Manuscripts

Letter to "Ben and Sue,"

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Description: In this letter to the otherwise unattributed "Ben and Sue", the author, identified only as "Ed" by signature, writes of mutual acquaintances, and of the failure of his railroading venture. He also criticizes the Vigilance Committee at length, saying it operates "against the interests of the entire country" and that "you probably receive glowing accounts of their movements and most deplorable tales of those of their opponents but you must not believe all that you see in print in regard to the matter." He goes on to say that "a more corrupt, venial, and chameleon like press does not exist in the universe than that of San Francisco."
Type: Manuscripts(Opens in new tab)
Production date: 1856, July 19.
Call number: mssHM 19479
Provenance: Purchased from Dawson's, 1958, October 8.

The Volunteer's Vision

Manuscripts

This manuscript is a poem written by Dimmick while on board the United States ship "Loo Choo" in the South Pacific Ocean. The poem describes the scene, and speaks, in glowing language, of Dimmick's military involvement as a military volunteer in California. After the poem is a small note from Dimmick addressed to "Friend Pellet", informing him that he is welcome to publish the poem if he is so disposed. Dimmick also asks that a copy of the poem be sent to his wife, and laments that "I have not yet had a single letter from home."

mssHM 4012

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George Ben Johnson oration

Manuscripts

This manuscript is a handwritten transcript of a speech given by "the Honourable" George Ben Johnson at the Presbyterian Church of San Francisco, California, to the E Clampus Vitus Society. The speech was published in the Mountain Democrat newspaper on January 6, 1928, and it was from this newspaper that this transcription was taken. In the speech, Johnson speaks of the importance of upholding the legacy of George Washington, religion, the virtues of brotherhood, and the enduring importance of women. There is a handwritten and unsigned note at the end of the transcript which reads "I write this because I know it will please for it is the most eloquent I ever readd and as you are a member of the order I know it will please you."

mssHM 43204

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Ben E. (Benjamin Erastus) Rich letter to Sarah D. Pea

Manuscripts

Letter from Benjamin Rich to his mother Sarah Pea, written from Ogden City, Utah. Rich writes that he likes Ogden "better and better every day" and that Brother Watson's family has been very kind to him. He also assures his mother that he has not had anything "stronger than coffee" to drink and that he has been staying out of trouble. Written on Zion's Co-operative Mercantile Institution letterhead.

mssHM 72834

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W.R. Isaacs MacKay letter to Joseph Libbey Folsom

Manuscripts

MacKay hopes that Folsom's health is improving, and writes to Folsom that "Congress could not fail to exonerate you from all accountability" and that "one thing is certain, you have not been dealt fairly with." He hopes that Folsom's "business troubles are finally closed." He laments the choice of John Bigler for governor of California, saying "I could hardly suppose that California could have sunk so low."

mssHM 19075

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James Warren letter to Edwin Hunt Frost

Manuscripts

James Warren writes of his life experiences, such as crossing the Atlantic Ocean, riding the first railroad, and owning railroad stock. He bemoans the "wretched, unfortunate Strikes that has so much deranged all Business and Prosperity." He also writes of the newspaper industry, in particular the San Francisco-based California Farmer, and lists items of historical interest in its offices in great detail. He tells Frost, "If we don't surprise & astonish you by the Magnitude, the Rarity, the Intrinsic Value of our collection - we will pay you the cost of your Trip!" It appears Frost is a prospective buyer. Signed "Col. Warren."

mssHM 39963

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Horace Bushnell letter to Scribner, Armstrong, and Company

Manuscripts

In this letter by Bushnell, he states: "I send you today my table of contents and title page" (Scribner, Armstrong, and Company published Sermons on living subjects in 1872). He then tells his publishers that he will be traveling to Ripton, Vermont for "two months." He also says that he will "order Mr. Hobbs to send...his plate proofs." He also wonders if "this political scrub race [is] going to affect the book market this autumn."

mssHM 79204

Letter to "Ben and Sue,"

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You might also be interested in

The Volunteer's Vision

George Ben Johnson oration

Ben E. (Benjamin Erastus) Rich letter to Sarah D. Pea

W.R. Isaacs MacKay letter to Joseph Libbey Folsom

James Warren letter to Edwin Hunt Frost

Horace Bushnell letter to Scribner, Armstrong, and Company