The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1851-01-20
S18,744,593
Total,
California Correspondenoe.


Our New York correspondent received the
following letter from the land of gold, and
had the kindness to send it, to us for our
fuse" He has our thanks for the favor
VALLEY FORGE, DEER CREEK, Nov. 10, 1850.
DEAR SIR Here am in our new ranch,
right side up. There are four Of us Hombres in
company. Our cabin is built of Pine Logs,
and is the best, though lsay it, in this vicini-
ty, if we did build it. 1t cost us 800 in
cash, and our labor, which at day wages,
amounts to $500 more, in all S400. 1t is
sixteen feet square, fourteen in the clear)
with Veranda or Piazza in front, seven feet
wide. In one end Of the cabin is window
with six lights of glass, eight by ten;. yes
glass, old boy! That's not TO be seen in ev
cry house around here. In the other end is
one of the fire places, six feet six inches wide,
five feet six inches high, amt that some. On
one side of the cabin are four Bunks; on the
other are shelves, door-pins for coats, &C.
Over head are our provisions, SO you see we
are nicely fixed for winter, and we sing Of
"Let the storm come down." sc. We have
laid in our stock of provisions for winter, or
nearly so, at all events, we have spent all
our money for what we have got, and our dig
gins have run out, so we are about strip'd.-
Tomorrow we shall strike for new diggins.
The rainy season has not commenced yet,
so there's no chance in ravines. Last year it
commenced raining the 29th Of October
We shall try in the banks of the creek, there
is ravine in front of the cabin, which
think we shall work in this winter, if it pays
anything decent. Our new cabin is half a
mile from our old one. We call it the Home
stead. At present, we pass our evenings in
reading, smoking, card playing, &C., and are
just the happiest fellows out of Jail. We
cook by turns, of one week each. Yester
day the first batch of pies were baked, yes
stree; four mince pies Last Sunday made
an apple duff, if they do cost dollar per
pound. Don't ,Oe livc? PU bet ue do! This is
a high old life at times, or would be, if we
could go home once week and see our dear
some of our dear Fathers cider and apples
here to live on at times. lam taking up
too much of this sheet in cabin talk, so III
about ship, and try on another track. Your
thrice welcome letters came to hand in good
season. That tim pan of notions came
through in one month. That was rushing it.
1t was all by luck that got it. One of our
company had gone to, Sacramento city after
our provisions, and happened into Hawley's
Express office and saw it, so | got it without
any charge. The contents were all in good
shape; even the cake. Warn't that crazy
cake! Just as good as though it came out Of
the oven that day. cut it in eight pieces,
to make it go round. I'll bet high that you
are the first man that has sent cake into the
Sierra Nevada Mountains from the United
States. That dag'type? Bless your dear
soul for that. | am holding it in my hand
now, can see all your dear faces as you all
used TO look, in one of those devoted counte-
nances, ! can see the darling little Josey,
yet dear in your own face. can see her as
plain as though she were before me now, and
while | am writing on this subject, my two
blessed eyes have sprung leak, but | cam
help it, they don't often do SO, but loved
that child as though she were my own. It's
no use, / cant stop this leaking at the eyes
and must quit for while and dry up. Sc
I'll try pull at my pipe and see if that won
help me out