Edward S. Swan letter to Fanny P. Clark

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  S. S. Haws letter to his family

  Manuscripts

  In this letter addressed "Dear Wife & Children," S.S. Haws describes his five-month journey. He stops at the Bay of All Saints on his way around Cape Horn, breaking up a potentially deadly quarrel between the ship captain and mate along the way. He arrives in California on September 15, 1852, and makes his way to Sacramento, where he began mining, and then on to San Francisco. Of the current condition of mining, he writes, "It is true much gold has been and is still being dug but when you take into consideration the numbers engaged and the vast amount of toil privation and suffering performed and endured to obtain it dwindles down into mere nothingness." He writes of the fire that very nearly consumed Sacramento in its entirety, and the ensuing effect on prices of goods. He also gives news of mutual acquaintences who have also made the journey from New York to California, and reports he has "become quite a practitioner in various diseases," owing in no small part to the continuing growth of the California cities.

  mssHM 17476

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  William Swan letter regarding diabetes treatment

  Manuscripts

  Detailed and informative 1893 letter on the medical and dietary treatment of diabetes at the Carlsbad Spa in Austria-Hungary. The lengthy letter, approximately 1,100 typed words, is addressed to Mrs. L. F. Southwick by William Swan, of Lambertville, New Jersey, himself a previous diabetic patient at Carlsbad. Swan writes at great length about the state-of-the-art medical treatments for diabetes available at Carlsbad, particularly noting the work of Dr. J. Kraus. Kraus was a resident physician at Carlsbad and the author of Carlsbad: Its thermal springs and baths and how to use them (4th ed., 1891). Swan notes the lack of experience of American physicians in treating diabetes and the benefits of going overseas to Carlsbad.

  mssHM 81239

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  Edward Gould letters to Sarah Ann Gould

  Manuscripts

  Edward Gould wrote these four letters to Sarah Ann Gould, who was perhaps his sister, while he was in California searching for gold. In the first letter (HM 31530, dated 1850, August 30), Gould has sent home "12 1/2/ ounces" and is "keeping grocery at the same place." He writes that he has almost come home several times, but "the thought of coming with so little Dust has kept me back." HM 31531 is dated 1850, October 14, and in it, Edward writes that with the decline of successful digging, things have become very uncertain. However, the city of San Francisco is growing and improving at an incredible rate. In Edward's next letter (HM 31532, dated 1851, April 30) he is back at the mines, after having a dull visit to San Francisco. He hopes his prospecting will improve as the water levels drop, and plans to "engage a little in the boot trade." The fourth and final letter in this series (HM 31533, written 1852, January 13) finds Edward still in the mines, planning to stay through spring.

  mssHM 31530-31533

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  "John" letter to "my dear aunt,"

  Manuscripts

  Typescript of a letter sent from "John" to "my dear Aunt," written while he was at sea heading to San Francisco on board the steamer Tennessee. He writes of leaving New York on the steamer Cherokee, canoing across the Isthmus of Panama, the scenery and native people of the area, and conditions on board the Tennessee. He concludes the letter on April 16 after his arrival in San Francisco, and briefly describes lumber and mining prospects.

  mssHM 73059

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  H.O. Comstock letters to his family

  Manuscripts

  These manuscripts are three letters written by H.O. Comstock to his family, describing his journey from New York to California. The first letter is dated 1849, February 17 (HM 24501) and addressed to "Father", and finds the younger Comstock in good spirits, setting sail from New York in fine weather aboard the brig "Empire." The ship is bound for Vera Cruz, Mexico, which Comstock believes should be reached in about fifteen days, and then on to Cape Horn, and finally to California. In HM 24502 (1849, March 1-12, and addressed to "Father, Mother, Brother, & Sister"), Comstock is 360 miles out from Vera Cruz. The sea voyage has been very cold, cramped, and unpleasant, but he is in good health, and he describes the journey at length. The "Empire" reaches Vera Cruz on March 12. Comstock and the other travelers are relieved to exit the ship, and he marvels at a castle built on a coral reef, and other details of the Mexican coast, such as the buildings, flora, and fauna. He finds the local fare to be exotic and delicious. He thinks the Mexicans all look similar, with the same hair, skin, and noses, and the noise of animals and watchmen keeps him awake at night. He writes that so far, he and his companions "have not found half the difficulty so far that we expected & unless we find hardship more than is common, we shall have nothing but a pleasant jaunt through to the country." He promises to write again once he reaches San Francisco. Comstock writes to his parents from San Francisco in HM 24503 (1849, June 5) that he has "arrived at the 'Promised Land' with health unimpaired." He is thankful that his voyage has been uneventful, compared with others that he has heard of which were fraught with misfortune. On April 28, Comstock visited San Blas, which he describes as "a miserable little village, composed chiefly of mud huts," and finds San Francisco much more agreeable. He describes the city and its inhabitants in considerable detail, as he wishes to give his father "a true account (as far as I am able)," and includes description of gold mines. He wishes he could write to family letters individually, but has not had time. As he closes, Comstock writes that he is heading for the mines, and says he may not write or receive letters for six months, until his return to San Francisco.

  mssHM 24501-24503

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  Gregory Yale letters to Fanny Yale

  Manuscripts

  Gregory Yale wrote these seven letters to his wife, Fanny, during his journey west from New York to California by way of Panama, and during his stay in San Francisco, where he established a profitable law practice. The letters are dated between 1849 and 1859. In the first letter (HM 16895, dated 1849, November 13-22), Yale has embarked from New York aboard the ship "Crescent City", and is bound for Panama, where he will cross the canal and continue to San Francisco. The time leading up to his departure was quite hectic, as he writes "In all my life I never had so many things to perform in so short a space. Many were therefore half done, and more not done at all." Procuring a ticket for the Pacific was allegedly extraordinarily difficult, but Yale managed without much trouble through nothing more than good fortune. There were 313 passengers aboard; 400 including crew, and Yale describes them as "intelligent and orderly "and from a variety of backgrounds. Some he was already acquainted with. On the 14th, Yale and several passengers brought their firearms on deck to try them out, but the ship captain put a stop to it. On the 17th, a passenger complained about drops of rain leaking into his cabin, and when nothing was done about it, the fellow "cried FIRE with all his might." Following this ill-conceived outburst, Yale writes "some are for throwing him overboard.....others are for having water thrown upon him to put the fire out." Cuba was sighted on November 19, and the ship landed at Jamaica on the 20th. Yale went ashore and wrote of the land and its people, and the ship took on board "an abundance of fruit." HM 16896, written December 4, finds Yale in Panama. He has been there more than a week, at a local farm, and is in fact leaving on the 5th. He reports there are "12 to 1500 Americans" in Panama awaiting passage to California, and describes the local area, as well as his journey across the peninsula in a long canoe. Yale's next letter is dated December 5 (HM 16897), and he gives Fanny his blessing to travel to Florida for the winter, should she so desire. He also warns her against going out in public alone, and of allowing visitors, and urges her to take good care of their child. Yale's next letter (HM 16898; 1850, January 12-13) sees him safely arrived in San Francisco, and recovered from an illness suffered in Panama. He is paying $25 a week to stay at the Graham boarding house, and is paying $300 a month to rent an office for Yale to set up his law practice, divided with a physician and a dentist who also have offices in the same location. Some acquaintances have been working the mines, with little success. The remainder of the letter is largely concerned with business details for law practice, which Yale touts as a most lucrative endeavor. He has sent Fanny a ring made from California gold. In HM 16899 (1850, January 25 and February 1), Yale reports he has received all the letters Fanny has sent, and is relieved to hear she is in good spirits despite their separation. He has been heavily involved with business, continuing to experience success, and has moved his practice to new offices. By April, Yale is still in San Francisco, and Fanny has given birth to a girl (HM 16900, written 1850, April 28). He describes his lodging, and his typical routine of work and meals. Business continues to increase, and Yale sends more money home, as well as copies of articles detailing his contributions to the community through his work. HM 16901 is the seventh and final letter in this series, and is dated 1859, September 7. Yale writes of the burying of a dead child, and of a lost purse.

  mssHM 16895-16901