious to join the Union immediately as a full-fledged state. T h e men who had guided her destiny, Mexican as well as American, entertained no doubts of her present promise or future achievement, and happily prepared to conclude their labors with the signing of the new constitution in a night of gay festivities. Colton Hall, decorated for the purpose with pines from the forest and "three improvised chandeliers," shed brilliant light on the gaiety. California was ready to take her place as the thirty-first member in the Union of States. Of Larkin's part in this convention, we have little information, though he seems to have attended regularly. In J. Ross Browne's Report of the Debates in the Convention

. . . . he is recorded as voting, generally with the majority, but

not as a speaker in the debates, which was done by a limited few. Doubtless his work was more subtle, on the personal level, as he and old associates like Mariano G . Vallejo, Pablo de la Guerra, Abel Stearns, Chas. T . Botts, William M . Steuart, John A . Sutter, and others, met privately to clarify matters of policy. Drafting of the constitution, it is now clear, was a magnificent preparatory step for the people of California to flex their muscles. T h e gold dust, flowing in from the mountains in an increasing and apparently endless stream, bred the kind of confidence, nay, bravado, that it was impossible to check. Land, hitherto almost worthless and to be had for the asking, skyrocketed in price. T h e goods of commerce, suddenly in enormous demand, had to be provided immediately, but the merchant's shelves were bare before he realized what had happened. Here was an opportunity for men with business acumen and daring—an opportunity for wealth, political power; in short, for everything. T h e situation as it then prevailed is well told in Soule's Annals

of San

Francisco, published in 1855, which gives a dramatic pen-picture of the effect the returning miners and their gold dust had on the city. Since Soule was so close to these events, his description gives the feel of life to what was happening. "The population of a great State was suddenly flocking in upon them, and no preparations had hitherto been made for its reception. Building lots had to be surveyed, and streets graded and planked—hills levelled—hollows, lagoons, and the bay itself piled, capped, filled up and planked—lumber, bricks, and all other building materials, provided at most extraordinarily high prices— houses built, finished and furnished—and great warehouses and stores erected— wharves run far out into the sea—numberless tons of goods removed from ship-

board, and delivered and shipped anew every where—and ten thousand other things had all to be done without a moment's unnecessary delay." He is speaking o£ 1849 and 1850, when the initial shock of growth plagued the city. Larkin and his mercantile friends, men like Dye, Cooper, Howard, Leese, Spence, and Phelps were among those who got in on the ground floor of this inflationary spiral. His experience, well documented in this volume, gives examples of the intensity of the speculation that ensued. On January 19, 1849, he summed it all up in a single phrase to his old friend, Faxon Dean Atherton, in Chile: " M y head whirls with speculation; my hair grows grey by the excessive working of my brain, and ambition." Equally pertinent was businessman Breed's tart comment of June 29, 1850, "This country is a perfect hell without money." In the fall of '48, Larkin and Dye set a pattern for their relationship, Dye taking the Schooner "Mary" to Mexico for goods and coin, with Larkin providing the main part of the funds. The voyage was a great success; Larkin's reward was a fat 1 2 5 % . In a frank and revealing letter to Mott Talbot & Company of Mazatlan, with whom he had dealt for years, Larkin wrote late in December, 1848, that if they had sent a cargo of Mexican goods to California between August and October, an investment of $50,000.00 would have returned a profit of $100,000.00 in 90 days; but, he added cautiously, "hereafter the prospect of sales are uncertain." In this kind of a market, it was impossible to tell in advance what would happen, particularly after ships began to arrive from the Atlantic Coast and elsewhere with their cargoes. Most of these had no warehouses or local connections for disposing of their wares. If their goods had come on consignment, they often had to be sold at once to pay freight and other costs. This meant they might be dumped on the market, without regard to cost. It was a hectic era, when men hardly knew from one day to the next whether they were wellheeled—or paupers. Merchants with houses in Monterey and San Francisco were in a better position to protect their interests, a decided advantage over Eastern shippers. While many merchants embarked on Mexican voyages, others sent ships farther afield—to Manila, Canton, or even Australia. Larkin and Leese purchased the Brig "Eveline," each investing 1,500 ounces, approximately $25,000.00, and sent her to Canton, with Leese as supercargo. Dye and Cummins planned to send a vessel to the Hawaiian Islands, but abandoned it in January, '49 in favor of a Larkin-Dye speculation in a voyage to Mexico in

which Larkin took a two-thirds interest. T h e air was full of such schemes. T o John H . Everett in Canton, an old friend, Larkin wrote in February, 1849, "The men and times are rich, golden rich, in C a l i f o r n i a . . . . " While some engaged in trading speculations, like the above, which required large investments, more took a fling in the real estate market—and found it profitable, especially in San Francisco. Larkin cited his purchase of a lot 50 varas square, about 137 feet, for which he paid $500.00 in 1846. In September, 1848, it sold for $10,000.00, and two months later for $15,000.00. Another lot which he sold in September, 1848, for $5,000.00 was for sale at $15,000.00 two months later. T h e hotel under construction in January, 1849, by R. L. Parker, the famous Parker House, which cost less than $30,000.00, would return that amount in six months, said Larkin, and in addition "the bar and table pay 2 to 3,000$ pr month." In April, '49, Larkin planned the erection of ten brick buildings (or iron, if better), six to front on Montomery and four on Washington, for wholesale and retail business, and asked Colton, then about to leave for the East, for estimates of cost. Evidently they were built, for in October we find Larkin leasing "The warehouse situated on the beach, on the southerly side of Washington Street now owned by Thomas O. Larkin . . ." at $800.00 per month. But Larkin's biggest deal undoubtedly was the sale to Charles L. Ross, prominent San Francisco merchant and landowner, on December 1, 1849, of nine lots. One was on the corner of Washington and Montgomery (originally granted to James A . Forbes in 1846), and eight water lots, between Clay and Washington streets, for a purchase price of $300,000.00, of which $50,000.00 was evidently cash and the balance payable at intervals of six months in chunks of $50,000.00. A t this time Larkin was busily preparing for his first visit to the East since his arrival in California in 1832, and placing his investments in what seemed to be the best securities. While the San Franicsco real estate market was so hot, there was much activity in such towns as Monterey, Sacramento, and Benicia, in all of which Larkin held property in addition to his various ranchos. In the Benicia speculation, the brainchild of Vallejo and Semple, Larkin had been induced to take a major interest (together with Bethuel Phelps); but unlike Semple he did not put all his eggs into that basket, in spite of the ceaseless importuning of the volatile Semple. T h e central theme of this promotion was the idea that a city on Carquinez Strait would make a better harbor than San Francisco, and would soon surpass it in importance. "If we put our own shoulders to the wheel and

throw our whole energies into the thing we can make a mammoth fortune and the largest city west of the mountain," Semple admonished Larkin on January 24, 1849. T o induce prominent people to settle and build in Benicia, the promoters gave lots gratis, or sold them at very low prices. Commodore Thomas ap C . Jones took his warship, the "Southhampton," to Benicia, sounded the whole bay below the Strait, and pronounced it superb. Indeed, after retiring to the East in 1851, he admitted that Benicia was his darling. T o enhance its prestige, Congress was urged to declare it a "Port of Entry," which was actually done in January, 1 8 5 1 . When San Francisco continued to boom beyond the dreams of the wildest speculator, Semple dejectedly conceded to Larkin that " . . . you will never be convinced that I have an ordinary degree of common sense and I think we should each do better to have our property divided and each pursue his own plans." Capping the climax of his career in California, Larkin early in 1850 made plans to visit the Atlantic Coast. T w o of his boys, Oliver and Frederic, were already in school in N e w England. N o w , after 17 eventful years, he would return to the home of his youth, no longer unknown and impoverished, but one whose name was on everyone's tongue. With his wife, two children, and a nurse, he took passage on the steamer "Oregon" from Monterey on March 2, 1850. It had cleared from San Francisco the day previous, Captain C . P. Patterson in command, with 250 passengers and $1,250,000.00 aboard in gold dust (Alta, March 2, 1850), and reached Panama March 20. After crossing the Isthmus, the Larkins sailed on the "Empire City" for N e w York, a voyage of nine and one-half days, and reached it on April 5. N o t long afterward, he participated in a grand California Jubilee. With him on this Eastern visit was his half-brother, John B. R. Cooper, whose name has appeared so many times in these volumes of The Larkin Papers. Cooper's family evidently had remained in California—nor did he remain long in the East, to judge from Larkin's letter of August 23, 1850. Meantime, the Larkins had set out for Washington, stopping the night of June 26th in Baltimore, where Mrs. Larkin was taken violently ill with dysentery. Six or eight days later, as she was recovering, it was Larkin's turn, but his disease was erysipelas, from which he nearly succumbed. In fact, the Boston Transcript, on July 10,1850, printed a telegraphic dispatch that "Thomas Larkin of California is dangerously ill, and not expected to recover." By the end of July, however, he was again on his feet, as noted in the Alta of October 9, and was planning, it reported, to return soon to California.

[xiv] While in the East, Larkin visited Washington, N e w York, and Boston, but was not able to visit relatives and friends in Louisville or North Carolina, though frequently urged to do so. Instead, he was deeply engaged in business, such as promoting a line of steamers to compete with the Pacific Mail Steamship Co., lobbying for Benicia to be named a port of entry, buying a house in N e w York (101 Tenth Street, near Broadway), establishing his children in a good school, pressing for payment of the "Fremont" claims incurred in California in 1846, of which Larkin had advanced a large amount, and following the bills in Congress relating to confirmation of the California land grants, then a very urgent matter. In the middle of February, 1851, he took the steamer "Empire C i t y " for Chagres, leaving his wife and children in the East, as he was then toying with the idea of making that his permanent home. This move was strongly urged by friends and relatives, who looked upon California as a wild and uncouth country, good enough for making a fortune but unfit to be a permanent home for one of the West's first citizens. Back among his friends in California late in March, 1851, Larkin was welcomed with much enthusiasm and obviously felt "at home." H e quickly fell into the swing of affairs, only to be confronted on M a y 4 with a major disaster—the burning of several blocks in the heart of San Francisco's business district. This was the hub of his downtown real estate. T h e loss caused him to take back some of the property he had parted with previously, he informed his wife, in telling her of the disaster. Almost before the ashes had cooled, however, carpenters and masons started the work of reconstruction—such was the spirit of the city, such the drive of its entrepreneurs. This fire was, indeed, but one of several, out of which San Francisco rose stronger and greater each time. Elsewhere in California, throughout the mining area, there was tremendous excitement, as miners came and went, new strikes took place, gold dust was harvested, and towns began to grow. Thumbing through these contemporary documents gives one a realistic appreciation of what went on. It's all good hunting for today's aficionado.

CONTENTS # Preface José Abrego to Larkin March 27, 1849 April 16, 1850 Guy R. C. Allen to Larkin, December 21, 1848 Faxon Dean Atherton to Larkin November 24, 1848 November 26, 1848 William L. Ayers to Larkin, December 15, 1848 Benjamin E. Babcock to U . S. Government, Bill for Services January 3, 1849

v 190 323 71 42 43 65 86

February 16, 1849 Baker & Morrill to Larkin January 24, 1849

152 107

May 17, 1849 George E. Baldwin to Larkin, February 13, 1851 Mary Barnes to Larkin, October 19, 1848

227 390 19

Martha M . Bartlett to Larkin, November 15,1850 Josiah Belden to Larkin, November 6, 1848 James Gordon Bennett to Larkin, December 8, 1848 Thomas Hart Benton to Larkin, January 25, 1851 Joseph B. Bidleman to Larkin, April 9, 1849

357 30 58 372 205

Maria Oliver (Childs) Bigelow to Larkin, November 14, 1850 . Henry Borradaile to Larkin, October 1 1 , 1848 Charles Tyler Botts to Larkin November 13, 1848 February 6, 1849 February 15, 1849 February 16, 1849 February 17, 1849

[xv]

.

.

.

356 11 34 129 149 152 155

[xvi] Horace M . Botts to U. S. Navy Department, October 17, 1848 John Ely Brackett to Larkin, M a y 17, 1849 Henry A . Breed To Daniel C. Baker

. . .

15 227

February 27, 1850

316

June 29, 1850

328

To P. Frothingham and Daniel C. Baker, January 14,1850 . . . . To Larkin, January 14, 1850 To Larkin and Belden. Statement of Account. October 30, 1850 . . H . A . Breed & Company

275 276 354

To Benjamin Loring & Co., January 1, 1850 To Moody & Norris December 28, 1849 January 31, 1850 William S. Charnley to Larkin, January 3 1 , 1851 Betsey (Larkin) Childs to Larkin, February 8, 1851 Ebenezer Larkin Childs to Larkin October 6, 1848 November 29, 1848 December 8, 1848 December 23, 1848 January 29, 1849 February 24, 1849 April 17, 1849 February 16, 1850

271

George Edwin Childs to Larkin June 5, 1850 February 1, 1851 February 20, 1851

270 283 375 379 4 45 59 73 116 160 215 290 324 376 397

Isaac Childs to Larkin, December 1, 1848 Sarah Peirce (Larkin) Childs to Larkin, February 8, 1851 John G. Christie to Larkin March 8, 1849 September 28, 1850 Martha (Dunn) Clark to Larkin, January 8, 1849 Heniy Clay to Larkin, June 10,1850

52 382

C. A . Clinton to Larkin, February 13, 1851

391

170 345 88 326

[ xvii ] Eleutheros Cooke to Larkin, August 6, 1850 Gustavus J. Coutan to Larkin, March 1, 1849 Fredrick Coyan to U. S. Government. Bill. February 24,1849 . . . . W . H . Crouch to Larkin, April 3, 1849

332 164 161 202

Thomas Cummins to Larkin, December 19, 1848 Aaron O. Dayton to Larkin, October 9, 1848 F. M . Dimond to Larkin, January 16, 1851 Thomas Douglass to Larkin, March 2, 1849 David Dring And Larkin. Agreement. April 26, 1849 To Larkin, January 18, 1849 John K . Duer to Larkin, March 5, 1849 Job Francis Dye To Larkin December 22, 1848 December 28, 1848 March 27, 1849 March 31, 1849 April 11, 1849 To Melius, Howard & Co., September 25, 1849 John E. Eddy to Larkin, October 9, 1848 Rosetta Ellis to Rachel (Hobson) Holmes Larkin, February 16, 1851 . William W. Gallaer. San Francisco Letter Sheet, February 27, 1850 . N . O. Gay to Larkin. Receipt. February 27, 1850 Charlotte Rogers George to Larkin, August 29, 1850 Charles V . Gillespie to Larkin, October 16,1848 Gillespie & Co. to Larkin. Receipt. August 22, 1849 Eleanor N . Gray to Larkin January 31, 1849 September 16, 1850 Nicholas Gray to Larkin January 31, 1849 February 15, 1851 February 16, 1851 March 4, 1851 Talbot H . Green To William Davis Merry Howard, M a y 1, 1851

69 8 368 165 221 99 169

.

. .

72 79 191 197 209 256 10 393 318 318 341 14 254 125 342 125 391 392 400 418

[ xviii ] Talbot H. Green To Larkin October 15, 1848

14

February 5, 1849

128

February 19, 1849

157

March 1, 1849

163

March 28, 1849

192

March . . . , 1849

201

June 1, 1849

238

June 19, 1849

245

June 29, 1849

247

January 3, 1850

273

T o William M . Rogers, December 23, 1848

74

William A . Gwyer to Larkin, January 30,1849

124

Samuel W . Haight to Larkin, February 1, 1849 Allen A . Hall to Larkin, January 22, 1851

369

Nathan Kelsey Hall to Larkin, January 16, 1851

369

Edward L. Handy to Larkin, March 5, 1849

168

Alpheus Hardy to Larkin, February 1 1 , 1851

385

Demsley Harrell to Larkin, January 20, 1850

279

Jesse B. Hart to Larkin, M a y 8, 1851

419

William Edward Petty Hartnell Account of Sales January 8, 1849

88

January 22, 1849

106

February 13, 1849

143

To U . S. Navy Agency, March 31, 1849 John Hayward to Larkin, February 18, 1851 Mary F. Hobson to Rachel (Hobson) Holmes Larkin, November 26, 1848

396 43

William Davis Merry Howard to Larkin October 27, 1848

22

June 29, 1849

248

March 25, 1851

407

Jackson Hoyt to Larkin, January 29, 1849

119

Zachariah F. Johnston to Larkin, February 7, 1851

379

[ xix ] John Coffin Jones T o Larkin October 8, 1848 December 5, 1848

5 55

Power of Attorney. April 3, 1851 Thomas ap Catesby Jones List of Lots Purchased. February 9, 1849 T o Larkin October 24, 1848 October 26, 1848 November 8, 1848 December 13, 1848 December 28, 1848 January 23, 1849

411 .

.

.

March 5, 1849 M a y 18, 1849 June 28, 1849 February 3, 1851 J. Kearny to Larkin, December 21, 1850 F. E. Kellogg to Larkin, M a y 11, 1849 Elbridge G. Kimball to Larkin, October 25, 1848 Joseph Lanman to Larkin, January 15, 1849 Henry La Reintrie to Larkin, March 30, 1851 Rachel (Hobson) Holmes Larkin to Larkin, M a y 22, 1849 Samuel Larkin to Larkin, March 9, 1851 Thomas Oliver Larkin To Jose Abrego, November 14, 1848 To Faxon Dean Atherton January 2, 1849 January 19, 1849 To Baker & Morrill, January 19, 1850 And Henry A. Breed. Bond. February 18, 1850 T o Henry A . Breed, February 18, 1850 T o Josiah Belden, October . . . 1848 To Josiah Belden, et al., April 14, 1849 T o Charles Tyler Botts November 10, 1848

134 20 21 30 61, 62 80 106 228 246 377 361 225 21 94 409 232 404 35 84 102 279 292 294 28 215 31

[xx] Thomas Oliver Larkin to Charles Tyler Borts November 13, 1848

34

November 18, 1848

41

February 7, 1849

130

February 13, 1849

144

February 16, 1849

153, 154

February 17, 1849

154

June 15, 1849

242

To John Ely Brackett, May 20, 1849

230

To Brannan & Co., January 17, 1850

278

To Samuel Brannan, November 1 1 , 1 8 4 8

32

To James Buchanan, November 16, 1848

37

To Carter & Davis, February 26,1849

162

To Laban Coffin. Lease. January 1, 1850

272

To Walter Colton November 1 1 , 1 8 4 8

32

April 10, 1849

206

April 13, 1849

212

To John Bautista Rogers Cooper August 23, 1850

338

January 9, 1851

364

To Copmann & Lomer, November 14,1848

35

To Thomas Cummins December 23, 1848

76

February 14, 1849

146

To Curtis & Peabody October 28, 1848

22

November 9, 1848

31

T o Aaron O. Dayton December 31, 1848

83

April 12, 1849 To Dent & Martin, November 1, 1848 To Charles de Selding, July 2, 1849

210 .

.

29 249

To David Dring January 16, 1849

94

January 18, 1849

99

[xxi] Thomas Oliver Larkin A n d Job Francis Dye. Agreement. January 16, 1849

95

A n d Job Francis Dye and Ross, Benton & Co., January 18, 1849

.

.

100

T o Job Francis Dye December 17, 1848

67

December 26, 1848

77

T o Editor of a San Francisco Newspaper, December 24, 1850

.

.

.

362

T o John H . Everett, February 14, 1849

147

T o Joseph Libbey Folsom, April 3, 1849

203

T o Victor J. Fourgeaud, June 15, 1849

242

T o Victor J. Fourgeaud, Charles V . Gillespie, and Lewis H. Thomas, March 21, 1849

182

T o Joel Giles, January 4, 1850

273

T o Talbot H . Green January 27, 1849

113

February 11, 1849

137

June 1, 1849

239

June 15, 1849 T o John Halls, February 10, 1849

243, 244 135

T o Thomas ap Catesby Jones November . . . , 1848

49

December 17, 1848

67

January 13, 1849

91

February 12, 1849

140

March 12, 1849

171

March 22, 1849

185

March 23, 1849

186

M a y 21, 1849

231

June 15, 1849

245

January 7, 1850

274

T o E. G. Kimball, M a y 4, 1849

224

T o Rachel (Hobson) Holmes Larkin, M a y 15, 1851

420

Last Will and Testament. February 11, 1851

386

A n d Jacob Primer Leese. Contract. February 12, 1849

138

A n d Jacob Primer Leese and Richard Barnes Mason. Agreement. February 14, 1849 T o Jacob Primer Leese, February 15, 1849

144 149

— — [ xxii ] Thomas Oliver Larkin List of Claims, 1844-1846, December 1850

364

T o Milton Little, November 16, 1848

39

T o Andrew K. Long, December 19, 1848

69

T o William Rufus Longley and Winship, December 16, 1848

. . .

65

T o McKean Buchanan, October 25, 1848

20

T o James McKinlay, July 7, 1849

251

T o Nathaniel B. March, January 29, 1850

282

T o Melius, Howard & Co. M a y 29, 1849

234

June 13, 1849

241

January 22, 1850

281

February 13, 1850

285

February 19, 1850

299

T o Manuel Micheltorena. Statement. March 1, 1850

321

T o John Stoney Missroon, M a y 1, 1849

223

T o Mott Talbot & Co. October 31, 1848

26

December 26, 1848

78

T o Francis Murray, M a y 29, 1849

234

A n d Albert Packard. Agreement. January 17, 1849

98

T o Francis Edward Parker, January 29, 1850

282

T o Peirce & Brewer, November 14,1848

36

A n d Bethuel Phelps. Agreements. December 1, 1848

49

January 13, 1849

91

February 1, 1849

127

March 16, 1849

176

April 30, 1849

222

M a y 30, 1849

235

A n d Bethuel Phelps and Thomas Butler King, September 24, 1850

.

344

T o Bethuel Phelps February 7, 1849

130

April 17, 1849

217

February 14, 1850 T o Charles E. Pickett, M a y 26, 1849 T o Andres Pico, October . . . , 1848

286 233 28

[ xxiii ] Thomas Oliver Larkin T o Rodman M . Price March 12, 1849

172, 173

March 23, 1849

187

September 30, 1849 T o Benjamin F. Reed, October 2,1849

257 258

T o Edward D. Reynolds, February 9, 1849

134

T o Stephen Reynolds, February 12, 1849

142

T o Bennett Riley, June 30, 1849

249

T o William M . Rogers, January 18, 1849

101

And Charles L. Ross. Cargo Sale. December 2, 1848

53

T o Charles L. Ross December 10, 1848

60

December 17, 1848

68

February 14, 1850

287

M a y 30, 1850

324

T o San Francisco Merchants, October 11, 1848

12

T o Moses Schallenberger, October 28, 1848

23

T o the Secretary of the N a v y November 16, 1848

40

February 12, 1849

143

April 12, 1849

210

April 13, 1849

213

April 24, 1849

220

September 28, 1849

256

T o Robert Baylor Semple December 28, 1848

81

January 24, 1849

109

January 28, 1849

115

T o Persifor Frazer Smith, April 17, 1849 T o Charles Bolivar Sterling, M a y 30, 1849

218 235, 236

T o Jonathan D . Stevenson, February 15, 1849

150

T o Anne Stuart, February 12, 1851

390

T o John A . Swan, June 20, 1849

246

T o U. S. Government. Bill. March 31, 1849

198

T o U. S. N a v y Department October 30, 1848

24

[ xxiv ] Thomas Oliver Larkin to U . S. N a v y Department October 31, 1848

27

T o U. S. Postmaster General, January 15, 1851

367

T o Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo January 6, 1849

86

February 1, 1849

127

T o Washington National Monument Society, January 15, 1851

.

.

368

T o James Williams November 1, 1848

29

M a y 25, 1849

232

A n d John Williams. Agreement. January 11, 1849

90

Thomas Oliver Larkin and Rachel (Hobson) Holmes Larkin to Charles L. Ross. Contract. December x, 1849

262

John Larkins to Larkin December 23, 1848

75

October 21, 1849

259

Cesareo Lataillade to Talbot H . Green, October 18, 1848

16

Jacob Primer Leese T o Larkin March 13, 1849

173

March 20, 1849

181

March 21, 1849

184

August 4, 1849

253

February 28, 1850

319

September 30, 1850

346

April 29, 1851

418

Jacob Primer Leese, William M . Steuart, and Larkin. Agreement. February 6, 1850

284

W . L. Lewis to Larkin, January 29,1851

373

Henry Ensign Lincoln to Larkin, March 23, 1849

187

List of Naval Stores on board Southampton, February 27, 1849

.

Milton Little to Larkin, December 12,1848 Milton Little and Mary Little to Larkin. Deed. February 26, 1850

61 .

.

Andrew K. Long to Larkin, December 14,1848

315 64

William Rufus Longley to Larkin, December 7, 1848

57

W . R. Lount to Larkin, April 15, 1850 Lovering & Gay and C. A . Hosmer & Co. Lease. October 1, 1849

162

322 .

.

257

—

—

—

—

—

—

[

XXV ]

Lovering & Gay and Leonard & Tay. Lease. October 20, 1849

.

.

.

259

John Adair McDowell to Larkin, May 6, 1851 Andrew Jackson McDuffee to Talbot H. Green, December 24,1848 . John McDuffee, Jr., to Larkin, April 25, 1851 D. Mclntire to Larkin, December 19, 1850 William H. McKee to Larkin, October 30, 1848

419 76 417 358 25

James McKinlay T o Larkin, July 7, 1849

250

To U. S. Government. Bill. March 31, 1849 John Young Mason

199

To Charles Tyler Botts, October 5, 1848 To Larkin, October 5, 1848 Melius, Howard & Co. Agreement, December 1, 1849

1 3 266

To Larkin, February 20, 1850 John Stoney Missroon to Larkin, March . . . , 1851 Moody & Norris to H . A . Breed & Co. Invoices. February-May, 1850 . I. Thomas Mott to Larkin, October 17, 1848 Mott Talbot & Co. to Larkin October 28, 1848

294 410 313 16

November 21, 1848 December 20, 1848 February 22, 1849 May 5, 1849 Benjamin F. Moulton and Royal H. Waller to William J. Sherwood and

41 70 160 225

Charles de Ro. Lease. January 14, 1851 Municipal Court of Records, Monterey, to Larkin. Bill. March 1, 1850 Ebenezer Nelson to Larkin, January 24, 1849

338 322 109

George Oliver to Larkin. Bill. March 3 1 , 1849 Albert Packard and Larkin. Agreement. June 4, 1849 John Paty to Sherman & Ruckel, March 27, 1849 Bethuel Phelps To Larkin Bill. January 16, 1849 Receipt. September 20, 1849 Bill. December 17, 1849 To James McKinlay, February 2, 1849

.

23

199 239 192

255 269 128

[ xxvi] William Dane Phelps to Larkin February 8, 1851 March 7, 1851 Charles E. Pickett to Larkin, March 16, 1849 William Ballard Preston to Larkin April io, 1849

. . .

August 10, 1849 Rodman M . Price to Larkin October 18, 1848 March 30, 1849 Louisa R. (Cooper) Radcliffe to Larkin, January ro, 1850 J. W . Raymond to Larkin, December 30, 1850 Edward D. Reynolds to Larkin, February 6, 1849 Stephen Reynolds to Larkin November 12, 1848 March 18, 1849

384 402 179 209 254 17 195 367 363 129 33 180

Robertson & Walton and Lovering & Day. Lease. November 10,1849 . 261 Alfred Robinson to Larkin, February 7, 1851 379 Roe Lockwood & Son to Larkin, March 28, 1851 409 William M . Rogers to Larkin November 27, 1848 44 January 29, 1849 119, 122 April 17, 1849 218 February 21, 1851 399 March xo, 1851 405 Charles L. Ross To Horatio N . Dickson and Thomas R. De Wolf. Lease. October 17, 1850 348 To Larkin December 1, 1849 266, 268 February 15, 1850 289 And Melius, Howard & Co. Agreement. December 10, 1849 . . . 269 To Benjamin F. Moulton and Royal H. Waller. Lease. August 17, 1850 Charles L. Ross and Emily H . Ross to Larkin. Mortgage. February 15,

337

1850 Ross, Benton & Co. to Larkin, December 29, 1848 Alexander Ruden, Jr., to Larkin, April 7, 1849

287 82 203

[ xxvii ] William H . Ruste to Larkin, March n , 1851

406

San Francisco Street Department to Charles L. Ross. Assessment. September 25, 1850

345

San Francisco Treasurer's Office to Charles L. Ross. Bill. October 21, 1850

350

Moses Schallenberger to Talbot H . Green, January 19, 1849 . . . .

105

Robert Baylor Semple to Larkin December 13, 1848

63

January 24, 1849

111

February 7, 1849

131

February 18, 1849

155

March 6, 1849

169

April 9, 1851

415

April 13, 1851

416

April 24, 1851

416

Theodore Shillaber to James H. Gleason, August 28, 1849

254

M a r y Sinclair to Larkin, March 6, 1851

402

Andrew J. Smith to Talbot H . Green, October 2,1848

1

Persifor Frazer Smith T o Larkin, March 2, 1849

166

T o Larkin, Robert Baylor Semple, and Bethuel Phelps, April 9, 1849 .

206

Jacob Rink Snyder to Larkin M a y . . . , 1849

237

June 6, 1849

240

Alexander Spence to Larkin January 24, 1851

371

February 3, 1851

378

David Spence T o Talbot H . Green, February 10, 1849

135

T o Larkin December 3, 1848 M a y 18, 1849 T o William M . Rogers, September 30, 1850

54 230 348

Charles Bolivar Sterling to Larkin March 15, 1849

175

M a y 20, 1849

230

April 5, 1851

413

Edward Lapham Stetson to Larkin, June 4, 1849

240

[ xxviii ] William M . Steuart to Larkin February 8, 1849 August 5, 1850 August 25, 1850 January 25, 1851 Jonathan Drake Stevenson to Larkin, March 5, 1849

133 330 340 373 168

Anne Stuart to Larkin, March 4, 1851 John A . Swan to U . S. Government. Bill. March 31, 1849 Alexander Smith Taylor to Larkin, April 3, 1851 Henry Frederick Teschemacher to Larkin, December 6, 1848 . . . .

401 200 413 56

J. J. Thibault to Larkin, March 28, 1849 Albert A . Thompson to Larkin, December 3, 1850 Joseph P. Thompson to Larkin, March 25, 1851

194 358 408

Thomas G. Thurston to Larkin, July 1 1 , 1849 Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo to Larkin January 23, 1849 February 21, 1849 Vallejo & Frisbie to Larkin, October 30, 1848 John R. Walker to Larkin May 16, 1850 June 26, 1850 Ward & Price to Larkin, March 27, 1851 Ward & Smith to John Bautista Rogers Cooper, October 28, 1848 . G. Washington Warren to Larkin, February 8, 1851 John H . Warrington to U. S. Government. Bills. March i, 1849 March 31, 1849 Washington National Monument Society to Larkin, January 22, 1851 Gideon Welles to Ebenezer Larkin Childs, April 12, 1849 . . . William S. Wells to Larkin, February 28, 1850 Charles White to Larkin, March 12, 1849 Elisha Whittlesey to Larkin, January 22, 1851 Samuel H. Willey to Larkin, April 25, 1849 Albert Williams to Larkin, April 7,1849 James Williams to Larkin, July 19, 1849 John S. Williams to Larkin October 10, 1848

251 107 158 26

.

. .

323 327 408 24 385 164 200 370 211 320 173 371 220 204 252 10

[ xxix ] John S. Williams to Larkin October 12, 1848 October 18, 1848 December 2, 1848 February io, 1849

13 18 53 136

March 21, 1849 Preston K . Woodside to Larkin December 7, 1848 March 30, 1849 Ann Rogers (Larkin) Wright to Larkin

184 57 196

November 29, 1848 January 29, 1849

47 122

Otis Wright to Larkin, October 27, 1849

260

PLATES John B. R. Cooper Map of the Burned District, May 4 , 1 8 5 1 , between pages Key to Buildings of the Burned District, between pages

. . . . . . . .

Frontispiece 228—229 228—229

VOLUME Vili 1848-1851

The Larkin Papers October, 1848-May, 1851

[ANDREW J . SMITH TO TALBOT H. GREEN. VI: 1 5 6 . ]

Los Angeles California Oct 2d 1848 Sir

"YOUR letter

intrusted to my care was delivered, in person, to Don Pio

Pico. H e told me he had written to his brother, Don Andress Pico, on whom the draft was drawn, to pay it as soon as presented, and if he cannot honor the draft inform me of the fact and the horses shall be turned over as you proposed. Don Andress is at present at the placer & you may have an opportunity of seeing him. I am Sir, Yours Respy, A . J. Smith T . H . Greene Esq Monterey, California

[JOHN YOUNG MASON TO CHARLES TYLER BOTTS. 1 COPY. NAVAL REC. COLL.]

N a v y Department, October 5th 1848 Charles T . Botts, Esqr, U . S. Naval Storekeeper Monterey, California Sir "YOUR letter of the 1st July ultimo has been received. In compliance with your request therein contained, I here transmit such general instructions as are deemed sufficient for your guidance in the discharge of your official duties as a Naval Store Keeper. 1 From a copy in Record Group 45 of the Naval Records Collection, Office of Naval Records and Library, National Archives, Washington, D . C .

You will receive and place in store all supplies and stores for the use o£ the Naval Forces in the Pacific, which may be sent by the Department or purchased by order of the Commanding Officer for that object. You will receipt for the same, and charge yourself on your books. Requisitions drawn on you by pursers and others should in all cases before you make a delivery of stores have the approval of the senior Naval officer present in command. On such requisitions you will make delivery. The receipts to you for deliveries so made should be taken in triplicate—one to be sent to the proper bureau, one to the Fourth Auditor of the Treasury and the third filed in your own office. All invoices which you receive of shipments of public stores are supposed to contain a true inventory of the articles actually shipped, whether packed in boxes or otherwise. If upon a careful examination in the delivery of such articles, it should [be] ascertained that they fall short or are in excess in number or otherwise, it should be noted by you in your next returns and you will be credited or charged accordingly. The security of the public stores and the erection of storehouses are subjects the Department deems it prudent to refer to Commodore Jones and other experienced officers who may be expected to visit Monterey, and from whom I shall request a report. The erection of such buildings for permanent use cannot be directed untill a place has been selected, and authority given by Congress to establish a Naval Station and Depot on the coast of California. When the services of a laborer are indispensably necessary for work in the Navy Store, you are authorized to employ one by the day, until he can be dispensed with. Should you draw for your salary again, your draft should be drawn on the Secretary of the Navy, and not on the Treasurer of the United States, as was your last draft in favour of M r . Boardman of Boston. This necessity, however, will hardly again occur, as a purser will be placed on the station charged with the duty of paying the salaries of officers, yourself included. You will conform to the instructions of the Bureau of Provisions & Clothing, in the same manner as if given by the Department. I understand that as is usual, very full instructions were given, and the necessary forms furnished you by the Chief of that Bureau, before you left the seat of Government. I am respectfully, Your obd. Servant, }. Y. Mason

[ J O H N YOUNG MASON TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VI: 1 9 0 . ]

N a v y Department, October 5, 1848 Sir

YoUR letter of the 1st of July has been received. In reply I have to state that as soon as your official bond for $30,000 was received and approved, Commodore Jones, under date of the 27th March 1848, was directed to give you the necessary instructions in regard to your official duties as N a v y Agent, of which you were so informed, as will appear by the enclosed duplicate. B y despatches recently received from the Commodore, the Department is aware he had not reached Monterey at the date of your communication; and I therefore proceed to give you the following general instructions: Your duty will be to make purchases and pay bills, on the requisition of the Commander in Chief of the Naval Forces in the Pacific, or the commanding officer of any single ship, in the absence of the Commodore, for supplies for the Squadron or such single ship. T h e unfavorable state of the market in California for negotiation of bills of exchange drawn on the N a v y Department will not justify your drawing and having your bills cashed there at a discount. John Parrott Esq. has been appointed by the President temporary N a v y Agent at Mazatlan, and will furnish money on the requisition of the Commodore. Purser Rodman M . Price of the N a v y will be sent to the West Coast by the first day of January next, on the special duty of obtaining funds for the public Naval disbursements on that station. H e will be instructed to furnish you the necessary funds, on your requisition drawn on him by virtue of this order. In making your requisition, you will in all cases state the object for which the money is wanted, the head of appropriation under which it is wanted, and accompany it by a duplicate of the requisition of the Naval Officer on you, which may make yours necessary. Your compensation for your services will depend on the amount of public money you may have occasion to disburse. On such amounts, you will receive a commission of one per centum, as compensation, in lieu of all office expenses, provided such commission does not exceed the sum of two thousand dollars per annum. Transmitted herewith are the instructions of the Fourth Auditor as to the

[4] mode of keeping your accounts and making returns according to the forms required by the Treasury Department. 1 I am respectfully, Your obed. servant, J. Y . Mason [Rubric] Thomas O. Larkin, Esq. U . S. N a v y Agent, Monterey

[EBENEZER LARKIN CHILDS TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VI: 1 9 2 . ]

Washington City Octr 6 1848 Dear Oliver SINCE I closed my letter of Sept 27 I have rec'd the N Y E Herald containing yr letter to me of June 1 & now send it. W h y the publication was delayed two weeks I do not know. Within two or three days past it has transpired that M r . Van Vorhies, a young Tennesean, once a law student with M r Polk, brought by him to this city and bolstered up until he was made Chief Clerk of the Auditor's Off. of P. O. Dept. over my head & the heads of thirty men older in office and quite equal to himself, has been appointed Special Agent of the P. O. Dept. for California. This office was created by my friends in Congress for me & I expected to have the offer of it certainly, but nothing was said to me pro or con, and even Van himself scarcely looks at me. I had many doubts and misgivings on the subject, it is true, arising from my time of life, the unwillingness of my wife to say that she would ever join me in California, my fears of the sea, and of the fatigues & privations I should be exposed to—still I think on the whole if I had been offered the appointment I should, after a severe conflict in my mind, have accepted it. The interest I have always felt in the country, and the agency I had in getting the law enacted (for it was, as it were, dictated by me, and got thro' by two or three of my friends, chiefly Senator Dix of N e w York) are well known in the Dept. and my non appointment considered an outrage by all. However, I have no doubt its all for the best. I believe in God and trust in him, and know that He will order all things for my good. It is intended, I now believe, that I am to remain an underling to the end of my days, poor and not 1

See under date of October 9, 1848 ( V I : i 9 3 ) .

much removed above the condition of a slave (for men in small office are, to some extent, slaves, sycophants, tools, parasites, anything but free, independent, lofty, as they came into the world). Certainly the annihilation of this my last and only hope of doing anything, or being anybody, looks very much like it. I have one blessing in particular among many for which I ought to be and am, I believe, thankful & that is good health. W e are all highly favored in this respect, for this and for your success and prosperity I daily thank God. Very truly and affectionately Yrs. E.L.C.

[JOHN COFFIN JONES TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VI: 1 9 5 . ]

West Newton Oct 8, 1848 My dear Sir I HAD almost dispaired of ever again hearing from you, when on the 14th September I had the pleasure to receive yours of the 1st of July encloseing a copy of your letter to your sons. I am much obliged to you for this communication, the more so as I am led to hope that you have concluded again to make me one of your correspondents. Your account of the gold regions is truly wonderful, but I am almost afraid you are led away by the gold mania, which appears to have attacked the good people of California and that you see things with a microscopick eye. I have never doubted but California would prove a region of gold & silver mines, but I did not imagine those precious metals were to be picked up by the handfull on the verry surface of the earth. What a curse it will prove to the country. The account here has been received by most with a great deal of doubdt; but yet there are many who have been led away with the delusion, and are ready to fly to the spot in full expectation of reaping a golden harvest of abundance. The tide of emigration is beginning to set towards the shores of the Pacific. In every paper almost of the day, you see accounts of parties forming to move to California; a party of one hundred have associated in Baltimore to purchase a vessel, burden her with their effects and on their arrival at San Francisco, sell her and settle there. The Western papers state that next year 50,000 will leave Ohio for California. Several vessels are now fitting out with supplies for the

gold hunters. I think they will get their fingers burned. The first mail steamer leaves N e w York on the ioth for Panama, from where she is to depart for California on the first of January. The other two will be ready to start in six weeks. Three are to be stationed in the Pacific and three this side to run from N . York to Chargris. They are to go monthly and it is expected the passage will be made in thirty jive days from New York to San Diego, touching at Mazatlan. Robinson with his wife will join the ist Steamer (the California) at Panama, in January. He has been appointed by Howland & Aspinwall agent for the steamers for Alta California. He is to reside in the bay of San Francisco but not at the Yurba Bueno. He is to build store houses & c & c at some better place and found a City. M r Piere [?] is also intending to go out in the California, likewise Col. Fremont's wife, and it is reported the great Col. Benton himself is to be a passenger. Were it not for the present situation of my wife I should myself be also amonghst the host of passengers. All the berths are engaged and you will find she will bring several hundred new settlers to your shores. The Government pay the Company 250,000$ per year to carry the mail. Were it not for that, it would prove a failure. Howland & Aspinwall contemplate to supply California with all her needs by these steamers. The line is eventually to be extended to China. What do you think of the price of hides? They have been down as low as six cents but are now at eight, and it will be a long time, if ever, they go above that price. More than enough cattle are now raised in this country to supply it with hides, and California salted hides are in bad repute; in Europe they will not sell at any price. The cargo of the Admittance is not yet sold—a part of the hides of the Sterling were sold at 6 cents. That concern will not realise 50 cents on the dollar. Dont ship any hides to this country—send the gold. Here there is a great scarcity of the hard mettle. Never before was money known to be so tight as it has been in the United States for the past year; the distress is frightful. The very best paper cannot be discounted for less than 2 per cent the month. Indeed the commercial community does not ask the price. The cry is, show us the money; the price is nothing. Such a state of things, if an alteration is not soon effected, will produce a general ruin throughout the land; and all this distress has been caused by the cursed administration of James Polk. The little money which I had was invested in factory stock that is now worth nothing. N o dividends are made and if not relieved by a new tarriff, all factories will be closed in the entire ruin. For my own part I am reduced to absolute want & am subsisting on charity.

The all absorbing question now is the Presidential election. The contest will be warm and obstinate. If Cass & Butler are elected the country is ruined beyond redemption. W h a t do you think of the Kinderhook Magician 1 being up again as a candidate and at the head of a party calling themselves Free Soil people? This Northern man with Southern principles at the head of such a party, is it not too ridiculous? This party is composed principally of deserters from the W h i g ranks, traitors to their party, but there is no probability of his carrying a single state. His principal support is the influence of the New York Barnburners. The best informed and most competent to judge feel no doubdt but the Hero of Buena Vista will be the Choice of the People. God send that he may. A t the close of the last session of Congress a bill was brot into the Senate by Benton to appoint a Commission to audit the Mexican [claims?]. It was a rascally one but it passed. The House refused to act upon it and nothing was done, and nothing probably ever will be done in regard to it, certainly not if Cass is the President. Those who hold claims are offering them for sale for ten cents upon the dollar. What do you think of the refusal of the House to provide for the California claims? If you have any you had better sell them for anything you can get. Fremont as you know was condemned by the Court Martial, and justly too. He has gone out again and probably may be with you before this, under patronage of his Father in law—to speculate in lands. Beware [?] of him. He is not all he has been cracked up to be. Benton, it is said, is to follow him. He has sent to the Californians by Fremont a letter in my opinion very ridiculous, but to say the least of it very impolitick. For fear you may not have had a copy of it, I enclose one for your use. I accidentally heard of your boys from M r . Childs a short time since, in a taylor shop. He was getting them clothes. They were well & bright. When the Steamers get in opperation you must come with Mrs. Larkin and make them a visit. You can do it in three months time. I hear nothing from M r . Thompson, nor do I know what he is doing. I hear nothing good from other sources. I apprehend the worst. Robinson was offered the agency for W m . Appleton & Co. but refused it. They are dissatisfied with Melius. Leidesdorff's estate turned out as I should have supposed it would. How he kept so long on his business legs I never could imagine. 1 Martin Van Buren, born at Kinderhook, New York, the candidate for president of the Free Soil Party in 1848.

[8] A Brig sails from Boston in a fiew days direct for California with stores for the gold seekers. I shall probably write you by her—but by Robinson I shall send you a longer letter than this. Three ships are fitting out at N e w York to take a regiment of Regulars to California. With kindest regards to M r s . Larkin, yours very truly, }. C . Jones

[AARON O. DAYTON TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VI: 1 9 3 . ]

Treasury Department, Fourth Auditor's Office October 5th 1848 Sir I N compliance with a request of the Hon. Secretary of the N a v y , I take pleasure in enclosing herewith the following circulars and forms & c for your guidance—viz: Circulars dated March 22d 1842, August 13th 1842 & Sep't 10th 1845. Regulation of March 22d 1844 of the N a v y Dep't., Opinion of the Attorney General dated Oct 5th 1844, with the letter of the Secretary of the N a v y transmitting it to the Second Comptroller. Forms of a "Summary Statement" and "Abstract of Expenditures" which it is necessary that you should transmit to this Office in presenting your account for settlement, which must be done quarter yearly, viz: to the 31st March, to the 30th June, to the 30th September, and to the 31st December. You will please render your first account from the time you entered upon your duties as N a v y A g e n t to the end of the Quarter prior to receiving this letter, and then to render your accounts in future as first directed. You are allowed by law three months after the expiration of a quarter to prepare and render your accounts to this Office for settlement. If a delay is made beyond that period it is the duty of the accounting officers to report the failure to do so to the Secretary of the N a v y . Y o u will please transmit with your account all papers that may in any manner relate to the vouchers contained therein. In case that you should be directed to sell condemned articles belonging to the U . S. N a v y Department you will debit yourself on your Summary Statement, under the proper Appropriation, with the nett proceeds and transmit to this office the auctioneer's account of sales; the expenses of such sale are to be paid from the gross proceeds.

[9] Whenever drafts are drawn it requires two respectable merchants to certify the rates of exchange at the time the drafts were disposed of. All bills must be receipted by the person of whom the articles were purchased; in case any other person signs for him, it requires a power of attorney to accompany the same showing his authority to sign for the principal. It is necessary in all cases to strictly comply with the contracts, reserving the ten percents until their completion, when you are authorised to pay the reservations on the certificate of the Naval Storekeeper stating that the contract has been completed or complied with. It sometimes occurs that a written agreement is entered into for purchases by the Navy Agent. When that happens it should be mentioned on the voucher and a copy of the same forwarded with your quarterly account to this office. In making your payments you will please exclude all fractions of cents in your vouchers. The usage is if the fraction exceed one half a cent to pay the whole cent, if under that fraction to exclude its consideration. This rule, however, does not operate on the items of a bill but only upon its addition or aggregate. I enclose, also, a form of a voucher and a receipt of an attorney for allotment pay. Officers of the Navy travelling under orders are only to be paid at the rate of ten cents per mile for travel performed within the U . States; out of the U . States they are to be paid their actual expenses only, filing with their account vouchers showing the items of the expenses incurred when they can be obtained, or in lieu thereof a certificate of the same. Should you desire any further information it will be most cheerfully imparted to you. I am, Sir, Very respectfully, Your obt Serv't. A . O. Dayton [Rubric] Thomas O. Larkin Esq U. S. Navy Agent Monterey

.[io]. [JOHN E. EDDY TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VI: 1 9 4 . ]

M r . Thomas O. Larkin

Warren, R. I. Oct 9 1848

Dear Sir

Yo . ou may think it strange that I should address you seeing we are so

far apart, but the story is soon told. I have read your letter of July 1, 1848 to Secretary of N a v y in which I learn that all your clerks and your carpenter were leaving you. Such being the case I thought as most every Yankee would think that it would be a good chance for me to try my fortune. If now, Sir, when you receive this you should want a good carpenter and are willing to give me a chance I should be pleased to come provided the wages would pay me for leaving home. If you wish to engage me for one, two or three years at so much a year and board I will come, it being understood that you are to pay my passage out and that my pay commences when I land at Monterey. I shall be willing to act in the capacity of clerk when you have no need for me as a carpenter, and now, Sir, you have my story. I am a regular bred American and as such wish to make money if you can help me to make it and by so doing I can be a benefit to you. I should be glad to come if you should be pleased to take notice of this so as to answer it. Please direct to John E. Eddy, Warren, Rhode Island, U . S., stating the salary and for what length of time the hours per day & c . I Remain Sir, Yours With Respect, John E. Eddy T o M r Thomas O. Larkin, U S N Agent Monterey

[JOHN S. WILLIAMS TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VI: 1 9 6 . ]

Sonoma Oct. ioth 1848 M r Larkin Sir I

ARRIVED

here last evening and received your letter of the 24th and

would liked to a seen you very much but I have been very sick since I left the mines and am now on my way to the mines but I am scarcely able to go now.

[ u

]

A s you have been at the camp since I have I cant tell you any thing about how things are going on their. You write that you have drew up six copies for the six members to sign. Their is not six members in the company. Their is no names known in the new company but M r Stirlings & my own and I will not sign any article that has so many members in it because one man wants to go to one place and some to another. I would like to see you very much so that we could come to some understanding about the matter. A s M r Sterling left me in August and joined another Co. Winship & Longley, I and James intend forming another company and will consider you in the company and if you are dissatisfied with any arrangements I have made with M r Stirling you can have your money that I have used any time you call for it. When I establish M r Sterling in some place I have nothing more to do with him for twelve months. P. S. The reason why I agreed to furnish all the capital is because them three is to work against the capital. We are to have half they make. I intend to work in a separate company myself but it will be late before I get to work as my colts & calves is to mark yet. Nothing more at present, I remain yours humble servt. John S. Williams [Rubric] T . O. Larkins N . B. I have not received them clothes at Cap Frisby's store as you wrote like you had paid for them and the Cap says M r Pickett did not pay for them I would not take them.

[HENRY BORRADAILE TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. V I : 1 9 8 . ]

Neville, Clermont County, Ohio Oct n t h 1848 T o Thomas O Larkin, U . S. Consul Monterey Dear Sir IERMIT

me to say that I had the pleasure of reading a letter from you,

published in the Washington Union, addressed to the Secretary of the N a v y , informing him of your tour to the gold region, of California. A n d in reference to the discription you give of it, has caused quite an excitement amongst the

people of Ohio, and finley your letter is published in nearly all of the Newspapers of the day. You also state that the excitement which this gold discovery has produced in Monterey and other towns in California is most intense. Y o u also state that your clerks have left you, and gone to the gold mines. Therefore permit me to say to you that I have been engaged in the commercial business for the last six years,—and am at this time intirly out of a situation. Therefore I feel desirous in getting a situation, in the capacity of clerk in that buisness, or in any other department of buisness, and presuming on your benevolence and candour, I beg leave to ask a favour from you. Should you have any opportunity of serving me with a situation as clerk, in buisness, I am fully confident it would be highly acceptable to me. Should you require any recommendations, or references, I can refer you to Judges Fishback, of this County, and Elijah Larkin, of this town, or on any commercial house in Ripley, Brown Co; and Cincinnati. T h e recommendations I can bring with me (if you desire it) should you use your influence in my behalf. Please have the goodness to write to me and direct you letter as above dated, Neville Clermont Co., Ohio. Most humbly begging pardon for the liberty I take in thus addressing you a stranger to me,—I am with sentiments of the highest respects, Your Obedent and Homble Servent, Henry Borradaile P. S. T h e State elections in Ohio was held yesterday, for Govnor, and other offices. If you should wish me to do any buisness for you in the United States, or to bring anything with me for you please state. H . B.

[THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN TO SEVERAL SAN FRANCISCO MERCHANTS. COPY. OFF. CORR. 1 : 4 8 9 . ]

Monterey U C . Octr i ith 1848 E o m a source which may be relied upon, I have to inform you that the U . S. Store Ship Lexington will sail from San Francisco within the first ten days of November for N e w York via Valparaiso & Rio de Janeiro and if it will be any accomodation to the commercial interest of the U . S. she will touch at the Sandwich Islands. B y this arrangement the Lexington will be enabled to deliver freight, that

is gold or silver, at the Sandwich Islands in Nov, at Valparaiso in January, at Rio in March and at New York in April. The rate of freight will be the same as on British Ships of War, viz., one per cent for gold and one and a half for silver to all ports this side of Cape Horn, and one and a half per cent for gold and two per cent for silver delivered beyond the Cape—no other charge to be made. I shall send what I have for the United States in this vessel and would recommend you doing so. Please inform by return mail if you or your friends have any to send and what amount. Your Obt Servt. (Signed) Thomas O. Larkin

[JOHN S. WILLIAMS TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VI: 1 9 7 . ]

Embarkadaro Oct 12 1848 Dear Sir been verry sick since leaving the mines but am now pretty stout again and on my way back to the mines. You have not complyed with your agreement to furnish a hand since the 1st of August, and you cannot of course expect me to give you an equal share in the business without you furnish said hand. I have tried to hire a hand but could get none for less than ten dollars pr day which I did not feel authorized to pay. I think I might employ a hand now the emigration has got in. I will continue our business until I hear from you and I wish you to write how much you will authorise me to pay a man or send a hand; we have it aranged as to the formation of the company that M r Stirling and myself has the whole direction of affairs and are the only men known in the company. This will prevent confusion as it frequently ocurs that where so many men have a say that one will want to go to one digings and one to another. If this is not satisfactory to you please let me know and your money is ready for you at my camp that I have used of yours. If you wish [MS. torn\ some in or have any obligation drawn between you and the Co. you will have to arange it with me. I will purchase all your stock provided we can agree as to the price. Please inform me what you will sell at. I have not the money but can borrow it. Respectfully, I

HAVE

Jno. Williams

[TALBOT H . GREEN TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VI: 199.]

Sunday October 15th 1848 j A l b o u t 3 miles from J Williams camp. I have been over this morning to their camp and from my own observations I dont think they are doing much. I dont think they pull well together but I suppose they will pay something. The trade also appears very little. Tomorrow morning we start for Feather River and if we dont find a place to work we will go on to the Sacramento and examine the creeks there. Longly & Sterling are all the ones that will be left. They have 22 Indians. J Williams is expected soon. Winship is going down. In all my observations their is no place like McKenzey for a trading post and if I find that nothing can be done I will go down to McKenzey. 1 W e are all well, and M r Toomes wishes you call and tell his wife that he has got quite well and can eat two men's allowance. Black Ned has paid two mo. rent where Bell's wife is and he wishes you to leave them their. I will be responsible for the rent. I enclose you a list of debts which I have found here directed to Moses. Stetson says that he sent the one directed to you back to Monterey. Direct your letters to care of Major Redding. You will find some day book accounts which are not in this list. M y respects to Mrs Larkin & the children & tell Caroline that I have piece of gold to make her a pair of earrings. I am your, T H Green [Rubric] I can hear nothing of Fremont's arrival as yet. A very large Co. have come from Oregon, & I have heard that Childs has got in with a company.

[CHARLES V. GILLESPIE TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VI ¡ 2 0 0 . ]

San Francisco 16th Oct 1848 My dear Sir T H E mail came in yesterday from your city, without the deed. Kindly have it forwarded at your earliest convenience & oblige. 1 Possibly McKenzie's Rancho on the Mokelumne. See Larkin to Belden, April 14, 1849, in this volume.

The "Luia Perry" arrived from Santa Cruz yesterday; also the Peruvian brigantine "Valois" 22 days from San Diego reports a Barque outside. In haste, Yr's truly, C. V . Gillespie

[HORACE M . BOTTS TO U . S. NAVY DEPARTMENT. VI: 2 0 l ]

Monterey U . C. Oct. 17, 1848 The U.S. Navy Department T o H . M . Botts Dr. For the following furnished the U. S. Storeship Lexington Masters Department. Account Contingent Fifteen cords firewood @ $ 12 pr cord $180.00 One hundred &C eighty dollars Received the above.

$180.00

Monterey Oct. 17, 1848 We the undersigned merchants residing in this place do hereby certify that the price charged in the above bill is the lowest at which the article is now selling for cash. U . S. Storeship Lexington off Monterey Oct. 17, 1848 Approved & Joseph Wilson Purser is hereby directed to pay the amount of the above bill one hundred & eighty dollars. Monterey Oct. 17, 1848 Received of J. Wilson Purser U. S. Storeship Lexington the sum of one hundred & eighty dollars in full of the above bill. Horace M . Botts

[I. THOMAS MOTT TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VI: 2 0 2 . ]

Mazatlan, Oct. 17 1848 My Dear Sir "YOUR favor o£ 1st Sep. per "Mary" came duly to hand on the 1st inst. The remark of M r Talbot, as reported to you by Capt. Fitch, was made under a wrong impression, which he afterwards discovered, and sincerely regretted having made it. In our books we now have no a/c against you, except a trifle for postage, not worth mentioning. When your postage a/c amounts to a sum to speak of we will advise you. W e send you these papers by M r . Dye, rec'd from Vera Cruz, and begging to offer our services in receiving and forwarding your correspondence as usual, I remain, M y Dear Sir, Your ob. Sert. I. T . Mott [Rubric] T . O. Larkin Esq. Monterey

[CESÁREO LATAILLADE TO TALBOT H. GREEN. VI : 2 0 4 . ]

Campo en el Placer del Arroyo Seco Octubre 18 de 1848 S. D . Talbot Green, Monterey Estimado

Amigo

IGNORANDO SU regreso á esta costa de su viage á Mazatlán en el cual le he deseado felicidades, me dirigí á D . Tomas O. Larkin, dándole aviso que había yo dado una orden para que recibiese el S. Ajuria la existencia de efectos que están almacenados, y también escribí por separado para que me mandasen la cuenta de almacenage y otras cosas que tomé en la Casa, y como aún no la recibo le agradeceré mucho me la mande á San Francisco al cuidado de D . Guillermo Howard y su importe si quita lo entregaré á la persona que me ordene pudiendo darme aviso. Y o pienso estar en San Francisco dentro de 20 dias y de ahi pasaré á Monterey y si V . prefiere recibir el pago entonces para mi es indiferente. Lo que yo deseo es que me haga el favor de que no haya ningún obstáculo. De V . afmo. amigo S. S. Cesáreo Lataillade [Rubric]

[RODMAN M . PRICE TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VI: 2 0 3 . ]

N e w York Oct i8, 1848

Dr Sir M

R Parrott leaves tomorrow for Mazatlan across Mexico. I have only

time to say that I will be with you again in January—by the mail steamer, which is to leave Panama on the 1st Jany & will be at Monterey by the 20th. Her arrival will be a great era for California. Nothing new. A l l buisy president making—both parties sanguine. Please let Capt Warner know that I am coming out. Poor Leidesdorff is dead—a great loss to California. H e was owing me & had papers of mine in his possession. A s k Capt Warner if my interest has been attended to—or if he is absent I will be greatly obliged for any attention you may give my affairs. The 2d Regt. Infantry will sail in two weeks from this port for California— Brig General Riley commander, and M a j General P. F. Smith is assigned to the military district of Oregon and California & will be out with me in the steamer. A very large emigration will go to California in the spring. I would not be surprised if it should reach 100,000—too large a portion go with visions of gold. The Rev. Dr. J. L. H . Ver Mehr sails in a month for California—as a missionary of the Prot. Eps. Church. H e is a gentleman of high character & acquirement and will prove a great acquisition to California. H e is now connected with one of our best colleges & intends to teach as well as preach. H e takes his family with him & looks forward to California as his lasting home. Ten of the officers of the 2d Reg. are married & their families accompany them. M y regards to Mrs. Larkin, M r Green, Rev M r Col ton, & believe me very truly Yrs, Rodman M Price Thos. O. Larkin Esqr, U . S. N a v y Agent Monterey California

— [ 18 ] [JOHN S. WILLIAMS 1 TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VI:205-]

Sutter's Fort Oct 18, 1848 M r Larkin

Sir I AM now here on my way to camp from Sonoma, where I was very sick as you already know. M y health is now much improved. I learn from M r Longley in regard to camp that the place on which we were at work is not so good as it was. Comparatively speaking it is hardly worth working. Besides, the trade with the Indians has decreased very much of late. These causes will cause me to look around upon my arrival there to see what is the best course to take under existing circumstances. I have been very much surprised at the reports which I hear you have circulated in relation to the quantity of gold which has been extracted by our company; having heard that you have reported in several places that $30,000 has been taken out and that no account of it has been made to you. T o this I have expressed myself in very strong terms; and in such a manner as that it might reach your ears, for such expressions as these are more than I can easily bear; and for a man who calls himself, and knows himself to be honest, it is more than he should bear. I have heard some accounts of the matter which has made me feel more easy than I was; but still it is not as it should be. I have sent one load of goods to the camp which M r Longley has brought up, and shall probably soon send the remainder, and shall go to camp as soon as possible to make preparations for the winter. While at Sonoma I heard such reports which arose from what you said there, that I did not take with me the goods you left there for me, and they are probably there. From what I learn from camp I think it probable I shall move on Feather River but the contract which you made out at camp I shall let remain as it is at present, and when you come up I will give you all the satisfaction necessary. I am Sir as ever Your Obdt Servt. John S. Williams P. S. I should like to know in relation to the farm what you will do. Capt. Wilson, a few days since, sold his preemption right of land, his cattle, 3000 1

In the handwriting of William Rufus Longley.

head, three manadas, forty broke animals, one jack, and all for $12,000.1 understand you are desirous of selling. I have not money enough to pay for all, but can borrow enough to pay a good part, and if you will wait a little while will pay you the remainder. I will pay you at so much on cost, or at a certain price per head, and would like one year for permission for the cattle to run on the farm, if I buy them. If you wish to sell, I would like to know immediately and on what terms you will sell. Yours, J. S. W .

[MARY BARNES TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VI: 2 0 6 . ]

32 Tavistock Place, October 19th 1848 Dear Sir I HAVE taken the liberty of addressing you to enquire if you are possessed of any information respecting a young sailor late of the Ship "Braganza" (by name) "Thomas Turnbull" as the agents of that vessel recommended me to apply to you, as in all probability you might have heard if he was still in California and what his occupation was. Messrs. Pope & Morgan informed me Thos. Turnbull left the "Braganza" in September 1841—and that was the last accounts they had of him. A s he is of highly respectable family & connexions both in England, India and Australia, I should esteem it a particular favor and it would also be an act of great kindness to his distressed relations, if you would take the trouble to write a few lines, regarding this individual, as soon as convenient upon the receipt of this. I trust the anxiety of the relations of this young man will apologize for troubling you upon this subject—and if you will address to me you will be confering a favour. I am Yours, very Respectfully, Mary Barnes Address Dr John Barnes, 32 Tavistock Place, Tavistock Square, London, England.

[THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN TO MCKEAN BUCHANAN. VI : 2 o 8 . ]

Monterey October 25 th 1848 E L c o of McKean Buchanan Pio Pico's draft on Andreas Pico in favor of Guillermo Rudall of Guaymas, for four hundred dollars ($400) in settlement of account, and without any recourse whatever to M r Buchanan, as endorser on said draft. Draft $400.

[THOMAS AP CATESBY JONES TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VI: 2 0 7 . ]

U . S. Flag Ship Ohio, Monterey, Oct. 24, 1848 Thos. O. Larkin Esquire N a v y Agent, Monterey Sir H E R E W I T H you will receive an inventory of provisions and clothing & c & c , in store at this place, and recently condemned by a survey of N a v y Officers, as unfit to be issued to the N a v y . Be pleased to advertise in the most public manner, the aforesaid stores, and sell the same at public auction, at the N a v y Storehouse in Monterey—sale to commence at 10 A . M . on Monday the 30th instant. Very Respectfully & c . Thos. ap C . Jones [Rubric] P. S. T h e terms cash, and in such money as is received at the Custom House of Monterey. Thos. ap C . Jones [Rubric]

[ 21 ] [ELBRIDGE G. KIMBALL TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VI: 2CK).]

Salem [Mass.] Oct. 25th 1848

Thomas O. Larkin Esq Monterey, California Dear Sir

T H E protests and documents necessary to recover the insurance on vessel and cargo (of the Brig "Elizabeth" of Salem) have not yet come to hand. I cannot doubt that you had them made and forwarded at the time the "Elizabeth" was lost and do not understand why we have not received them. On receipt of this you will please forward duplicates duly made and authenticated, by the earliest

conveyance.

T h e "Elizabeth" and cargo were insured, and we shall want amongst other papers, as you are aware, the amount of property on board at the time she was lost with the proof of the same, and whether any, and what part of the said property was saved and in what condition. In short any and all papers necessary for a full proof of the loss. T h e amount for your trouble and expense in the matter we will send you, or hand it over to your agent in Boston. Your immediate and personal attention to the above will greatly oblige, D r Sir, Your obdt. Servt. Elbridge G . Kimball [Rubric]

[THOMAS AP CATESBY JONES TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VI: 2 1 0 . ]

T . O. Larkin Esqr

Ohio October 26th 1848

the articles enumerated on both lists sent to you and some flour, rice & butter to be landed from this ship will be offered for sale on Monday next. Can you procure for me immediately an ounce, or half an ounce, of the melon seed or other fine specimens of gold & send it off by the bearer? I want to send it home by the I. Walton, which sails this morning. M r . Cams [?] the bearer, will pay the current in hard dollars for the gold. In haste yours faithfully & c . Thos. ap C . Jones [Rubric]

[WILLIAM DAVIS MERRY HOWARD TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VI: 2 1 1 . ]

San Francisco October 27,1848 Friend Larkin " Y o u r favour of the 21st has just come to hand. With respect to the gig, I must acknowledge I did feel anoyed, more so, perhaps, than I ought to have been, but all I cared for was on a/c of Mrs Howard. I have been wanting to take her up to Santa Clara as she still continues unwell. N o w the gig is being repaired and in a day or two will probably be finished. I felt more vexed as nothing was said more than yr Gig is broken, but enough of this story. A s regards the Mexico expedition I would always have joined you as I agreed, and thought very strange you did not mention to me before you left that you had made other arrangements. M r . Haight told me the same day you left or the day after that he had orders to receive the gold dust you had deposited with me, which supprised me much, as you gave me to understand you should not want it for a month and put me to great trouble to raise the amount, as I had to pay out about $40,000 in addition to that amount—however, I got through with it. It seems to be doubtful if Com. Jones visits this place. I had hoped he would have come here. A m glad to hear you have recovered from your illness. I hope when we again have the pleasure of seeing you here, we shall be able to give you better quarters than a sofa. You must excuse it D . Tomas. Please give my respects to Mrs. Larkin and believe me, Yrs very truly, W . D . M . Howard [Rubric]

[THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN TO CURTIS & PEABODY. COPY. OFF. CORR. 1 : 4 9 1 . ]

Monterey Octr 28 th 1848 Gentlemen ^ENCLOSED I send you a third bill of lading signed by Frederick Chatard for two hundred and thirty two (232) ounces (troy) of California gold dust shipped on board U . S. Ship Lexington at the request of M r . Talbot H . Green for and on risk and account of the voyage of the American barque Anita.

T h e first will reach you per the hands of Captn Lanman via Panama, the second via Mazatlan and Vera Cruz, and this by the hands of Purser Wilson of the Lexington. Very Respy. (Signed) Thomas O. Larkin Messrs Curtis & Peabody Boston, Mass.

[THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN TO M O S E S SCHALLENBERGER. COPY. OFF. CORR. 1 : 4 9 0 . ]

Monterey Octr. 28th 1848 Sir W t h

this you have a copy of the original documents from govern-

ment of the Vallejo lot at Yerba Buena, a deed for fifty varas land in San Francisco, Thomas O. Larkin & wife to Melius Howard & Brannan Octr 18th 1848, and two certified copies of the last named deed. Be pleased to hand these documents together with the certified copy of the deed Mariano G . Vallejo to me, to M r . W . D . M . Howard, and at the same time receive from him a deed for the same fifty varas land which please cancel and transmit to me by the first safe opportunity. Yours Respectfully, (Signed) Thomas O. Larkin

[MOTT TALBOT & CO. TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VI: 2 1 3 . ]

Port of Mazatlan 28th Octr 1848 Thomas O. Larkin Esqre Monterey Dear Sir J . h e present will be delivered to you by Senor Dn. Sebastian Ibanez, an eminent performer on the piano and whose vocal abilities are also very qualifying. In visiting your place it is his object to cheer a Monterey auditory in one or more concerts which he intends to give there.

O

]

Having ourselves had opportunity of admiring his talents and he having been, moreover, recommended to us by a good friend, we feel naturally very interested in the welfare of this young man and therefore beg to recommend him to your kind attention, assuring you that you would much oblige us by recommending him to your friends and by rendering him every assistance in your power to obtain his object. W e are, Dear Sir, Your obt. svts. Mott, Talbot Co. [Rubric]

[WARD & SMITH TO JOHN BAUTISTA ROGERS COOPER. V I : 2 I 2 . ]

San Francisco, Octr. 28/48 Captain Cooper

Dear Sir J A M E S COGHLAN has a chest in your care which he desires you to send to our address by first opportunity. Y r . obt. Sts. Ward & Smith

[THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN TO U. S. NAVY DEPARTMENT. COPY. VI: 2 1 4 . ]

October 30th 1848 T h e U . S. N a v y Department T o Thomas O. Larkin

Dr.

FOK the following furnished the U . S. Store Ship Lexington off Monterey U . C. Master's Department

Contingent account

1848

Dollars Cents

October 30th T o fifteen cords fire wood at $ 1 2 . pr cord

180.

T w o bottles ink

.50

1.

T w o dozen steels pens

.50

1.

One hundred & eighty two dollars Received the above

—

—

—

182.

00

00

[ 25 ] Monterey U . C . October 30th 1848 W e the undersigned merchants residing in this place do hereby certify that the prices charged in the above bill are the lowest at which these articles are now selling for cash. U . S. Store Ship Lexington Off Monterey U . C . October 30th 1848 Approved & Joseph Willson, Purser, is hereby directed to pay the amount of the above bill one hundred & eighty two dollars. Monterey U . C . October 30th 1848 Received of Joseph Wilson, Purser, U . S. Store Ship Lexington the sum of one hundred & eighty two dollars in full of the above bill.

[WILLIAM H. MCKEE TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VI: 2 1 6 . ]

San Francisco 30th Oct 1848 My dear Sir TOMORROW

I leave here for the Sacramento, where provisions, especially

pork, mess beef, hard bread, flour & c are exceedingly high priced. You will therefore, by all means, I hope, purchase if possible all the government stores possible, at almost any price, and forward them to me at Sutter's as soon as possible, consigning them to the care of Sherman & Ruckel at San Francisco. T h e Quartermaster here intends sending up to Sutter's shortly some government stores from here for the troops of Governor Mason stationed at the Fort and may probably send a little more than may be required. However, that small quantity will not interfere in the slightest degree, even if sold there at public sale. T o day, there was sold here at public sale, from the Custom House funds, nine hundred ounces of gold dust, which had been forfeited as not redeemed within the specified time. It sold as high as eleven and three quarter dollars pr ounce and none of it at less than eleven 2 5 / 1 0 0 dollars, ranging between the two, generally about eleven dollars fifty cents. Hoping you enjoy good health, I am Sir, Yours Very Respectfully, W . H . M c K e e [Rubric]

[VALLE J O & FRISBIE TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VI : 2 1 5 . ]

Sonoma Oct 30th 1848 1 hos. U. Larkin Jbsqr DrSir w

regret to inform you that in consequence of M r Pickets neglect

to comply with his arangement with us for the immediate payment of the coats and jackets refered to in your letter of Oct 21st we were compelled to retain them. We, however, at the time M r Williams called upon us stated to him the particulars and informed him that he might take them upon your account, if he wished, but this he declined doing as he was under the impression that you had already paid M r . Picket for them. If you have sustained any inconvenience we sincerely regret it and had the sale been to yourself we would cheerfully have assumed the risk of any misunderstanding but as it was we were compelled for our own security to adopt the course we did. W e are happy to hear that your health is improving and hope soon to have the pleasure of seeing you in this part of the country. Respectfully Yours & c . Vallejo & Frisbie

[THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN TO MOTT TALBOT & CO. COPY. OFF. CORR. 1 : 4 9 4 . ]

Monterey Octr 31 st i

Sir

M ,Lr

Dye left here last September in the Sandwich Island schooner

"Mary" bound for Mazatlan. If you are aware where he is at present please forward the accompanying letter. Should he be on his return to California be kind enough to return the letter. Herewith you have thirty two dolls. (2 oz) which please place to my credit on a/c of postage. I also send letters which you will please forward via Vera Cruz for N e w York. Very Respy. (Signed) Thomas O. Larkin Messrs Mott, Talbot & Co. Mazadan First part of above to Alexr Forbes, Tepic.

[THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN TO U . S . NAVY DEPARTMENT. COPY. V I : 2 1 8 . ]

[October 3 1 , 1 8 4 8 ] The U . S. N a v y Department T o Thomas O. Larkin,

Dr.

E > r the following furnished the U . S. Store Ship Lexington off Monterey U . C . to October 3 1 1848. Purser's Department

Account Provisions

1848

Dolls. Cents

October 3 1 . To 593 lbs fresh beef at 15 cents per lb " 154 lbs vegetables " 1 6

"

"

Thirty eight 89/100 dollars

"

29.

65

9.

24

$38.

89

Received the above. Monterey U C October 3 1 , 1 8 4 8 W e the undersigned merchants residing in this place do hereby certify that the prices charged in the above bill are the lowest at which those articles are now selling for cash. U . S. Store Ship Lexington Off Monterey U C October 3 1 , 1 8 4 8 Approved and Joseph Wilson Purser is hereby directed to pay the amount of the above bill. Thirty eight 89/100 dollars. Monterey U . C . October 3 1 , 1 8 4 8 Received of Joseph Wilson Purser U . S. Store Ship Lexington the sum of thirty eight 89/100 dollars in full of the above bill.

[THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN TO J O S I A H BELDEN. COPY. OFF. CORR. 1 : 4 9 3 . ]

Monterey Octr. . . . 1848

Sir I ^ n c l o s e d is the draft and m y second letter to you respecting the draft of Pio Pico on Andres Pico for four hundred dollars. T h e owner is bound off, wants his money and is vexed because it is not here as Pio Pico promised it should be. Since Pio's arrival in California he has been called on for the 400$ and says Andres will pay it. If you see the latter please collect it in cash or gold at 1 of or have him protest the draft. T h e latter in case of non-payment must be done that it can go back to the drawer for payment; therefore the day you present it, it must be paid or protested. If Don Andres is gone send him the letter and keep the draft. Let me know the result soon. Yours V e r y Respy. (Signed) Thomas O. Larkin

[THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN TO ANDRES PICO. COPY. OFF. CORR. 1 : 4 9 2 . ]

Monterey Octr. . . . 1848 Don Andres Pico

Sir I u r s e r Buchannan of the U . S. Ship Dale has a draft on you for $400 drawn by your brother Pio in Lower California who obtained this money of strangers on condition of placing the amount in m y hands before the Dale should arrive here. Y o u r brother has heard from m y house since his arrival in California respecting his default in this business. His answer was "Andres will pay it." This draft has gone about [long] enough. I have persuaded the owner to leave it in m y hands ten days until I could hear from you. This is the third letter from me and others to you on the subject. O n receipt of this you will pay cash to Josiah Belden or gold at 10$ an ounce or send it to me. If you are not willing, or if it is not convenient for you to do either you will protest it at once that the draft can take its course by law.

Yours V e r y Respy. (Signed) Thomas O. Larkin

T h e above was translated by M r Hartnell and dispatched.

[ 29 ] [THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN TO DENT & MARTIN. COPY. OFF. CORR. 1 : 4 9 5 . ]

Monterey Nov ist 1848 Gentlemen I HAVE been compelled to sell gold at 10$ to 1 1 $ to meet your note favor of Majr Rich and have sold furniture to the amount of $200. I do not like to force the sale of the rest as it would not perhaps pay the ballance.

By being compelled to sell gold I have been subjected to great inconvenience and you will place in the hands either of Josiah Belden at the Pueblo de San Jose or Howard and Melius, San Francisco, fifty or fifty five ounces on my account. This I wish done immediately. When I became your security it was not under the idea of having to pay the debt and your early attention to this will oblige. Yours Respectfully, (Signed) Thomas O. Larkin Messrs. Dent and Martin Duplicates. One by Col Stevenson, one to Josiah Belden.

[THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN TO J A M E S WILLIAMS. COPY. OFF. CORR. 1 : 4 9 6 . ]

Monterey Nov ist 1848 Sir

T H E placer gold remitted by yourself and M r Sterling has proved insufficient to pay M r Abrego and by being compelled to sell gold @ iof in order to meet your note favor of M r Crane I have been subjected to great inconvenience, and you will place in the hands of Messrs Brannan & Co., Sutter's Fort, to my account fourteen ounces. This I wish done immediately and your early attention will oblige. Very Respy. (Signed) Thomas O. Larkin

[ JOSIAH BELDEN TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. V I : 2 1 9 . ]

Pueblo de San Jose Novr 6th/48 M r . T . O. Larkin

Sir I REC'D your second letter enclosing a draft on Don Andres Pico Monday last, and after waiting 3 days for him to come in from Santa Clara I saw him and presented your letters and the draft which he paid a few hours after in cash. Your first letter came to hand one day after I rec'd your second, which was the cause of your not hearing from me sooner. Don Andres felt a little hurt at some of the expressions in your second letter, and said you ought not to have written in that way without knowing whether he had rec'd your former letter, which he says he did not receive, and should have paid the draft immediately if he had rec'd the first letter. H e requested me to write you to that effect. T h e amt. of the draft (400$) I send you by the bearer of this—Don Manuel Diaz, being twenty five coined ounces, and I wish you to advise me of the receipt of it. There is no news of any importance here. T h e town is full of people coming from, and going to, the gold mines. A man just from there told me he saw the Governor and Squire Colton there in "rusty rig" scratching gravel for gold, but, with but little sucsess. Yours Truly, J. Belden

[THOMAS AP CATESBY JONES TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VI: 2 2 0 . ]

Flag Ship Ohio, Monterey Bay November 8th 1848 Thos. O. Larkin Esqr U . S. N a v y Agent, Monterey

Sir T H E R E is a large amount of Naval supplies on shore within the scope of your agency, but in charge of M r . Chas T . Botts, U . S. Naval Store Keeper appointed by the Executive for this place, which requires better and more se-

cure storeage, to guard against damage from exposure to weather as well as against depredation from thieves. I have directed Mr. Botts to call on you to procure the needful store room, and to furnish both labour and materials on the best terms you can. Very Respectfully & c Your Obt. Servt. Thos. ap C. Jones [Rubric] Commander in Chief, U. S. Naval Forces, Pacific Ocean

[THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN TO CURTIS & PEABODY. COPY. OFF. CORR. 1 : 4 9 8 . ]

Monterey Nov 9th 1848 Gentlemen forwarding one bill of lading for 232 troy ounces of California gold dust shipped on board the Lexington U. S. Store Ship by the hands of her Purser, Jos. Wilson Esq. By mistake the bills of lading have been forwarded, one via Panama per the hands of Capt Lanman, U. S. N., and two via Mazatlan and Vera Cruz. I am Very Respy, Yr. Obt. Servt. I

INTENDED

(Signed) Thomas O. Larkin Messrs. Curtis & Peabody Boston, Mass.

[THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN TO CHARLES TYLER BOTTS. COPY. OFF. CORR. 1 : 5 0 9 . ]

U. S. Navy Agency Monterey Nov 10 th 1848 C. T . Botts Esqr, U. S. N . Storekeeper Sir C ^ o m d . Jones informs me that he has directed you to call on me for the neccessary store houses, materials and labourers for housing the U . S. Naval stores in this port.

[ 32 ] A s I design visiting San Francisco in the course of a few days you will oblige me much by calling on me at your earliest conveinence in order that I may learn what you require. I am sir, Very Respectfully, (Signed) Thos. O . Larkin C . T . Botts Esqr., U . S. N . Storekeeper

[THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN TO SAMUEL BRANNAN. COPY. OFF. CORR. 1 : 5 1 0 . ]

Monterey California N o v n t h 1848 Gentlemen I

SEND you herewith a bill of merchandize. Should James Gleason or

Moses Shallenberger be indebted to you, you can credit them not more than one hundred dollars, and deduct the amount from bill, the ballance of which you will please forward to m y credit to Melius & Howard. Last September I sent you 488$ placer gold to be remitted to Messrs. M . & H . Have you so forwarded it? I am Sirs, Very Respectfully, (Signed) Thos. O . Larkin S. Brannan & Co., Sacramento

[THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN TO WALTER COLTON. COPY. OFF. CORR. 1 : 5 1 1 . ]

Monterey California N o v n t h 1848 Sir H E R E W I T H you have a copy of the account current of M r Griswold, the original of which together with the gold, two watches, books, papers & c he has deposited with me. I am Sir, Very Respectfully, (Signed) Thos. O . Larkin Revd. Walter Colton Pueblo de San Jose

[STEPHEN REYNOLDS TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VI: 2 2 2 . ]

Honolulu, Nov 12th 1848 T . O. Larkin Esq. St. Francisco, California Sir " Y o u r great and unparalleled gold regions, I conclude, give you so much to do, and to think of, that you forget your old acquaintance. I think were I in the same situation I should be likely to think of nothing but the "Yellow" Dregs!! I am anxious to hear how the Minister of His Majesty Kamehameha III has succeeded in his Embassy—how he was received by Gov. Mason, by Commodore Jones and his countrymen; how he has doubled the Governor and obtained "just what he wanted"! You must look out for the Ci-devant Kanaka Yankees. I need not give you caution, I know, but the false pretences may screen the wolf in lambskin. Were I twenty years younger, I should put myself in the way of taking the "Yellow" fever, by going to California, but too old next Saturday 18th—66 years. Doct. Judd, it is reported, has had charges preferred against him by one of the clerks in the Minister of the Interior's office—accusing of—not Honesty! Wm. Paty, Collector General of Customs, has been complained of by a clerk for selling without licence, but the crown lawyer, A . B. Bates, Doct. Judd's brother-in-law, refuses to prosecute him, and queer stories are told of the Minister of Finance & Collector General of Customs being partners—Judd furnishing capital, Paty manager—and they divide profits & losses. The King will let these matters all pass away. Wishing you every good wish, I am, Your Obt. St. Stephen Reynolds 16th [?] Julian arrived at 8 A . M .

[CHARLES TYLER BOTTS TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VI : 2 2 3 . ]

Monterey Novr. 13,1848 Thos. O. Larkin, N a v y A g t .

Sir TJNDERSTANDING that you have concluded at length to exercise the functions of your office as N a v y A g t . it is proper that I should inform you that the public stores under my charge are exposed and greatly need, in my opinion, the services of two or three vigilant watchmen by night, at least, until more extensive accommodations can be prepared for their reception. I have informed Capt. Long of this circumstance & have received a communication from him in which he declines furnishing me with any portion of his marine guard. I have no authority to employ a private guard nor have I the means of paying one. Will you let me know what you can do in the premises. Respectfully, Your obt. st. C h . T . Botts, U . S. N . S . K .

[THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN TO CHARLES TYLER BOTTS. COPY. OFF. CORR. 1 : 5 1 2 . ]

U . S . N a v y Agency Monterey California N o v 13th 1848 C . T . Botts Esqr, U . S. N . Storekeeper Monterey

Sir I HAVE received your communication of to day, by which I am informed the public stores under your charge are much exposed, and greatly need in your opinion two or three watchmen until more extensive accommodations can be prepared for there reception. By my dispatch to you of the 10th inst. you are informed I have orders from Commodore Jones to procure warehouses, etc. I have now to inform you that the warehouses are ready for the reception of the stores, which will obviate the necessity of watchmen. In conclusion allow me to say that I have exercised the functions of my office more than a year and am at all times ready so to do as far as I am able, but you

arc aware that I am entirely without instructions from the Department, consequently do not feel authorised in all cases to act. I am Sir, Very Respectfully, (Signed) Thos. O. Larkin

[THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN TO J O S E ABREGO. COPY. OFF. CORR. 1 : 5 1 3 . ]

Monterey California N o v 14th 1848 Don Jose Abrego

Sir W

™

this I hand you (50) troy ounces of gold dust, which on my

risk, and account please carry to the Port of Mazatlan and from a part of it pay to the firm of Lomer, Melchers & Co. of that port, or whoever represents them in the ownership of the bond or obligation they forwarded to me as a mortgage against the Brig "Primavera" for $1830 25/100 signed by Carlos Baric & Co. in Acapulco dated 30th March 1846—the sum six hundred and ninety three dollars (693$). Should they not receive this sum in full of the sale of the "Primavera" as I have received it, you will not pay it, but retain it on my account. The remainder of the one hundred ounces you will dispose of to the best advantage for me and settle with me for the same. I am, Very Respectfully, Your Obdt. Servt. (Signed) Thos. O. Larkin

[THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN TO COPMANN & LOMER. COPY. OFF. CORR. 1 : 5 1 5 - ]

Monterey California N o v 14th 1848 Messrs Copman & Lomer Gentlemen i^.NNEXED you have an account of sale of Brig "Primavera" which shows a ballance of . . . in your favor. Had others allowed the brig to be sold without injuring the sale I think your debt would have been paid in full—in particular could she have been sold in San Francisco the first time I seized her.

A certain demand of Col. Fremont of about 700 00/100 dollars that I expected to obtain, Don Gregorio Aguera [Ajuria?] has. You will find the expences as named in the bill very high but I could not avoid paying them. Don Jose Abrego the bearer of this has the ballance due you on the a/c. What shall I do with the paper I yet hold? I do not know that they can be paid. I have no copy or other paper from which to draw Pell's deed. A m o n g the N a v y Agent's papers I find bill & receipt of E . L . Stetson for services as clerk. Is this what is wanted for M r Sterling? M r Stetson according to the bills quit Dec 20th 1847. I find no more orders against Bale. I am, Very Respectfully, (Signed) Thos. O. Larkin Mess. Copman & Lomer, Mazatlan

[THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN TO PEIRCE & BREWER. COPY. OFF. CORR. 1 : 5 1 4 . ]

Monterey California N o v 14th 1848 Chas. Brewer Esqr

Sir I AM soriy again to be compelled to acknowledge the receipt of a letter from you, relative to claim urged against me by the late firm of Pierce & Brewer. T h e business transacted between Messrs. Pierce & Brewer and myself was based upon two written contracts between myself and M r Pierce drawn up in the store of M r Robbins at Santa Barbara, some two or three copies of which, well certified, I have forwarded and for which, together with my letters upon this subject of June 1 / f t , Jany 20th & July 8 / 4 8 , 1 must again solicit an examination and perusal. M r . Reynolds may not remember arbitrating in this matter, but that he did so, I have no doubt inasmuch as he informs to this effect, by letter bearing date Augst. 29/45

an

d therein requests me to remit 41 66/100$ in settlement of the

affair, which was accordingly done. A s the correspondence on this subject is now conducted by persons not conversant with m y former statement, I again request an examination of the con-

tracts, refer you to my letters and hand you a special and general a/c current wherin you are debited with all you have rec'd, and credited with all you have advanced. I am, Very Respectfully, (Signed) Thos. O. Larkin Messrs Pierce & Brewer

[THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN TO J A M E S BUCHANAN. 1 OFF. CORR. NO. 7 6 ( 1 1 : 7 6 ) . ]

U . S. Navy Agency, Monterey, California November 16,1848 Hon. James Buchanan, Secty. of State Sir I H A V E received a copy of a letter said to have been dispatched to me on the 23d June last. By that copy I am informed a letter from the Department was dispatched on the 18th Deer 1847, which has been received.

The following are the dates of all the letters I rec'd in 1846, 47 & 48, viz., July 14th, Aug. 19th. 1846, December 18th 1847. M y account with the Department as rendered in the letter of the 23d June relative to my Agency is perfectly satisfactory and the remarks of your approbation of my official functions very flattering. Verbal remarks of yours on the same subject I have very often heard of although we are so far apart. On the 21 st last month I drew on you in favor of William M . Rogers for two hundred and ninety six 94/100 dollars, also for two thousand and three hundred and seven dollars and sixty one cents, which will be presented if my a/c is not closed by previous drafts. I regret that my drafts of March should have gone without my signature; acting at the time in four public capacities, with little assistance, must be some excuse. The digging and washing for gold continues to increase on the Sacramento Placer from the number of the people, size of the metal and the daily quantity of gold obtained. I have had in my hands several pieces of gold about 23 carats fine weighing one to two pounds. I have from good authority that there has been pieces of sixteen pounds and have heard of one specimen weighing twenty five pounds. There are many men at the Placer who in June last 1

From a copy in the National Archives, Washington, D . C .

[38] had not one hundred dollars that are now in possession of five to twenty thousand dollars. I believe several have made more by digging for the gold and trading with the Indians. A common callico shirt, even a silver dollar have been taken by an Indian for a piece of gold without regard to size. J/2 to i oz. gold, say 8 to 16$, is now considered the price of a shirt and three to ten ounces the price of a blanket. One hundred dollars a day for several days in succession was and is a common occurrence for a gold digger. But a few work over a month at a time. T h e fatigue is great. From July to October one half of the gold hunters have had fever and ague or the intermittent fever. Twenty days absence from the Placer is necessary to be clear from taking this sickness. There has not been many cases fatal. This gold is now sold in size from the smallest imaginary piece to one pound at 16$ per troy ounce for all purposes of commerce. Those who have much necessity for money to pay Government duties are obliged to accept of 10 to 1 1 $ per ounce. A l l the money in California is likely to be locked up in the Custom House. T h e last tariff of our Congress is in force here as regards the receipt of money, even to English vessels being allowed to introduce cargo from any port. Could you know the value of the California Placer as I know it you would think you had been instrumental in obtaining a most splendid purchase for our country, to put no other construction on the Treaty. T h e Placer is known to be 2 or 300 miles long, and as discoveries are constantly making it may prove 1,000 miles in length. In fact it is, not counting the intermediate miles yet unexplored. From five to ten millions of gold must be our export this and next year. How many more years I cannot say. You may wonder why I continue my correspondence. I answer from habit and your many remarks of the interest you take in my letters. I have now been N a v y Agent under commission and bond eighteen months, with an office, clerk and some other expense and have as yet never received any one instruction from the N a v y Department nor do I know of any one duty belonging to my office, and in the meantime have for many months been Naval Storekeeper under an extra heavy bond. Having no acquaintance and no known influence in Washington & believe myself under obligation to you in obtaining my situation as Naval Agent and shall be further obliged to you if you will pay a passing notice to my continuance in office under the next administration, although I do not know that

any government office is worth having in this golden country, where a mechanic demands an ounce of gold a day, cooks and stewards from four to six a month. But few salaries can support an establishment, yet as I have this Naval Agency I may be desirous to retain it. I am yours, with respect, Thomas O. Larkin [Rubric] [Top margin bears date, probably of receipt: 19 Jan. 49.]

[THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN TO MILTON LITTLE. COPY. OFF. CORR. 1 : 5 1 6 . ]

Monterey California N o v 16th 1848 M r Milton Little Sir D U R I N G

my present journey to San Francisco and the "Placer," which

may occupy me one month, should M r J F Dye's vessel or cargo in which I have an interest, without M r D y e or not [be] in charge of a proper person under orders from M r Dye, or should any vessel, cargo or consignment arrive here to me or M r T . H . Green, or to our charge, you are hereby authorised to take charge of the same, and for the benefit of all concerned, immediately on arrival sell as much of the merchandize as you can in this port for cash or gold dust at 16$ per troy ounce (taking sufficient cash to pay the duties) to the best advantage for the owner, and then dispatch the vessel to M r C . L. Ross San Francisco (with copy of these instructions) with orders to him to sell the remainder to good advantage and act in the same to the best interest of the owner. You will inform me by letter of any arrival, and dispatch a special courier if necessary. In any case 15 and 20 days from now please write to me directing the two letters to remain at M r Josiah Belden's for me. Very Respectfully, Your Obdt. Servt. (Signed) Thos. O. Larkin Milton Little Esqr Monterey

[ T H O M A S OLIVER L A R K I N TO T H E S E C R E T A R Y OF T H E N A V Y . 1 NAVAL REC. COLL. NO. 1 2 ( I I : P . 1 3 9 ) . ]

U . S. N a v y Agency Monterey California November 16 th 1848 T h e Hon. Sect'y of the N a v y

Sir I AM yet without instructions from your Department and must suppose my dispatches have been delayed on the road. Since I have been in the occupancy of this Office, and as Naval Store Keeper, I have been obliged to take my own warehouses to store public property. In general I done it under a requisition for warehouses from Commo. Shubrick or others in command. For some weeks the Naval stores here have been exposed for want of knowing where to put them. Como. Jones has now written to me to provide sufficient buildings and labourers for the Naval Store Keeper. I shall be obliged to rent to government my own buildings as there are no other proper ones. I am, however, informed that the law or regulations of the Govt, prohibits a Naval Agent from making use of his own property in this way. Nevertheless as the rainy season commences this month I shall be compelled to use my own warehouses. There will be in this country constantly something to do in my office also in the office of M r Botts that must be done out of the regular way or government property will suffer a loss by delay in hearing from Washington upon the subject. I have previously informed the Dept. that drafts on Govt, cannot be sold in California during the time that gold dust can be bought in such quantities and on such advantageous terms as it is at present. It is of much importance that I know how to act respecting hiring my own buildings (or pass them to others) for the housing of stores, and relative to obtaining money for the use of the N a v y . I would recommend that I should be allowed to send my drafts to Mazatlan & San Bias for sale and the dollars shipped to me from those ports on account and risk of the government by our Naval captains. This could be done with much safety and advantage to government. 1 From a copy in Record Group 4 5 of the Naval Records Collection, Office of Naval Records and Library, National Archives, Washington, D . C .

In entering my name, where born & c & c , in the Register I wish California named as my place from whence appointed and where a citizen, Massachusetts my birth place, as I have previously gave notice. I am, with much respect, Thomas O. Larkin [Rubric]

[THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN TO CHARLES T Y L E R BOTTS. COPY. OFF. CORR. 1 : 5 1 7 . ]

U . S. N a v y Agency Monterey California N o v . 18 th 1848 Sir I HAVE procured the large buildings near the beach for the storage of the provisions & c under your charge, the owner, however, reserving to himself the south building, and herewith hand you the keys of the buildings, rent to be charged from this date. I have also engaged the services of John H . Warrington for three months at a salary of 50$ per month who will report himself subject to your commands and is employed as labourer or porter attached to the Naval Store. I am Sir, Very Respectfully, (Signed) Thos. O. Larkin C . T . Botts Esqr, U . S. N . Storekeeper

[MOTT TALBOT & CO. TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VI: 2 2 ^ . ]

Mazatlan, Nov. 21, 1848 Pr. "Malek Adhel" T . O. Larkin Esq Monterey Dear Sir w

have the pleasure to own the receipt of your several favours of

1st March, 14th, 26, 26 April, 28 Sept. 31st Oct, contents of all which have our attention. The draft you sent us on Boston for $566.27 has been duly passed

to your a/c, as also the 32$ enclosed in your last. W e also credit you 100$ for 5 % commission on the $2000 collected from A . B Thompson, for which service we have to return you our most sincere thanks, and have only to regret you did not charge the commission at the time, as the transaction has been long since settled and we are now individually the losers of this sum. W e paid Mess. Parrott & Co. $37.75 on your a/c, which leaves balance in yr favour $ 1 3 2 , to go against your postage a/c, of which we shall send you note at the close of the year. In the meantime we shall have pleasure in paying attention, as usual, in receiving & forwarding your correspondence. Please have the kindness to obtain from Captain Fisher or Hanks, formerly of "Maria Teresa," an a/c sales of the bale of red baize, which in yours of 26 April you mention as having been sold @ $3 yard. W e return the letter for M r . Dye, who, we suppose, is now with you. W e remain, Dr Sir, Your Ob. Servts. Mott, Talbot & Co. [Rubric] California placer gold $14^4

oz

- avoirdupois equal 16$ troy.

[FAXON DEAN ATHERTON TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VI: 2 2 5 . ]

Valparaiso November 24th 1848 M r Thomas O. Larkin Monterey Dear Sir T H I S will serve to introduce to your acquaintance M r Matthew H . Biggs, of this place, who visits California on business. Should he desire to make an investment in land or otherwise, in your part of the country, allow me to bespeak for him the favour of your valuable advice, assured as you may be, that any assistance you may be able to render him will be most worthily bestowed. M r Biggs having had considerable experience in the smelting of copper is possessed of valuable metallurgical knowledge, which may probably be of good service in your mineral regions. Yours & c . F. D . Atherton [Rubric]

[FAXON DEAN ATHERTON TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VI: 2 2 7 . ]

Valparaiso, November 26th 1848 Thomas O. Larkin Esq. Monterey T H I S

will serve to introduce to your acquaintance M r Alexander

Grogan, of this place, who visits California in search of business. A n y advice or assistance you may be pleased to give him will materially assist a very worthy person, and confer an especial favour on your old friend. F. D . Atherton [Rubric]

[MARY F. HOBSON TO RACHEL (HOBSON) HOLMES LARKIN. VI: 2 2 6 . ]

Salem November the 26 1848 Dear Sister

I

SIT down to write you a few lines hopeing they will find you better

then they leave me. M y health is very feeble. I still have the asthma, m y old complaint, which is a very triing one, but I must tell you I have met with grate loss. Isaac is gone; he is no more. I feel his loss very much, for it is six years he has ben at home on the acount of his health and ben obliged to do aney thing he could for a living and when he was able to work he was allwase willing to do the best he could for his familey, but I trust my loss is his gain. God has blessed me with thre good children and if I can have the life of them spared they will do all they can for the suport of their mother. Daniel was here a fortnight ago and his health was very poor. H e fell downstairs and broke his shoulder while Isaac lay sick so he did not see the last of his poor brother. His arm was very lame when he was here and I think he never will use it again but they have enough of this world's goods and so it dont seem [to] matter so much as if he had to work. I was very much pleased to have your children come and see us and they enjoyed themselves very much while here and it was very pleesing to their Uncle. They all apeared very fond of one another. I wish you could see them and see how much they resemble each other. Sister, I write you about your dear chil-

dren, knowing the feelings of a mother. I know it will be pleesing to you to hear from them and I shall endever to let them visit as often as it is convenient. M y William and John talk about you and there Uncle and thank him for his kind offer but they can never leave me as they are my sole dependence, and I have reason so far to bless God that I have got them and hope they will remain so, but I must put my trust in God. H e has promist to be the widdow's God. D o write to me every opertunity. So I must close with love to you and yors, M a r y F. Hobson P S About the land the Attorney has written all that is needed and you can do as you think proper.

[WILLIAM M. ROGERS TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VI: 2 2 8 . ]

Boston N o v 27 th 1848 My dear Cousin w

are to have steam communication with California, and I take ad-

vantage of the first mail pr. Falcon to drop you a line. A l l your drafts on me have been met, that of Den's being the last rec'd. In that case, I directed M c ' H e n r y of Liverpool to forward M r s . Den the amount in the safest form, as Ireland and particularly Waterford seemed on the eve of insurrection. I have heard nothing from you since the receipt of the three drafts on Government, on wh. $2,307.61 were paid, leaving a balance to be settled between you and them. Having rec'd explicit authority from you, in conjunction with A n n to remove the boys from Lynn, if we thought fit, we have done so. A n n has reasons which satisfy her that they were not properly cared for in I.'s f a m i l y . 1 1 cannot say they are or are not just, but it is clear to me that it is time the boys had better advantages of education. T h e y require the influence of a higher class of mind and training than they could have at Lynn. A f t e r much deliberation we have concluded to place them with M r . S. M . Weld at Jamaica Plains, 6 or 7 miles from Boston. H e has a school limited to 20 pupils, and with two assistants, one of them a graduate of Cambridge; the other, a German scholar, devotes himself exclusively to them. The boys all reside with him, eat at his table and are constantly under his care. Instruction is given in all the branches of an English 1

That is, Isaac Childs' family.

[45] and Classical education, and the modern languages are taught. T h e charge for board and tuition is $230. each pd. quarter yearly. I have known Weld for years and am satisfied the boys are well located. N o w if you have any ideas you wish carried out in their training write me explicitly. They will spend their vacations with A n n , visiting me. A n n will have the oversight of their clothes & c and every thing will be done to make them comfortable. A son of one of your friends, I think Parrott of Mazatlan, is with Weld. I hope to see you in March and till then and ever I am yours, W m . M . Rogers [Rubric]

[EBENEZER LARKIN CHILDS TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VI: 2 2 9 . ]

Washington City, 29 N o v 1848 My

dear brother

length I have the pleasure of writing to you by a direct & expeditious mail, established by the government, & promising to reach you in thirty or thirty five days. This must be a joyful era for the heretofore almost isolated Californians, and I can conceive of your pleasure & gratification in the perusal of N e w York news only one month old & from N e w Orleans still more fresh. Accustomed to consider a letter from you seventy or eighty days old quite new, I shall think we are quite near to each other when I hear from you monthly. I have no doubt you will look for me when you see the steamer nearing the wharf & I much regret that such will not be the case. It was thro' my agency, I may say exclusively, that a section was introduced into a law of the last Congress authorizing the appointment of agents for California & Oregon, & it was generally supposed & believed that I was to have the former. I had been conversing with the Postmr Gen'l about California for a year, & he had almost promised the agency to me. T h e President, however, took the matter into his own hands, and appointed young Tennesseans in both cases. Van Vorhies, who goes to California, is possessed of some smartness and will do well enough anywhere, but his principal qualification consists in his having been a law partner of the President's brother, and a furious partizan in the campaign of 1844. Verily he has his reward. Branson, of Oregon, is a stepson of the Postmr Gen'l, and tho' apparently an

[46] amiable man is about as fit for the place as your youngest boy would be. His appointment is a mere burlesque—both are rowdies. I gave neither of them letters to you, and you will treat them as you would any strangers, but show them no civilities on my account, for they are no friends of mine. I do not suppose they will expect or claim any, for Vorhies knows, if B. does not, that he took the wind out of my sails, & that I felt the disappointment and disregard of my claims very deeply. In some of my letters to you now on the way I expressed many doubts and fears as to the propriety of accepting the trust, if offered, and exiling myself from my family and friends; but I think I should have accepted, particularly since the election of Gen. Taylor, which would have made me secure in the place as long as I wished to hold it. M y dread of the water, and of banishment from home, and exposure to danger and hardship, was very great, but so was, and is, my repugnace to spending all my days in the position I now occupy, and equal was and is my desire to be somebody and do something before I die. However, I do not complain. I seem destined to obscurity and poverty all my days, and perhaps that is best for me. I am anxious to hear from you, and am surprized that I do not by some of the arrivals which I hear of only thro' the papers. Your last that has reached me was dated June i, received Sept i, & the one previous in March, & came A u g . 3. Both of these I have answered. Since I wrote M a y 9 by M r King, Jun'r, I sent one letter with dates of A u g 25 & Sept. 1, by M r H . King of Fremont's party, inclosing two from Lynn & one from Boston; and two by M r Parrott, date Sept 27 & Oct. 6, with some papers. I hope you have received or will receive these, but Fremont's party did not leave St Louis, I see by the papers, until the first week in October, making it late to cross the mountains. Col F., by the way, will not now be Governor of California. It was generally believed that Col Benton had such a project in view, expecting the election of Gen. Cass, & was therefore very obsequious and lavish in his attentions to him, but he will have no weight with Gen. Taylor. Benton is considered as a sour, disappointed man, and some even doubt his sanity. Certainly there is no more unpopular man in this city, & his family are equally disliked. M r Dallas, late of the office in which I am, is appointed postmaster at San Francisco & sailed from N e w York a few days ago. By him I sent a package of books, or rather documents published by Congress. Among them was Fremont's map of California & Oregon & what I intended to be his Geographical Memoir, but I think I must have sent some other work instead, as I had but

one copy and that I now have before me; let me know what it was. I will try to send another by this mail. I shall write again in some ten days, & send to N e w Orleans where the ship is to stop. Ever Yrs, ELC

[ANN ROGERS (LARKIN) WRIGHT TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VI: 2 3 0 . ]

Neponset N o v 29, 1848 Dear Brother &

H

Sister

EARING that a steamer was to leave N e w York, Dec 1, for Monterey,

I could not but feel it a duty and privilege to write you. It is some time since I have written you but it is seldom that I hear of an opportunity untill too late to write. I would say in the first place, my family are all well as usual. Otis is much improved in health, but still is not able to do any business, yet. I still indulge the hope he will finally recover. W e are still living in Neponset. W e have a fine situation, which has increased much in value since Otis bought it; since the railroad was built through this place, the village has increased rapidly in population and value. Our two eldest daughters are both grown up, and are both larger than I am. Our youngest, Helen, is eight years old. I do hope in the next season, I shall have the pleasure to make you personally acquainted with them all. Cousin William tells me he expects to see you here next spring. Your sons are now with us, and would have written if I had not. They are in excellent health. They have been here four weeks, and will leave next Monday for the new school, in Roxbury, under the care of M r Weld. M r Rogers told me he had written by this steamer, so has probably told you all the particulars about the school. I shall enclose in this M r Weld's circular that you may see the plan & c . Frederic will take lessons on the piano forte, as he seems inclined to learn music. I feel much gratified and relieved that we have been able to remove them from Lynn. It has been to me a source of great anxiety to have them in Isaac's family. I felt it was not where I should be willing to have children of mine placed. Still I saw no remady for it. Otis's health was feeble so that I did not feel it possible to take the entire charge of them, and the schools in Dorchester

are not such as they needed, but now they will be with us, all their vacations. W e shall see them often while at Roxbury, as it is but six miles from here, and we shall endeavere to take that interest in and care of their cloths, that we should we[re] they our sons. It would be useless for me to give my reasons, in writing, why I did not wish them to be in Lynn, but I know were you here, you would not feel satisfied with their situation, and I knew the only object Isaac had, in wishing to keep them, was as a means of money making. For one I was not satisfied in any way. Otis is very fond of the boys. H e likes to have them here, and is I believe deeply interested in their welfare. I can assure you, now he feels at liberty to do for them, he will do every thing in his power for their good. He is a person that spares no pains, no expense to promote the good of those with him, particularly children, and as the sons of a brother dear to me, I shall ever feel for them a strong affection. As far as I have conversed with the different members of our family, both in Lynn & Boston, they are all of the opinion that the boys had better be removed from Lynn. I doubt not, both Isaac & his wife have always treated the children kindly, and pleasently, but that is not all that is nescesary. W e shall be much disappointed if you do not come on next spring. I anticipate much in seeing you again at our house. I wish your wife and family were coming too. I hear you have a little son called Alfred Otis. I thank you, dear brother & sister, for giving my unknown nephew a name very dear to me, not only as the name of a beloved husband, but also as that of a darling son, who though long dead, is yet alive in our hearts. You both know by sad experience the affliction of losing an idolized child. You will remember me kindly to Brother John; tell him his letter was indeed a welcome but unexpected treat. I shall write to him the next steamer that leaves for your place, if I know it in season. Tell Rachel I wish she would write. I shall try and see some of her relatives now I know who and where they are. Oliver and Freddy spent a few days with their Uncle in Salem. Since then he died very suddenly, sick but a few days. Their Uncle Danil H . from Haverhill called to see them in Lynn last summer. They will I expect visit him next season. Brother George is still living in Tennessee. He is a young man of great promise, and much beloved by all that know him. M y family all join me in love to you and yours. Oliver and Fred send much love to Father and Mother, Francis and Caroline, and the little babe, also to Uncle Cooper and family. Write every opportunity. Your affect, sister, Ann [Cover bears note: Pr Steamer Falcon, New York.]

[THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN TO THOMAS AP CATESBY JONES. COPY. OFF. CORK. 1 : 4 9 7 . ]

Monterey N o v . . . 1848 Sir JA.CCOMPANYING

this you will receive an account sales of the auction

of the 30th & 31st ulto. of the condemned Naval stores from the Naval stores of this port. Should there be any more stores of the same nature or surplus stores of any class on hand perhaps no future time will prove so good as the present to dispose of them at high prices. Please send me the bills for store rent since Septr. 1847, with your order to pay the rents out of the funds I have on hand. Before your departure for San Francisco I should like to have some definite orders respecting the storage of the provisions now in the corall. I am Sir, Very Respy. (Signed) Thomas O. Larkin T o Como. Thos. ap C . Jones Comr. in Chief, U . S. Naval Forces, Pacific

[THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN AND BETHUEL PHELPS. PROPERTY AGREEMENT. VI: 2 3 1 . ]

[December i, 1848] . ^ ^ . r t i c l e s of agreement, indented, made and concluded, the first day of December, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty eight, by and between Thomas O. Larkin of Monterey, Territory of California, United States of America on one part, and Bethuel Phelps of San Francisco, Territory of California on the other part

Witnesseth:

That the said Thomas O. Larkin, for the considerations hereinafter mentioned, hath agreed and doth hereby covenant and agree, with all due diligence, to deed unto Bethuel Phelps aforesaid, the undivided half of ten ( 1 0 ) plats or parcels of land in the town of San Francisco, and known on the map of water lots, deposited in the Alcalde's office, as numbers one hundred and twelve ( 1 1 2 ) ; one hundred and thirteen ( 1 1 3 ) ; one hundred and fourteen ( 1 1 4 ) ; one hundred and twenty three (123); one hundred & twenty five (125); one hundred and twenty six (126); one hundred and thirty six (136); one hundred and thirty

[ 50 ] seven (137); one hundred and thirty eight (138); each o£ said ten lots being sixteen and two third ( 1 6 % ) varas front and fifty (50) varas deep. The whole ten lots1 are hereby mutually agreed between the said Larkin and Phelps to be valued at the sum of thirty thousand (30,000) dollars in gold dust, at sixteen dollars pr ounce, troy weight, and are to be used, improved, built upon, rented or leased for the joint account of the said Larkin and Phelps, or their assigns. A n d the said Bethuel Phelps on his part, doth hereby covenant, and agree to improve the said ten ( 1 0 ) plats, parcels, or lots of land, as above recited, by placing buildings thereon, or otherways improve the same, but not to exceed in cost the value of thirty thousand (30,000) dollars in gold dust, at sixteen dollars pr ounce, for the joint account of the said Thomas O. Larkin, and the said Bethuel Phelps, their heirs and assigns. A n d the said Bethuel Phelps further agrees, that the timber or lumber for said buildings or improvements, if obtained from the mills of the said Phelps at Bodega, or from any other of the resources of the said Phelps, are to be charged to the buildings or improvements referred to, at the lowest price the said Phelps sells or disposes of the same in the San Francisco market, commencing from this date, to the date of the completion of the said buildings or improvements on the said ten lots hereinbefore referred to. If the said lumber or timber are obtained from other sources than those of the said Bethuel Phelps then the said lumber and timber with the other materials for the said buildings and improvements, are to be purchased by the said Phelps at the lowest market price, and charged to the expence of said buildings and improvements, at the actual cost, without profit, commission or other charge for the benefit of the said Phelps. A n d it is hereby mutually agreed by the said Thomas O. Larkin and Bethuel Phelps, that the said Phelps is to superintend and direct the erection of the buildings and improvements on the said lots, and also to attend the renting and leasing of the property, lots or buildings herein referred to, without fee, emolument, or charge whatsoever, to the said joint concern of Thomas O. Larkin and Bethuel Phelps. A n d it is further and again hereby agreed between the said Thomas O. Larkin and Bethuel Phelps, that all rents which shall hereafter be received from the said ten lots hereinbefore recited, or the buildings or improvements to be erected thereon, shall be equally divided between the said Larkin and Phelps, or their assigns. 1 Although the document states that ten lots were sold in this agreement, only nine are actually listed.

T o the true and faithful performance of the several covenants and agreements aforesaid, the aforesaid parties do hereby respectively bind themselves and their respective heirs, executors, and administrators, each to the other, his executors and administrators, in the penal sum of sixty thousand (60,000) dollars, lawful money of the United States of America. In testimony whereof they have hereunto interchangeably set their hands and seals the day and year before written. Signed, sealed, and delivered in presence of J. L. Ruckel [Rubric], R. M . Sherman [Rubric]. Thomas O. Larkin [Rubric] [Seal] Bethuel Phelps [Rubric] [Seal] Monterey March 16th 1849 Whereas on signing the within named instrument of writing by Thomas O. Larkin and Bethuel Phelps it was not observed that the contract had no time specified for the said Phelps to perform his part of it, therefore it is now mutually agreed that said Phelps shall perform said part by the first day of next October otherwise the contract to be null and void; it is also mutually agreed that said Larkin shall make out the deeds specified within by the said first of October or soon after as they shall be required by said Phelps. Bethuel Phelps [Rubric] Thomas O. Larkin [Rubric] Witness. W m . H . Smith Joel B. Knapp [Rubric] Monterey Sept. 20^1/49. Know all men by these presents that I, B. Phelps for and in consideration of seventy five thousand dollars paid me by the within named Larkin, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, do hereby assign, transfer and make over to him and his assigns all my right, title and interest to the within named contract and every clause & article therein contained. Bethuel Phelps [Rubric] Witnesses. J. M . Jones W . M . Steuart [Rubric]

[ 52 ] [ISAAC CHILDS TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VI: 2 3 2 . ]

Lynn, Deer ist, 1848 Dear Brother " Y o u may probably be aware before this reaches you, that your sons have left us & gone to Roxbury, to a boarding school. M r . Rogers engaged the place for them without consulting me at all upon the subject; & wrote to have them sent by giving only 2 days notice, which was rather an abrupt intervenience. H e says he had directions from you to do so, & gave as a reason that they had not made much progress in their studies, but for the life of me, I do not see how he could tell, for he has never called to see them but twice—neither have they been at his house but once and then he was not at home. People that were in the habit of seeing them say they had made great improvement in their studies & other attainments. W e had taken a deep interest in their welfare & found it very trying to have them snatched away in such an unceremonious manner—but so goes the World. Oliver & Frederic went from us the ist day of Novr. Since then I have heard nothing from them, as to how they were getting along, or whether they are doing well; although I have written several times to M r . Rogers but can get no answer—but you will know more about them, by M r R, who I presume will write by the steamer which leaves N e w York, this day, for California. This I shall send by way N e w Orleans. I shall expect you will make us a visit by the first steamer which leaves California for the States. Samuel has been talking a great deal about going out to Monterey, but I think he'd better wait 'till you come on, & then you can advise him about going. Your brother in law, M r Hobson, of Salem died 2 months ago. T h e boys spent a week with them but short time before. Their Uncle Hobson, of Haverhill, called to see them sometime ago, & invited them to visit him. N o w about myself. I have left the manufacture of shoes, & have taken the store formerly occupied by the Breeds adjoining the Lynn Hotel, for the sale of dry goods, crockery & hardware. W e frequently see flaming accounts of gold mines in California, which will no doubt draw many emigrants into that country, especially now the steamers have commenced running & makes the passage so easy & quick, but whether the gold regions will be any benefit to the place remains a question. But you

must dig while you can, for it is probable Uncle Sam will take possession of it soon. The family & friends are generally well. With regards to your family I remain, affectionately, Yr. Brother Isaac Childs [Rubric]

[THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN AND CHARLES L. ROSS. SALE OF SHIP'S CARGO. V I : 2 3 4 . ]

[December 2,1848] .^^.greement made this second day of December 1848 between Thos. O. Larkin of Monterey of the first part & C . L. Ross of San Francisco of the second part. Witnesseth that the said Thos. O. Larkin agrees to sell to C . L. Ross one third of the cargo of the Schooner "Mary," King, master, now, or soon expected in this port, or the port of Monterey. The said Larkin having shipped on board the sum of four thousand dolls, in gold dust at 14 dolls, pr oz. troy under charge of Job F. Dye bound to the coast of Mexico for the purpose of purchasing cargo in connexion with said Dye & Thos. [Talbot] H . Green. Said C . L. Ross agrees to pay to the said Larkin for one third of said cargo nine thousand dollars in gold dust at 14 dolls, pr oz. troy, payable in thirty days after the arrival of the vessel at the port of San Francisco or Monterey, without any charge or risk to said Larkin in said voyage. Witness our hands and seals this second day of December 1848. C. L. Ross Thomas O. Larkin [Rubric]

[JOHN S. WILLIAMS TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VI: 2 3 3 . ]

Russian River California Dec. the 2d 1848 M r Larkin Dear Sir I RECIEVED yesterday your letter of the 29th N o v . It contained little or no information. I suppose M r Sterling has arrived in Monterey by this time, who will give you all particular information concerning our buisiness in the

[54] mines. I expect to move to the farm in a short time. T h e cattle are strayed very bad. Some of them are upon Toomes Rancho, some one place and some another. So I expect it will take me all winter to get the stock all together. I would like for you to come up so that we could settle our mining affaires. From what I can learn Dolores takes care of nothing. H e has gentled no colts, and I think peoples passing to and fro have killed some of the cattle. If you are still in the notion of selling your stock on the Rancho I wish you would write, as it is impossible for me to leave home this winter. If I purchase I want to do it soon. Please to write me soon. Direct your letter to the Rancho as you will find me there any time this winter. Yours with respect, John S. Williams [Rubric]

[DAVID SPENCE TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VI: 2 3 5 . ]

Monterey Deer 3d 1848 Dear Sir "YOUR two letters dated 24th & 26th N o v r were ree'd. M r . D a y left the vessel on the bay of "Todos Santos" and arrived here by land on Friday last. She no doubt will be here soon. I beleave it is not safe traveling between Tepic and Guadalajara. T h e roads are lined with cut-throats, so that M r . D a y declined going to the interior and purchased a cargo in Mazatlan. Y o u r famley are all well. Yours Sincerely, D . Spence [Rubric] T . O. Larkin, Esqr. Care of Mess. Melius & Howard San Francisco.

[55] [JOHN COFFIN JONES TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VI: 2 3 6 . ]

Boston, December 5th 1848 My dear Sir I HAVE got the gout both in hands and feet and hardly know if I shall be able to scratch you a line by Don Alfredo who leaves New York on the 7th for Chargres to join the first mail steamer at Panama for California; the second steamer (the Oregon) saild yesterday to go round the Cape for Panama, the third (the Panama) will leave on the 1st of January and this will complete the line the other side, to run monthly. M r Robinson is Agent for them to reside at San Francisco on wages; he will also have cargo shipments made to him in which he is to be interested one third. One ship of 800 tons has already saild with a full cargo. His chance for a fortune is very promising—but I must refer you to him for all particulars and he will freely give you every information. I have rec'd several letters from you of late, for which I thank you much. I have written you also by many late opportunities, the last by M r Parott via Mazatlan. I shall now write you by every mail, & shall expect a regular return from you. Your account of the gold region is truly wonderful, but the accounts since rec'd and which are daily appearing in the different papers, astonish every one. If half or even a quarter be true it surpasses all belief. The people in this country are all in a fever and preparing to be on the spot by thousands—hundreds have already started, and in every direction you hear the note of preparation to be off for California next year. Without doubdt it is known that over 50,000 people will leave this side for California and it must follow that in 1850 California will be admitted a state of the Union. A regiment of U . States regulars (800 strong) has already saild for California there to be stationed. The Commander (Riley) is to superseed Gov. Mason and has orders to take possession of the gold region for account of the government. If the gold storys are realy true these troops will either be beaten by the gold hunters or they will fraternise with them, officers and all—our Government are already contemplating establishing a mint at San Francisco and it is believed by many, if one half of the gold account be correct, the standard value of gold will be affected throughout the world. Congress is now in session and it's thought amonghst the first acts will be to make laws & regulate the District of California if the Wilmot proviso can be got rid of. I want you to write me by return mail and give me every particular in regard

[56] to the gold region. What is the true estimate of the gold taken daily, the extent of the land, the number of people employed, prospects of its being exhausted or not, what becomes of the gold, where is the exact extraction, and every particular of interest which may relied on and which you will be willing to be made known as coming from you. Send me also a complete list of what is wanted and will sell immediately, notwithstanding the emense quantity now on the way there. Send me some account if you can that will induce me to go out. Robinson will give you all the news of interest in this country, as I am not able to extend this letter. Old Taylor, as you will have heard, is our next President, thank God. A glorious triumph over Loco Foco Democracy. W e shall have a new tarriff and abolish the sub treasury. Business continues completely stagnated, money for this [?] but of paper, one & half percent the month and no prospect of its being easier. California hides are held at 7/4 to 8 cents but will not fetch that price. It will be years if ever before they rise again. The country is overstocked. N o appropriation will be made this Session to pay the bills of Fremont, Stockton, Kerny or Mason. I am living in the City for the winter on account of the health of my wife who will [be] confined in January, and also to save expense. Lots of papers go by the steamer and from them you may gather much news of interest from Europe. Dont forget to write me by the return steamer and as particular as you can. Yours in haste as well as in pain. Truly, J. C . Jones [Rubric]

[HENRY FREDERICK TESCHEMACHER TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VI: 2 3 7 . ]

Pueblo de los Angeles December 6,1848 Thomas O. Larkin Esq

Dear Sir you be so good as to forward the enclosed letters by some safe hand as they are of some little importance, and much oblige, Yours truly, Frederick Teschemacher [Rubric]

P. S. N o news here except the arrival of four companies of dragoons from Monterey or Linares [Mexico], Animals in very bad condition—want provisions and forage for horses.

[PRESTON K. WOODSIDE TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VI: 2 3 8 A . ]

San Francisco, Deer 7th 1848

Sir

^ENCLOSED I hand you a bill of lading for the mdze. shipped on board the Euphemia by yourself, the duplicate of which I have deposited with Messers Sherman & Ruckle. Everything is shipped, and I send you by the hands of Capt Newell, the bundle of oranges, your two prayer books from M r Ross, a bundle containing everything you left in M r . Celis' chamber and your umberella. I wrapped your coat in brown paper and marked it with your name and have delivered it at M r . Howard's house to M r . H . himself. I have handed your letter to M r . D y e to M r . Ross—and enclosed your letter to F. D . Atherton, Loring & Co., in another of m y own—giving him price current and such information as you suggested which has been handed Capt Stout of the Belfast. M r . Lease gave me an order on M r . Howard for the one hundred dollars which is paid. M r . Longley is here and requests permission to write a few lines. M r . Winship is here also and seems to think that you engaged to await his coming here. I will see M r . Thompson this evening and start as early as possible to find M r . W . I am Sir, Very Respy, yr. obt. Servt. P K Woodside [Rubric]

[WILLIAM RUFUS LONGLEY TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VI: 2 3 8 B . ]

M r Larkin

[December 7 [?] 1848]

Sir N

APPENING in at a favourable moment for sending you a line I do so,

that you may be informed of the arrival of M r Winship and myself here in anticipation of seeing you. From what M r W . told me I had anticipated meet-

[58] ing you at this place or Sutter's Fort, where we had anticipated arranging the matters connected with the old camp, which has been broken up. M r W . told me he had agreed with you on a meeting at this place or Sutter's with John Williams; and with our present business I was very glad to hear it was so arranged, for it has been so long in perspective I felt that it was a most desirable object for us all. I was surprised at not finding you here, as it was a great part of my business down here to attend this meeting: nor do I know when a like arrangement can be again made. M r Sterling who is now probably in Monterey can tell you of the change of affairs at camp. So I will not here mention them. M r Winship and myself will, probably, be so engaged that a meeting, as then anticipated, cannot be looked for, for some time to come. One of us will probably go to Sonoma to see John, but nothing of our intended business can be arranged. I should like for you to write me, letting me know your intentions that the meeting, if possible, can take place, directing to Sutter's Fort care of M r . Pickett. In haste, I am Sir, Your Obt Servt. W m . Rufus Longley P. S. Remember me to Mrs. L.

[ J A M E S GORDON BENNETT TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VI: 2 4 0 . ]

N e w York 8th Dec 1848 Thomas O. Larkin Esqr My Dear Sir T H I S

will be handed to you by M r James Grant of this city, whom

I have known well for several years, and of whose character, integrity, capacity and enterprise I entertain the highest opinion. The accounts from California have waked him up, and he sails to-morrow for that region, by the way of Panama. He intends to trade and let others dig for gold. If you can be of any service to him in that part of the world, let me especially solicit your kind interference. The specimen which you had the kindness to send me, I have just got assayed, and publish an account of it to-morrow. M r Grant will tell you all the news. W e are all getting crazy here about California. Your letters were read with fury. I shall always be happy to hear from you. I am Dear Sir, Yours Truly, James G. Bennett [Rubric]

[ E B E N E Z E R L A R K I N C H I L D S TO T H O M A S O L I V E R L A R K I N . V I : 2 3 9 . ]

Washington City, 8 Deer 1848 Dear Oliver S I N C E I closed m y letter on the 29th, which you will receive by this mail, nothing o£ importance to me or to you has occurred in these regions, and I have heard of nothing from our friends at the East, but I promised to send a f e w additional lines & here you have them. I am still without letters from you later than June 1 — w h y , I am a loss to conceive, inasmuch as advices & letters from California are abundant in the papers some (from San Francisco) as late as Oct. 1 3 . Col. Mason's despatch, N o . 37, of A u g u s t 17, and with a note of Sept 10 I have just been reading in the Union, and send you with this. I am amazed as is every one by the account given by him and others of the rich gold deposits of California and feel more and more vexed & disappointed that I cannot participate in some small degree in these riches so freely spread open to the grasp of all who will take the trouble to labor for them. I do mean to say that I would like to be up to m y knees in the water with a tin basin in m y hands digging mud, but where there is so much activity and bustle, and so many people & so much money, every one must partake in some degree in the benefit arising therefrom. I hope sincerely that you are gathering in some of the precious metal and sharing in the general prosperity. Since writing the preceding this morning (it is now nearly 2 P M ) I have received yours of A u g u s t 18, with the scraps from newspapers, by which m y mind has been somewhat relieved, for I had really become feverishly anxious about you. But I am distressed at some parts of your letter, as it seems to indicate that your business and affairs may be seriously deranged by the singular turn things have taken in consequence of the discovery of the "treasures hid in the sand"—that with twenty leagues of land and houses many, you are "miserably poor" I cannot believe, tho' it may be true that for the present they bring you no income. Y o u do not give me such details of your own concerns as I wish you had and I am sadly confused in making up m y mind as to your real condition. In the latter part of your letter you speak of an expedition to the placers in which you are concerned which you hope will gain $2000 to $4000 a week and that your share will be one third. Should you realize this profit three or four months you will have enough without your land or houses.

[6o] I shall send your letter and some or the whole of the extracts to a newspaper for publication, perhaps the Globe, lately revived, or the Union. I stopped the Weekly Union last February. They were sent to R. H . Morris, postmaster of N e w York, who forwarded them to you, & during the War must have arrived very irregularly, as they went round Cape Horn. You will hear from me again by next mail, and every mail, of course. Very truly Yrs. ELC

[THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN TO CHARLES L. ROSS. COPY. OFF. CORR. 1 : 5 0 0 . ]

Monterey Dec ioth 1848 C . L. Ross Esqr

Sir J . HE Schooner " M a r y " put into Todos Santos 100 to 200 miles so. of San Diego for provision or water, having 14 or 1 5 passengers at that port landed and came here by land. T h e Schooner came in last night. T o divide the cargo in two places she enters here and pays the duties (1700$ I believe) and lands one third of the cargo, assorting the articles as well as possible. M r D y e has a full cargo. H e brot. up barely any money. I think there is 60 bales of zarapies & fresadas costing from under four to twenty five or thirty dollars. There are some revosas which should be sent to San Pedro. There are very many ladies, women and men's Mexican shoes costing from five to twelve or fifteen dollars per doz, many small articles. M r Dye will leave Thursday by land. T h e Schooner same day or day before. H e will I presume offer you his third, perhaps not, however, at m y price. I expect to hear from you, that you gain $5000 on my third. For my odd 5 pr I expect you will send two first rate zarapies and two best revosas. Wether or no, I am more satisfied with your having my bargain than many other persons. I have home dates to September. Genl. Lane is Governor of Oregon. " C . " is not mentioned as yet. Y o u will see M r D y e Sunday. Yours Respectfully, (Signed) Thomas O. Larkin

[ 6 I ] [MILTON LITTLE TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. V I : 2 4 1 . ]

Monterey 12 Dec 1848 M r Larkin Dear Sir O N your invoices of merchandize from San Francisco I will pay you thirty percent ( 3 0 % ) advance and take all (you taking out what you purchase for yourself and family's uses). Also 5 or 6000$, five or six thousand dollars (of my selection) from the invoice of the Schooner Mary's cargo now lying in this port for which I will pay ( 1 2 5 ) % one hundred and twenty five per cent advance. Will pay on delivery cash " " " " gold dust at 16$ pr troy oz.

$2,500 $17,500

Makeing a total of

$20,000

The balance of the amt. I will pay as soon as possible from the sales in gold dust at 16$ per troy oz. A s usual the merchandize delivered on the wharf free of all charges and in good order and condition. Yours Truly, M Little

[THOMAS AP CATESBY JONES TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. V I : 2 4 2 . ]

San Francisco, December 13th 1848 Thomas O. Larkin Esq. U . S. N a v y Agent, & Sir H

EREIN I enclose a letter to you from the Hon. Secretary of the Navy,

bearing date N a v y Department March 27th 1848, in relation to your bond and compensation and duties as N a v y Agent for California and the N . W . Coast.

The new bond you can send to me by any safe opportunity, or you may deposit it with Captain Long. Or as it is probable you will visit this place again soon you can bring the bond with you, or execute one here as may be most convenient. Instructions for your government as a N a v y Agent, in accordance with the Secretary of the Navy's orders, I shall make out and send to you by an early opportunity. Very respectfully, Y r . Ob. Sert. Thos. ap C . Jones [Rubric] Commander in Chief, U . S. Naval Forces, Pacific Ocean

[THOMAS AP CATESBY JONES TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VI: 2 4 3 . ]

San Francisco, December 13th 1848 Thos. O. Larkin, Esq, N a v y Agent & c . Monterey Sir T H E Board of Officers appointed by Commander A . K. Long to survey the provisions immediately after the burglary committed on the N a v y Store House on the night of the 25th ultimo report in writing that there is not sufficient store room for the safe keeping of the large supply of N a v y Stores and shops [?] at Monterey and that the fastenings and securities to the doors and shutters of the buildings in use are insufficient for the purposes intended. I hope, Sir, that you will look to and remedy these defects as soon as possible and that you will on requisition of M r . Botts, the Naval Store Keeper, supply both labourers and watchmen necessary to safekeep the stores of the Squadron, now on shore at Monterey. Very respectfully, Y r . obt. Sert. Thos. ap C . Jones [Rubric] Commander in Chief, U . S. Naval Forces, Pacific Ocean

[ROBERT B A Y L O R S E M P L E TO T H O M A S OLIVER LARKIN. V I : 2 4 4 . ]

Benicia City Dec. 13, 1848 T . O. Larkin, Esq. Sir "YOUR

letter directd to myself and Maj. Cooper was duly received by

the hands of M r . McDougald, and also one signed " M r . Larkin" in relation to the sale of 100 lots to said Mack. On the strength of this last, I offered to him 75 lots at the nominal price of 50 dollars. H e was unwilling to give more than half that sum, so we did not trade for the present, though I shall be at Yerba Buena in a few days, and may make some arrangement with his partner, but not for less than fifty dollars. A s to Doct. Payet, I have well considered the proposition made to him, and do not think it advisable to give him ten lots to induce him to settle now where he will pay me for the privilege, before next June, and where he must make a fortune for the Paper in Y . Buena, with all the prejudices of M r . Kemble has already stated, from experience, that a middle point must be had for the care of those taken sick in the mines. Another year will teach the sick to avoid the cold winds of the coast as well as the hot blasts of the Sacramento. If that same five thousand dollars could be sent here, in lumber, it could be put together, either in a hospital or a warehouse, and your money returned in less than one year, but I think your putting up a row of two story buildings in Y . B for rent shows to the world rather a want of confidence in Benicia, but as I told you, I have determined to make this the City, and I have no doubt I shall do so, with all your efforts against it. T h e owner of half the site at the head of ship navigation nearest the market putting up a row of two story houses on the Peninsula of Yerba Buena is a thousand-fold stronger opposition to Benicia than all the unfounded falsehood of Capt. Folsom and the crew around him. It prevents strangers from comeing to see the place. They say, if the owner has no confidence in his own place, and is investing his capital elsewhere, it is not worth while for us to go and make him a city. I never have wished or asked it, nor do I now ask you to risk your capital here, but in God's name if you will build houses everywhere else, name some price, and if I am not able myself, I will find a purchaser for your interest here so that your investments elsewhere will not be such an unanswerable drawback to Benicia. I had rather fight, or defend myself against three open enemies than one secret one. If you will name

a sum any where near the amount your conduct seems to indicate, I will pay you the dust at once, and then you may build on the Peninsula. You will remember, I have the Ferry, and if we fail to make a City, I, at least have a princely income, while you gain nothing. Who is most interested? M r McDonald is putting up a two story frame on a part of Lot No. 15 in Block One. He wishes to get your Lot N o 14, same B. for an addition and bake house as he intends keeping a provision store, and the Lot 15, on the west side of the road, is too small for the necessary buildings. He has his frame on the lot. If your price for the lot is a nominal one, not too high, send me the deed, in the name of Benj. McDonald & Henry Richards and I will deliver it and receive the money for you. It will be a very useful establishment. Being on the canal, near the landing, there are few launches passing which would not want provisions. Permit me, Sir, without tiring you with repetition, to make you a definite proposition. Make me a deed for all your unsold property in Benicia City (I mean lots). Reserve those which have been deeded to your children, and I will thereupon pay the sum of fifteen thousand dollars in "Gold de Placere" at sixteen dollars the troy ounce. If you are unwilling to make this sale or your other sale, then come, while the harvest is ripe and gather your reward. Your Slave, R. Semple

Thos. O. Larkin, Esq Monterey, U. C.

[ANDREW K. LONG TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. V I : 2 4 5 . ]

U . S. Ship Warren Monterey Bay 14th Dec'r 1848 Sir of officers of this ship having by survey, condemned and recommended to be sold for the benefit of the Government of the U . S. seven thousand, three hundred and seventeen (7317) pounds of bread; I have to direct that you carry the same into effect. Very Respectfully, Your obt. Servant, A

BOARD

A . K. Long, Commander Thos. O. Larkin Esqr, U . S. Navy Agent for the North West Coast of America, Monterey, U . C.

[WILLIAM L . AYERS TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VI: 2 4 6 . ]

Vicksburg, Miss. Dec 15th 1848 Thos O Larkin Esqr " Y o u will confer a favor upon me, by giving me information regarding the quality of goods most suitable to bring with me to Monterey. I am in the merchant tailoring business. I wish to know whether superfine cloths, cassimeres & vesting would suit your town and the inhabitants generally, or a medium quality. I can bring with me about ten thousands dollars worth of goods, and I will be guided by your answer to the above. T h e reason I address you (I being a total stranger to you) is by seeing your advertisement in the N e w York paper. V e r y Respectfully, Y o u r Obt. St. W m L Ayers, Merchant Tailor Vicksburg, Miss. P. S. Y o u would oblige me by answering the above as soon as you can conveniently as I shall get ready and come on the first steamer that will leave for California after receiving your answer.

[THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN TO WILLIAM R U F U S LONGLEY AND WINSHIP. COPY. OFF. CORR. 1 : 5 0 1 . ]

Monterey Dec 16th 1848 Messrs Longley & Wins hip M

R. Longley's letter of the 7th is before me. I am sorry you are dis-

appointed in [not] meeting me. W h e n M r Winship left San Francisco we both supposed I should follow him to Sutter's Fort in four days. During this time I wrote to him to say, hearing M r John Williams was at Capt. Fitch's farm I should go in that direction. T h e day drew near in a storm. T h e more launches I saw the less I desired the trip. In fact m y health is good enough a mile all round m y home; away from home I soon tire down. A n d for mutual benefit our meeting would avail nothing for future events. Y o u are young and active

[66] and can go from place to point. M y remaining at home would, as it has, soon cause an objection to my being one of a placer company. When at the camp I understood that W . & S. made the company with four others. T o have affairs well understood I drew out the writings for all to sign that each might know his part. It now appears M r Sterling supposed J & J Williams were to work for the concern. I believe the Williams did not so understand it. T h e company broke, why I know not, and my share deposited at Melius & Howard's under such restrictions of no service to any one but M r Howard, that I cannot have the present benefit of it. W h y this is done I know not. I thought M r Sterling knew. He says not. He gave me no particulars of note, or information relative to the concern. After all how can six men keep long together? W e did not. As I was a silent partner without voice or vote I had nothing to do with the dissolution. From my well established opinion of the Williams, and from Johns letters I believe they will do well by me, now and hereafter. I have sent to John by M r Woodside to say I will take one thousand ounces of gold for my share, privilege and influence etc., of the cattle, mares, and hogs & c & c of the farm with the rent of the land two or three years. This sum may appear high. The bacon of this winter can pay it. The Indians in two months dig that much. I am sorry I did not see you, and know not when we shall meet. I shall remain here a month home, to take the first steamer to N . Y „ yet may not. A friend of mine in Valpariso writes me Alfred Robinson, an old friend of mine many years in California, comes here Steam Boat Agent and that Benicia is to be the Depot. T h e latter appears to me a mistake. I hope it is true, however. I am very Respectfully, Your Obdt. Servt. (Signed) Thos. O. Larkin Messrs Longley & Winship San Francisco, California

[THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN TO THOMAS AP CATESBY JONES. COPY. OFF. CORR. 1 : 5 0 2 . ]

Monterey California Dec. 17th 1848 Sir ^ENCLOSED is a memorial 1 of the citizens of Monterey. More names might have been obtained but time would not allow it. I have the honor to be, Very Respectfully, Your Obdt. Servt. (Signed) Thos. O. Larkin Commodore Thomas ap Catesby Jones Commander in Chief, U . S. Pacific Squadron

[THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN TO JOB FRANCIS DYE. COPY. OFF. CORR. 1 : 5 0 4 . ]

Monterey California December 17th 1848 M r Job F. D y e San Francisco Dear Sir A s

you will have the funds and the power by our contract, to make

such trades or voyages in San Francisco for our mutual benefit (and will be on the spot) as you see best I can hardly give any other opinion in writing than I have at your house in our several conversations. Perhaps your having the " M a r y " for three months longer you can purchase her if we can obtain the flag. Should you do so do it in our names jointly, either under the present charter or the purchase, if you are allowed. I would purchase some foreign merchandize in San Francisco and with some Mexican goods send M r Sterling on thirds, he using his two thousand dollars, to the Ports of Santa Barbara and San Pedro (coffee, tea & sugar must be good articles). Sell out for aguardiente, some wine, all the corn, barley and dried meat that can be obtained. You can in San Francisco learn the value of beans, peas & wheat. Should you need the " M a r y " to go to Mazatlan or cannot coast, this leeward trip must be given up. 1 Larkin may be referring to a petition presented to Commodore Jones requesting that he open the California trade to foreign vessels in order that sufficient food and shelter might be provided at more reasonable prices for the many newcomers. See Jones to Larkin (VL254), December 28, 1848.

[68] I would advise that us two put into a China voyage thirty thousand dolls, in gold d u s t — M r Cummins going himself and making some investments of twelve to fifteen thousand dollars in gold dust—charter a vessel in San Francisco or he go to Mazatlan to obtain one, you going with him if our other speculations allow it. In either case the gold dust should be sent Mazatlan to be exchanged for dollars. Using of M r Green dust five thousand dollars, we shall have from the " M a r y " voyage twenty five to thirty thousand dollars. This will take our all in company. Respecting the sending of J. R. with you or some other person, to Mazatlan you despatching him for goods then back to California in some vessel, and your returning by land we will arrange on your return to Monterey, in fifteen to twenty days. For these two voyages perhaps I can have funds sufficient in proper time. I am, Very Respectfully, Your Obdt. Servt. (Signed) Thos. O. Larkin

[THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN TO CHARLES L. ROSS. COPY. OFF. CORR. 1 : 5 0 3 . ]

Monterey California December 17th 1848 M r . C . L. Ross, San Francisco " Y o u will please to pay over to M r Job F . D y e the amount due me by our contract respecting a share of the "Mary's" present voyage. This sum will be due thirty days from the n t h of this month. M r D y e is hereby authorised to settle with you in full in my name in any business relative to our contract in the "Mary's" voyage. I presume you both will have an early settlement as M r D y e will remain but a short time in San Francisco. I am, very Respectfully, Your Obdt. Servt. (Signed) Thos. O. Larkin

[THOMAS CUMMINS TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VI : 2 4 7 . ]

San Francisco Dee. 19/48 Mr. T . O. Larkin DrSir T H E Sabine arived the other day from C. River and was sold to day for twelve thousand gold dust. The Eveline was also sold to day for sixteen thousand gold dust. Paty is here in the Mary Francis. He is willing to go into the speculation we spoke about. What do you think about it? I understand that M r Dye has arived at Monterey. Do you still think well of the affair? I wish you would write me and in case of my absence to Capt John Paty, as I expect to sail on next Monday for the Islands in the Ship Rone. Whatever arangement Paty may make I will agree to it. Time is precious so be quick. In haste, T . Cummins

[THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN TO ANDREW K. LONG. COPY. OFF. CORR. I ' . 5 0 5 . ]

U . S. Navy Agency Monterey California Dec 19th 1848 Sir to your letter of the 14th instant I have had sold at public auction the seven thousand three hundred & fourteen pounds of damaged bread, the nett proceeds of which is five hundred & forty nine 57 1 / 2 / 1 0 0 dollars ($549.57 J/2) being more than it cost Government. .^Vgreeable

Enclosed you will find account of sales signed by W . E. P. Hartnell, auctioneer. I am very Respectfully, Your Obdt Servt. (Signed) Thos. O. Larkin A . K. Long Esqr Commanding U . S. Ship Warren, Monterey

[MOTT TALBOT & CO. TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VI: 2 4 8 . ]

Pr Paquete de la Paz Pt. of Mazatlan 20th Decembr 1 Thomas O'Larkin Esqre Monterey

w,

Dear Sir

'E had last this pleasure on the 21st ulto pr Malek Adhel, since when

your valued favor of the 16 inst pr Manuel [?] Adolfo in answer to which we have to say that the letters which you sent us for the U . S. were only forwarded to Vera Cruz. W e thank you for the interesting notices from your quarter. For quicksilver $ 1 5 0 is asked here but we are sure that for any purchase to some extent the price would be less. A l l the quicksilver imported here comes in iron flasks of 3 arrobas but the price is always understood to be pr quintal Spanish weight. W e made a mistake in our last in claiming the proceeds of a bale of baize while it was only one piece of 53 yds which was consigned to M r . W m . Fisher or to Capt Willard Hanks by the latter of whom it was sold at 3$ pr yard as stated in your letter of the 26th April. W e should deem it a great favour if you would have the kindness to recover the proceeds of this piece of baize from Capt Hanks and advise us so that we may look upon this affair as settled. H e owes us besides the small balance of $55.33^ which we would also thank you to collect of him. W e took the liberty to give a few lines of introduction directed to you to M r Theodore Dufford, capt & owner of the Paquete de la Paz—whom we beg to recommend to your best attention and remain, Dear Sir, your mo. obt. svts. Mott, Talbot & Co. [Rubric] 23d Decbr A sale of quicksilver was made yesterday 200 flasks at 120$ p[r] q[uinta]l.

[7i] [GUY R. C. ALLEN TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VI: 2 4 9 . ]

Virginia Monongalia County Morgantown 21 Deer 1848 Dr Sir M

RS. Dolly Harner is in receipt of your letter of April 23d 1844

which is now in my possession containing extracts from the will of her son Joseph Harner who died you say "in Monterey in the house he hired of you the width of the street from your dwelling house." Your letter is kind and duly appreciated. You remark "I should suppose his property there might be from $1000 to $2000, as I have not seen the list of debts I cannot say." I perceive that by the will he devises to his friend Milton Little the lot with a stone foundation lying near the beach of Monterey requiring the devisee to pay into the hands of yourself as executor $ 1 1 6 in two years for the use of his (testator's) mother. H e also bequeathed to said Little "all his goods, chattels and personal property" upon condition that it should be first valued in the hands of the executor by two respectable merchants of the place, the said Little to receipt for the property and promise to pay the executor the value therof in four annual payments begining one year from the death of the testator. With power on the part of the executor (in case Little should decline taking the property or be likely to squander it in the opinion of the executor and two respectable merchants) to take charge of and sell the property at auction & remit the proceeds to testator's mother. I received a draft dated Monterey September 20th 1846 drawn by A

C

Jackson upon A C Paige Schenectada N e w York for two hundred and fifty dollars in your favour endorsed by you making it payable to me. I also received a draft dated M a y 30th 1846 drawn by J C Fremont Lt Col U S A r m y in favour of Henry King or order on Col J J Abert Chief of Topographical Bureau Washington City, D . C . for one hundred dollars, endorsed by Henry King to you and by you to me. Both of these drafts have been paid, the latter I believe by Col Fremont himself who happened to be in the City of Washington when it was presented to Col J J Abert. I believe I have never acknowledged receipt of these to you, and now therefore proceed to do so. In your favour of 30th M a y 1847 which is a mere copy of your favour of 20th Sept 1846 (except the note) you say in a note "I will within two or 3 months

remit a draft for a further sum. T h e W a r has in a manner stopt our communications." Please write to me what more if any thing may be expected and when I shall probably be put in receipt of it. Or whether all has been received that may be expected. It will be satisfactory to know whether M r . Little has paid the $ 1 1 6 and whether he kept the goods or not and what they amounted to. T h e deeds forwarded by you for the Indiana lands have been recorded. With great respect, Y r . Obt. servt. G . R. C . Allen [Cover is addressed: Thomas O. Larkin, American Consul Monterey, California. Via N e w York, Havanna, Panama & c . ]

[ J O B FRANCIS DYE TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VI: 2 5 0 . ]

San Francisco Deer 22, 1848 Thomas O. Larkin Sir dark this evening the Schooner had not yet arived, but a sail was in sight which I suppose to be the Marry. M r . C . L. Ross refuses to take the hole cargo and wishes to take his part but I shall hesitate to let him have a pick of the one third of the cargo as it will anger me and M r . Green. I have had some conversation with M r . Thomas Cummings about the China voyge. Allso with Capt Paty, and we have agreed to meet to morrow and see if we can agree and make up the voye. I am afraid I shall not be able to raise much money heer for that voye as we think of starting in ten days for Mazatlan, tutching at Monterey for our funds. M r . Cummings thinks of going in the Ship Wrhone to the Hands. On Wensday next she is to sale. T h e prises of goods is falling every day heer and I shall think my self verry lucky if I get one hundred per cent on my invoys—nothing more. J. F. D y e [Rubric] P. S. T h e Brig Merakedel [Malek Adhel?] has just arrived from Mazatlan with a small cargo.

[73] [EBENEZER LARKIN CHILDS TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VI: 2 5 1 . ]

My dear brother I

Washington City Deer 23d 1848

WROTE you under date o£ N o v . 29 via N e w York, and Dec 7 via N e w

Orleans, which letters, I suppose, will reach you with this, as it seems to be expected that the "Isthmus," to leave N e w York on the 25th, will place her mails & passengers in Panama in time for the California, which is [to] be there the i st week in January. I have nothing new to communicate, & it seems almost useless to tax you with the postage on a third letter by the same ship, but I presume you will be glad to hear to the latest moment. T h e "gold fever" prevails most extensively throughout the Union, as you will see by consulting the papers. It is affecting every class of people and you may look for a most enormous influx of population, & some of them not of the most reputable character. W h a t effect this sudden change in the whole business relations of the country is to have upon its future welfare I cannot say, nor can anyone conjecture. But the worst is to [be] feared. Every branch of industry and employment, save that of gold digging, must be penalised, &

everything

turned from its accustomed channel. I wish I was with you, or could reach you as easily as I can reach N e w York or Boston—for I desire much to know exactly how you are to come thro* the ordeal—or what effect the present state of things is to have on your interests. Be particular and let me know how you are affected—for good or i l l — b y this disruption of the moral elements. Y o u r letter of A u g 18 I sent, thro' a member of Congress, to the Boston Post, and I now enclose one of the papers containing it. I have seen the same letter in other papers, but this in the Post appears to the best advantage. I am very glad to receive such letters for publication, but had rather not have the copies multiplied. I have heard from L y n n quite lately. T h e y are well there—your children at Dorchester. M y sister Elizabeth ( M r s Eames) has a child two months old. T h e y were married in Oct. 1847. I have been applied to by two persons for letters of introduction to you, one by a brother of M r Abbot, Wentworth's teacher; I do not know the young man, but I believe him to be a highly respectable person, accustomed to business, and skilled in surveying. From m y knowledge of his brother's (the teacher's) character, I think he will be a valuable addition to your population, & you can take him freely by the hand.

Doctor Cragin, a very respectable, and as I have heard, skillful, physician of Georgetown near this City, has also applied for a letter, & I shall give him one. H e is from Massachusetts and there is no doubt of his education, talent and respectability. H e tells me he shall go to the gold regions, but ultimately settle on the Coast, perhaps in San Francisco. After the trouble you had with Toler, I shall be careful who I introduce to you. I gave one to Dallas, who goes as postmaster at San F. but he is a modest fellow and you wont see much of him. It has been said in some of the papers that sales of land are taking place in California at very low prices, sometimes at 10 cents an acre. If such is the case I would like to be a purchaser to the amount of $30 or $50. If you can buy at anything like the price mentioned do so, and I will pay M r Rogers—or if the price is 25 or 50 cents, I would buy to a small amount in the hope of benefitting our decendants if not myself. I have made up my mind that I must be poor anyhow—but perhaps a small lot bought now may lay still and increase in value and be something bye and bye for Wentworth or his children. M y wife often speaks of "our lot" in California (Benecia City) and hopes it may be valuable to Wentworth some day or other. I tell her that if I go there I shall build a Church on it. If in this city it would be worth from 5 to 15 thousand dollars according to location. Yrs ever, ELC Brinsmade and Christie are both here. They speak as if the quicksilver company was organized and say your share is worth $20,000.

[TALBOT H. GREEN TO WILLIAM M. ROGERS. COPY. OFF. CORR. 1 : 5 2 3 . ]

Monterey California 23rd Deer. 1849 [1848] M r W m . M . Rogers

Sir I TAKE the liberty of sending you a power of attorney to collect from the United States Government, the sum of ten thousand eight hundred and fifty five and sixteen cents (10,855

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[MUNICIPAL COURT OF RECORDS, MONTEREY, TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. BILL. VII: 1 9 4 . ]

Monterey, March 1850 T . O. Larkins Esq 1850

To the Municipal Court of Records, Monterey

March

To examining and attesting 147 deeds at 3$ Recording deed, Osborn to Larkin and attesting same Recording deed, Belden to Larkin and attesting same Recording deed, Little to Larkin, and attesting same Taking acknowledgments to 15 deeds

$441.00 5.00 8.00 5.00 30.00 $489.00

Monterey, March 1st 1850. Received payment, Wm. S. Johnson, Act'g Record'g Clerk

[ w . R. LOUNT TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. 1 VII : 1 9 7 . ]

April 15th 1850 Dear Sir I H A V E gone to Philadelphia for the purpose raising money on my dust and will remit you the two hundred dollars I borrowed of you, in the course of this week. Yours Respectfully, W . R. Lount [Rubric] 1

On printed letterhead of American Hotel, corner of Broadway and Stockton Street, San Francisco.

[ J O S É ABREGO TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VII: 1 9 8 . ]

Monterey Abril 1 6 , 1 8 5 0 Sor. D . Tomas O. Larkin At ugo:

G

'UMPLIENDO con su encargo aviso á V . qe Isidoro Soto vende una

legua de tierra en tres mil pesos. D . Benito Dias puede imponer á V . del pormenor. Quedo de V . su atento y Q B S M . J Abrego

[ J O H N R. WALKER TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VII: 2 0 1 . ]

Lawderdale County Missippi M a y 16 1850 M r . T . O. Larkin

Dear Sir I

SEE by the papers you have landed in N . York and am pleased to

think I have the opertunity of addressing you. You will see by the heading of this letter I have left N . C . I have been in this state 10 or 12 years. I have a pretty wife (not Milly) and five likely children. In fact nearly one half of Long Creek has moved to this country. I will give no news in this letter as my object in writing is to find out where I can meet with you at the nearest point, and I have moore to tell you than I dear think of putting on paper. Your friends hope you will pass through here as you return to your Golden Country. M y mother in particular says you must be shure and call and see her. She is in fine health and not a grey hair in her head. Joel says he must see you. Answer this soon. I remain your friend, John R Walker

[ T H O M A S OLIVER LARKIN TO CHARLES L . R O S S . V I I : 2 0 2 . ]

Boston, M a y 30, 1850 C . L. Ross San Francisco, California

"YOURS of

19 Aprii rec'd to day. Beiden must be paid, after that Green

will do as he may see proper in the present instalment. I will write by mail of 1 3 June. I have wrote twice to Green and to you this present month, duplicate letters to Boston and N e w York. Yrs & c . Thomas O. Larkin [Rubric]

[GEORGE EDWIN CHILDS TO T H O M A S OLIVER LARKIN. V I I : i y I . ]

Jackson, Ten. June 5th 1850 Dear Brother -/ALTHOUGH I cannot boast of being a very good correspondent, yet I do write occasionally, & hope that though it is only a few months since you rec'd my last that this will not take you by supprise. I am extremely glad to learn that you and Bro. Jno. have reach'd the vicinity of Boston once more, but wish you could have done so a little earlier, for then I should have had the pleasure of visiting our friends with you. T h e last I heard of your whereabouts you were still in N e w York, and one of the princapals in a grand "Calafornia Jubilee" that just come off, to which I did not get m y invitation in time to attend. From a notice in the papers, I concluded your time would be occupied for a while with your "Agency" as well as your own business, and so thought it best to wait till that, and the congratulations were partly over before writing you, and now that things are probably quiet, hope you will give me a full account of yourself and family who I presume are with you. I should like very much to have you & Bro. Jno. make us a visit, which is the only way to see the other relatives of Tennessee, though I expect to meet you by August, if you do not leave the country before then. D o not forget to tell me about Jno. & his family for tho' I intend writing him, have no idea of course that he will

[3-5 ] reply! Tell him that I am enough like him in the epistolary way to pass for a full Bro. I was agreeably supprised to learn he was with you, as I was not aware that he ever talked of coming. M a n y and great changes have taken place since you were there before, and even since my last visit death has deprived us of a sister. Mother has left Lynn, and the old homestead has passed, I learned, into the hands of strangers. On my first visit after an absence of nearly ten years, I was much struck with the alteration time had produced; those I had left in the prime of life seemed suddenly to have commenced the downhill side, while the children seemed as suddenly to have become men and women. Aside from the family we have no news here that would interest you. Maria as ever is in excelent health, and looks no doubt as she always did, with the exception of a few more furrows, and rather more flesh as she advances, which somewhat retards locomotion, though she is still untiring in her school. Her daughter Eliza Mason has two children! They talk of moving to Texas. Amanda the other daughter is with her mother. Elijah (poor fellow) has had a hard time for the last twelve months, the most of which he has passed on his bed, tied down in splints, with the hip disease, with a dull prospect of getting up again soon. H e had just graduated. M y wife thinks this climate does not agree with her constitution as well as a more northern one would, which may cause us to move unless there is an improvment some day. I am still going on with the dry goods business, tho' not to an extent to make it very profitable. What is Bro. Sam'l doing? W e heard he arrived safe, tho' after being wrecked, but never had the particulars. His little son is with Maria, and doing very well; he is a rather delicate child, and resembles his father very much. What are C . Wiley and A . Nelson doing; did the former take his family? What are your arrangements for the present; have you bo't property, do you keep house or board, and where? Did Jno. bring all his family, what are the names of his children, how does he fare in the gold race, has he made money, or is he not too much of the sailor to do so? Do either of you return, and when? Is California really a better place than elsewhere, or is it that only a few get rich, as is done in every place? How is that the climate there seems to be so sickly of late? I understood from your former letters that it was so healthy people seldom died, except from old age. What kind of business can an indifferent business man go at there to clear $ 1 5 to 20,000 in two or three years, for that would be about as much as I would

want, having no children to send to school! Or, are things settling down to a level with other countries? H o w do Bro. Isaac [and?] Breed stand? They were unfortunate some time since. By the way I hear Col. B. offers his house for sale. I hope you will be well enough pleased with it to buy, if you conclude to settle any where in that section. How is M r Wright's and Uncle W m . R.'s health, both poor when I heard last. I called upon our Louisville cousins in April last, for a few moments. Saw M r s . George and Mrs. Bartlett, who are you know both widows. Lucy was not in. Lydia (Mrs Shrieve) resides at St. Louis. What has Eben decided on about the California trip? Will he go, and when? Will his wife go with him? What can he do there? Give my regards and affection to our Aunts Conner and Cooper, also to Uncle W m . M a k e my congratulations to your own & Jno.'s families, for their safe arrival. Tell that I hope yet to have the pleasure of shaking them all by the hand. Sincerely & c Y r Bro. Geo. E . Childs

[HENRY CLAY TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VII: 2 0 3 . ]

Wash'n 10th June 1850 Thomas O. Larkin Esq.

Dear Sir I

RECEIVED by M r . Carter the beautiful watch chain made, in Cali-

fornia, of specimens of native gold from the Placers, which you have done me the favor to present to me. They are curious in themselves, and curiously combined in the chain which they form. I thank you cordially for this highly acceptable present. I regret the delay in Congress in the admission of California as a State in the Union, and hope it will not be much longer prolonged. Ready always to vote for her reception, either as a separate measure, or in combination with other measures, I satisfied myself that the most certain and most speedy way of accomplishing the desirable object was to unite a provision for the admission of California with other measures, also desirable, and on that conviction I have been proceeding. T h e result will be known in a short time. I am with great respect, Your obed't Servant, H . Clay

[ J O H N R. W A L K E R TO T H O M A S OLIVER LARKIN. V I I : 2 0 5 . ]

Lauderdale Springs Lawderdale Co. Miss. June 26 1850 My Dear Friend

I

RECIVED

your letter and it gave me great satisfaction to read a hand-

writing I was once so familiar with. I showed it to the most of your friend in this country, and they were all glad (after sow many ups and downs) to see you in fluant circumstances. N o w for the news. I shall begin with myself. I have been from N . C . about 12 years and it was the best days work I ever done when I left that sink hole L[ong] C[reek]. I maried soon after I came here and it to my wife I owe my present standing. She reformed me compleately. I must say to you she is a lovely woman. I have 5 children—Joel Pay ton, Richard Parish, John Dry den, Mary Eliza and Harvey Wallace. M y oldest is 10 years old and his mother is fixing him off to day for the Catholick Collage Mobile. He reads Lattin very well. I must tell you I represented N e w Hanover county 3 years before I left, and could represent this county but I prefer staying with my family—in short I must say to you I am getting along very well. I am sorry I did not mention Sarah in my other letter. She is married to Doct. Payton, a Scothman and much of Gentleman. He has made a fortune by his practice and living at the Spring at his eas. They have six children. Caroline Dugal (named after Capt. Dugald, Wil[mington]) is there oldest and nearly grown. I showed your letter to Sally and she was much pleased. She sends her love to you, and all ways feels gratefull to you for your good advice when young. Doct. Payton was in N . Y . on your arival and would have caled to see you but had no letter. N o w for Joel. He is lately maried and has one child. Joel has made a fortune in this country, and there is few men in better standing in any country. He is noted for his liberality to the poor. M y mother lives with Joel at her eas, a boy and cariage to go and come when she pleases. I showed her your letter. She cried as usul for joy. She sends you a heap of love. N o w for the Long & Moore's Creek folks that live in this country. James Walker, Sam'l Walker, Wm. J. Wright, C G Miller, T D Bourdeax, James & Richard Crews, W m . Eakins and all the whole Pigford family, Aunt Sally Buxton and family and a heap moore two tideous to mention, and I am glad to say to you they are all geting along very well. James & Sam'l Walker drinks

rite amont whiskey. W m . }. Wright maried the wider Ben Roons and has made a fortune. C G Miller has lost his wife and out courting again. T D Bourdax is well off, tight and stingy. James & Richard Crews dresses very fine. The 2 Crews married old Bob Larkins gals. Bill Eakins and the Pigfords work very hard. Old Sally Buxton says she is so happy untill she is miserable. Mary Jane is dead and Misee [?] is maried well. The old lady lives with her. W e have lost a good many friends in this country—Bily Simpson, Arche Simpson, Jim McCaleb, Tony Benaman, Andrew Eakins, Madison Larkins and a good many N . C . women. Margaret Larkins maried the other day a saddle bags Methodist preacher—did not do much. N o w for the N . C . folks so far as I know. David Jones pased through here on his way to Mosuria. H e is poor but I hope he may do well. Susan Jane married Payton Strongfild. I am told he has brought to want. He is a perfect sot. She has a house full of children. Charly Henry Esq I am told owes twist as much as he worth. H e is thought no more of than a negro. N o decent house in Wil[mington] will board him. I know a great many jokes I should like to tell you such as John Larkins attacking Henry Clay in Wil[mington], But I must close and I have not told you half. I hope I may see you some day. I do not know what Louisville you mean. W e have a small one in this state [that] we live 60 miles from. From N . Y . we recive our goods Mobile care of Strong & Aldrick, Black Bluff, on the Bigby River. Write me as soon as you recive this and I will give you another small chapter. I forgot to say that Scudder wife and child and all the Jones family is dead but David and Susan. I hope you may live long and your children be an honor after your death. John R Walker

[HENRY A. BREED TO DANIEL C. BAKER. VII: 2 o 6 . ]

Hon Dan'l C Baker

San Francisco California June 29th / 5 0

Boston, Mass. Dear Sir

Yo

.OURS

of 12th ult reached me per Steamer California 24th inst also

two letters for P. Frothingham which I have handed over. Peter & W . H . Wood occupy a room over my counting room, and we board at a resturant

in the same building. We see each other two or three times a day. Before this reaches you, you will have received my acct. of Flavio & Wyandot as settled in full with P. F. I suppose he has written you fully upon the subject. It is a hard case for you, and it is, and has been a very hard one for me so far. What the result will be to me the future must determine and to crown the many changes I have met with comes the great fire of the 14th inst to sweep off $4,000,000 of property & depress business more at the present moment than it has since I have been in California. What is to come next, God only knows. In the last six months, the three great fires has distroyed $9,000,000 property, and made many poor fellows penniless who had 30 to $50,000 capital. There are many instances that I am acquainted with where sales are made to a rich man to day for cash, and before the bill was presented for payment say 12 or 24 hours the man has lost all his property by fire—store & goods and many of his important papers. There is not one iron safe in 100 that has proved safe & secure against fire. Hundreds of them lay in our streets as worthless. You cannot imagine the state of our present feelings and circumstances. It is not in the power of man even of the greatest wisdom and foresight to be guarded against the sudden changes that we are liable to in this place. Our Californians who have gone home to the States feeling that their fortunes were made, and secured in good investments, will find after the enjoyment of swelld dinners at N . York that half, or the whole, of their incomes is cut off by the two late fires. Three quarters of them will be back here in sixty days. Daniel, I feel more cautious then I ever did in my life. I do not feel safe in making a promise for anything I wish to purchase, even for one week. I go without it unless I have money in hand, and it is the case with hundreds here. The only independent man here is the one that is not in debt. If one has property, it is not safe to be in debt. He is liable to loose it in 24 hours, if it can be burnt. I have no ambition to speculate in this country now. I have learned my lesson at too great price in the last ten months. Give me a very small Pile and I will leave the field in these diggins for the Old Bay State, and settle down quietly in the good City of Lynn, and take a humble position there for the remainder of life. In my opinion Lynn is one of the choice spots of earth, with or without money, but this country is a perfect hell without money. I see the effects of gold in abundance every day, and my heart sickens within me when I reflect upon its consequences. Two years residence in California, a man would loose sight of all civil society, he would become a perfect barbarian, and forget that he was under the least obligations to his fellows.

The last week we have had two ships on fire in our harbour. It happened in the morning, before the wind began to blow strong. M e n were handy and scuttled them & run them on shore. It was supposed to be set on fire. T w o different days was our shipping to get on fire. In our high winds, it would be awful indeed, and put the finishing stroke to this place. Truly yours, H . A . Breed

[WILLIAM STEUART TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VII: 2 o 8 . ]

Geo. Town [Delaware] 5th August 1850 Thos. O. Larkin Esqr My Dear Sir "YOUR esteemed letter of 2d inst. which reached me this morning gives me the first intelligence of the indisposition of Mrs. Larkin & son & your protracted illness, or I should most assuredly have visited you; at the short interview we had in June at the National Hotel you expressed your intention of leaving for N e w York the next day, until now I knew not to the contrary. This I trust will excuse my apparent inattention which will mortify my son much to hear. I do hope you are all ere this convalescent & that your trip to Boston will perfectly restore you. M r . Cooke, late member of Congress from Ohio, father of my son's partner, is here a host of himself, & doubtless a godsend to us in our struggles for "Benecia," for to our surprize we have met with the most decided & unrelenting opposition from Dr. Gwin. So far from yielding to the most urgent appeals, he has said that if he had his seat on the floor of the Senate he "would fight it to it's Death." This was as unexpected to us as it will no doubt be to you. I regret it the more from having formed a strong attachment to him in consequence of communications from my son, confirmed by his kind & winning deportment on becoming acquainted. I beg you to write him, as well on his own account, as for the cause. A word from you will have a better effect than anything we can do. The course he has taken will assuredly prostrate him at home, the more especially as he will be defeated & thereby lose the influence of those whom he is striving to conciliate. Our only apprehension now is that if he persists & his friends in the

[ 331 ] Senate sustain him, that all will be lost for this Session at least, for he may be assured if we fall "we will fall in the harness." His proposition submitted to the committee is to make "San Diego, Monterey, Sacramento & Stockton" Ports of Entry & Delivery; Benecio, San Pedro & "San Barbara" Ports of Delivery only. We cheerfully concur in this, with the sole reservation that "Benecia" be made a "Port of Entry," being now as efficiently a Port of Delivery as could be, and I am pleased in being enabled to say that sufficient of the committee have unequivocally declared that "Benecia" must be a "Port of Entry" and will so report in a day or two, so that we stand or fall together, for if the enemies of Benecia in the Senate attempt to strike her out from the bill, they may rest assured her friends will stick by her, be the consequences what they may, & let the affairs of California once get mixed up in sectional divisions and altercations, it requires but little foresight to predict that she will get nothing this Session. We do not go for Benecia only but for all California, and this should be the course of her Representatives; let all sectional predilections be discarded & all rivalry hushed for a while, and she may herself (united) rival all the world. I now consider the question settled in committee, but we must be prepared for a struggle in the Senate Chamber. We are obliged to you for your letters to Benton, et alii—reiterate them, particularly as to Fremont. Gilbert is right & so is Wright, but he is not here & we know not his whereabouts. Do procure a letter from him under cover to me for the Committee on Commerce on your earliest convenience & if while at Boston you will procure a Memorial signed by merchants, Board of Trade & Insurance Companies, we will take care of New York, Philadelphia & Baltimore. The Memorial from Benecia is numerously & respectably signed, but goes for "Benecia." W e now sustain the bill for all as hereinbefore stated, so you may draft your Memorial for Benecia or for all as your judgement may induce you. It gives me pleasure in advising you that Benecia is going ahead astonishingly—its population has about doubled since January. The agent of Howland & Aspinwall & the Pacific Mail Steamers has absolutely made it their depot, are busily erecting buildings &c, five large ships having already discharged there large cargoes of lumber and stores. The Russian Commercial Company have appointed my son their agent & have entered into arrangements to send their coal, lumber & vegetables to Steuart & Cooke giving them the controul of the trade with Sitka. A large warehouse is being put up for their exclusive use. Lieut. Bissel, U.S.N., commander & part owner of the Steamer

[ 33 2 ] Constitution which left Philadelphia on or about the 12th ulto. as pioneer to two others of similar class to follow in a month or two, considers Benecia his terminus & headquarters from and to Panama. M r . M . , late of Canton, China, agent to Howard & Sons line of ocean steamers has made arrangements with Steuart & Cooke to make Benecia their depot conditioned solely upon Benecia being made a "Port of Entry," and persons of high standing of Valparaiso, Mazatlan & even of San Francisco have purchased largely in anticipation of Benecia being a Port of Entry & c . A l l this may be old news to you, but affords me pleasure to state them & will do you no harm in having them repeated. A t a meeting at Benecia 1 1 th M a y , resolutions were adopted highly condemnatory of Doctor Gwin for they had seen his letter to the Secretary of the Treasury in reference to Ports of Entry in California. They have been placed in my hands to be published here as required by the meeting, but I have upon communication with the Doctor suspended them, for reasons which I will give you. You have, I presume, seen them; if not I will send you a copy as the friend of the Doctor. I cordially greet your intention of the establishing of a Reading Room at Benecia; it is admirable & will doubtless be highly beneficial. I shall if it be acceptable to you report progress & shall at all times be pleased to hear from you. I consider the question as to Benecia settled if we do not relax in our duty, all opposition to the contrary notwithstanding. What news in reference to Steinberger & c ? Do write me freely. With perfect consideration, I am, Respectfully your's & c .

W m . Steuart [Rubric]

[ELEUTHEROS COOKE TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VII: 2 0 9 . ]

Washington A u g 6,1850 Hon'ble Thomas O. Larkin Boston, Mass. Dear Sir i^.LTHOUGH I have not the honor of a personal acquaintance with you—yet the favorable familiarity of your name, through my son, Henry D . Cooke, who has been several years a trader and resident of California, will, I trust, justify this intrusion. A t the request of my son I left my home in Ohio

some iooo miles distant, via N . Y . about 3 weeks ago at a moment's warning, to attend to a petition he sent me for the establishment of a Port of Entry at Benecia. On my arrival here M r . Soule presented the petition, since which I have caused sundry papers important to the application to go before the Committee. I got M r . Hamlin to introduce a resolution to enable the Senate to obtain copies of the reports of Com. Jones which are now before the Committee on Commerce with sundry other important documents touching that subject, and have succeeded in getting the promise of a favorable report from the Committee. M r . Soule told me he had received from you a communication favorable to the object, for which I am extremely grateful. But, my dear Sir, I am struggling against fearful odds. Gwin has sworn in his wrath that Benicia shall not be made a Port of Entry and is making all the strength he can against it. Gilbert professes to be friendly or rather neutral, but I doubt his sincerity. Wright is not here and I have not yet had time to see Fremont. If they are not too greatly interested at San Francisco I have hopes they will be favorable. Old M r . Steuart and myself aided by Genl. Jones are the only actors in the field for the project & I fear unless we can get some extraneous assistance from Boston & N e w York, we shall be overcome. M y son writes that it is all important to effect this object during the present session of Congress, as the moment it is accomplished it will transfer more than $4,000,000 from San Francisco to Benicia. Arrangements with rich & important Chinese & Russian houses to make Benicia their commercial depot are pending to be consummated on its being made a Port of Entry. I observe by your letter to M r . Steuart that you were not aware that Howland & Aspinwall had established their depot at Benicia—that on the 1st June they had 100 men engaged in constructing warehouses, reservoirs, docks, foundry machine shop, engine manufactory & c & c at an expense of some $120,000 which would be completed in 60 to 90 days from that time. T h e city had doubled since Jan'y. I have made an analysis of all the facts & grounds upon which the application is founded, gathered from the official reports of Com. Jones, Genl. Smith & others—which presents a formidible shewing. A senator to whom I read it told me "if a copy of that document was placed in the hands of every member you might defy all the Gwins in America to defeat you." But I must try to do all I can without printing it. I heard of your severe illness—announced in the papers some weeks a g o — and it has given me great pleasure to learn that your health is so nearly restored. It must still be slender, and therefore I feel the more reluctant to ask your aid

[ 334 ] in this matter. But it has struck me that as this is a question in which the national commerce is interested, a brief memorial of shipping merchants in N . Y . & Boston would have an important influence. I wrote Howland & Aspinwall on the subject, but they have neglected it, probably from the pressure of other duties. A brief petition something in the following form is desired: To the Congress of U. S. &c. The undersigned shipping merchants & others of the City of Boston, interested in the prosecution of commerce on the Pacific, respectfully represent that from advices rec'd from their supercargoes & agents in California, they

believe

that the interests of commerce would be greatly promoted by the establishment of a Port of Entry at Benicia on the Straits of Karquinez at the head of ocean navigation and that an immense saving would thereby be realised to the shippers & the consumers from the much greater facility & safety of

discharging

cargoes at Benicia than at San Francisco, that insurances can be obtained at a cheaper rate for Benicia, that instances have occured in which the entire freight from Boston have been absorbed by the cost of landing at San Francisco, and they therefore earnestly pray that a Port of Entry be established at Benicia in Upper California &c with as little delay as possible. The above facts and a hundred others equally decisive are certified by Com. Jones & Geni. Smith, but Gwin tries to weaken them by alledging or rather hinting that they are interested. N o effort within my power to exert shall be left untried to command success. A n d if from your friendship for my son, M r . Steuart & others, as well as from a sense of duty & justice can aid me in this behalf I shall acknowledge it as a lasting obligation binding on me & my California heirs forever. M y son you may possibly recollect as being engaged in 1846, 7 & 8 in prosecuting a commerce between Valparaiso & California. M a y I hope quite soon to receive your brief reply. I have the honor to be with great respect but in great haste, your obt. sert. Eleutheros Cooke N . B. A m o n g the merchants in N e w York represented as aggrieved were F. & D . Fowler, Fox & Livingston, Beals, Melick & Dewitt & c . A m o n g other facts before the Committee is one from Geni. Smith lately that a Maine Captain saved $9,600 in discharging one cargo at Benicia upon the price it would have cost at San F. Another case in which $150,000 is saved & 3 months time.

[ J . B. GRAY TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. V I I 1 2 I I . ]

N e w York A u g 16th 1850 Hon. T . O. Larkin I

OBSERVE

in the San Francisco Herald that W m . Wiggins has filed a

bill in the Court at San Jose against me to show cause why he should not be put in possession o£ the property conveyed by J G Christie to me & late the Santa Clara property in which you were an owner—alledging that he is the rightfull owner o£ the whole Rancho. The Hon. R. J. Walker is here with me and as he is interested with me in other property on Cook's Rancho, he is going to answer the bill & is anxious to have you here for such information as you can give. I trust it will suit your convenience to come over on Monday as W . W . will be only here a short time. Both you & Christie are named in the bill. Respectfuly Yrs, J. B. Gray If it is impossible for you to come, telegraph Ward & Price to that effect early on Monday. JBG

[CHARLES L. ROSS TO ALLEN MINER. LEASE. VII: 2 1 2 . ]

[August 1 7 , 1 8 5 0 ] T H I S

Indenture made the seventeenth day of August one thousand

eight hundred & fifty between Chas L Ross of the City of San Francisco of the first part and Allen Miner of the same place of the second part, Witnesseth that the said party of the first part hath letten and by these presents doth grant and demise unto the said party of the second part & to his executors, administrators and assigns all that lot or parcel of land & premises situate, lying & being in the city of San Francisco aforesaid and described as follows, to wit: Beginning at a point in the southern line of Washington Street one hundred & eighty eight feet from the southwest corner of Washington & Sansome Streets, thence south one hundred & seventeen feet to a canal, thence west

[ 336 ] thirty feet along said canal, thence north one hundred & seventeen feet to Washington Street, thence east along the southern line of Washington Street thirty feet to the place of beginning. To have & to hold the said lot and parcel of land & premises for the term of one year from the eighth day of August instant at the rent of three hundred & seventy five dollars for each and every month of said term payable monthly in advance. And it is further agreed that at the expiration of said term of one year the said party of the second part may have the priviledge of holding, occupying & enjoying the said lot, land & premises for the further period of two years at the same monthly rent above specified for & during said term. In witness whereof the parties to these presents have hereto set their respective hands & seals the day & year first above written. Charles L. Ross [Seal] Allen Miner [Seal] Sealed & delivered in presence of Jas. H . Gager Horace H . Stille It is agreed between the respective parties to this lease that said Allen Miner shall & may until the fifteenth day of December next have the privilege of purchasing the herein described lot & premises on the following terms & conditions: The said Allen Miner is to pay said Ross as purchase money for said lot and premises at the rate of six hundred dollars per foot fronting on Washington St. in payments as follows: One quarter in cash at the time of the sale and the balance in equal payments at six, twelve and eighteen months therefrom to be secured by mortgage on the property. And said Ross agrees that upon a performance of the terms & conditions herein contained he will sell and convey said lot and premises to said Allen Miner if they, during the time limited, elect to take and purchase the same and also to allow & credit them as cash on the first payment for and to the amount of any rent they shall pay under this lease. Witness our hands & seals this eighth day of October eighteen hundred & fifty. Charles L. Ross Signed, sealed & delivered in presence of . . .

[CHARLES L. ROSS TO B E N J A M I N F. MOULTON AND ROYAL H. WALLER. LEASE. FOLLOWED B Y MOULTON AND WALLER TO WILLIAM J . SHERWOOD AND CHARLES DE RO. VII: 2 1 4 ]

[August 17, 1850] ' J_ His Indenture made the seventeenth day of August one thousand eight hundred and fifty between Charles L. Ross of the city of San Francisco of the first part and B. F. Moulton and R. H . Waller of the same place of the second part, Witnesseth. That the said party of the first part hath letten and by these presents doth grant and demise unto the said parties of the second part, their executors, administrators and assigns all that lot or parcel of land and premises situate, lying and being in the city of San Francisco aforesaid and described as follows, to wit: Beginning at a point in the southern line of Washington street, two hundred & eighteen feet from the southwest corner of Sansome & Washington streets; thence south one hundred & seventeen feet to a canal; thence west twenty feet along said canal; thence north one hundred & seventeen feet to said southern line of Washington street; thence east twenty feet to the place of beginning. T o Have A n d T o Hold the said lot and parcel of land & premises for the term of one year from the eighth day of August instant at the rent of two hundred & fifty dollars for each and every month of said term payable monthly in advance. A n d it is further agreed that at the expiration of said term of one year the said parties of the second part may have the privilege of holding, occupying & enjoying the said lot, land and premises for the further period of two years at the same monthly rent above specified payable as aforesaid. A n d the said parties of the second part doth hereby covenant to pay to the said party of the first part the said rent as herein specified for and during said term. In Witness whereof the said parties to these presents have hereto set their respective hands & seal the day and year first above mentioned.

Sealed & delivered in presence of J. R. Foster

Charles L. Ross

[Seal]

Benj. F. Moulton

[Seal]

Royal H . Waller

[Seal]

[ 338 ] Know all men by these presents that we, B. F. Moulton and R. H . Waller, lesses within named for and in consideration of the sum of three thousand dollars to us in hand paid, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, have sold, assigned, transfered and set over unto W m . J. Sherwood and Chs. de Ro, their heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, the yet unexpired term of the within lease, together with the buildings thereon standing. T o have and to hold the same unto the said W m . J. Sherwood and Chs. de Ro, their heirs, executors, administrators and assigns said lease, for the unexpired term thereof, subject to the conditions and rents therein mentioned and subject also to a lease from said Moulton & Waller to Jas. B. Delany, which lease is herewith transfered. A n d the parties of the first part do for themselves jointly and severally convenant and agree to and with the parties of the second part their heirs, administrators and assigns that the said parties of the first have good and lawful authority to assign the premises hereby assigned and that the premises hereby assigned are free from all emcumbrances, mortgages, assesments and liens of every nature and description. Signed, sealed and delivered this fourteenth day of January 1 8 5 1 . Benj. F. Moulton

[Seal]

Royal H . Waller

[Seal]

[THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN TO JOHN BAUTISTA ROGERS COOPER. V A L L E J O DOCUMENTS, XXXV: 2 2 7 . ]

158 Tremont St., Boston, Mass. Aug. 23/50 Dear Brother: T H E day after seeing you on board we proceeded to Washington. T o be in time for the boys' school we soon left for Boston, stopt for one night about 26 June at Dorsey's Exchange Hotel, Baltimore. That night my wife was taken violently sick with a dysentary. Sent for a doctor, and sent on to N . Y . the two boys. In 6 or 8 days she was better and I was down with the erysepelas, had a consultation of physicians, lost my senses. Eben was sent by my wife. A l l gave me up. I was much trouble, continually getting up, and dressing, and trying to

[ 339 ] go downstairs bound to N e w York, went out of my head. Face swelled up with the colour of a Kanaka, eyes blinded. Every hour called for newspapers, read them upside down with specs on, then had ink, pen & paper. Telegraph[ed] scores of friends, drew drafts to pay my landlord and doctor, & all with blinded eyes and specs. T h e second week W . M . R. [Wm. M . Rogers] took Eben's place. In the meantime, from fatigue my wife was again down. When I regainjed] myself, I was being fed with a spoon by a nurse; with much trouble could raise my head. M y wife abed in the next room; we could neither of us rise. By the kind will of Providence, we are now fast mending. M y wife the most, as I am yet weak, and am daily liable to a little relapse or be otherwise unwell. A m lame from biles and blisters, now healing up; have to take more care of myself than pleases me. Have not yet [had] a raw apple, hardly look at pears, peaches, plums & c . W e are living in a private boarding house in the old Colonade Row, opposite the Common. Have a front parlour & two rooms, self, wife, Caroline & Alfred, and a female servant—$50 a week. Caroline and Alfred came from Otis' [Wright] after being there two months, neither of them having one word of Spanish. Alfred became so fond of his uncle [Otis] that the first day he came in he would not remain with us. When his mother tried to coax him he answer[ed]: "Mother, I go Neponset. Come see you tomorrow." I have the four boys in from the school occasionally. Rogerio [Cooper] is daily making a better appearance. Yesterday my wife went over to their house & school. T h e bare house cost M r . Weld he says 17,000$, the school 2,000$ or so. T h e grounds are beautiful, full of fruit & every way well laid off. M r . John Parrott can tell you. Rogerio still says he would not give up his chance of an education to go back, but says the U . S. is not so fine as it first appeared. This idea arises from having to study while we was at the school, two different times, R[ogerio] was very busy at play. H e is perfectly at home there, well placed and happy. There is 8 or 10 boys talk Spanish. Oliver has wrote to Juan. Frederic will. Francis wrote to Don Feliciano's little son. I yet continue rather crowded on by calls. I am very busy in obtaining memorials in favor of some of our ports being ports of entry. I think Monterey & Benicia will be made so next month. I am in correspondence with several persons in N . Y . & Washington on the subject. Almost every president of Insurance Cos. in State St. who was asked signed the Memorial of Boston. W . M . Rogers on his return here from Baltimore has my sickness—had it very lightly.

[340] W e are yet undecided where we will winter it, or whether we shall return to Cal. or not. It will depend on how we like the States, and on my receiving funds from Cal. M y sons keep me here; my will & wish take me back. With love to Encarnación [Cooper] & Rosalia [Leese] and children and respects to all old amigos y amigas, I am yrs. affec.,

[WILLIAM STEUART TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VII: 2 1 5 . ]

„ , . Thos. O. Larkin Esqr

Geo. Town L[Delawarel 2 « h Aug't

i8to

Dear Sir "YOUR

letter covering copies to several senators & a letter from Cap-

tain—in reference to a former collector, Capn Folsom, at San Francisco, though post marked "17th inst." did not come to hand till yesterday. Your copies shall be transmitted tomorrow to Steuart & Cooke; they will (as they ought) appreciate them. The Committee on Commerce (in the Senate) have unanimously reported in favour of Benecia being made a "Port of Entry." Inclosed you have a copy of the bill accompanying their report. A s I anticipated Stockton & Sacramento are not included. This I regret least it may be thought that M r . Cooke & I were in some measure instrumental in throwing them out. I assure you we have not, directly or indirectly, in any manner. W e were for Benecia & were perfectly neutral, in fact the bill prepared by us included both. Your memorial from Boston is received; it is capital. A similar one in every respect is also just received from Messrs. Howland & Aspinwall, and in a few days, we expect one from Baltimore, so as to command the more readily the friendly attention of M r . McLean, the Chairman of the Committee on Commerce in the House, who is of Baltimore; with these and a pile of other testimony our case is complete on this head. So you may rest from your troubles for a while at least, with an assurance (in my opinion) that Bene[cia] will be made a "Port of Entry" this session of Congress. In a little while we may have to solicit your friendly exertions in having a branch mint established at Benecia, but as yet we are not perfectly prepared for action. We give you hint in confidence, wishing that you will reflect upon it, but say nothing until further communication.

[ 341 ] Commodore Jones reached here last night in perfect health & fine spirits. His arrival is most opportune. M r . Cooke shewed me a letter from his son of 15th ulto. of a most satisfactory tenor. All's well as to Steinberger & c and says if Benecia is made a Port of Entry this session of Congress that they will get their own price for lots there. I have no letters by Commodore Jones as they were sent by Captn Johnson, U . N . , who accompanied him & passed on to his family in Maryland, to be here tomorrow. From what Comr. Jones says & from M r . Cooke's letter I am relieved perfectly from a cloud of anxiety. W e are having printed a condensed statement (or synopsis) of much in favour of Benecia, to be laid upon the table of every member of Congress, in time for action (if necessary) when the bill is taken up. The printer has promised to let us have it by Tuesday. I shall immediately forward you one. It always affords me pleasure to get a letter from you. M r . Cooke has been a host of himself. H e has talent, industry & tact. He had a satisfactory interview with M r . Winthrop, who had received the letter from Boston on the subject. Truly your's, W m . Steuart [Rubric]

[CHARLOTTE ROGERS GEORGE TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VII: 2 1 6 . ]

Louisville 25th August [1850] Dear Cousin I

RECEIVED your very welcome letter assuring me of your returned

health, about two weeks since, and was delighted, as you may imagine after hearing, or rather, seeing in the Journal of Commerce, the sad account of your illness. Your dear wife, how sorry I feel that she too should be sick. I hope ere this you both have perfectly recovered, and that in the fall we shall see you looking as well as possible. Can't you bring her with you? I think I could make her feel at home & not regret her visit. You both could enjoy many things we have out here, and I have spoken so frequently of you and your kind letters that many feel acquainted with you already. Since the reception of your last letter, I received a short note accompanied with a check of $100 from Brother Charles, which he was directed to send by yourself. It came safe to hand, and for which I feel grateful indeed. I scarcely know how to thank you. You, dear cousin, must feel happy in knowing you

I>] have been the means of releaving the distressed widow and orphans. M y children will always feel indebted to their kind relative who has not only sympathised but shown a kind interest and generosity in their behalf. Before many years, my boys will have it in their power to return all such kind favors with interest, I hope. Freeman, my oldest, who is now 16 years next fall, I have a situation for him since I last wrote you, and he gets $ 1 0 per month. H e writes for a gentleman who publishes the Baptist Banner, a newspaper of some repute in our city. He promises to assist him in his studies and to teach him to become a bookkeeper. I hope it will prove an excellent situation for him. Sister Bartlett has broken up housekeeping. Her health was delicate and her sons prefered she should board. She lives at The Merchants House, Main Street. Next week, I shall give up my boarders and take my children to a small cheap house, and there try by economy & industry to get a livelihood. I have the promise of sewing, and hope to live a more desirable life than the past. I received a kind affectionate letter from my dear Sister Sarah some weeks since and like your agreeable letters have laid them asside for a time, unanswered, because, my dear cousin, I was not in the right frame of mind to write. I have been so distressed and anxious that I could not write one line that appeared to me could be read with any degree of pleasure. I hope to be all fixed comfortably in my snug home by the time you come in October. I will close this now, dear cousin, as I wish to write to dear Sarah. Give my best love to your dear wife and accept of a thousand thanks from your grateful, Cousin Charlotte Remember me to all friends.

[ELEANOR N. GRAY TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VII: 2 1 7 . ]

Gallatin Place, near St. Louis Sept. 16th / 5 0 My Dear Cousin S OMETIME in the early part of the year I wrote you a long letter, & directed to Monterey, Calafornia, but presume you never rec'd it, as you had probably left that place ere its arrival. In it I detailed to you many circumstances of our family, & the probability of my husband's going out to Calafornia.

About that time he made application to the general government for an appointment as surveyor general of California (when the appropriations should be made). He had strong recommendations to the Administration of Genl. Taylor for the appointment, from gentlemen of the highest standing in Mississippi of both political parties, and he has been informed by M r . Ewing (late Secretary of the Interior) that his application is on file in the Department. Since which, the unfortunate death of the President has reached us, & now there is a change in the Cabinet, I fear M r Gray's application & interest will be overlooked. Again, I write to you to ask your friendly aid & interest with the present administration, as M r . Gray suggests the probability that your influence would have material weight with Col. Fremont, who is now a senator, and the appointment, when made, will come before him in the Senate for confirmation, and Col F's approval would be very valuable. M r . Gray is acquainted with Senator Gwinn (from Miss.) & will write him upon the subject. I trust he will give his influence for husband. You need feel no delicacy in recommending M r . Gray for the office, as you can do so by reference to the recommendations before alluded to, on file doubtless in the Department of the Interior, which Col Fremont or any gentleman can see by application. There are other appointments in the Far West, connected with the Land Department, which M r . Gray is well qualified for, whether in Oregon, New Mexico or California & for which he can give high & suitable testimonials, if requisite. There will be a Board of Land Commissioners for California which must decide upon the private land claims, even before the surveys will be commenced. I have been induced to apply to you for your influence from the high character & standing you sustain, and the interest you still entertain & manifest towards those connected with you, notwithstanding years of separation, and I trust, dear cousin, your exertions in my husband's behalf will not be misplaced. Were you to write to Col Fremont and ask his friendly acquiescence & influence it may without doubt have the desired effect. A t present, we are on a visit to my sister, Mrs. Shreve, where we have passed the summer, but expect soon to commence housekeeping in the city, where husband will do some temporary business awaiting the decisions of Congress which heretofore have been tardy & uncertain. It was necessary for him to continue occupied. W e have heard you were coming out West to see your relatives & c & c and all are in anticipation of this pleasure. Sister Shreve desires to be remembered & hopes to realize your society in October at which time we shall be at house-

keeping in St Louis where w e shall welcome you with delight & talk of bye gone days with heartfelt pleasure. Remember me to M r s . Larkin & all the little ones, as well as big. It would indeed give us much pleasure to welcome your wife, but I am told her health is too delicate. I trust the fine bracing Northern weather will restore her. M r Gray joins in respects & hopes ere long to meet you here. Present m y love & remembrance to such of m y relatives w h o remember me or enquire for me. Ever your affectionate, Cousin Eleanor N . Gray T o Thomas Oliver Larkin, Esqr., Boston, Mass. Y o u may have some other friend in Washington city who may be influential with the President, to whom you can mention M r Gray, so as to advance his interests. I forgot to say he is a W h i g . E. N . G .

[ T H O M A S OLIVER LARKIN, B E T H U E L P H E L P S AND T H O M A S BUTLER KING. AGREEMENT. C O P Y . V I I : 2 l 8 . ]

[September 24, 1850]

H

AVING

retained the Hon. Thomas Butler K i n g to aid in procuring the

establishment of a Port of Entry at the C i t y of Benicia, on the Straits of Carquines, California, we hereby stipulate and agree to convey to him ten lots in said city of Benicia for such services, provided such Port of Entry shall be established by Congress during their present session at the said city of Benicia & we guarantee said lots to be of the average value of five hundred dollars each at this time. Witness our hands at the C i t y of Washington this 24th day of September 1850. (Sig'd) Bethuel Phelps (Sig'd) Thomas O . Larkin

[SAN FRANCISCO STREET DEPARTMENT TO CHARLES L. ROSS. ASSESSMENT. PRINTED FORM FILLED IN. V I I 1 2 1 9 . ]

STREET COMMISSIONER'S

OFFICE,

San Francisco, September 25th 1850 M r . C L Ross T o Street Department,

T o

Dr.

assessment for grading Montgomery between Sacramento

Washington streets East side 92 feet frontage.

&

$212.52

Received Payment, Collector of Assessments.

Picayune Press.

[ J O H N G. CHRISTIE TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VII: 2 2 0 . ]

N e w York Saturday Sept. 28th 1850 Thomas O. Larkin Esq. I AM compelled to leave the city and may be absent sometime (ten days or more). Therefore I beg to refer you to my counsel, George E . Baldwin Esq., William street, who is duly authorised to act for me. Will you oblidge me by calling on him so that our matters [may be cleared] up without delay. Respectfully Yours, Jno. G . Christie

[JACOB PRIMER LEESE TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VII: 2 0 0 AND 2 2 0 A . ]

T-, ~ j , . r . 1 hos. O. Larkin hsquire

MontereyJ California Sept'r r J30th /8zo ' J

Mi Estimado y Amigo mio N o doubt you hav thought Strang of not receaving a few lines from me this three months past. For which I must say to [it] was in concequenc of my absenc north, say San Francisco and Sonoma. I hav leighed [laid] out our town in Sonoma, and the map wil be finished by the 15th of next, when I will remit to you a plan of the same so as you can hav a number of coppeys struck off. Our lots is in demand, worth here from one to two hundred dollars. I am a gowing up on the first steamer and then I shall arrange with Col. Stewart so as to choose his third and then shall weight [wait] for you to send me a Power of Atorny to sell, as this was omitted by us. If you can find a purchaser for me for my other half at the same price I sold you, say $40,000, you can sell for me, on conditions that the money will be paid on the recept of the tittle. I wish to sell all my land on that side and hav it put into other property else where. (It is the loest price I wil take for it. Drafts at sight in N e w York or New Orleans wil do.) I must [tell] you that I hav found my tittle for Clarks Point, and comence my sute immediately. I hav great hopes of it, but wil cost me a good round sum, and as it was the onley reserv I kept in San Francisco I think I cannot loose it. But wil be a hard battle in these courts, and if I should loose it here the U. S. Courts is bound to protect me by the Treaty. There is other lotts been gained here quite inferiour to mine. Shilleby has gained his Montenagro lot and that an Alcalde grant, so mine as a Govonment grant is clear case. The last letter I receaved from you was of the 19th M a y last, in which you requested me to get the strip of land joining your lot back of McKinleys. I must say to you that it was granted previous to your leaving here to M r . Willey & Doctor King, and they hav built on it a large house. The breadth is about nine varas from your corner to the street. The butchers shop on the beach I hav rented cinc the first July for sixty dollars pr month for this year. The ballanc of your property here is all in quiett possession, except Dn. Francisco Arci is about to bring a sute against you for the Abellio House he says he purchased from prevous to the war and had paid you all except twenty dollars. He has a document of yours to that effect but the fulfillment I do not

know any thing about. I beleav he has been put up to it and maid beleav he wil recover a large amount of damages but I hav got him to suspend the case until I hear from you. H e has agreed to weight three months. H e also informs me that if you wil giv him eight hundred dollars he wil settle all amicable so you wil know by this what to advise me to do, whether to defend it or settle with him. You must concider that any kind of a lawsute here is expenciv. I have spoken to Abrigo about Carrasco's papers and he has promiced me to attend to it. If not I shall go shortly to Sent Louis and then I wil see him myself and get them. I must say that all here hav been quite congratulated in seeing a letter which Dn. David Spence rec'd from the Revrend M r . Rodgers of Boston dated the 16th July anouncing your recovery of sickness and that you are still amongst the living. A s for when I was in San Francisco I see three letters anouncing your death, one to Cook, Parmer [Palmer] & Co., one to Doctor Tounsend from Old Bidwell, and one to Major Redding from Old Hensley, all of the 13th July which maid all of your old friends quite uneasy but non of us hardly beleaved it or we did not wish to do so. I rather beleaved it as I knew Bidwell so well and know he generally is verry carefull what he wrights but I suppose he got it from report or he would not of said so. But thanks be to God we will still liv in hopes of seeing you again here amongst us old Californians and enjoy moor years in this blessed climate than sacrifize your health and life on the Atlantic side for a few lexuries. A l l I can say to you is that a long life in California a living on Came, Frejoles y Papas and ocupying your time in counting dollars, instead of cents, is much more pleasanter than a short life caused by what you call pumpkin pies, plumb puddings & c & c and then dy with the collery morbus, is not the thing it is cracked up to be. You inform me that a man in the U . S. with his $100,000 can liv at his cumfort. I am well awere of all that, and I think we wil do the same here in a few years. When Unckle Sam Johnathan getts hold of us poco, poco with hart and hand then we wil flurish; as yet until our admission things here is verry unsertain. W e hav a comunity citizens that cares verry little for our prosperity (and I fear there is a gowing to be trouble. I mean the old California feaver that youst to brake out ever two or three years relative to polaticks but I think it wil amount to nothing moor than pulling hemp if such should be the case). I must conclude by saying that I should like to see you back again amongst us, and rais yourself with the great State. Here you wil be a lyon and there you wil hav to be as cunning as a fox.

Will you inform M r s Larkin that hir old city has this year improved beyond all expecttation. There has been about 80 houses gon up this year. A l l we want here now is the Port of Entery. A l l of hir old friends here is well, and M r s Leese joins me in sending hir our respects. Y o u wil please excuse this scrall. I shall wright to you again on the last of October on m y return. Conque a Dios amigo mio como ciempre, Q . B. S. M . , Jacob P. Leese [Rubric]

[DAVID SPENCH TO WILLIAM M. ROGERS. VII: 2 2 1 . ]

Monterey Septr. 30th 1850 Rev'd W m . M . Rogers Boston, M a s s . Dear Sir ^ f o u R very welcome letter dated Baltimore July 16th was duly received, and according to M r . Larkin's request, I now forw'd you a copy of his last will and testament, the original to follow per next steamer. It has given us pleasure to here of M r . & M r s . Larkin's recovery from their sickness as some unfounded rumours were in circulation in San Francisco and this place, but not beleaved. Should any missfortune of the same nature happen to him again to prevent his writting I beg you will do me the favour to advise me, as his old friends in California feel deepley interested in his wellfair. I have the honor to subscribe, Yours very respectfully, D . Spence [Rubric]

[CHARLES L . ROSS TO HORATIO N. DICKSON AND THOMAS R. DEWOLF. LEASE. VII: 2 2 3 . ]

[San Francisco, October 7, 1850] J . HIS Indenture made the seventh day of October eighteen hundred and fifty between Charles L . Ross of the city of San Francisco, State of California, of the first part and Horatio N . Dixon & Thomas R. DeWolf of the

second part, witnesseth: That the said party of the first part hath letten and leased and by these presents doth let and lease unto said parties of the second part and their assigns all that lot or parcel of land situate in the city of San Francisco aforesaid in the block bounded by Montgomery, Sansome, Washington & Clay streets, a part of lot N o 125, and described as follows, to wit: Commencing seventy feet ten inches from the southwest corner of Washington & Sansome streets on Sansome street; thence running twenty feet along the western line of Sansome street; thence west and parallel with Washington street forty five feet; thence north twenty feet; thence east and to the place of beginning forty five feet. T o have and to hold the said premises unto the said parties of the second part and their assigns, for the term of three years from the seventh day of October A . D . 1850 with the privilege of relinquishing said premises at the end of one year or at the end of two years, as the said parties of the second part may elect, upon the same terms & conditions at the yearly rent of nineteen hundred and twenty dollars, payable in monthly payments of one hundred and sixty dollars, in advance, at the beginning of each & every month of said term, which said parties of the second [part] covenant & promise to pay in the manner specified. The said parties of the second part agree to pile and plank said lot in a good and sufficient manner for erecting a building thereon, the expense of which is to be allowed them as a payment to the amount therof as so much rent, together with the interest at the rate of five per centum per month on the sum of such expense or so much thereof as shall remain after deducting the monthly payments of rent, payable as aforesaid, until the whole of said expense is appropriated. Said lessees are also to have the privilege of removing any building or buildings they may erect on said piles and planking aforesaid. In the case of the destruction of said premises by fire said lessees are to have the privilege of relinquishing said lease and such portion of said term as is unexpired, or in case of the destruction of the piles & planking to be placed thereon to again pile and plank the same, the expense of which is to be again allowed them as in manner above stated, during which last mentioned piling and planking if attended with no unnecessary delay said rent is to cease. It is further agreed between said parties that said party of the first part shall pay all taxes upon said lot or parcel of land and that said parties of the second part shall pay all taxes on the improvements and buildings that may hereafter be made or erected thereon.

A n d it is agreed that said party o£ the first part, his executors, administrators and assigns m a y re-enter and take possession of said premises u p o n the said rent b e c o m i n g d u e & unpaid, or if default shall be m a d e in the covenants or agreements herein contained or any of them, and at the expiration of said term the said parties of the second part will quit and surrender the premises hereby demised. A n d the said party of the first part covenants and agrees that the said parties of the second part on p a y i n g the said yearly rent in m o n t h l y payments as aforesaid shall peaceably and quietly have and enjoy the said premises for the term aforesaid w i t h o u t interruption or molestation of the said party of the first part or any person whatever claiming under or f r o m h i m or b y any title t h r o u g h

&

b y w h i c h he claims to hold said premises. In witness whereof the said parties hereto have set their respective hands and seals the day and year first above mentioned. C . L . Ross

[Seal]

H . N . Dickson

[Seal]

T h o m a s R. D e W o l f

[Seal]

Sealed and delivered in presence of John H . M c N a b C . A . Harding

[SAN FRANCISCO TREASURER'S OFFICE TO CHARLES L. ROSS. BILL. PRINTED FORM FILLED IN. VII: 2 2 4 . ]

[October 21, 1850] E X T R A C T S from A N A C T , P R E S C R I B I N G T H E M O D E ASSESSING A N D C O L L E C T I N G PUBLIC

S

OF

REVENUE:

EC. 40. In case a n y person, not b e i n g the owner of Real Estate, shall

neglect or refuse to pay the tax imposed on him, the C o u n t y Treasurer shall on the first M o n d a y of O c t o b e r collect the same, together w i t h ten per cent damages and the cost and charges that m a y accrue, b y seizure and sale of the goods and chattels of such person as o u g h t to pay the same. Five days notice of such sale shall be given, in like manner as notice is required to be given of sales

o£ personal property under execution, and no more of such property shall be sold, if susceptible of division, than will pay the taxes, costs, and damages chargeable against the owner. Sec. 42. In case the owner or owners of any Real Estate liable to taxation shall fail or refuse to pay the amount of taxes assessed against him, on or before the first Monday in November of each year, the Treasurer shall on that day expose said Real Estate, or so much thereof as will pay the full amount of taxes thereon, with ten per cent, damages on the amount of taxes due, and five dollars thereto added as a compensation to the Treasurer for making a deed to the land thus sold for taxes, and continued from day to day until all the lands are sold. Sec. 79. T h e Treasurer shall demand and enforce the collection of taxes from companies and private associations in the same manner as other cases. Sec. 82. Every person liable to pay a poll tax by virtue of the provisions of this Act, who shall refuse so to do when legally demanded by the County Treasurer or his deputy, shall not be permitted to prosecute any suit in the Courts of this State for the recovery of any debt or demand, or for the redress of any personal wrong, until such poll tax shall be paid. G E O R G E E N D I C O T T , County Treasurer.

Name

C. L. Ross

DESCRIPTION

OF PROPERTY.

VALUE.

Total Value.

Improvement.

Water lot No 136 13 7 13 8 1 1 2 I less Building ass'd to Merritt | 1 1 3 Mess 30x100 — Leonard & Tay f 1 1 4 J less I lot to Annan, Lord & Co. J 11 9 12 0 123 Part of water lot 124 — 25x45.10 125 126 Lot on Cforner] Broadway & Powell 50 varas on Broadway 107 ft on Powell

$10,000 5>°°° 5,000 127,500 10,000 10,000 10,000 2,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 209,500

No.

San Francisco, October 21, 1850

Received of C. L. Ross the sum of two thousand and ninety five / 1 0 0 dollars, being the State and County Taxes for 1850-51, on the above mentioned property. David M . Chauncey, County Treasurer Dept. $2095.00

Personal

Total Taxable Property

$209,500

State Tax, One Half per cent

1047.50

County Tax, One Quarter per ct.

5 2 3-75

Building Fund, One Quarter per cent

523.75

TOTAL TAX

$2095.00

[HENRY A. BREED TO LARKIN Be BELDEN. STATEMENT OF ACCOUNT. VII: 2 2 5 . ]

Dr.

Larkin & Belden in a/c

1850

Feb'y 19 To 2 casks for well May 7 " Bill sale of two cottage houses Sept. 1 4 " Pd. Wm. M. Eddy surveyor 30 " Pd. for 85 rods fence @ 7.00 " " iron hooks for bars " " rebuilding fence twice " " 25 pickets 1 . 5 0 — 2 lb. nails .25 Octo. 3 0 " Commissions 5 % on $ 2 2 6 9 . 5 0 Cash to balance

$ 12.00 1000.00 50.00

595-°° 4.00 16.00 1.75 II 3-47 477-28 2269.50

San Francisco Octo. 30th /50 with Henry A. 1850 Feb'y 18 By Mar. 31 " Apr. 30 " May 31 " June 30 " July 31 " Aug't 31 " Sept. 30 " Octo. 31 "

Breed, Agt. Balance due on a/c Rents rec'd this month Rents " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " "

Cr. $ 25.00 200.00 200.00 150.00 172.50 269.00 330.00 319-00 604.00 $2,269.50 Errors Excepted. H . A . Breed, Agent

[MARIA OLIVER (CHILDS) BIGELOW TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VII: 2 2 6 . ]

^ , , Dear brother Uliver M

Tackson L[Tennessee!J N o v . 14th i 8Jt o '

ANY long years have elapsed since I have addressed a line to you.

I cannot avoid writing now (as I received your letter to George yesterday) partly to express m y disappointment at your not making us a visit before you leave the country. W e were all anticipating much pleasure at seeing you, your wife and children, with Ruth. M y second object in writing is to request you when you see Brother Sam to inform him that when I took his son I had no idea of being obliged to support him entirely. I have now had him two years and he has made no provision for him whatever. Tell him also that I have concluded to break up housekeeping and to board myself and family. A s I can not get the child boarded for less than $ 7 5 a year I shall expect him to send on money not only for board, but for clothes, schooling and other expenses. I have myself toiled hard and supported three children without the assistance of any one, and I think he might support two children. I am too old now to labour as I have done. A s George is no doubt with you at this time, he has acquainted you with the affection of m y son. Tell George [that] Elijah is about as he was when he left him. W e shall be very sorry to have George leave us, but as I once prevented his going to California I can say nothing against it now. Tell G - Sarah is well, has been spending the week at M r Stephen's. W h e n you see Brother Sam please write and let us know what he intends doing, as he does not write himself. Tell him I am willing to keep the child but can not pay his expenses. H e must know it is not right that I should do so. H e is a smart child and should have the advantages of a good education. Give m y love to your wife; tell her I am in hopes she will make us a visit. I think she will be pleased with our pleasant little City. Dont laugh, but suppose you come out here and settle. I have no doubt but the manners and customs would suit your wife better here than those of the North. Society here is as refined and genteel as it is in any part of the United States. Had I a family to raise I would prefer living here to any of the Eastern cities. In m y immediate neighborhood there is a fine college, also a Female Institute. A s far as I can recollect I consider the schools here better than at the North, but I have not time to write more. Should George be with you give m y love to him. It would give me pleasure to receive a letter from you or your wife when it is convenient. Y o u r aff. sister,

M . O. Bigelow

[ 357 ] — [MARTHA M. BARTLETT TO T H O M A S OLIVER LARKIN. VII: 2 2 7 . ]

•t" /-»i. T , . T1 o Uliver Larkin hsqr

Louisville Nov 1J c;th /so ' J

My dear Cousin Sister Charlotte received your kind letter. She informs me that you intend returning to California, & we shall be prevented our expected visit. I feared as much, as it's so late now in the fall & those who travel North or West generally accomplish it ere the cold season commences. I feel very greatful for your disinterested kindness to my sister. May God bless you for it. There are very few in this world who show the goodness & generosity of heart that you have done. "YESTERDAY

I suppose Charlotte has informed you something of myself & family. It would have been happiness to me to once more have seen you, & to have introduced you to my family. M y oldest son has been, & is now, in the same drugg store for the last seven years, is a complete druggist, & capable in any way, & tho I say it, can bring the very highest testimonials of integrity, industry, & capability. His salary is too small for his untiring efforts & he seems desirous of seeking his fortune elsewhere, & says if Cousin George Childs declines going to California, he would be pleased to accompany you, should you wish any one & will acquaint him with what would be required of him. Some arrangement could be made here to have him go, much as I should dislike the seperation, still for his future interest I would not place objections in the way. I know so well the unwillingness that wifes have to a seperation from their husbands, that I have been rather inclined to think Cousin George might object & if he should, that you would require some one else & then thought of my own son. I would like to hear from you by letter ere you leave for California, even if a few lines. There is a M r & Mrs Portoof[?] boarding in this Hotel who say they came over with you last spring. She seemed quite delighted with your wife. How much pleasure it would give me to become acquainted with one [that] all our family seem so much pleased with. Margrete Parker has just been here on her visit to St Louis & informed us of your interesting family. I talk some of visiting the north next summer & may then see them. Remember us affectionly to your wife & beleive me, yours affectionly, Martha M . Bartlett Please direct to Mrs George F Bartlett care of Lapping & Co., Louisville, Ky.

[ 358 ] [ALBERT A. THOMPSON TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VII: 2 2 8 . ]

N e w York, Dec. 3d 1850 Dr Sir I AM well and intimately acquainted with the bearer of these lines, M r W m . H . Ruste, having known him for several years past. M r Ruste is a resident of Cambridge, Washington Co., N . Y . , is a son of one of the first men in that county. I take great pleasure in commending him as a young man of irreproachable character, possessing at the same time the best of qualifications for an efficient discharge of whatever business undertakings he may attempt to perform. Very Respectfully Yours, Albert A . Thompson N o . 20 Chamber St., N . Y .

[D. MCINTIRE TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VII: 2 2 9 . ]

Rocky Point N e w Hanover N . C . Deer 19th / 5 0 Thomas O. Larkin Boston, Mass. My Old Friend J U S T on the eve of your departure for California I received a long letter from you. Yesterday another the 2nd letter was handed me by a friend dated 31st July last, it having been directed to Sills Creek P. O. where I seldom call for letters not living near that place. Something like twenty years is a long time to pass away between two old friends without corresponding. It certainly is not my fault for I certainly would have written often could I have known where to direct a letter. I had the pleasure of hearing from you, direct, by our Representative, M r Ashe. I see from your letter the time has passed which you appointed for visiting old N . C . What has happened to prevent you? It is useless for me to tell you I would be glad to see you; must know that from our former intimacy.

I think you left N . C . in 1830 or 3 1 . V e i y soon after or about that time, I became tired of merchandizing and bought the H James place, went to farming, soon tired of a bachelor's life and in the spring of 1832 was married. W e have had 8 children; the first & last are dead. I now send all to school say four daughters & two sons. In 1840 I bought the place I now live on from L . Lane, the former residence of his father, having sold the other to Tho. Lee for double the amt. I paid for it. Since I commenced farming have not made money so fast as trading. But have increased my property some & lived a tolerable easy farmer's life. Have had several hard spells sickness but thank God have recovered. M y wife has had but little sickness but often complaining. Our children all look healthy and learn very well. I will stop the history of my family. Friend Larkin, what shall I say to you next. Oh, I will give you a history of the Jones family, your old friends. Susan Jane, I think, lives on Bl'k River. I think her husband has been for some time rather intemperate & managed badly but have just understood he has reformed, probably have joined the Sons & c . Scudder & wife have both died some years back. Mrs Hatcher, I think, is dead. Anne married one of the Croones. She has been dead some years back. One or two years ago David & family moved to Missouri. H e married a Miss Keith over the Creek. David was a smart industrious farmer & good citizen. Your old friend Withington has been dead many years. He was one of the inspectors of Naval stores. Died leaving no property, I presume. Charles Henry still lives at the old place and in possession of a large property. I would think was rich though he may be in debt. I know but little about him nowadays. For many years he has been quite intemperate but recently I understand has joined the Sons of Temperance, consequently has become a new man. H e has been married several years to a Miss Frederic of Sampson County. A great many your old acquaintances have died since you left. You would find now almost a new sett of inhabitants with here & there an old acquaintance. A great many have moved away. Your old mill has gone down long since; was worked a while by Garrason, Moore & Miller but soon quit her, I believe, without much mischief. You ask if Withington according to deed of trust paid any of your debts. I think I could safely say not the first copper. I heard no more about it after you were gone. A l l I heard say anything about whom you owed was about the same thing I told you just before leaving. You can go; if you get able you can pay us, if not let it be lost. Some time ago, I think some few years, Genl. McRae showed me a letter from you saying you would pay any debts still against you. It was

published and I presume the most of the claims were presented and sent to you but never any answer was received. The whole amt., with interest, I think would not amount to much. I think it very probable the amt. I hold against you is the largest, however I dont know. M r R. S. Sharpless has just moved away to Mo., left me his agent. Among the rest of his papers was a note vs. you which he said I could keep. If you ever returned he knew you would pay. A s you say newspapers are not always right, but I have understood from various sources that you were independent. M r Tate & wife are both living, the health of the latter very delicate. M r Tate preached in the neighbourhood one or two weeks back. Both his sons Tho. & Robt. are grown, have finished their education at Chapel Hill & both married; the eldest a farmer, the other a doctor. Thomas' wife was the daughter of the late Wm. B. Colvin—Robt. to a daughter of James Murphy on So[uth] River. L. Thomas still lives at the same old place and driving on about as usual. Margaret Tate, you recollect, first married Duncan Mclntire. She was soon a widow and after a few years married a M r Pittman up the country, now living near Sills Creek. I remember the ball at Duplin C[ourt] H[ouse]. I was there. Often have I looked back on my youthful days & some of them days of pleasantry. How often have I thought of the fun at the old mill & other places. Sarah has two of your books now which reminds us of you occasionally. I think the four pages nearly complete; you will then excuse me. Write me again. Any inquiries you wish to make I will attend to it. Should like very well to see your Lady. Will you bring her with you. Two or three days back I cut my rist very bad. It plagues me about writing and a farmer is generally too much engaged to write often. Being out of practice you must excuse any mistakes. I forgot to tell you I have a brother in California. You recollect the one that stayed with me at Long Creek, Charles; he has been there nearly two years. I was in hopes he would see you. Brother Andrew lives in Mississippi. Murdock in Louisiana. You will not blame me after receiving this letter. I have answered the first mail. When you write again direct to Cypress Grove P. O., New Hanover, N . C. In your next give me a full history of your life, at least the outlines. Sarah has just come in time enough before I closed the letter to send her respects and would be glad to see you and Lady. Your old affectionate friend, D. Mclntire [/« the handwriting of Larkin:] Answered Jan 20 in Washington.

[ 36i ] [ J . KEARNY TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VII: 2 2 9 B . ]

Benicia Dec'r 21st / 5 0 Thos. O. Larkin Esqr Sir "YOUR fav'r of Octr 28th has come safely to hand. I regret you have been so uneasy with respect to your taxes in this place, but I have the pleasure of informing you that through great exertions on the part of your friends, Messrs. Hayden & Mudge, who left nothing undone to hunt up your titles, and by so doing saved you a large amount of expenses. A l l the old friends of Benicia have been carefully taken care of, as far as it was possible for their friends here to do so, without any clue to their lots to start on. I trust the above will relieve your mind in relation to your taxes. Benicia is attracting, I learn, considerable attention in N e w York & Boston, and I only hope you will induce merchants & shippers to send their vessels & cargoes direct to this Port. A s you are so familiar with the great advantages as regards the safety of the harbor, the great saving of expenses, and its being the only thoroughfare to all the mines, that further remarks are unnecessary. I learn from good authority that M r Comstock (firm of Howland & Aspinwall) now here, has satisfied himself that a saving of two dollars pr br'l can be saved on landing & shipping it at Benicia over S. F., & such being the case, I have no apprehension that the merchants at home will long remain ignorant of such advantages, or availing themselves of them. Learning you will soon be here, and even fearing this may not reach you before leaving I must leave the rest until we meet. I remain, Dear Sir, Yours Respy, J. Kearny

[THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN TO THE EDITOR OF A SAN FRANCISCO NEWSPAPER. DRAFT. VII: 2 3 0 . ]

Washington December 24,1850 T o the Editor of

.

San Francisco, California newspapers in California of last month I am accused of rendering great assistance in the Atlantic States in having Benicia made a Port of Entry and exerting every influence of mine to injure San Francisco and Sacramento City, by preventing the latter from enjoying the advantages of a Port of Entry, forcing trade from its natural channels to benefit the first named place, etc. M a n y of the statements in those newspapers may have call'd down upon my head the indignation of Californians. T h e precuring a bill for a Port of Entry for Benicia by every fair and just measures that was in my power is a charge to which I am as guilty of as I ever was of any other undertaking of mine. But to injure any City, Pueblo or Rancho in Alta California by deed, word, or comparison is an act that I do not admit. Before the bill to make certain Ports of Entry in California was presented to the Senate, I understood that persons then in Washington not only intended to leave out Benicia in that bill, but were loud and violent in their denunciations against the place. In N e w York and in this city I used every persuasion with that party to leave the town to its fate & let the Committee of Commerce & the Senate bring in the town if they saw fit, and all of [them] join together in preference to being against each other. These favors were not granted to me. I advocated the principle that Californians in Washington disagreeing so broadly in the offsett would give a wrong impression in the Capitol. M y present object being to exonerate myself, not to recriminate others, I will not endeavour to show how the preposition from the Friends of Benicia were treated. A s to the party who had "to haul in their horns" when they found they would be defeated in all their expectations, I say nothing, not claiming a membership with the defeated. I do not believe that one of our delagation will say I ever had a word to advance against the upper ports being admitted, and I farther believe that those ports owe not a little to my exertion that they were at latest hour introduced into the bill, which exertions could have as well [been] accepted at first as requested. A t least these statements of mine are due to my old acquantances in California. T o any new acquantance in that country I

may have since the change of flags in Monterey, I will use a shorter argument. I have as large an interest in the prosperity of San Francisco and Sacramento City as I have in Benicia, and taking the standerd of value of those points, as assumed by many people in California, I have an interest a hundred fold greater. [Endorsed:] Copy of Letter to Editor in San Francisco [portion bound in] Sacramento City, 1850.

[ J . W. RAYMOND TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VII: 2 3 1 . ]

San Francisco 30 Dec 1850 Thos. O. Larkin Esqr New York Dr Sir " Y o u r note of 28 Oct is rec'd and the accompanying letter promptly delivered. The package was delayed on the Isthmus and came up in the Sarah Sands. Your several cases of maps came to hand sometime since, but I had no advices or invoices of them. Presuming you had sent them for sale, I have endevored to dispose of them, but with no success. No one desires to buy real estate and sellers are too well aware of the situation of their property to feel willing to pay for any other maps than they already possess. I have not written to you since I have been here, because I knew you were already too well advised of the honorable conduct of the Gentlemen here with whom we were unfortunately connected, & who gave you such full "powers of attorney," to make it necessary to refer to it myself. California has no occasion to be proud of such citizens. Hoping that you may escape their snares unhurt, I am, Dr Sir, Yours & c . J. W . Raymond

[ 364 ] [THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. LIST OF CLAIMS, 1 8 4 4 - 1 8 4 6 . COPY. VII: 1 9 6 . ]

[December, 1850] M

EMORANDUM of Claims put in possession of Charles W . March

in 1850, in Washington. One "Claim" in favor of Talbot H . Green signed by Mariano Silva 6th of July 1850 sworn to by M r . Green 8th of October 1850, by M r Larkin Deer. 20th 1850 handed in to the commissioners Deer. 23d 1850 for

$ 3,711.87

One "Claim" in favor of Thomas O. Larkin signed by Manuel Micheltorena Deer. 12th 1844 for

10,000.00

One "Claim" in favor of Thomas O. Larkin signed by José Abrego March 25th 1846 for ($1,750 paid on this)

3,750.00

One "Claim" in favor of Thomas O. Larkin signed by Mariano Silva M a y 30th 1845 for

515.62

Deduct payment on claim signed by José Abrego March 25th 1846

$17,97749 1,750.00 $16,227.49

[THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN TO JOHN BAUTISTA ROGERS COOPER. VALLE J O DOCUMENTS, XXX : 2 6 8 ]

N e w York, January 9, 1851. 101 Tenth Street, near Broadway Dear Brother: I HAVE been in anticipation of receiving a letter from you ever since you left us, but have been disappointed. M y wife has purchased the house where we are living at 17,500$, laid in about 8,000$ of furniture in it. The furniture is not much in quantity, but being of rosewood & richly carved has been expensive. W e are about 40 doors west of Broadway, some two or three blocks

above N . Y . Hotel, and below Union Park. W e have a very good street and location. W e have a lot 26 x 96, house 26 x 65 feet, three rooms deep, two stories. T h e other stories are two rooms deep. W e have a cellar, basement floor, and four stories above, in all about 18 rooms. Croton water, 1 gas, and furnace pipes give water, light & heat all over the house. Thus far we are well situated. Frederic, Francis & Caroline are going to school, living at home but dining with their school master & mistriss. Oliver is in Bristol, R. I., with a M r . Lafayette Burr. Cousin W . M . Rogers and myself intend to have M r . B[urr] move to Newport in M a y , and take 5 or 6 boys only under his charge. H e has now a public school, receives 600$ a year, boards himself. W e are to guarantee that sum to him. I pay 200$ for Oliver. M r . Rogers offers 150$ for Rogerio [Cooper], It ought to be 200$. Then I make up 600$ if he has no more schoolers but he is not to take over six boys. H e will at vacation time travel with our sons if we request it. I shall offer to our cousin a part pay if he will send his son thus. I suppose board & clothes, etc., will be 200$ more each for Oliver & Rogerio. I may or may not send Fredy & Francis. Their mother wishes them to remain at home. I learn you have sold the "Corta Madera" Rancho. 7 am glad of it. Sell another Rancho if you can. Senators Benton & Gwin have each a land bill for California before the Senate. One of them with alteration may pass—may not—. Supposing one does, it's impossible for us to fortell whether Govt, will construe titles by the letter or the spirit; if the former, it will prove bad for many landholders. It's folly to say this thing or that is just or unjust in their opinion. Squatters are settling all over California. They publish papers—organize themselfs, have their pamphlets even in Washington. I saw one in George Wright's, our Rep. hands. I suppose he holds water lots in San F . by squatter's rights, bo't from Stephen Wright. For this uncertainty I advise your selling land. I shall sell half I have if I can. Again, supposing there will be no trouble, your family require money. You ought to order M r . Rogers to invest 20,000$ in your wife's name, & 20,000$ in your own name in real estate here or in Boston. A l l class of stocks are high, going higher. When you by & by may want to sell out they may be low. I lost 4 5 % last year on my 4,000$ railroad stock. That same stock is now worth 50 ct. on the dollar. So it's rising a little. M r . Green done well in selling to M r . Buckelew your tract at 65,000$— 18,000$ of it is now safe, I believe, in the Phil. mint. 1

By aqueduct from Croton River.

A s you now have funds here, let me impress on your mind and to Encarnación the importance of sending Juaneto here to go to school with Rogerio y Tomas—the school being a private one, the instructor at our disposition. John's age will make no difference. If you do not like to have him go to Panama, send him too over the Mexican route. I hope you and your wife will come to this conclusion by the time I arrive. Your young daughter will soon have a school in Monterey. Brother [George Edwin Childs] came here in Nov'r. I am much pleased with his appearance. I offered him 3,000$ a year & traveling expences to go to Cal. with me. H e wished to go as he has sold out his small stock of goods in Jackson, Tenn., and broke up business—and expects to remove to Miss, or Ohio, having made but a little in Tenn. On his return to his wife, she objected to his going, but little by little approved of it. Almost concluded to go with him, when the news of the cholera in Cal. arrived, and thus ended their voyage. Eben says he will go with me if we can agree on terms. I shall be in Washington this week and hope he will at once give up office and go out with me. H e said ten days notice would do for him to be ready. H e had given up house keeping, him & wife are in the Union Hotel, Washington. I have a young man in our house engaged in writing. W e are duplicating all my copies of deeds given in California that I can leave one book of copies here with M r . Rogers, and carry one with me. I am in hopes to leave here with Eben the 13th of next month and be at your house 20 or 21st of March. W e may not get away from N e w York before 28 Feb. I shall not hardly be ready the 13th, but wish to go then, that I can land in Monterey, where I really believe my old "Paisanos" will be all glad to see me, as I shall to see them. I shall send this in duplicate, one to you in Monterey, the other to M r . Green to give you in San Francisco if you are there. Give my love and remembrances and that of my wife to Encarnación, Aneta, Juaneto, Rosalia & Prudenciana & their family, 1 to Josefa Abrego, Don Esteban, and M r . Hartnell families. Your neighbor Dona Louisa Diaz and other amigos & amigas in your vicinity. Yours affectionately, Oliver. Captain Juan B. R. Cooper Monterey, California 1 Encarnación, Rosalía, and Prudenciana were sisters of General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo. A l l married prominent Californians, Encarnación—John B. R. Cooper, Rosalia—Jacob P. Leese, and Prudenciana—José Amesti. Aneta and Juaneto were probably the Cooper children.

[ L O U I S A R. ( C O O P E R ) R A D C L I F F E T O T H O M A S O L I V E R L A R K I N ? V I I : 2 3 5 . ]

Dorchester [Mass.] Jan ioth 1851 Dear Cousen I AVAIL myself of this oppertunity to adress a few lines to you. I am very poor and I am in want of asistance. M y name before I was married was Louisa R Cooper, now is Louisa Radcliffe. M y husband whent to California 2 years agoe. I was left entirely destitute and have verry poor health with a small child. I find it verry hard to git along not haveing received any money from my husband and have to support myself with my needle working at the dress makers traid when i can git work to do. I never was more in want of asistance than this winter not having any thing in, no provishions and the last fewell I bought I could not buy but half a ton of cole. A s for my husband I have not herd from him for the last 6 months. I do not know wether he is liveing or dead. I feel verry much discourage not knowing what to do or wich way to turn. I have refrained from writeing to you before because I was afraid to offend you. I will be verry much obliged to you if you will help me and am verry greatfull for what you have done for me and also youre brouther. I must come to a close with respects to you and all youre family, Louisa R Radcliffe

[ T H O M A S O L I V E R L A R K I N TO U . S . P O S T M A S T E R G E N E R A L , AND L A R K I N T O W A S H I N G T O N NATIONAL M O N U M E N T S O C I E T Y . D R A F T S . VII: 2 3 6 . ]

Willard's Hotel Washington Jan 15, 1851 Sir O n

the 11 inst (mail day for California) I handed to a clerk in the Post

Office in the City of N e w York, several newspapers for members of the Legislature of California. A t the moment, I found I had only gold coin, therefore handed to the clerk a five dollar U . S. gold coin. This was refused, and I was told to go and look for small change. I informed the officer that time was short, the crowd oppresive, and that I could not recover my place without much

[ 368 ] trouble. T h e only answer was, the money will not be received. I again passed the money into the window with the newspapers. Both were through [thrown] out and the newspapers lost. W i l l you please inform me if an officer of the Post Office can refuse mailable matter, when U . S. coin is tendered for the postage. I am with much respect Washington January [ 1 5 ] 16 1 8 5 1 Gentlemen I expect to leave the City of N e w Y o r k in February for California. Wishing to be of service in the building of the "National Monument to the memory of Washington," I offer myself as your agent for the State of California, with the priviledge of appointing sub agents in that state under m y responsibility in respects to the funds they may receive for your Society. I am with the highest respect, Y o u r obdt. servant, Board of Managers of the Washington National Monument Society

[F. M. DIMOND TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VII: 2 3 7 . ]

Bristol R I Janury 16th 1851 Dear Sir I

HAD the pleasure to receiv your letter by the hand of your son, and I

am glad to say he is in first rate hands and myself and family will take much pleasure in having him at our house often. M r Burr thinks he will go ahead in his improvments. I am very respectfully, Y o u r ob. set. F M Dimond Thos. O. Larkin Esq N.Y.

[NATHAN K E L S E Y HALL, U. S. POSTMASTER GENERAL, TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VII: 2 3 8 . ]

Post office Department, Washington Jan'y 16, 1851 Sir

"YOUR letter of

the 15th instant, complaining that one of the clerks in

the Post office at N e w York refused to give you change for a half eagle, on payment of postage, is received. It is expected that postmasters & their clerks will exhibit a spirit of accommodation in all transactions connected with the business of the Department; but the scarcity of silver coin at this time, the fact that it bears a premium of from three to five per cent over gold, and the fact that postmasters have no right to receive bank notes for postage, so that it is presumable that no such money was in the hands of the P. M . at N e w York, are sufficient in my mind to excuse the action of the clerk, as represented by you. There exists no reason why postmasters should be obliged to furnish change when it is at a premium of from 3 to 5 per cent for any piece that may be presented, even though it be a legal tender more than that private individuals should be obliged to do the same in their business transactions. Very respectfully & c . N . K . Hall Thomas O. Larkin Esq Washington, D. C .

[ALLEN A. HALL, U. S. TREASURY DEPARTMENT, TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VII: 2 3 2 . ]

Washington, Treasury Department, Jan. 22nd, 1851 Sir I

SHALL be greatly obliged to you if you will, at your earliest con-

venience, communicate to me in writing such information as you may possess in relation to the existence in California of building materials suitable for the construction of a Custom House and Marine Hospital at San Francisco. D o

[370] me the favor to be as full and precise as you can on the subject of brick and stone, and also labor; together with such general remarks as the nature of the subject may suggest to your mind. Very respectfully, Your obdt. servt. Allen A . Hall, Commissioner & c . &c. Thomas O. Larkin Esq. Willard's Hotel

[WASHINGTON NATIONAL MONUMENT SOCIETY TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. PRINTED FORM FILLED IN. VII: 2 3 3 . ]

[January 22, 1851]

W A S H I N G T O N NATIONAL MONUMENT All Who Shall See These Presents, Greeting:

OFFICE. To

Know Ye, that reposing special trust and confidence in the integrity, diligence, and discretion of Thomas O Larkin the Board of Managers and General Agent of the Washington National Monument Society, do authorize and empower him to solicit of, and receive from the inhabitants of the district for which he has been appointed sub-agent or collector, embracing the State of California, such donations as they shall contribute to the erection of a National Monument to the memory of Washington at the seat of the general government. Given under our hands, at the City of Washington, this, the twenty second day of January A . D. 1851. Arch Henderson, First Vice President. Elisha Whittlesey, General Agent. Test: Geo. Watterston, Secretary.

[ E L I S H A W H I T T L E S E Y T O T H O M A S OLIVER L A R K I N . VII : 2 ^ 1 . ]

Washington National Monument Office -ri r\ i i • 1 nomas U Larkin hsqr

i a n V 22nd I8SI J ' J

Washington Dear Sir

"YOUR

bond having been received and approved, I herewith transmit

your commission, and instructions in quadruplicate. In your appointment of sub agents, you can furnish each with a copy, and give the authority to act upon the blank page, specifying the boundaries of each district. I have also made package of 300 small prints of the Monument, 200 certificates, pamphlets, 4 subscription books, addresses & c & c which will be placed in the care of E L Childs Esqr as you suggested. Directions have been given to forward 200 of each of the large prints in a box to N e w York in accordance with the address you furnished. If there are any other prints or papers that you may desire now or hereafter be pleased to advise us, and they shall be immediately forwarded. Most Sincerely Yours,

Elisha Whittlesey by J W Eckloff, elk.

[ A L E X A N D E R S P E N C E TO T H O M A S O L I V E R L A R K I N . VII : 2 4 0 . ]

^

Bytown, Canada West, 24th Jany 1851

I

HAD the pleasure of receiving your very obliging letter of 10th inst.

and am glad to find that you are able to write so favorably of my brother in California and his family. You mention that you have been requested to send to me a likeness of his wife and him; and if you will have the goodness to give the parcel to T . M . Clark Esqr 106 Broad Street, N e w York, he will take the trouble to forward it to this place. Perhaps he may be the bearer of it himself as I understand that he is expected here soon by The Honb'le Thomas M c K a y & Co. for whom he acts as agent.

I may state that I received a letter from my brother o£ date "31st January" last in which he said that he had sent likenesses of himself and family "to be put into the hands of The Rev'd Walter Colton in Philadelphia to be forwarded to me, and in a letter of date August 25th last he said that by General Riley, ex-governor of California who sailed from Monterey on 2d August, he had sent a specimen of Californian gold also direct to the care of M r . Colton. I have since written to that gentleman whose address I understand to be 372 Chesnut Street requesting him to send the parcels to the care of M r . Clark mentioned above; but I have received no answer from M r . Colton; nor have I heard anything of the parcels, and I am apprehensive that they are lost as I have since learned that I committed a mistake in reference to M r . Clark's address, believing it to be Wood Street instead of Broad Street. Perhaps you might be able to inform me of General Riley's address as I am most anxious to receive the gold not so much for its intrinsic value as because of it being a gift intended for my wife. I am much obliged to you for offering to carry anything to my brother and we shall at least trouble you with letters before your departure. Dear Sir, I am, Your Obt. & Obliged Servant, Alexr Spence Thomas O Larkin Esqr 101 Tenth Street, N e w York [In the handwriting of Larkin:] Send these, also two pictures of Monterey & 2 keys.

[THOMAS HART BENTON TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VII: 2 4 2 . ]

Jany 25, 1851 M

R. Benton's respects to M r . Larkin, & thanks him for his polite

offer to carry a little packet to California, if the family have one to send, and will avail themselves of the kind offer. M r . B. and family would be glad to see M r . Larkin on any evening, and in the mean time (as early as convenient) would be glad to have from M r . Larkin a statement of his purchase of the Mariposa for Col. Fremont.

[

3 / 3

]

[WILLIAM STEUART TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VII: 2 4 3 . ]

Geo. T o w n J any 2 5 / 5 1 Thos O Larkin Esqre My Dear Sir I

REGRET

much not seeing you before you left for N e w York. While

you were on the ground, I felt perfectly easy. Commr. Jones not being able to assist us, I have m y fears in being able alone to phisic the Doctor. T h e very next day after you left, he had the bill in reference to a dry dock in California withdrawn from the Committee on Commerce and referred to the N a v a l Committee of which he is a member, so as to afford him a better opportunity of working against us. I received yesterday a letter of 15th Deer from m y son. H e writes in even better spirits than his last which I read to you & says the beneficial effect in "Benecia" having been made a "Port of Entry" is beyond their expectations. If you have any news by the last boats do write me and send me some of your latest California papers. W h e n will the press be ready for shipment to Friend Semple's. Truly yours, W m . Steuart [Rubric]

[W. L. LEWIS TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VII: 2 6 3 . ]

Grafton [Mass.] Jany 2 9 , 1 8 5 1 Dear Cousin i ^ . F T E R m y arrival at home, I found a letter from you dated 19th inst from Washington and though I have so recently had verbal communication with you, I have thought it best to say a few words more, even at the risk of being 'tedious' & troubling you with another letter, when I suppose you have scores to attend to weekly. While with you the subject of a trip to California was twice spoken of by you, & in your letter you mention it again. D o not suppose that m y neglect to give you a direct & prompt answer was owing to indifference or want of interest on the subject. B y no means. Y o u r question took me by surprise. I was not prepared for it. I did not visit you to ask assistance, or to 'bore' you by solicitation

for your influence to assist me. Because I was well aware you were then & now doing much for your friends & relatives, and I cannot bear to intrude m y wishes on a free and generous nature. God knows I am anxious to rise above my present low prospects & gain a decent competence for my family & myself. You are the first & only relative that ever took any interest in my fortunes and I shall ever hold it in grateful remembrance. The kind treatment that I received from you and your wife on my arrival at your house has penetrated & softened a heart made callous by cold neglect. But a truce to moralising. T o your question I answer I should be willing even to "emigrate" to California within 3 or 4 months, if the inducement was fair & liberal, & the situation permanent and yourself concerned in it. Give me a good offer & I will devote myself to your service for life. I have no attachments for home or friends, or any one, except my family, that I cannot readily or instantly sever. I again repeat, I have ever been an isolated being, uncared for, & caring for none. M y family demand my best energies—it is my duty to try to leave them a trifle when I leave this busy, scheming world, & go—to sleep. Will you again spare a few moments from your pressing cares & occupations to write me a plain & candid exposé of your plan for an "establishment" that you speak of in your letter. Is the plan yours or another's? In short should I be in your service or a strangers? Is the location in Francisco or Benecia? & is the place healthy? Where should I procure my "hands"—in the States or there? Would it be well ultimately to carry my family there to settle, or forever leave them here? These questions naturally press on my mind, though I am no whining milksop. I have a wife that would readily follow my fortunes for better or worse through a thousand Californias, & never complain of hardships. But there must be an inducement—an object in view. I am not particularly fond of the printing business, though I once thought I had a thorough knowledge of all the details of it. Having been 8 years foreman in one large establishment & 2^4 years with a partner in another in Steam Press Printing, I had concluded to avoid it for the future. I have been out of the business 1 5 years & should require a few months drilling to learn modern tactics. But man can do any thing that he determines to do. M y wife sends her best love & respects to your wife & family, & a reasonable share to yourself. Her husband does the same. Yours, ever truly, W L Lewis

Ruth returned to Lynn Tuesday noon—all well. I expect to send this by Dr. Thornton, our family physician, who visits N e w York for the purpose of confering with a friend on the subject of migrating also to California.

[WILLIAM S. CHARNLEY TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VII: 2 4 4 . ]

N e w York Jany 3 1 1851 Thomas O. Larkin Esq Dear Sir A s

one of the executors of Walter Colton, dec'd, I take the liberty of

enclosing to you herewith deed to him from Talbot H . Green. Do. Charles Wolter. Do. Fran. P. Pacheco. Please have them recorded at Monterey and pay all taxes or other legal dues upon the same and as soon as completed please forward the deeds to Mrs. Walter Colton No. 372 Chesnut St. Philadelphia and draw upon her for such charges as may accrue, which draft shall have due honor on presentation. I would thank you to select from these & any other property in California belonging to Walter Colton's estate, some careful person to act as agent who will pay taxes & c & c , and also keep Mrs. Colton properly advised in regard to all matters relating to the same. Please ascertain all the particulars you can of any property besides that comprised in above deeds belonging to M r . C. particularly in regard to one on which there is a quicksilver mine & inform Mrs. Colton by what tenure they are held & c & c . With much respect and many thanks for your kindness already manifested I remain, Yours & c . Wm. S. Charnley (of N e w Haven Conn.)

[GEORGE EDWIN CHILDS TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VII: 2 4 5 . ]

Jackson Tennessee Feby ist 1851 Dear Brother I

REC'D

your dispatch o£ the 29th in answer to mine of the 24th last

evening. On the 27th your letter arrived with information that contracts were drawn and that every thing was arranged for Bro. E. to leave with you on the 13th inst. for Calafornia, but the despatch to my supprise says he can not go, which if it be true and the proposition is still open for my acceptance I will take it, and leave N e w Orleans the last of this month. Would much prefer getting off by the 13th, but cannot, I think, put my business into such a train as I should like so early as that. If I go my wife will stay at her father's. She has given me a rather reluctant passport, or rather none at all. Eliza Mason rec'd yesterday a letter from Eben's wife, in which she spoke of the matter as being settled, tho' it was a trial & c but still that it was settled, so that the first thought afer reading the dispatch was that there had been some mistake at the office. You do not give Eben's reason, so presume it is because his notice to the department was too short and that consequently would not accept his resignation, at least that is the construction I put upon it till better informed. I telegraphed you again to day in hopes it is not too late, tho' should not [be] supprised to learn that you had already engaged some stranger in your disappointment. I would say more, but that there is some change taking place at this time in the arrivals & departures of the mails, so that the P. M . cannot tell how soon the office will be closed. If my offer is accepted you will write such letters as you deem necessary. Regards to all. Sincerely Yr. Bro. George

[ T H O M A S A P C A T E S B Y J O N E S TO T H O M A S O L I V E R L A R K I N . V I I : 2 4 7 . ]

National Hotel Washington Feb. 3d 1851 My dear sir I VERY much regret that it was not in my power to see you again before you left Washington and especially as I was anxious to make you my personal acknowledgements for your kind attendance on the Court Martial. The court adjourned on Saturday but nothing is yet known of the sentence. Out of doors all is said to be well.

I was quite anxious for you to have had some conversation with Purser Henry Wilson, of whom I spoke to you in reference to the newspaper you wish to establish at Benicia. I have seen Mr. Wilson since & had a full conversation with him & I have no doubt could you have met an arrangement mutually benificial might have been made. Wilson is a thoroughbred printer & editor, has powerful connections with the press in Ohio, has talent, industry and all the fire and zeal to fight & conquer too the Alta and kindred prints anywhere. He would be a good acquisition to Benicia in many respects. Have you determined to go out this month? If yes I suppose there is still chance of seeing you on here before you go. When you reach California I think you will find that I have no interest there now, at least I fear that will be the case, but it is needless to repine. I have worked hard all my life for the benefit of others & received but little thanks. Let all that pass. I have the reward of a clear conscience of which no man can deprive me. Thank God for that. For the kindness of yourself and many friends in California I hope ever to be grateful. I have and shall have a deep interest in the prosperity of California and although I may not be the owner of farthing's worth of property in that state my interest in her prosperity and the prosperity of her citizens will endure with my life notwithstanding the mammoth abuse heaped upon me by some of the San Francisco editors for telling truths in which not only all of California but of every state in the Union, and of all the world besides are deeply interested. As to Benicia she certainly was my darling, my pet if you choose, not because I had a small monied interest there, but because I saw in the bounties which nature had bestowed on her more attributes to make her a paradice on earth, that is commercially speaking, than any place I had ever seen, and then my nature and my practice is to take sides with the oppressed every where, and we

[ 378 ] all know what injustice has been done her by the slanders of persons whose position in life, if not regard for truth, ought to have taught them better. Well enough. When you get to California, if any one should inquire after me, say I am as I am & and as I left California towards them and towards California, and if in your absense you or them, any of my old acquaintances, you & they have only to name it. Tell Steinberger he is the only person in California to whom I have written except on business since I returned home and from him I have not yet rec'd an answer, neither have I rec'd a letter from California except on special business since I left there. When you see Capt. Graham tell him I put his papers into the proper train as soon as I arrived here, also M r . Sills, but that nothing can be done until the commission appointed by Congress acts upon all the claims. A n d now, my dear Sir, I must say farewell. Wishing you a pleasant journey & safe return in due season, I remain faithfully, yours with great regard & c . Thos. ap C . Jones [Rubric] Thos. O Larkin Esqr 101 Tenth st. N e w York

[ALEXANDER SPENCE TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VII: 2 4 6 . ]

By town, Canada West 3 th Feby 1851 Dear Sir I

TAKE leave to enclose to you a letter for my brother in California

which you will do me a great favor to deliver on your arrival in that country. In answer to your kind and obliging letter of 10th ult. I requested you to hand over the likenesses to T . M . Clark, 106 Broad Street, and I dare say they will be sent to this place before long. With many thanks for your kindness and wishing you a pleasant journey to the land of gold, I am, Yours Respectfully, Alexr Spence Thomas O. Larkin Esqr 101 Tenth Street, N e w York.

[ZACHARIAH F. JOHNSTON TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VII: 2 4 8 . ]

Washington City Feby 7th 1851 Sir T H I S letter will be delivered to you by my friend R. R. Gatton Esqre recently appointed American consul to Mazatlan, Mexico. I shall be happy if you will give him such information, as he may need in his new position. Your long acquaintance with the duties of a consul I know fully qualify you to advise him. A n y favours you may show him will be fully appreciated by Yr. friend and very Ob. St. Z. F. Johnston, Commander U. S. N . T . O. Larkin Esqre N e w York

[ALFRED ROBINSON TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VII: 2 4 9 . ]

Boston February 7 / 5 1 Friend Larkin I SEND you per mail the required documents appertaining to the property of the deceased M r Col ton. T h e copies with the signatures of the Melius' and mine own attached I have inclosed to M r Charnley. Presuming I shall see you on Wednesday, I remain yours & c . A Robinson [Rubric]

[BETSEY (LARKIN) CHILDS TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VII: 2 5 0 . ]

Maiden [Mass.] Feby 8 1851 My Dear Oliver I

FEEL rather disapointed that I am not to see you again before you

leave N . England as I had encouraged the hope that you would visit Boston before you left and favour your friends with a call, and of course Maiden friends

C 380 ] among the rest, which I assure you would have much gratified us. However, as your arrangements are made I must though with reluctance give up that hope and wait untill some future time when if God spares our lives we may meet again. M y children were very much pleased with their visit to N Y—enjoyed it exceedingly. Sophia thinks she shall visit your wife again during the summer if we are all well and take her little daughter with her. She wishes me to accompany her which though it would be extremely gratifying to visit your wife and become more acquainted, yet to me it seems altogether impractible for me to go so far from home. I should like much to see all your children, hope at some time to have that pleasure. Oliver, what singular changes occur. W h o would have believed that after so much said about Eben and then George going out to your adopted country and such generous offers as you made them that they should both fall back and decline. How strange is it not? I hope they will not have cause to regret their decision. True, they are fond of home and friends and the idea of leaveing them so long is dreadful, yet I presume others have home ties as strong as they yet are willing to make sacrifices and forgo the pleasures of home, however dear, if it appears for the best to do so. I feel sorry for Eben, for at his time of life to be out of business must be discourageing indeed. I hope however there will be some opening which may prove advantageous for him. As far as I am acquainted with William's [ W m . J. Eames] business talents I think you will not regret the contract made with him. I have heard them spoken of as being rather superior. As far as I can understand he has always given entire satisfaction to his employers not only as haveing a right idea of how business should be done to advantage but what is much better, his character as a man of integrity and uprightness has never been doubted. I speak of him not because he is the husband of my dear child but just as I would of any young man of whom I could say the same in truth. He has thought for some time past that he would like to follow Wallace to the Golden Region but he felt unwilling to resign his situation which he considered lucrative and incur expences which he might avoid unless he had a fair prospect of doing much better. That prospect you have kindly offered him and he fully appreciates it as it is certainly a better chance than he ever expected and if life and health are continued I have no doubt he will improve his priviledges to the best advantage and endevour to secure your interest in whatever you entrust to his care. The idea of going out in company with yourself is exceedingly gratifying to him and indeed it is to his wife, and I am sure it is very

[3«i] pleasing to myself if we must part with him for a time that he is going with you. His opportunity for getting information is much greater and an insight into the habits of the people there which will in a measure prepare him to become a resident among them. Elizabeth appears to be more willing for her husband to go than I expected. She would rather prefer for him to remain at home and so should I, for we shall all feel quite lonely when he is gone but we shall try to do as well as we can without those dear husbands and sons and ever cherish the hope that through the goodness of God we shall be permitted to welcome them to their home and friends again. Sophia I think has given up the idea of seeing her husband untill he returns. I hope nothing more will be said to her on the subject of going or any arguments held out in favour of it. She must not go. No, she must not. I do not think Wallace, as much as he wants to see her and his darling Isabel, would be in earnest for her to go nor would he wish her to be subjected to the hardships and privations which he has experienced. One year and half will soon pass away and then I hope it may please our Heavenly Father to return him to his home. Oliver, I think you very kind and friendly in inviteing Sophia Larkin to become for a time an inmate of your family. It certainly will be an advantage to her and if I am not greatly mistaken, to your children likewise. She has been and is now very dear to me. She was only eight or nine years old when she was left an orphan in this wide world and I had a great deal of anxiety on her account and felt a care for her for many years and as she advanced in life she seemed to improve in everything. She was a very bright, intelligent child and the expectations of her friends were not disapointed as she grew up to womanhood. She has ever manifested an ambitious spirit and a desire to make herself useful. She has had a very good education and has ever made the most of all her priviledges. Indeed, Oliver, I call her a smart, sensible girl of excellent mind and sound principles. She is a Baptist in sentiment which I presume will not lower her in your estimation as you will find her always consistent. She felt rather difident about going into your family (though the idea was pleasent to her) because she was so little acquainted with your wife but we told her she would soon get acquainted and I have no doubt in a short time she will feel quite at home. I feel allmost confident Mrs Larkin will be pleased with her and I think and hope Sophia will love her as a mother. Sophia is a very lively girl and I know she will interest your children. She is fond of children and as she has kept school for some time she is not at a loss how to interest them.

[ 382 ] H e r Sister M a r y is yet an invalid and I fear will remain so and her care must be very discouraging. Her physician has forbiden her resumeing her school in which she was happyly engaged for the last five or six years untill her health declined and she was obliged to give it up. She is a girl very much respected by all who are acquainted with her and has found many kind friends seince she left her school who have contributed to her necessities and you, Oliver, have been very generous in sending her so handsome a present. She told me of it soon after and expressed much gratitude which I think she really felt. It will probably be a long time, if she ever is, before she will be able to resume the duties of her school and she has no way to pay her board except by the assistance of her friends. I have sent for her to come and stay with us for a time and save the expence of boarding. I believe at present her physician is not willing for her to go so far. In her behalf I now would ask if you are willing to assist her again before you leave. Ever so small a sum will I know be highly acceptable. V e r y truly yours, BC

[SARAH PEIRCE (LARKIN) CHILDS TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VII: 2 5 1 A.]

Washington 8th Feby 1 8 5 1 Cousin Oliver I

CANNOT sit tamely by & see m y husband so wretched as he is made

by your unkind & unjust reproaches, without offering you a few words of remonstrance in his behalf. His spirits are depressed to the very earth by your almost withering denunciations, your crude aspersions, & I feel it m y duty as a wife, or even as a Christian woman, to make this appeal (entirely without the consent, or the knowledge of Eben) to the better part of your nature which seems to have been wholly stiffled, or overpowered by your angry & resentful feelings. In the first place, m y Cousin, you were wrong in not yielding to E's earnest wish to make your embarkation for California from a more southern port, for had you done so he would never have receded from his engagement to go with you. In all other points your will prevailed; in this you should have indulged him. H e expressed to you his aversion, his dread of a sea voyage. It may be weakness—it may be cowardice—call it what you please, but this unconquer-

[383] able repugnance exists in his mind, & he is totally unable to subdue it. He feels that he has disappointed you, & had you written him a kind letter when you found Eames could not go with you, instead of one which he would not, for your credit's sake, shew even to me, but committed it at once to the flames, he would in spite of all his feelings to the contrary, have hastened to join you, & devoted his best efforts to your service—& even now he is willing to sacrifice all personal feelings, to forgive all your unkind accusations, & reproaches, & fulfill his obligations to you, (if he has any) if you will allow him time to prepare & indulge him in the slight favour of embarking from Charleston. I have not opposed his going with you, & shall not if he can depart with a cheerful & willing spirit. Your insinuations against his probity, his honesty &c have made him miserable, tho' they are wholly undeserved. He is the very soul of honour & had you held him to his contract he would have fulfilled it, had his life been the forfeit. He asked for a release, & you granted it, & we both firmly believe that you could easily & satisfactorily have supplied his place, but you have failed & he regrets your disappointment & is anxious to indemnify it, by going with you, if you will let him. But I warn you, as you value your future peace of mind, not to leave with that wrathful indignation which you now seem to entertain towards your brother who has always to my knowledge been your warm & disinterested friend—rejoicing in your good fortune, defending your character when calumniated, & doing all he could within his limited means to aid & oblige you—asking & expecting in return only your brotherly affection & good will, & now you abuse him, as if he had basely injured you. I know not what my brother told you, but if he intended to intimate that Eben had avowed your obligations to him, he made a false impression, & did my husband gross injustice. He never expressed any such thing, nor thought it, whatever I may have done. I cannot but think you will hereafter regret all the angry & unjustifiable things you have said to your brother. Did I suppose you really meant them, I never would have condescended thus to address you. You have written in moments of irritation. Calm reflection will cause you to deplore your anger towards a brother who loves & esteems you, & whose life is now embittered by your unreasonable & unjust imputations. I write this to relieve my overburdened heart. M a y your wife never suffer as you have caused me to suffer, but I forgive all, & may God forgive you as freely as I do. & I have written only in a spirit of kindness & my letter needs no reply. Yr. afft. Cousin, Sarah

[384] [WILLIAM DANE PHELPS TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VII : 2 5 1 . ]

Lexington [Mass.] Feby 8th 1851 Thos. O. Larkin Esqe Dear Sir I SUPPOSE you will leave by the next steamer, and having nothing of a business character to trouble you with, I drop a line just to wish you a pleasant passage & c . I rec'd a letter from M r . Gwin last week saying that if the bill proposed by him (respecting California claims) & referred by the Senate to the Military Committee should be adversly reported on he should bring forward a bill for the relief of myself and others similarly situated, but had no hopes of doing much this session. I will thank you to see if my lots at Suttersville are all right if you should go up the river during your absence, and the Benecia lot I presume is also right as the taxes have been paid & is attended to by my friend Hood of the firm of Middleton & Hood at St. F. The lot I am to have at Benecia please to fix when you are there (don't come home & say you forgot it). Should I not get a settlement from Fremont for Alcatraces Island that is the payment of the obligation—I can get it deeded back to me; he offered to do so. Can we not make a speculation out of it together? Please bear it in mind while absent. Please remember me to all the old Californians you may meet. Most happy should I be to see any of them at my house. If you should see M r . Norris— formerly Shelly & Norris—please give him information of Mrs. Sinclair & request him to write me what he knows of her folks out there. Respects to Capt Folsom. Tell him I see no reason to alter my opinion nor wish to recall my statement. Messrs. [?] P & S join me in wishing you a safe & pleasant trip & with kind remembrances to Mrs Larkin, Remain, yours faithfully, W m D. Phelps [Rubric] P. S. Should Mrs Larkin come this way in the spring we should be happy o£ a visit from her.

[G. WASHINGTON WARREN TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VII : 2 5 2 . ]

Charlestown [Mass.] Feb. 8, 1851 Dear Sir S OME time since I received a letter from you, with your cards, denoting your new residence in N e w York. I laid them by, intending to call upon you the next time I should visit that City. But it seems that you are soon about to return to California. If Mrs. L. does not go with you, I hope she will continue her acquaintance with us, during your absence. I presume you intend to make this your last visit to California, & will soon be settled down among us at the North. The nearer you fix your home to the place of your birth, the better I shall like it. I was glad the N e w California Steam Packet Company project was wound up without loss to the projectors. M r . & Mrs. Henry Melius called upon us yesterday. They both appeared quite well. Young Howard I have not been able to see but once. He lives out of the city, & is hard to find. We hear that he is to be married & to take his wife with him to San Francisco next month. Remember us kindly to Don José when you see him. I hope within a year or two to witness another "Reunion de los Californienses," although I would not have it cost the presiding officer so high as did the last one at the Irving. The ladies desire to be remembered to Mrs. Larkin, & please accept my best wishes for your good health, prosperity & safe return. Tell Don José I will write him by the March steamer. Your truly, G . Washington Warren [Rubric]

[ALPHEUS HARDY TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VII : 2 5 4 . ]

Boston Feb n t h 1851 Thos. O. Larkin Esqr My dear Sir I

FIND nothing for or from you by mail this morning. Our mutual

friend M r Rogers will receive your orders and views relative to your business,

[ 386 ] family &c. In his hands all things will be done well, and discreatly, and if I can aid him, or you through him be assured I shall do so with great pleasure. On your contemplated voyage to & from California I wish you safety & prosperity. With kind regards to your wife & family, I remain yours Truly, Alpheus Hardy [Rubric]

[THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT. VII: 2 5 3 . ]

[February n , 1851] i ^ N O W All Men Whom It M a y Concern, That I Thomas O. Larkin now residing in the City and State of New York formerly of Monterey California this twelfth day of February one thousand eight hundred and fifty one in the aforesaid City of New York and being in my usual good health and soundness of mind do this day make this my last will and testament for the benefit of my beloved lawful wife Rachel Larkin formerly Hobson of the town of Ipswich State of Massachusetts United States of America to whom I was lawfully married in the Port of Santa Barbara California on board the American Barque Volunteer by John C. Jones Esqr United States consul for the Sandwich Islands, in the month of June or thereabouts, in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty three; also for the benefit of my legitimate children, Thomas Oliver Larkin, Frederic Hobson Larkin, Francis Rogers Larkin, Caroline Ann Larkin and Alfred Otis Larkin and any other child or children my said beloved wife Rachel may have by me hereafter. First: Whenever it shall please my God and Maker to take me from this world, I give him the soul he gave me, hoping and trusting that the sins I have committed in the body shall be forgiven me in the soul in the world to come. Second: I wish all my just debts to be paid. Third: 1 . 1 will and bequeath to my beloved wife Rachel Larkin all household furniture of whatever description that I may die possessed of. 2. The choice of one dwelling house with all the land and appurtenances thereunto, out of any and all houses and lands and appurtenances thereunto belonging that I may die possessed of. Said house if chosen within the limits of a town or city not to have more than ten thousand square feet of land and said house if chosen on any farm

[387] or rancho not to have more than one mile square of land. 3. The choice of one carriage and two horses from any and all I may die possessed of. 4. T h e one third part of all my personal estate not otherwise disposed of, wherever situate, to her use and benefit forever. Fourth: I will and bequeath also to my beloved wife her life estate in the one third part of all my real estate property not otherwise disposed of subject to the [blank] articles of this will and testament. Fifth:

I give and bequeath to my said beloved children Thomas Oliver

Larkin, Frederic Hobson Larkin, Francis Rogers Larkin, Caroline A n n Larkin and Alfred Otis Larkin, and to any child or children hereafter born to me by my said beloved wife Rachel all my real estate and personal property not otherwise disposed of share and share alike, the personal property to be disposed of for their benefit as soon as possible after my death. Sixth: I hereby name constitute and appoint my beloved wife Rachel Larkin as executrix and my Cousin William M . Rogers, clergyman in Boston Massachusetts U States of America as executor of this my last will and testament. I also hereby name constitute and appoint my said wife Rachel Larkin and said Cousin W m . M Rogers guardians to my said children. After all my debts are paid and such personal property as my executors shall sell is concluded, it shall require the signature of both my said executors to carry out anything belonging to my will and testament excepting the collection of my debts which can be collected by either of my said executors who solely or jointly can give receipts for the payment of debts due me at my death. Seventh:

It is my will that my said executrix and executor shall sell one half

of all houses and lands I may own in California at the time of my death provided they shall think it for the benefit of my said wife and children, which houses and lands shall be sold for cash or such credits as they shall consider best. Should there be any of said real estate that said executrix and executor shall consider it best for the benefit of my said wife and children not to sell they will retain it not beyond the year eighteen hundred and sixty eight unsold or until such time within that period as they think proper to sell but not longer than the year eighteen hundred and sixty eight. In all cases of sale of real estate on a credit, sufficient security for payment will be taken. It is my will that all monies from the sale of real estate, paid into the hands of my said executors shall be invested in real estate in any one of the old thirteen states of the United States of America in the name of my said wife Rachel and all my children by my said wife Rachel who may be living at the time of purchase of said real estate or

[ 388 ] who may have left legitimate heirs who shall inherit their parents share or part which shall be for my said wife and said children's use and benefit. Thus the sale of onehalf of my real estate in California by my executors shall continue from time to time (both of them signing the deeds and titles to the purchasers) as the market may offer purchasers and the said executors may think a proper time to sell said real estate for the benefit of my said wife and children the proceeds of which sales and all sales of my property thus sold shall be invested in the purchase of real estate in the thirteen states aforesaid in the name of my said wife Rachel and children to wit, her life-time estate of one third of said proceeds to her, and the other two thirds to said children. Eighth: It is my will and desire that said executors shall from the sales of my personal and real estate always reserve sufficient money at interest to educate all m y children, unless the rents of their part of the real estate will pay such expenses to which education every care, trouble, and proper expense must be devoted, for which education my property can at times be sold if my said executors may not have sufficient ready money. By "education" I mean the full supporting and bringing up in a proper manner my said children. Ninth: It is my will and desire that should my said executrix or executor be unable to be in California to attend to my property there they can appoint a careful agent under sufficient bonds and penalties to attend to said property who in connection with either my said executrix or executor can give receipts for all money received by them and give deeds and titles for any of said half of my real estate sold in California. Tenth: It is my will and desire that the real estate property that I have willed my wife and children shall be held jointly and together for their use, one third as a life-time estate to my said wife, the other two thirds to my said children until the first day of January eighteen hundred and sixty eight when my wife, and my children who shall be of age and able to act for themselves in conjunction with my children who shall be under age, who shall act by their guardians shall have all the property I have willed to them or any property derived from the same, sold on the most favorable terms or such parts only sold as may be sufficient to pay the child or children then twenty one years of age, his or her full share of property, or should my executors be able to make an equitable division in kind, and my child or children then of age wish it, then it is my will and desire this should be done. The proceeds of the sale if made after deducting the shares of the child or children then of age I wish my executors to again invest in real estate in one or more of the aforesaid old thirteen states for the

benefit of these my said wife and children until they have all attained respectively the age of twenty one years. Should any of my children die before the first of January eighteen hundred and sixty eight leaving legitimate descendants it is my will and desire that they inherit their parents share or shares as aforesaid. It is also my will and desire, should any of my children die after the aforesaid first of January eighteen hundred and sixty eight leaving legitimate descendants that they inherit their parents share or shares of my estate bequeathed as aforesaid. Eleventh:

With respect to any funds from the sale of my lands that are to be

invested in other real estate care must be taken by my said executrix and executor that they purchase real estate productive in its character and which will realise a yearly sum equal to legal interest on its value in the State of N e w York so that my wife may have an income from her life estate in one third the proceeds of such lands, which income shall be paid to her yearly. A t her death the whole of my said land or proceeds now willed to her with our children with all its rents and income shall belong to my said children who may be living at the time or have legitimate heirs who shall receive their parents' respective part or share. Twelfth:

Should the law of the State where m y executrix and executor may

have to operate and carry out the provisions of this my last will and testament demand security from them it is my will and desire that if they find it necessary to obtain such security they can secure said securities by giving them a legal lien on my estate. This my last will and testament revoking all prior wills signed and sealed by me in this City and State of N e w York on this eleventh day of February one thousand eight hundred and fifty one before . . . Signed, sealed, published and delivered by the said Thomas O. Larkin as his last will and testament in the presence of the undersigned who at his request and in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto set our names as subscribing witnesses thereto. Febraury n , 1851. 1 Thomas O. Larkin [Rubric] [Seal] G. E . Baldwin N o 3 West Washington Place E W Hull N o . 459 Houston St. Bailey Myers, Fifth Avenue, cor. 18th St. 1

Originally dated February 1 2 , the day was changed to the n t h before signing.

[390] [THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN TO ANNE STUART. COPY. VII: 2 5 5 . ]

-.i- A c Mrs Anne Steuart

N e w York February1 12, 18^1 3

Newport Madame ^ f o u R S o£ the 6th inst is just received. There appears to be some misunderstanding about the "Picture." It was our intention of making a present o£ it to California and we supposed the price of it was $500. You will please write me further about it. Address to me San Francisco, California, giving full particulars & c as soon as convenient and oblige, Yours truly & c . (Signed) Thomas O. Larkin

[GEORGE E. BALDWIN TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN and C. A. CLINTON TO LARKIN. VII: 2 5 6 . ]

/-N R 1 • T1 nomas (J. Larkin hsqr

N e w York

I J^ T H

Feby J

I 8 CJ ; I

N e w York City My dear Sir " Y o u kindly spoke yesterday in reference to the appointment of commissioner for California. I should be gratified to receive the office and will feel obliged for your friendly exertions in the matter. There is a young man named "Joab Abel" now in San Francisco (with Messrs. Hine & Co., as I understand) in whose welfare I feel an interest. Here in this city he bore an excellent character and from what I have lately heard of him I am satisfied he continues to deserve the approbation of his friends. Should you meet with him may I ask that you will afford to him every advice and instruction as to the proper way to succeed in his new home. His family are highly respectable. His uncle, Judge Abel, is one of our oldest & wealthy citizens. With the hope that your voyage to California will be pleasant and agreeable and that you will soon return to us I remain most truly, In haste yours, G . E. Baldwin P. S. A letter addressed G. E. Baldwin, Counsellor at Law, N e w York, will reach me.

[

3 9

I

]

My Dear Sir

Feby 13th 5 x

I regret that I did not hear of your invitation to your house the other evening, as it would have given me great pleasure to have joined your party. You have my best wishes that you may have a pleasant voyage to California and success in all your enterprizes in that new empire; and when you return I hope that we shall drink, not one but many bottles of Champagne together. With esteem, Sincerely yours, C. A . Clinton

[NICHOLAS GRAY TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VII: 2 5 7 . ]

Thos O Larkin Esqr

Saint Louis Mo. February 15th 1851

Dear Sir favor of the 3d inst. is this moment at hand, and I hasten to answer it, in the expectation of its reaching you at Panama. In answer to your enquiry as to my qualifications will say that in early life I was Chief Clerk in the Surveyor General's office in Mississippi, am acquainted with the preparation for sale of lands according to the practice of the Government, familiar with Spanish grants & others of lands. I am, and have practiced surveying both for the U. S. Government as a Deputy Surveyor, and I have also served in a private capacity, as well as a city engineer & surveyor. "YOUR

During the adm'tn of Geni. Taylor I was highly recommended as I thought for the office of Surveyor General of California, and had some hopes held out by the then Secretary of the Interior, Mr. [Thomas] Ewing, of the appointment, in a letter from him to a gentleman of high standing in Mississippi, which that person sent to me. But unfortunately Geni. Taylor died, and a new adm'tn coming into power I had to commence "de novo," and as government appointments are so greedily sought after, I declined taking any further trouble about it. I believe with confidence, altho' I say it myself, that I could serve you, and suit you in the capacity as surveyor and agent in the sale of lands & town lots, architecture &c. I am out of employment whereby I am adequately compensated, and would go to California, and would be willing to remain there for years if encouraged by suitable equivalent.

I would be willing to undertake your business for something like the offer made to M r . Childs viz $3000 pr annum—board, room rent, travelling to California and while there on your business with one per cent comissions—& $1000 as an advance in cash on account—could leave St Louis in 20 or 30 days after hearing from you. Contemplate leaving my wife & family in Louisville to be near Mrs. Bartlett, her sister, whom we highly respect, and I would like to do anything in my power to forward the welfare of her son, or any portion of her family. There may be a necessity of taking out some instruments, such as compass, theodolite, or levels, and mathematical instruments, paper of large size. You know, however, if such can be obtained in California. If they cannot, something like $300 would be required for that purpose. Please excuse this hasty letter. It is written upon the spur of the moment but I believe I have answered your queries, and will be gratified by your approval. Accept my thanks for your hospitable wishes, and hope that I shall have the pleasure of seeing you ere long. I will write again and direct to San Francisco, California. This will reach you at Panama. I am D r Sir, yours truly, Nicholas Gray

[NICHOLAS GRAY TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VII: 2 5 8 . ]

Saint Louis M o . U. S. 16 Feby 1851 Thomas O. Larkin Esqr

Dear Sir I

AM in the receipt of your favor of the 3d inst. from N e w York and

will hasten to reply thereto. T h e regret is reciprocal that you were not acquainted with my intentions and wishes respecting California. I thought that in some former letter you were informed of my having been a practical surveyor & c . and of some suggestions that possibly you might wish my services in that way, or would use your influence in procuring me some valuable employment in that country. This letter you have missed as it was on its way to Monterey about the time you were coming this way. However, if you should think proper to employ me as your agent, I know from actual practice in that particular business, I would suit you, and you have only to remunerate me and the inducement to remain in California will be in

[ 393 ] accordance therewith. Y o u r remarks are just, and correct, that you would make no person your agent without seeing & knowing him. Still if you will make an engagement with me for one year, with an understanding that you would increase m y income afterwards if I answered your expectations, I would agree to serve you 3 or 4 years. T o place m y family in a situation so that I could consistently leave them, I would desire of you an advance of $1000, on account of m y salary (of $2000 per annum) & a commission on sales of 1 °/0 & m y traveling expenses to California which would be about $500 more. I presume it would not cost more. Whatever it might be I would account to you for. There may be required probably some large sized paper & stationary, and possibly a compass and its accompaniments. Of these wants, you are the best judge and will act accordingly, and advise me hereafter. I wrote to you yesterday under cover to the United States Consul at Panama, in which I recounted some things, and this varies some in my terms & c , and if those herein expressed do not suit you, be pleased to say what you can do, and if you send me the needful I will leave within 25 days thereafter. Board and room rent & traveling expenses when upon your affairs while in California of course is included in my offer, and to be furnish'd and paid by you besides. I will now conclude and say I am anxious to better m y condition in life, and feel confident in pleasing you, and hope to hear from you soon again on the subject. It is needless I presume to repeat, that I am acquainted with the manner & method of surveying & mapping, both as practiced for the Government & private individuals. Be pleased to accept m y best respects & wishes for your good health & happiness. Nicholas Gray

[ROSETTA [ELLIS ? ] TO RACHEL (HOBSON) HOLMES LARKIN. VII: 2 5 9 . ]

N e w Bedford [Mass.], Feb. 16, 1 8 5 1 My Dear Mrs Larkin . A l S I am deprived the privlege of seeing you, permit me to address a few lines to you. It will be six weeks Tuesday since I left your good City of Gotham, and two tomorrow since I arrived home. I spent the time very

[ 394 ] pleasantly in Springfield with my sister. W e had delightful sleiging all the time I was there. I thought of you often, and as often wished you were there to give you a good sleighride. I suspect however you would not have enjoyed it much as you are no friend to cold weather. Notwithstanding I think if you are warmly clad and agreeable company it is rather pleasant than otherwise. I came alone from S. to Boston in fact all the way. I staid there three hours. During my walk, I met Mrs. Genl. Elery Greene. She inquired very particularly about you. I hold her you were delightfully and pleasantly settled. She said she felt depressed, and much unsettled. She expected to leave on the Wensday following for New York and Washington. I presume you had a call from her while there. After I left her, I went to the hotel, dined, left for home at four in the afternoon, found them all in good health with the exception of David who has been sick since his return from San Francisco with ship fever, some part of the time very dangerously so. He gains very slowly, has been out of his room a few times, to day not as well. I think he has taken some cold. He is quite discouraged at times as the weather is very changeable. Thinks he shall not get out this month. I do not think it strange he thinks the climate awful. I perfectly coincide with him. You have much more pleasant weather in New York than here. M y sister is not married as yet, her intended having been sick nearly two weeks. I am happy to say he is fast recovering, will be out tomorrow. There is no time set but in all humane probability the final consummation will take place next Thursday. W e shall have a very quiet time, will not be any dancing with the exception of myself. For the amusement of the company 1 shall dance in the Brass Kettle which will come off precisely at one o clock on the above day mentioned. Do not forget me at that time. I shall most surely drink the health of all my friends in Tenth St. She will not go to New York as she first decided but to Boston for a few days. I would like to write you a little anecdote about Boston, but fearing M r Larkin might see it I will not, as it is perfectly natural for all married ladies to tell their good husbands every thing. I should do the same. She will not stay at home, but go to the Parker House after she returns. I have felt very lonely since my return, and shall feel still more so after she leaves. As you know the more there is at home the more pleasant it is. It is very tame here compared to New York. I am very much attached to the city. I like city life, not but what I appreciate the country and my own home, particularly in the summer season, then it is lovely here. I have not been out but once since I came. I feel much more inclined to stay at home than to go out.

Great many of friends have called to see me, which of course I am very much obliged to them for their attention. Have you seen any of the Priests since I left? If you should go over to Jamaica give my best love to them all. Tell them I should be happy to see them in New Bedford. Sorry I could not have seen them before I left. Has M r Larkin left for California? If not present my kindest regards to him. Tell him to give my love to Alfred and May. W e heard from them last week, they were well, had commenced housekeeping. Hope M r L will have a pleasant passage, also health, and a safe return to his little family and home. Strictly

Confidential.

There is one thing I would like to know. You recollect our conversation one afternoon on physical weaknesses. You may think I am mentally so—that I do not dispute. You thought then that something new had taken place, or sometimes we say coming events cast their shadows before, or in other words if M r Larkin has gone, has he left anything to Posterity? I beg you will not let M r L. see this. (Oh goodness).

If I was a married person, I might sound differently,

but as I said before I would like very much. If you think this epistle worth an acknowledgement I should be most happy to hear from you soon. I know it is rather an uninteresting one but as you have no interest whatever here, I hardly knew what to write. I want to see you all very much and feel at times as though I must put on my hat and take the stage for Tenth St. I should be happy to see you here in our quiet Country City. I hope you will enjoy yourself and be very happy in your new home. You have all temporal blessings and every luxury that heart can wish. W e all have our little trials and things vexatious, no one exempt from them, yet the greatest of blessings is health. Hope you may have that blessing and also your children and may they all be a great comfort to you in your declining years. Do you ever go down to the Irving? If so give my best love to any of my acquaintance that may be there, particularly my friend the Major. I would like to have you keep up the acquaintance with Mrs. Elsworth and call if agreeable, as she is to be a neighbor of yours. I think you will find her a very pleasant acquaintance. A word to Carolina—tell her I hope she keeps her things in her little sanctorum very nice. I told my little nieces in Springfield about her nice beautiful little room. They expressed a great wish to see it and thought it must be beautiful. It is now nearly bedtime and I must soon leave you as I have a few chapters to read, not in the Bible to my shame, but David Copperfield. It is dramatised. If you have not seen it performed, I hope you will, as I have seen it. It makes the book more interesting and amusing to me.

[ 396 ] A s it is interesting always to know about the weather I will just say we yesterday had a violent storm from the south west, to day all kinds of weather. T o night it is very clear and Old Boreas blowing a perfect blast. I have written you quite a long letter, said much more than I expected to when I commenced, but as Byron says stories do sometimes lengthen when begun. I wish I was in N e w York to night. Every thing is so monotonous, no change, one thing over and over every day. T o be sure the sun rises and sets, the tide ebbs and flows very much the same as in other places, that is all. I must stop. If I dont I shall write nonsense all night. M y sisters wish to be remembered to you all. I conclude with the assurance of m y best love, and may kind Heaven protect you all, which is the prayer of Rosetta Write soon. Direct your letter to N e w Bedford care of Thomas Ellis. M r s . Thomas O . Larkin, 101 Tenth St., N e w York.

[JOHN HAYWARD TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VII: 2 6 0 . ]

Boston, Feb. 18, 1851 Thomas O . Larkin, Esq. San Francisco Dear Sir "YOUR

letter dated N e w York Feb. 8th was duly received. T h e altera-

tion in your account of California shall be made according to your desire. A s m y work will not go to press until about the first of August, any advices received from you respecting that interesting country in which you are deeply concerned will be gratefully received, and prove valuable to the public. This letter will be handed to you by m y young friend, M r George James Harris of this city, whose name I mentioned to you in N e w York, and who sailed in October for St. Francisco. M r Harris is a member of one of our most respectable families. H e possesses superior talents, has been well educated, and enjoys a moral character without blemish. M r Harris has been somewhat engaged in mercantile business, but his fondness for civil engineering which amounts almost to a passion has led him to

devote much of his time to the study and practice of that useful science, of his proficiency in which he carries with him the highest testimonials. This only son leaves a widowed mother and an only sister with bright prospects in other employments at home, to follow a profession in a distant land, which with the blessings of health and friends, will doubtless lead him to success and usefulness. I hope the young man's natural diffidence will not deter him from presenting this letter at an early day, for I feel assured that your friendly advice will greatly advance his interest in his favorite pursuit. Yours respectfully, John Hayward [Rubric]

[GEORGE EDWIN CHILDS TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VII: 2 6 1 . ]

Jackson Tennessee Feby 20th 1851 Dear Brother

"YESTERDAY

I rec'd your package containing the "canceled contract,"

your letter, and a letter from Eben to you. I learned some five or six days since that you had engaged with M r . Eames, with whom my acquaintance in a business way is slight but faverable. Your question of "why I came to see you without knowing my wife was willing I should leave home" is a rather singular one, and I answer by giving the facts as they occured, thus—last Fall you wrote and offered to defray the greater part of my expences, if I would pay you a visit, which I accepted, supposing you wished to see an absent Bro. (for such were my feelings toward you) particularly as you talked of returning to California again and it was of course uncertain when I might have another opportunity. The probability that you would make me a proposition was wholly from inference, and had that inference been wanting, it would not have prevented my meeting you as I did. I left here for N . Y . after merely asking my wife about the matter in case I should receive a proposition, having then but little idea that you could offer me any that I would be willing to take up. Her answer though in the negative (as I told you when there) I believed would be reversed, if necessary, if time were allowed for consideration.

Then you say I kept you waiting four or five weeks—granted—but not beyond the time agreed on, which was as I understood it to be the 25th Deer, or sooner if I should decide, nor did I suspect that you understood it otherwise till the reception of a letter from you written about the middle of that month. I did not go to Bolivar for the reason the wires were down, upon hearing which I wrote to Nashville (the 24th I believe) and you should have ree'd the despatch by the 27th or 8th, two or three days after the appointed time. T h e last of January you sent word that Eben had declined going, and on the 1 st inst. I determined to go provided the proposition was still open, and should certainly have done so, but it was, however, no drawback upon me, as the anticipation only caused me to be more industrious in making collections. Eben may make himself as rediculous as he pleases, but I deny being in the same category, and object to any such witness as himself for me. I want no such spokesman. I say this rather in sorrow than anger, for judging from what I can learn of the matter he must have some desease of the nervous system, not yet fully developed. His "buttered hay" story does not I presume apply to me tho' he is evidently trying to make me eat of it. You have never in your hopes of "raising any of your kin" injured me, at least if such is the fact I am not aware of it, and freely absolve you. I was not aware till the reception of your last that I had put you to much inconvenience, which I really regret. M y idea about the matter was simply this, that you had made me a certain proposition, giving a certain time for reflection before answering, which having declined, things stood as they were. T o your advice to meet you at Calafornia in M a y , I have no answer to make at present, nor is any needed unless I see you there, which is rather doubtful. I shall be much obliged for any information you may give concerning any relatives in your vicinity, particularly about Bro. Sam. Sincerely, Y r . Bro. George Regards to M r . Eames. M y wife claiming no relationship to Eve, inasmuch as she does not urge her husband to partake of the golden fruit, may perhaps drop you a few lines, with the hope of giving you a more faverable opinion of herself, as well as of the sex generally whose standing in society, she contends, you have attacked.

[WILLIAM M . ROGERS TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VII: 2 6 2 . ]

My dear Cousin Y

O U

Boston Feb 2 1 / 5 1

will please find inclosed a joint power of attorney from Talbot H .

Green and yourself to me, authorising me to collect your claim adjudicated by the Mexican Commission. After leaving you, I spent the next day in trying to see M r . Griffen, in which I failed, and therefore did not call on Howard and Son, as I did not know the lay of the land. I have written them since my return to Boston, instructing them to demand a frank explanation, and inform me of the result. If they refuse it, I shall take legal steps to place the securities where they can be held for the benefit of whom it may concern. A t the same time I informed Messrs Griffen and Leroque that I was not disposed to push H . & S. if they were open in the matter. The letter to Soltan was delivered by M r . Ruste in person and a minute made of it. I have heard nothing from him. I paid Myers out of the $ 100 you placed in my hands $20 in full for services, and Baldwin $60 on ac/t. His bill including Christie's affair would amount to $200. T h e balance was paid to Rachel. On examing your instructions and the stock on hand, we found that there were not enough of the Benicia maps to fill your order. D'Avignon having but 50 left, we procured 50 more and the maps distributed as per directions. A s I left on Friday, I put the matter into the hands of M r . Ruste with precise directions. You will receive yours per Gregories' Express, the next boat. I wrote to M r . Jones, to George Childs, and to Willard, and all other persons, whom you wished me to address. Oliver was doing well when I left, and I have since heard was on the point of returning to Bristol. T h e family are well, and more the separation as kindly as could have been anticipated. M r . Hardy joins me in assuring you we will do our best to lighten the burdens and cheering the course of their lives. I have not yet, tho' I expect to soon, got hold of John's first remittance. I have no second. With kindest love, I am Yours, W m . M . Rogers T . O. Larkin Esq. San Francisco

[ 4oo ] [NICHOLAS GRAY TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VII: 2 6 4 . ]

Saint Louis M o . 4th March 1851 Thos. O. Larkin Esqr Dear Sir A

PRIVATE

opportunity offering this moment I take the liberty of

again writing to you, fearing a miscarriage of my former letters on the same subject, to wit an engagement with you as your agent & c . The particulars of which I mentioned in the letters above referred to, and will repeat in substance the same, which you may consider as an offer, binding on my part, if you acceed thereto, viz., $2000 pr annum, board, room rent, & travelling expenses, going to California and in that country while engaged in your business. I shall require $1000 as an advance, with an amount sufficient to cover my expenses going out, say $500 or thereabout. I am confident that I will suit you in the way and business you wish to engage me at. I am a practical surveyor & engineer, acquainted with mapping and laying off town lots, & selling them too. Would superintend surveying and could select surveyors and examine their work, & c . — a n d I can leave within 20 to 25 days after receiving the needful from you. I will add, however, should you think proper to vary the terms of the agreement you may do so. I will rely upon your sense of justice and well known liberality in the adequate remuneration of your Obedt. Sevt. Nicholas Gray Since writing the within I have seen a telegraphic dispatch saying that the California land bill has passed the Senate. 6th March. Captn Henry M Shreve, my wife's Sister Lydia's husband died this morning after a tedious illness. Mrs. Shreve is left well off by his will. She has one child only (a daughter) surviving.

[ANNE STUART TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VII : 2 6 5 . ]

Newport March the 4th 1851 M r Larkin Sir A s

I was absent from home when your letter of Feb the 12th arrived

my reply to it was unavoidably delayed. Respecting the Washington for Calafornia the price at which my sister offered it was 700—which was considerd too little, but as it was a moment of extreme anxiety with us all, she felt a ready sale was of the first importance. I think there was a feeling of great kindeness on the part of those Calafornia gentlemen, as they proposed having it purchased by the Legislature when they met & they themselves would advance 500 for my sister's use, as they thought by this arrangement they would be able to obtain a more liberal amount than the 700. N o w as this was volentary on their part from consideration of a lady whose whole dependance is on the proceeds of her pencil you gentlemen are not bound to do more than remit to Miss Jane Stuart the 200 which still remain due. A s I am doubtfull of my ability in communicateing any business transaction clearly with gentlemen I have enclosed you an article from one of the daily papers which may be more comprehensive. Respectfully yours, Anne Stuart P S. I regret you did not have some communication with M r Tappan on this subject as he could have informed you all about this matter, but you will probably have some consultation with those gentlemen who negociated this business with my sister & they will be the best judges as to the truth of my statement. It will give us great pleasure to know how the picture is received at Calafornia. AS [Newspaper

clipping:]

P I C T U R E OF W A S H I N G T O N for the California Senate. This celebrated work of art, painted by Miss Stuart, of this town, from the original by her father, the distinguished Gilbert Stuart, has arrived in N e w York, and is to be forwarded, as soon as appropriately framed, to its destination. T h e picture was not purchased, as reported in some of the papers, but an amount was advanced

upon it by some gentlemen from California, who send it at their own risk, the amount of purchase money to be decided upon when it arrives, and remitted to Miss Stuart.—Mercury.

[MARY SINCLAIR TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VII: 2 6 6 . ]

Lexington, Mass., March 6th 1851 Thomas O Larkin Esqr Sir I

AM desirous of remitting to Oregon a sum of money to meet the

wants of my brother &

family, who having arrived at Salem in Oregon

and being short of funds (owing to unforeseen circumstances) have written to me for assistance. I am very desirous of putting him in funds in the most expeditious & safest manner, and as there is no house in Boston drawing bills on Oregon, Capt Phelps advises me to request you to manage the matter for me. Therefore I most earnestly request that you will do me the favour to allow me to draw on you for the amt. of $2400, at sight and for which amt. you will please draw on me charging commissions, expences & c , or if you are intending to return this way during the summer, I will then repay the same with interest. In anticipation of which I have sent a draft on you for the above amt. payable to Thomas Eyre or order, by honoring which you will greatly oblige, Your H . Servant, M a r y Sinclair

[WILLIAM DANE P H E L P S TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VII: 2 6 7 . ]

Lexington, Mass., March 7th 1851 Dear Don Tomas M

RS Sinclair received letters by the last mail from Oregon from her

brother stating that they had safely arrived, but his detention and losses on the road had reduced his funds more than was anticipated, and worse than all, on

his arrival found that the friend in whose charge he had left his farm & also his papers relating to it had sold the property and at a very low price. This was a sad disappointment as he had his mother and sister with him, & expecting to have a house & home of his own to have taken them to but found himself without either. H e is a very deserving & industrious young man & we have no fears of his giving way under his disappointments. H e writes that he has contracted for another farm and was preparing to cultivate it, but was lacking $2400 to pay for it. His sister, Mrs. Sinclair, will assist to the amount, and I thought the safest & best way to get the funds to him would be to request you to arrange it for them. Therefore she has this day drawn on you for $2400, at sight, payable to Thomas Eyre (her brother) or his order. The draft will go by the mail of the n t h enclosed to M r . Eyre at Salem, Oregon. You will confer a great obligation to Mrs Sinclair if you will please to pay her draft, & if you see M r . Eyre himself she would esteem it a great favour if you would ascertain from himself what his situation actually is. H e is not very prone to write particulars & no doubt has a proper pride in not wishing to make known his wants, but he is an only and a dear brother & M r s . S. will not let him suffer if she can prevent it. A n y thing you can do for him by advice or otherwise while you are in California will be highly appreciated by her. If you draw on her for any amount you may be requested to advance for her (that is, within the draft & expences) will be promptly met here, and in case of her going to Europe or any where else, I shall be prepared to settle all claims for her. T h e brother, Thos. Eyre, is a slender young man, small stature, with reddish hair, and quite intelligent. I thought best to describe him to prevent mistakes. Nothing of interest has transpired since you left. T h e Mellus's & wives are now at Washington. Frank returns to Cal in 2 months. I have not been to N . Y . since you left, but intend calling on Mrs. Larkin in April. Please remember me to old "amigos" & that you may succeed in your business & return in safety to your family is the sincere wish of, Yours faithfully, W m . D. Phelps [Rubric]

[404] [ S A M U E L LARKIN TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VII: 2 6 8 . ]

Portsmouth, N . H . , March 9th, 1851 My Dear Cousin the request of my sister M a r y I address you for the purpose of asking a favour. She is desirous of entering into an arrangement by which she can make herself independent of pecuniary assistance from any of her friends. She proposes opening a "boarding-house" in this town (which is very much wanted) in company with a M r s . Haven (who is a widow) and their principal obstacle is their want of funds to furnish the house and make a commencement. She would ask if you could and would be willing to assist her by letting her have about one thousand dollars until such time as she could accumulate enough to repay you without interest. She is determined to do something (if possible) to support herself and lay up something for the future. A good boarding-house is very much wanted here & if she can procure a suitable house, I think, and all her friends here are of the opinion, that she will meet with success. M r s . Haven who is to be her partner is making an effort to raise an equal amount among her relatives here in Portsmouth of whom there are several who are wealthy and will probably aid her in her enterprise. Please write me as soon after receipt of this as convenient. March 17 th, 1851 I enclose herewith a letter from my sister M a r y Oliver and shall enclose all to M r s . L. at N e w York for her to direct to you as I do not know where to find you. Wishing you success in your visit to California I remain sincerely, your friend and cousin, Samuel Larkin, U . S. N a v y

[WILLIAM M. ROGERS TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VII: 2 6 9 . ]

Boston March ioth 1851 T . O. Larkin Esq. San Francisco My dear Cousin I am glad to notice the safe arrival of the Empire City at Chagres. She has returned to N . Y . and brings nothing from you or John. I have rec'd no second remittance from him. The balance of his first remittance after paying his d'ft. and expenses about $9,000 is invested temporarily until I know what he will send me. Oliver has returned to Bristol and M r . Burr is making his arrangements to remove M a y 1st to Newport. He reports favorably of Oliver's throat. I shall move Rogerio there in May. He is well. I have sent as pr. arrangement $400 to Rachel for March. I propose to visit them in the beginning of April and do anything I can for them. Mary Larkin is getting better and I hope with the summer will be able to do something for herself. I have rec'd a letter from Eben. I do not learn from it whether he has recovered his place. It is full of lamentations. I shall answer it very kindly. H e is much to be pitied. He evidently has constitutional infirmities of which neither he nor anyone else were aware until the recent events. I have got an ac/t. ct. wh. please find enclosed from Howard & Son. I send you the copy, as a curiosity and for your information. It is the finest specimen of a sponge I have seen. It may be of use to your friends at San Francisco doing business with H . & S. With my feelings as to the soundness of H . & S. I shall get such abatement of charges as I can, and take the balance, if I can get the balance. I send you pr. last mail a joint power of attorney from Green and yourself to me. Please when you sign it, and have it acknowledged before a justice, to have the certificate of some Court of Record annexed that the person signing as justice is a justice under the State of California. Uncle and Aunt are well and send their love to John and yourself. I remain yours ever, Wm. M . Rogers

[ 406 ] [WILLIAM H. RUSTE TO THOMAS OLIVER LARKIN. VII : 27O.]

New York March n t h 1851 Thomas 0 . Larkin Esqr San Francisco Cal. Dear Sir

I

evening recieved M r Eames' letter from Chagres, wherein he requests me to write you at San Francisco how and to whom I delivered the maps left in my care. M r Colton could not get them ready until the 26th Feb. I remained at your house until then, when I had them all brought up to 10th St. and carefully directed to the different persons with their names on the back, with your respects & the three different kinds were tied up in wrapping paper with the address of each person marked on them. Those that were for Washington were afterwards all done up together in a bundle and sent to E. D. Willard, "Willard's Hotel" per Adams & Co. Express with all charges paid. A t the same time M r Willard was written to, requesting him to place them in the hands of the different persons there. The ones for the different places in this city were at the same time delivered by "James." Within is a list according to the Memorandum given me by M r Rogers. THIS

On Rollers To of Depart.