The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1852-02-04
What Gen. Wilson says about California.

WudU uen. WuSon says dUOuJ OdllIOTnld'
The following extract of letter from
Gen. James Wilson to T. X. Ames,
Esq, of Peierboro', gives his impress
sions Of the soil and climate Of Caliror>
mia, of which his opportunities of judg-
ing have been ample -
This is now December-at the time
of this present writing, the ground in
my old native State is all frozen up solid
your houses are all banked up snug
your fires are all lighted and kept brisk
ly burning in your occupied rooms
your cattle are housed aud consuming
the results Of your last summers labor
your people wrapped up in grea, coats,
miIlens aud buffalo robes to keep from
freezing-snow is flying, and you have
all the indications Of a hard, cold, Tor,
bidding winter. Now mark the cun>
trast Here ] am writing 10 you in
room without 6re--neither snow nor
frost outside-catlle are ranging at large
npon the hills, new grass aud wiC. oats
are up, rank and green-our farmers are
hitching their oxen to the pillow while
you are hiiching yours to the sled. This
is our spring time, and in fact it is spring
aud summer here all the time, We have
the most delightful climate in the world.
II is incomparably fine and has been so
ever since arrived here, more than thir.
teen months ago. We are expecting
rainy season and shall have it, hut even
during that season we have a great deal
of fair, beautiful weather. 1t can rain
here, when it tries, as you never saw j,
rain in your life. 1t pours down from
the clouds in sheets rather than in drops
We have also a rich aud productive
soil. easily worked, and a good market
for every kind of vegetable. If people
would come to California with any thing
like reasonable hopes and expectations,
if they would bring with them their
habits oI industry, economy and perse-
vcrance, if they would steadily apply
themselves to farm labor and be satisfied
with reasonable returns, in due season
they could not fail of success. But they
do not and they will not come here with
any such views. If they had some little
sense when they left home, it is all gone
when they get TO California. The gilt
ter OF gold bewilders them aud uothng
but most desperate adventure for for>
tune will satisfy them.
Your Eastern people have entirely er-
roneous opinions about California. The
common idea is that if person can only
get to California he has nothing TO do
but TO scrape up the gold by the shovel
full, until he satisfies all the cravings Of
avarlce. The adyenturer for California
starts with this opinion-his mind is all
absorbed in thoughts about linen sacks,
buckskin bags aud close purses TO hold
his gold-he is anxiously contriving how
to pack, keep, and safely transport his
precious yellow dust. His beautiful
reverie is never for moment disturbed
by a dobbt Of his getting it.
1t is great and fatal mistake. 1t i.
enough of itself to blast the prospect,
of nine out Of ten of all the people wht
come to California. The stern expe
riencc of the practical miner soon dis.
pels the error, aud the poor deuded snf
ierer is discouraged, disheariened ant
mortified d-he losses his energy aud for
lItude-he sckens and dies.
have seen macy such cases, and
dare not advise any of my numerou
correspondents to come TO California
Those who "stand pcH had better stant
still"