Manuscripts
Charles Grafton Wilberton French letters to Nancy Manney
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Charles Plummer letters to his family
Manuscripts
These manuscripts are a series of letters written by Charles Plummer to his family. The first four letters (HM 23343-23346) are addressed to his father, Farnham Plummer, with the final letter (HM 23347) written to his sister Elizabeth. The first letter, HM 23343 dated 1849, February 4 - July 7, also contains a table of daily observations taken by Charles during his trip to California from his home state of Massachusetts, via Cape Horn. The chart is divided by latitude and longitude, and includes barometer and thermometer readings for each date. Also included are incidental details such as landmarks sighted, other ships sighted, and Charles' health (eg. "A little unwell. Took medicine"). The letter is dated 1849, June 30 and July 4, and describes the latter part of Charles' voyage and arrival at San Francisco. He writes that the voyage by sea (as a while has been a pleasant and a lucky one." HM 23344, dated 1851, March 14, sees Charles in San Francisco, and in fine health, but concerned about how he might make some money. He describes local gold mines, each being different from the next, and says he will send home some of the "gold burning quartz" he has found. He writes of meeting Chinese and French immigrants, and asks about family back home in Massachusetts. In HM 23345 (1853, March 10), Charles wishes to hear news of home, in his father's hand in particular, for he has had none for a good while. He has made new friends, and has met a few people he knew from home. He closes his letter as follows: "I would like much to see my native town once more, and trust I may ere another frontier shall pass away." HM 23346, dated 1855, January 1, finds Charles asking once more for a letter from home. He wishes everyone a Happy New Year, and says that the day is marked in California much like it is in New York or Massachusetts, and most of the local stores are closed. He is astonished by how much liquor has been consumed in San Francisco for the occasion. Included in HM 23347 (dated 1856, August 4) is a print of the public execution of Hetherington and Brace, "The Murderers of Baldwin, Randall, West, and Marion, July 29th, 1856" outside Fort Vigilance, upon which Charles has made handwritten notes. In the letter, written to his sister Elizabeth, Charles describes being a witness at this execution, which he went to because "business was suspended all about town and I could accomplish nothing." He writes of the fruit industry in San Francisco, and how it differs in operation compared to back home.
mssHM 23343-23347
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Charles Fletcher letters to James Gordon Bennett
Manuscripts
HM 4004 is a letter addressed to Mr. Bennett, editor of the New York Herald, imploring that the enclosed letter addressing the Oregon Question be published in the Herald. This letter is signed by Charles Fletcher. HM 4005 is the enclosed letter mentioned in HM 4004, and is signed "An American Citizen," and discusses a potential British claim to the Oregon Territory. Both letters are dated 1846, January 26. These manuscripts may be related to HM 4001-4003.
mssHM 4004-4005
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Letters regarding Charles L. Hallowell
Manuscripts
HM 80817: Letter written by Moses R. Stubbs from the 2nd Regiment California Volunteers Cavalry to Mr. Brittle on February 7th, 1863 from Camp Douglas, Utah. In this detailed letter, Stubbs describes the Battle at Bear River on the early morning of January 29th, 1863. "I will only say that ...the Indians were engaged early in the morning & lasted until noon there was 40 infantry & about 150 cavalry engaged of which 14 killed 6 mortally wounded 46 wounded which goes to show that it was the hardest fought Battle ever fought west of the Mississippi there being 276 warriors killed & some squas killed by accident." Stubbs also describes the events leading up to Hallowell's death, "...he was on his knees watching an Indian that was watching him both trying to get a shot at each other the Indian fired first & shot through Charles' over coat collar in an instant after Charles' carbine sent forth its deadly contents which took effect in the Indians forehead which seated his brains all around on the snow just at this instant there was an Indian jumped up off to the right of Charles & took a deliberate aim at him & shot him through & through..."
mssHM 80817-80819
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Letters addressed to Henry Albert Wolff
Manuscripts
This group of letters are primarily addressed to Henry Albert Wolff and include: HM 82747, a letter from Hyacinthe Loyson (Ṕére Hyacinthe) to Monsieur le Docteur, 1871, Dec. 26, in French; HM 82748-82749, 82753, three letters from George Baden-Powell, 1885-1891; HM 82750-82752, three letters written from Antananarivo, Madagascar and signed by the Prime Minister and Commander-in -Chief, 1886, in Malagasy; HM 82754, a letter from Francis Edward Younghusband, 1896, Apr. 16; HM 82755-82757, three letters from Sir Ellis Ashmead-Bartlett, 1896.
mssHM 82747-82757
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Letter and notes of Charles Lyell
Manuscripts
The letter by Lyell is to an unknown addressee ("Sir") and is dated 1866, October 15, and was written from London. In this letter he is talking about a new, 10th edition of his book Principles of geology that is going to be released soon. He also mentions his "amended climate theory." HM 79867.
mssHM 79867-79868
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Historical accounts of trouble between Chilean, French, and American miners
Manuscripts
HM 4384, dated January 1850, describes the problems between Chilean and American miners in the Calevaros mining district. The Chileans had been driven from the mines in northern California, and responded "with pistols, knives, and other weapons of offence," threatening to shoot the Americans if they did not leave. At a meeting of resident American citizens, twelve resolutions were passed in an attempt to quell the problem. The Chileans protested, and did not abandon the mines, and were fined as per the resolutions. The Americans then disbanded the Chileans by force. HM 4385, dated April 1851, relates the issues between American and French miners of the Garde Mobile at Mokelumne Hill. The French government sent members of its Garde Mobile to California to protect mining interests at Mokelumne Hill, and "caused a great excitement, as they marched on the Hill." They made an attempt to raise the French flag but were told "the Stars and Stripes...was on the only one that could fly." The French struck a rich vein, and then claimed the entire hill for France. A skirmish ensued, and the French eventually left the hill at the request of a French consul. These items are handwritten transcriptions taken from HM 322, Journal of a voyage from Newburyport, Mass., to San Francisco, Cal.
mssHM 4384-4385