Democratic banner., 1850-09-16
IS from California H.eitcr, writ
ten july .itil. 1850.

AAA hOB "a
ten July iill. 1850.
Mou1H CT THE HUNpUo CANNoS,
ALTA CALIFORNIA;, 9TH day Of July, so.
My DEAR WrrE:--On this glorious day, when
all patriotic hearts are commingling in sentiments
OF attachment TO our great Republic, my hearts
best Il elings are more than ever (f such was
possible) drawn around the dear ones who are
separated from me by thousands of miles, Of a
forbiddiIg desert, or else by the billowy ocean
and pestilential climate, making, if no, impossi-
BILE, yet more impracticable, for us 10 nine!e our
thoughts in any other way than this. Yet know
that this day, so prominent in the history Of our
country, cannot be passed by either Of US, with
out our hearts feeling sentiments III common. and
lone more than those OF undyiirg attachment, and
a mutual, ardent desire 10 be with each other Oil
this day sacred to our best feelings. Would ,ha,
space and time could, for my accommodation, he
annihilaled for u day at least, / would make Use
o. it 10 speed TO your si!c, and ! do assure You
that no golden phaniOm would c, er induce Tic
again 10 undergo The tri,ls OF the separation.
have written 50 often without hearing rIum
you that | am quite discouraged, but having met
with a negro man who is returning 10 Missouri,
and who has kindly offered { oi,ke a~lc:ter, cam
not resist the opportunity. ! know Of no duty
which Can be discharged OF q better day. lave
TO thank God tina! my health remains very good.
have been here Tor the past six weeks, waiting
the fall Of the waters, SO as 10 enatle Us TO work
our claim on the river, aEd will have 10 stay
here a few weeks longer before we can test the
value Of IT. We are encouraged TO hol c for j
flair remuneration for our patience, as seine ~ tho
have Claims more eligibly situated, have proved
the river 10 be rich. We have TO dam the river
and work down TO bed-stone OH the Bottom, be-
Fore we can get gold---a labor, by tie by, Of the
most a'duous nature, and requiring great strength
--in fact, one who has never been a gold digger
in California, can form the most faint idea Of its
realizes. ! have dune labor since ] have been
here from which | would have shrunk II hcmc,
believing myself incapable 70 stand it. Blu; no
one knows what he can stand until put to the
test. Nothing but my erea: desire to pay my
debts, and once more feel independent, could i'll
Iduce me to undergo the privations, liardsbips and
suffering, insepefable from the lie OF n gold hun
ter. You cannot 60 in any way from your camp
without encountering rocky precipices, and al
most every other impeachment 10 smooth iravell-
ing and we cannot have any but the piaincst
food, and that at exorbiiant prices.
l feel truly sony for the great many who ARE
coming out this season. Some may he FORUM
ate, but the larger part Of them are doomed TO
misery and disappointment. You all, no doubt,
hear a great many fascinating stories in the States,
but you do not see the reverse Of the picture,
which, II seen, would be sufficiently horrid 10
lntinldate the stOutest heart. We in the mines
have daily to encounter these stories OF new and
rich dlgglns, which in nine cases out ortrn, prove
to be the most abOminahle hunbugs.--causing the
loss TO many Of their last years earning, and
this years prospect. We have just now wit.
messed tile bursting Of one Of those brilliant hub
bles---the Good Lake" story. It proved 10 have
been the invention of some artful trader, wkoI
wished to speculate OH the credulity Of the mi
ners. This Gold Lake," according to the sto-
Try, excelled the dreams of the most visionary in
its rich stores of gold. You had best bellows
but little Of what ypu see about California in the
for / do assure you they misrepresentE
the true state Of affairs with the miners very
much in TACT, to read The reports IN the papers,
and then lie amOng the miners yourself, you could
mot realize q single feature in the prilted--sol
little DO newspapers and their correspondents
know about The true condition Of the miners.
James Coleman, Tom Turner and William
Wells are all well. VIM. Wells had quite al
spell Of sickness not long since, but had the good
luck to recover, and is now entirely we'll. James,
tolweil is here to-day and well, he ha, Just re-
ceIved a letter from home, which aprrized himl
OF Robert Barnett's arrival at home.--ihe frstI
we have had from him since he left. feltl
quite anxious to hear from him as you did notI
mention his arrival in your letter Of Feb. 2lst,
when he should have been at home. as he leftl
San FRANCISCO 18th January. ! know nothing
Of the situation Of the rest Of our boys, who are
in different sections OF the mines, but the last &C.
counts had they were well, and as far l know
wete doing as well as tie majority.
Say TO all Of my friends, ii There are any SUCH
that feel like coming to this country, to stay att
home, that's my opinion. ] shall leave here for
home, sweet home, at the commencement Of theI
rainy season, which generally takes place in No.
vember. Remember me TO all my friends who
retain in kind remembrance Of me.
j. WIS.