to mother, summer 1853? Victoria

 

I have in another sheet told you what a dangerous adventure I had and how I was robbed with my companion - poor fellow! he escaped that time only after more hardships and trouble and anxiety to perish in the waves. I have just written to his father who lives in the State of Maine to acquaint him of the death of his son. My story now is nearly told. We procured more biscuit without any retrograde movement this time. Two days and a night brought us to our rough and homely shantee in the wilderness and after the rough adventures we had met a roof of bark was pleasant and a bed of straw was soft as formerly a bed of down. I tell you mother I have seen much to make me sick, heartily sick of this rude country, of her Majesty’s possessions, of Oregon and of California for I’ve seen something of them all. The country is not a paradise as has been represented and there is far more humbug than gold. A few successful ones make fortunes, a few more earn a competence, and very many are poor. Money is parted with far easier than it is gained. What you would consider a small fortune would here barely procure one the necessaries of life. Flour, 20 dollars a barrel, pork 50, butter 50 cents per pound, and everything else in proportion. Clothing is not so very dear. We here are far ahead of California as to prices. When last I wrote my prospects were far more cheering than they now are. I hoped then to soon realise something so that I should dare to visit my early home and hold up my head without fear of being taunted with my California expedition. But I risked what little I then had in property on which I expect to lose not much it is true, for I had not much. But take some from a little and it is but a small quantity that remains. I’ve not earned anything of late. I was obliged to leave Sake. Moving in this country is very bad, it sweeps away the earning of months. But in this place it could not be helped. I could do no more at Sake. I ought to have gone direct to California I think, but inducements were held out to come here. Those inducements have all proved fallacious. I cannot now leave. I have expended what money I had, not quite four hundred dollars, in the purchase of property upon which I’m sure to lose, but I can save a part, and probably all of the original outlay. But then you see I lose the use of my money and some labor, and besides I’m thus entangled in such a manner that I must remain here when perhaps I should be looking for a better location, some more remunerative employment, or something in which I could do more benefit to the world at large. Yet I think I can make very good wages here eventually, indeed I’m sure of it and perhaps before the summer is out I shall be glad that in the spring I was detained against my will. Something seems to tell me so.

I think mother I’m more candid, more plain, more frank in communicating my prospects and an account of my gains than most Californians but I’ll assure you I do not wish to lead you amiss. I hope I shall do much better than I anticipate but I fear and you therefore have from me the plain, unvarnished tale. It is pride I expect which prevents me from planting my foot again upon my native hills. But I cannot think of commencing the world anew there and so on these western borders I must yet awhile struggle on. By and by I shall rise, don’t doubt it. I know it is not for naught I’ve escaped many perils whilst I’ve seen very many others one after another sink by my side. I know I have many friends in my native State who expect me to make myself conspicuous above the common plebeian ranks. On what grounds they base those expectations I know not. I only know that hitherto I lived sluggishly and have done nothing to warrant anyone in any such belief. But I tell you now if there is any power in this cranium of mine, if there is any latent talent there, it shall be named. It shall speak and be heard, too. I will tell you what I propose. I must yet awhile remain in Victoria. I will build me a little cottage. I will make it snug and neat and comfortable. I will get me books and paper and when other business does not press I will improve myself, and by and by when Oregon calls for assistance in moving forward the great car of improvement, she shall receive my poor aid. I shall not then be unprepared. Is not this a good idea? Meantime I shall do what I can. I shall make myself respected here. I think I shall accumulate a little property, and though I cannot for years to come perhaps meet with my friends, yet will write often and they must write to me. We must benefit one another with advice and sympathise with each other in trouble the same as if we were together.

I thank God that there is none whom I love this side the Rocky Mountains. It is a bad country, filled with very bad inhabitants as a general thing, who lack the manly and upright principles we admire so much at home.

I hope I shall be able to send home some money by and bye. I should have done so ere this had I been in California but here there is no means. More than any other thing, I have regretted leaving home because when I left Lucius left, and I feared my aged parents would suffer somewhat, but I learn now that Lucius is at home and I am more reconciled on that ground but nevertheless I must send some money home bye and bye when it is possible so to do. Lucius must write to me and so must Barlow. I don’t know where Pa said he was residing - Swanton Liuhorne County I read it - am I correct. You speak of not receiving letters from me in a long time. I’m sure I’ve written often, as often as once in three or four months since I was in the country, but I send my letters to California by masters of vessels with whom I’m acquainted and in all probability they are sometimes careless and mislay them and they are not placed in the post office. As far as is convenient I wish you to pay the postage on your letters for this reason. The United States Mail only comes as far as Nesqually in Washington territory and then there is no government mail to this place. Letters directed here are brought by the Hudsons Bay Company’s agents and I don’t know as they would often bring letters unless the postage were payed.

You see I’ve written a long letter and yet I’ve left out many things I desire to write, however they must wait till I write again. In return I want long letters. Temperance must write. She can best tell me the news of all neighbours and all the scandal in circulation. She must have received a letter from me since you wrote, for unless I’m mistaken I wrote to her about January.

Good bye and may the protecting hand of Heavens King shield and cherish the ever kind, ever good mother of Whit Chase.