- 781
California Gold Rush
Estimate
2,500 - 3,500 USD
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Description
- paper
6 fine autograph letters signed by Charles Jewett Junior, describing in detail life in the gold camps of Weaverville and Eureka, in all 18 pages, Panama, Weaverville and Eureka California, all housed in a red half-morocco clamshell box, typed transcriptions laid in. The letters are as follows:
Charles Jewett Jr. Autograph letter signed ("Charles Jewett Jun"), 1 page (10 x 7 3/4 in.; 254 x 198 mm), Panama, 12 March 1852, to his family; mounted on tissue, formerly folded. Jewett has evidently booked passage on a ship, instead of taking the overland route, and has just walked across the isthmus of Panama to embark on a ship of the same name. His family may have resided in London, as he refers to the Crystal Palace (built 1851) in his last letter.
Autograph letter signed ("Charles Jewett Jun"), 3 pages (10 x 7 3/4 in.; 254 x 198 mm), We[a]verville, California, 18 April 1852, to his family; formerly folded, a few stains, mounted on tissue. "To tell you the truth about the mines, they do not meet my expectation, though some are very fortunate. Yet most of the miners work hard and get no pay. Dont think by that, that I am sorry that I came to Cal. for the chances to make money are far superior to those in the states, I have refused twenty dollars a week and board often ... If a person is mining and not successful it is costing him all he has earned to pay his expenses [gives prices for beef, butter, eggs, salt]... I think this is the finest country for farming in the world. Cattle are raised without hay, grazing all year round, some of the finest cattle in the world ... No regard is found to the sabbath in the mines as a general thing. I attended church when in Sacramento where I found quite a little congregation."
Autograph letter signed ("Charles Jewett Jun"), 4 pages (10 x 7 3/4 in.; 254 x 198 mm),We[a]verville, California, 16 May 1852, to his family; formerly folded, some fold-tears mended, some stains. "As my fixings here, they are quite comfortable for California. The table that we eat on is made out of split pine. We scoot it up to the rig pole when we get done eating. I was waked up this morning by the melodious notes of a jack-ass who put his head almost into the cabin door. I have not slept with my clothes off since I came here. I change them twice a week. [Goes on to describe his project to dig shafts as wells] "The gold always lays down near the rock if there is any. If we find that the dirt lays as well in 5 or six more shafts, we shall dig or tunnel, then we can work out the pay dirt and not have to shovell[!] all that is above it from 2 to 8 cts a bucket is good ... My hands are so stiff that I cannot write as well as I could when I was at home. I can hardly open them in the morning, they are so sore ... You say that you suppose that I am getting as much of the precious gold as I can. I am, and if I can get half as much as you can put into a thimble after shoveling all day, I am well paid."
Autograph letter signed ("Charles Jewett Jun"), 4 pages (9 3/4 x 7 1/2 in.; 248 x 190 mm), Eureka, California, 15 November 1852, to his family; formerly folded, a few stains. "I have not had on a white shirt since I left San Francisco. I try to keep warm and dry, everything is so wet as it is raining nearly all the time now. [Describes his purchase of an 8 horse-power steam engine]. "The two that are with me are men from 30 to 35 years old. One is from New York City by the name of Baxter, the other is from Albany, NY named Fonday. We are going Monday to hewing out some timber and if we get along pretty well we will send some to Sacramento by some vessel that carries it and bring back what we shall need for the mill. I am going in with them as an equal partner although they will furnish more money to begin with than I can. So much for my good looks."
Autograph letter signed ("Charles Jewett Jun"), 2 pages (10 1/2 x 8 1/2 in.; 266 x 215 mm), Eureka, California, 17 January 1853, to his family, including a manuscript map of Eureka; formerly folded,a few fold-tears mended. "This winter has been very bad for logging as it has rained nearly the whole time. We have had a little more than a week of pleasant weather. [Describes the physical situation of Eureka, with map].
Autograph letter signed ("Charles Jewett Jun"), 4 pages (9 1/2 x 7 3/4 in.; 240 x 195 mm), Eureka, California, 20 August 1853, to his family; formerly folded, a few stains. "Mother in one of her letters wished I could have an opportunity to read "Uncle Tom's Cabin." I am reading it and like it very much, have got as far as little "Eva's" death. I have desolved[!] partnership and sold my interest in logging and cattle. About two months back we had the poorest of luck. Our oxen got in the habit of straying. He got off into the red-woods and we had a great deal of trouble getting them out ... I have two offers to go at work in the mills again. This place is growing very fast. I suppose that the Cristal[!] Palace is in full operation now. I would like to see all the wonders, though I would pass them all, to see my own home ..."
Charles Jewett Jr. Autograph letter signed ("Charles Jewett Jun"), 1 page (10 x 7 3/4 in.; 254 x 198 mm), Panama, 12 March 1852, to his family; mounted on tissue, formerly folded. Jewett has evidently booked passage on a ship, instead of taking the overland route, and has just walked across the isthmus of Panama to embark on a ship of the same name. His family may have resided in London, as he refers to the Crystal Palace (built 1851) in his last letter.
Autograph letter signed ("Charles Jewett Jun"), 3 pages (10 x 7 3/4 in.; 254 x 198 mm), We[a]verville, California, 18 April 1852, to his family; formerly folded, a few stains, mounted on tissue. "To tell you the truth about the mines, they do not meet my expectation, though some are very fortunate. Yet most of the miners work hard and get no pay. Dont think by that, that I am sorry that I came to Cal. for the chances to make money are far superior to those in the states, I have refused twenty dollars a week and board often ... If a person is mining and not successful it is costing him all he has earned to pay his expenses [gives prices for beef, butter, eggs, salt]... I think this is the finest country for farming in the world. Cattle are raised without hay, grazing all year round, some of the finest cattle in the world ... No regard is found to the sabbath in the mines as a general thing. I attended church when in Sacramento where I found quite a little congregation."
Autograph letter signed ("Charles Jewett Jun"), 4 pages (10 x 7 3/4 in.; 254 x 198 mm),We[a]verville, California, 16 May 1852, to his family; formerly folded, some fold-tears mended, some stains. "As my fixings here, they are quite comfortable for California. The table that we eat on is made out of split pine. We scoot it up to the rig pole when we get done eating. I was waked up this morning by the melodious notes of a jack-ass who put his head almost into the cabin door. I have not slept with my clothes off since I came here. I change them twice a week. [Goes on to describe his project to dig shafts as wells] "The gold always lays down near the rock if there is any. If we find that the dirt lays as well in 5 or six more shafts, we shall dig or tunnel, then we can work out the pay dirt and not have to shovell[!] all that is above it from 2 to 8 cts a bucket is good ... My hands are so stiff that I cannot write as well as I could when I was at home. I can hardly open them in the morning, they are so sore ... You say that you suppose that I am getting as much of the precious gold as I can. I am, and if I can get half as much as you can put into a thimble after shoveling all day, I am well paid."
Autograph letter signed ("Charles Jewett Jun"), 4 pages (9 3/4 x 7 1/2 in.; 248 x 190 mm), Eureka, California, 15 November 1852, to his family; formerly folded, a few stains. "I have not had on a white shirt since I left San Francisco. I try to keep warm and dry, everything is so wet as it is raining nearly all the time now. [Describes his purchase of an 8 horse-power steam engine]. "The two that are with me are men from 30 to 35 years old. One is from New York City by the name of Baxter, the other is from Albany, NY named Fonday. We are going Monday to hewing out some timber and if we get along pretty well we will send some to Sacramento by some vessel that carries it and bring back what we shall need for the mill. I am going in with them as an equal partner although they will furnish more money to begin with than I can. So much for my good looks."
Autograph letter signed ("Charles Jewett Jun"), 2 pages (10 1/2 x 8 1/2 in.; 266 x 215 mm), Eureka, California, 17 January 1853, to his family, including a manuscript map of Eureka; formerly folded,a few fold-tears mended. "This winter has been very bad for logging as it has rained nearly the whole time. We have had a little more than a week of pleasant weather. [Describes the physical situation of Eureka, with map].
Autograph letter signed ("Charles Jewett Jun"), 4 pages (9 1/2 x 7 3/4 in.; 240 x 195 mm), Eureka, California, 20 August 1853, to his family; formerly folded, a few stains. "Mother in one of her letters wished I could have an opportunity to read "Uncle Tom's Cabin." I am reading it and like it very much, have got as far as little "Eva's" death. I have desolved[!] partnership and sold my interest in logging and cattle. About two months back we had the poorest of luck. Our oxen got in the habit of straying. He got off into the red-woods and we had a great deal of trouble getting them out ... I have two offers to go at work in the mills again. This place is growing very fast. I suppose that the Cristal[!] Palace is in full operation now. I would like to see all the wonders, though I would pass them all, to see my own home ..."