Grass Valley Dec 25th 1852
Dear Sister,*
I have no reasonable excuse for not answering the letter I received from you in Missouri notwithstanding I have written a letter home this mail I shall not risk the breaking my promise longer of being a faithful correspondent or the scolding which you have no doubt been nursing for a long time for me. I might make up a tolerable excuse until recently in the business I was engaged in but I am now settled down for a while at least have shaved off a beard that commenced its growth in Missouri and feel so much improved that I will try and make you out something in the shape of a letter however scanty the material I have to do it with. I have written home frequently since my arrival here. For several weeks after I came into the country my health was bad. I had a pretty severe attack of the chills. I went to the mountains. Provisions there were very high. Of course I was at a good deal of expense. When my health improved I returned to the valley, bought me a wagon and commenced teaming. I was engaged in this business for several weeks but made only a living as my expenses were very high, from four to six dollars a day. I.lost several days from ill health. One of my mules died. This together with the almost impassable state of the roads and rainy bad weather determined me to change my occupation. I am now doing business for Mr. Stuart of Washington Co. and though the prospect is not at present very flattering as to making money still I am sheltered, fed and content with my position, What many a poor unfortunate here is destitute indeed. It is painful to a feeling mind to contemplate the prospect that presents itself. The snow here is from a foot and a half to two feet deep. Higher up in the mountains I have no doubt it is from fifteen to twenty. The roads to this point are almost impassable. Even here provisions are very scarce and almost as high as they ever have been. There are many points that it will be impossible to get provisions in for weeks. The only alternative for those that are thus hemmed in is to make their way out or risk the chance of starvation either of which is certainly a desperate one. Distressingly hard as times are for I suppose the country has never seen such, I am still confident if my health keeps good I can in the course of time accomplish the end that brought me here. That is to make means sufficient to live independently in the State of Tennessee, County of Hawkins. You ask how is a quiet old Bachelor of course, But you are anxious no doubt to learn something of the country or at least my notion about it. I placed no reliance upon the glop of Newspaper accounts before I started. I put a pretty low estimate upon the society mode of living California life in general. To be candid I have not been much disappointed. What we mean by society, the comforts of home etc., but few in California know any thing about. As to the means of living comfortably here I have no doubt there is a vast improvement in the last year or two but their houses here are put up mainly for temporary purposes as everything is so changeable here. I suppose but few have experienced the same want of comfort in the same length of time but this season so far, I have no doubt, has been much more severe than any before experienced. I do not think the country has anything to brag on in the way of climate, at least that portion of it I have been in. I have no doubt in the Valleys South as far as the Sea Breezes reach the climate both winter and summer is mild and pleasant. In the mountains also the summer season is cool. And the purest of water, the grand mountain scenery make this, to me at least, far the most desirable portion of the country. The Sacramento Valley which comprises most of the tillable portions of the state, the soil of which where it can be cultivated is extremely rich and fertile, is parched up with heat during the summer. Day after day the sun rises hot and pours his heat down throughout the day without a breeze or cooling shower. The water too is bad. The winters in this portion of the country are pleasant I have no doubt, where it is not too rainy.
This is enough to tire you about the country. I have seen every grade of society here. I spent some weeks in Sacramento before it was burnt. For extravagance, disipation, wealth and parade, misery and want I imagine it has no equal in the states. You would scarcely believe if I should tell you the expense of a Political parade or a madam's fit out for a fandango. I could not but contrast the difference between the parades in forty four at home and then especially the one at Kingsport where a few hundred dollars fed thousands. Here the erection of a liberty pole, a speakers stand and a few seats run up the sum of three thousand dollars. Or still more a city belle in her thousand dollar paraphernalia with East Tennessee beauty attired with taste and simplicity. I reckon a city made up of such mongrel materials was never known before and if to study the manners and customs of different nations be the traveler's object he need not go farther than Sacramento for it seems to me every nation, tribe and race is represented there. You can see every mode of dress, hear every civilized language within the space of a few hundred yards. I have had therefore a great desire to travel East if I should ever make money enough to do so but from what I have seen of the Oriental, if they be a fair specimen, I have but little desire to cross the Pacific. I suppose there are about fifty thousand Chinese in California. They are peacable, well disposed and generally honest but the blankest, homiliest specimen of Human Nature I have ever seen excepting the original Hombres of this country. They are about as degraded as Human Nature can be. They lay up a supply of acorns in the summer. These, as game is very scarce, with whatever vermin they can get on dead mules or cattle, make up their principal foods. I am sure, Molly, this letter will tire you. I hope you will excuse it and if you will write to me forthwith give me every bit of the news, I will promise to write often if I cannot be interesting. I received a letter from Sam written from Perry's, one from George and one from Frank Fulkerson. Tell him I am under great obligations to him and will answer his letter soon but I shall not hold myself liable to match page with page with the one I got from him. I suppose you have got back to Tazewell as I imagine Sam has come home sometime since. Write to me what he thinks of the West. If he has any notion of emigrating and all the news you can rake up. I dent care if it fills a dozen pages.
My best wishes to your Father and family and friends generally if I am thought of or inquired after.
My love to Mother and all the family.
Your Brother
R. Powel
P.S. I should mention I have seen Jess Wall and David Ross frequently since I have been here. I suppose they are all the acquaintenances you have I have seen. Wall is merchandising at Nevada** three miles from this place. He is an active business fellow, I suppose has made money. Dave Ross has batted about and I suppose has made but little. He is about as well satisfied I believe as any one I have seen. I have made all the inquiry I could of Caldwell but I cannot hear anything of him.
*In writing to his brother Sam's wife Mary, Robert addresses her as sister rather than sister-in-law. This was a common practice in families in this period.
*Nevada means Nevada City which is three miles from Grass Valley in the gold country of California.
Letters are the property of Mrs. Jessie Lyons Brown of Surgoinsville,TN, and may not be used without permission.
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