1852 Letter to Leyburn Wilkes from Nicholas Horsley

Sacramento City, May 6th, 1852

Dear Leyburn,

So remiss are my correspondents that occasionally I half resolve to write no more, but upon more mature reflection fear that I should be the only loser in acting upon such a resolve. You I cannot regard as a correspondent for though I have several times written to you, I have never been honored with so much as a line in reply. My distaste to writing has very much increased since I have been in the country, nevertheless so great is my anxiety to be particularly acquainted of what my old friends are doing that I would notwithstanding this feeling write often, if I had any encouragement whatever, if I receive no reply this shall be my last endeavor to wring a line from your honor. Everything has very much altered since I was here a year ago, the houses are larger, the inhabitants have become less transient and many have brought their families here, so that you may occasionally see a young lady on the street, indeed I saw some very fair specimens of beauty at the theater last night. In the cities and vallies(sic) you can now find all the comforts and luxuries common to the older state. In elegance of dress the ladies here far surpass those of the Atlantic states. I have made no acquaintances among them nor shall I seek to do so, but shall devote all my energies in the attainment of the object for which I come. My brother and myself are packing some forty mules that as we come to Sacramento, buy an assortment of goods which we ship to Colusa a town on the Sacramento, from that place we lash the freight about two hundred and fifty lbs. to a mule on the backs of the animals, and take it to Weaver and Trinity about two hundred miles distant from Colusa. . The Indians in the vicinity of Trinity are becoming more and more daring in their attacks upon persons and property, it is dangerous for small parties to cross the mountains; many persons have been killed and hundreds of mules and cattle stolen within the last few months. A few weeks since a Mr. Anderson from Mo was driving some cattle to a ranch (a place for herding stock) a few miles from Weaverville, when he was attacked by the Indians who killed him and drove off his cattle, so as it was discovered a party followed in pursuit overtook and killed a hundred and twenty five of them -
The emigration to this country during the summer is expected to be much greater than at any year previous, it is no telling what effect it may have upon the country, whether it will develop mineral wealth that is yet unknown, or lessen the chance of those already here. The Chinese are flocking to this country in great numbers, capitalists, it is supposed have furnished large numbers with means to get here in consideration of which they (the Chinese) give their services for a mere song. In many portions of the mines, miners have past resolutions prohibiting their working among them. I regard this as the finest stock country in the world and if one would resolve to remain here six or eight years and be prudent and energetic he would be obliged to acquire wealth. I shall take up a ranch very soon though not with the purpose of remaining here, as I am resolved to return to Virginia in October and then be governed in my future movements by events - A gentleman, Mr. B (or R) Crenshaw of Lynchburg will soon be on his return to the old state, he has been very successful here, and will take with him a large amt of the “oro”-
I suppose that you have become so wedded to the peaks, that you could scarcely be contented to live elsewhere, in fact you doubtless will be soon meditating making an addition to your house hold in the person of Mrs. Leyburn Wilkes- this trip of mine has robbed me of many an hour of pleasure; I have learnt fully to appreciate the pleasure of society since I have been here and especially that of the fair, in fact I believe their can be no real happiness without them. How are they getting on with the Genessee and Lynchburg railroad, the creation of which allways brings to my memory your father and General Clay, the latter I suppose has no thought of anything else - If your father was to reside here a year, I think he would be very much pleased with the country, especially as he has such a fondness for fine stock. Miners who have been in the country a year or two are doing fully as well as they did in 50 and 51 because they have better machinery and work more systematically than ever before. The legislature --adjourned on Tuesday the 4th - I am not well ----ted (sic) up in politics and so cannot inform you how efficient their acts may prove. Let me insist again upon writing soon and direct your letters to Shasta City for which place and Trinity I will leave tomorrow, Remember me particularly to each member of your fathers family and their friends who may enquire after me.
yours truly
N Horsley