Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1853-1853, 1853-04-08
. rHTTHR IRON cALftlo HSefa.


viii recognize the writer at once. He has no,
authorized the publication Of the letter but II is
eco COED to lose:
.s DIAMOND SPHiss', Feb. 10Th, 1853.
4, nv DrAh NEvT: ..
have just received your letter, in which YOU
give me "Hsil Columbia" Well, 20 i, come
down heavy deserve Il, and have no excuse
TO offer in sxtinuatiOn Of my crime but will
submit with patience to any punishment you may
sSseauss to inlet. You say you have the Cali
fOrnH fever. Well just hold minute, and let
me advise. When it gets 90 far there is no
chance to cure IL, Just take dime, buy plOw
line, find favorable limb and suspend yourself
between heaven and earth; but for Gods sake
never think Of coming hersl There are thou
sands here who II they had the money would
start home tomorrow. You in the States
know nothing Of this country. You only get
the bright side, and hear the newspaper pufFs
Of the lucky ones, but where there is one lucky
devil there are thousands who barely make
bread. do not speak from hesrssy, but expe.
renee and what have seen. You would sup
pose, il you were getting five dollars per day,
you could make lots Of money, but when you
take your expenses for actual neceSSarisS out,
you will find but little left in fact there is
Nsthing to be made here by nining--thatiS flat
tho time has past; the only ones who make
money are those engaged in trading, and, az in
every other country, that requires capital. As
10 your trade, cannot tell you a single thing.
Board here is from tWelvet to twenty dollars per
week, according TO the prices OF provisions.
per pound for -four, DO cents for bacon, and
siher things il proportion. had made some
money here, about three thousand dollars in
two months, when that internal fire came and
broke me- fat left Inc withOuta dollar; and
had TO 70 TO the mineS. have been here six
F. weeks OEking with ~Wm. Carter and other
young men, and we are still in debt for grub,
and we have worked hard. You ask my advice
about which route to take. cannot Civ it, as
I know nothing about the sea voyage; but do
know IL you come by land, before you get half
way you will wish yourself at home, and before
you get the other half you will wish yourself at
H--nl and expect the water trip is worse.
You may think ! am e1OgerA,ing the picture, but
il you should ever be such fool as 10 come here,
you will find it is drawn true 10 life. My only
wish is that some kind friend had taken rail
+. and broke my back before started! Friends
here are not worth cent thousand in fact the
term friendship is eXpunged from the CalifOr-
mia vocabulary; it 10 every man for himself and
devil tako the hindmost. The only thing the
western men agree in 10 the Christian Virtues
DO you know what they are? No. Well,
will tell you:-Love your God, hate the Devil
and curse the YankssS! and as good a creed Al
ever any man lived uptO.
The Hannibal boys, as far as I know, are well
Geo. Bourne, Ed. Mallory, and John Lennon
= and C. Meredith, see often. There il no news
hero to write, and the only thing I can do 10 Il
reitsrats, stay at home; neUer think Of coming
Acre, ssd advise your friends to the same courses
for the life Of deck hand i' preferable to one
here. .yJ.' ....l... '.g. e. ....
In your next letter do give me all the news
and don't write asking my advice about coming
here. Ihave uttered but one wish since l come
TO California, and that Is, that the man Who dis.
covered gold here haG died before he got TO tel
at. .i ..a y.l D. ,,e- ,et u, isll
Give my best respects to Sister and the Chill
dreD, and receive for yourself 10Y best wishes
. A.