The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1850-04-17
y Letter rom Mr.. nr.rritt.

u L y
We make the following extracts from let
ter received by Hon. Judge Greene of this
city. %09a 'E@h@& rA 9s2@" 'f8G#9e @3h#
We regret to learn that Mr.. Merritt has been
so unfortunate in his mining operations, and we
can only wish him better success in the business
he is now probably engaged in. ~ .-.so..r
II enterprise and perseverance can accomplish
any thing in California, we feel confident Mr.
M. will s'come i'm for share Of its golden
treasures. !...ris-,..;s .., si--,- ,,.:...<,. 49,
The letter is dated at San Francisco, Jan.
10Th, 1850. n " s'You are aware / was
detained upon the Isthmus for nearly three
months. This was very expensive, that at.
ter paying my passage, ($l5O0 landed in, San
Francisco with but six shillings; not enough by
ten shillings to procure meal of victuals AS
soon as landed, offered myself for service,
and obtained a job of turning grindstone for two
hours at one dollar per hour. soon found an
other job Of repacking bottles oflquor which last
ed two days at ten dollars day. At the end
of this service, met a friend, who voluntarily
proffered me $780,, which accepted, and dis
gusted with my bad fortune, Immediately start
ed for the mines. tI'.2 a..
"My bad luck appeared to follow me there
and while some, with moderate work, made
out well, labored necessarily, and made but
little. returned from the mines the other day
with seven hundred dollars, which was obtained
by the hardest labor man ever endured. 1t cost
me $1O0, to reach this place from the mines,
and after paying my debt, had $500, left
This is a small amount for the city of San Fran
cisco, but still shall remain here, or at Sacra-
mento in preference to going to the mines again.
Mining is decidedly the poorest business in the
country.
1 think shall 60 to merchandising in the
spring, at Sacramento City, l have made ar
rangements with friend with that view. tbs
an excellent business, and many fortunes have
been made.
1t is said that Judge Hastings has made ten
or fifteen thousand dollars in real estate, since
he arrived in the country. Large fortunes have
been made in this business, and think from the
vast immigration that is reported to be coming,
property will advance very much, for a year to
come. s-
l have met with P. B. Cornwall, who has
been in this country two years, and made from
3 to 4OO, 900 dollars. am satisfied he is inn
mensely rich.
Business is rather dull in this place now, but
every anticipates great rush in the spring.
Poor Joseph Hampstead, we buried few
days SINCE. Myself and Boutwell, sat up with
him the night before he died. He told me to
say to his friends that he died happy and perfect
ly resigned; indeed he was anxious for the hour
to arrive for some days previous to his death
In post mortem examination, it was found that
he died Of cancer Of the stomach. Boutwell, is
about to open store. E. Coriell is here in no
business. Thad. Martin is here Charles Mil
Ter is at work at his trade at $l2 per day
F. Roberts is here waiting for the rainy season
to pass over, in order that he go to the Mines
A brother of L. Moloney is here, also Sam
Cox and Maxwell. Maxwell has made about
three thousand dollars. l understand that my
friend, Berry, DR.. Crane, James Tanning, Will
liam Able, and many other Of our Dubuque and
Iowa friends are at Sacramento. n
l have never passed a day since | left Du-
buque, that have not been homesck, and could
pray, with the fervancy of saint that my pun
shment was at an end Yet my mission is un-
finished, and while that remains, l must remain
to suffer. Thousands are leaving Disguised
with California, and thousands more of poor for
lorn creatures would leave, had they the means
to get away. But this, thank God, is not my
case l have s'destiny to fulfill and until
that is accomplished, or the means for accom-
plishing it arc exhausted, must remain. AL
though had but few hours to reflect upon
the importance of a trip to California, yet
flatter myself I fully considered the vast re-
sponsibility of the undertaking. True, have
not met with that success anticipated, on the
contrary have been pierced on every hand by
the frowns Of fortune. But am determined
not to give up the chase. l will not forsakc
my patron saint. will still continue to wor-
ship at her crowded altar, in the fond hope that
by and by, my devotion will be honored with'a
uracious smile y Il n
Yours affectionatly,
WILLIAM H. MERRITT.