Manuscripts
John Gorham Palfrey letter to George Washington Greene
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John Quincy Adams, Washington, D.C., letter to John Gorham Palfrey :
Manuscripts
Adams reports that he still has not finished his article on China for the North American Review; he is too busy in Congress and preparing for a U.S. Supreme Court case, most likely United States v. The Amistad.
mssHM 26329
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George C. (George Congdon) Gorham letter to William Worth Belknap
Manuscripts
Letter sent by George C. Gorham to William Worth Belknap from San Francisco. Gorham writes of a "personal and...very small but very important matter." He writes that "a hundred votes ones way or another" may decide a 3rd District Congressional race between "an ardent Grant Republican and an original secessionist." He asks Belknap to telegraph the "Engineer officer in charge here" and ask him to appoint John Gannon as foreman of laborers on the Lime Point fortification in the San Francisco harbor. Gorham adds that Gannon only wants the position for a short time, and "does not want to retain it after the election." Gorham implores Belknap that such a telegraph would "ensure a Congressman."
mssHM 29235
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Phoebe Apperson Hearst letter to Mrs. John Percival Jones
Manuscripts
This letter was written from Hearst's home in Pleasanton, California to Mrs. John Percival Jones. In it, she reminds Mrs. Jones that she is expected to visit on "Saturday the ninth...[and] remain until Monday, the eleventh."
mssHM 82398
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John Augustus Sutter letter to Edward M. Kern
Manuscripts
Sutter writes that his stay in Sacramento was longer than anticipated, upon his receiving two separate subpoenas to appear in the United States District Court in San Francisco. The remainder of the letter is concerned with mutual acquaintances.
mssHM 20663
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John Milton Bernhisel letter to Franklin Pierce
Manuscripts
Letter to President Franklin Pierce from John Milton Bernhisel, written while he was serving in the U.S. House of Representatives. Bernhisel writes to Pierce of public opinion in Utah, particularly regarding the Territory's desire to retain Brigham Young as governor. Bernhisel praises Young, noting that he possesses "the entire confidence of the people." He continues that "respecting Governor Young I would...refer your Excellency to...Stephen A. Douglas of the United States Senate." Bernhisel continues that Utah would like to see Zerubbabel Snow kept as Associate Judge, and that Seth M. Blair remain as United States Attorney for the district of Utah, and mentions Blair's original recommendation from Sam Houston. The letter is unsigned and appears incomplete.
mssHM 23782
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George Bruce Upton letters to his father
Manuscripts
This is a series of nine letters written by George Bruce Upton, Junior, to his father, describing his journey to California and his experiences therein. The first two letters, HM 24681 and 24684, were written in February and April, 1852, while the younger Upton was en route to California aboard the ship "Great Britain." By the next letter (HM 24683, dated April-May, 1852), the ship has landed at San Francisco. HM 24684 (written May 31) sees George Junior in San Francisco, attempting to order goods for the opening of a store. In the next letter, (HM 24685, dated June 15), he travels to gold mines out of curiosity, and to check on an acquaintance, whom had gone there to search for gold. Putnam, the would-be miner, was found not doing well. George Junior likes what he has seen of San Francisco, though he is not enamored with its government. HM 24686, written in San Francisco on November 15, tells of a fire in Sacramento that, according to Junior, will "enhance the value of almost every description of merchandise" in San Francisco. The rest of the letter is concerned with the shipping and prices of goods, and details of the purchasing of a boat and insurance. The next letter in the series is dated January 15, 1854. George Junior is living in a shared house in San Francisco, and he writes "the city has improved wonderfully." The following letter was written May 31, 1854 (HM 24688) and contains George Junior's description of his visit to gold mines, and his own successful attempts at panning and digging. He also mentions quartz mining as a potential and relatively untapped source of revenue. In his opinion, he considers "the idea of the mines giving out, in the usual acceptance of the expression, as highly improbable." The final letter in this series is HM 24689, alleged to have been written in San Francisco in 1854, as only the final eight pages of the twelve-page letter remain. George Junior reports that "the mining population has diminished greatly," and that the market for goods has also fallen. He worries about the long-term prospects of San Francisco, despite its rapid growth during his stay there.
mssHM 24681-24689