Fort Victoria, Nov. 11th/55

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Dear Mother 

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I think two letters from you I have received since last I wrote home and now I make a short answer to them both at one and the same time. You seem to think I had best return to the States and cast in my lot around you again and perhaps it would be best and gladly would I do so if my pile was already made. In fact I do not propose remaining here long by. I’m now doing a tolerable fair business, much better than I could do in any of the Eastern States. I shall however as soon as possible arrange my affairs so that I can leave should business become dull and it is most likely that when I leave Vancouver’s I visit the vale of the Susquehanna for I desire much to behold again the old homestead but more by far its inmates. You enquire whether there are meetings here and Churches and ministers etc. There is a Parson at Victoria sent out from England, a High Churchman I believe and there is also a Roman Catholic Bishop. Which of the two is the best man I can’t tell as I’ve heard neither of them preach nor is it likely I should ever know anything about them by personal observation should I remain here a lifetime. To the High Churchman’s Heaven I could never go should I live ever so Godly a life for I’m not a Gentleman and my Father is not a Gentleman according to the English definition of the term, and none but Gentlemen are worthy the notice of a High Churchman. As to the Roman Bishop I suppose he would pardon my sins, grant me absolution, give me a safe conduct through Purgatory and marry me to an Indian squaw to boot if I will but give him a little of this world’s wealth but this I shall not do as I want none of his services and therefore I cannot expect to shine in that quarter. There is a Church in process of completion at Victoria where the Churchman will hold forth bye and bye. My partner and myself had a contract of twenty six hundred dollars on said Church, but as I had my hands full of work elsewhere I gave up the job with its profits to him. Being what they style a d___d Yankee I suppose I will not be allowed to shew my face within the walls of the sacred enclosure when the building is once completed. The rainy season continues, yet we sometimes have a pleasant day and a little white frost of a night. I have had one first rate letter from Elvira and wish for many more of the same sort. She must not wait for me for as I have before said it is almost impossible for me to get a letter home even after I have written it. 

Lucius too must write often. My respects are due George Reynolds and I thank him for kindly remembering me by transmitting me some of his valuable paper. He may expect a letter from me soon, will some of you tell him. My friend Enos Munson has written me a letter, he is a young man who has my best wishes and whom I respect much. I shall write to him as soon as I can procure stamps. I well recollect the Mr. Dean Pa wrote me about and is worthy of anyone’s respect. Did I know his address I would open a correspondence with him could I ever get time to write. And now my dear Mother I must bid you good bye for the present and I hope ere long to hear from you again for although a continent lies between us, with rugged impassible mountains and plains which have no bounds, yet I hope we may still be permitted to converse together and though the words we utter are long on their passage yet when they come to paint their image on the understanding they are as fresh and full of meaning as when the pen traced them.

If anyone of my former acquaintances think of me enough to enquire after my welfare tell them they have my respects and that I wish them well. God knows I wish no man ill - not those who once tried to injure me.

Whit Chase