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Auburn Placer County Cal Nov 10th 1852

Dear Parrents & Relation

I now seat my self to write you a few line To [inform] you all that I am well at [present.] but Brother Norville is sick 
at present but I think he is some better this morning[.] he has be[e]n sick about one week[.] he has got the Billious 
Fever[.] I have a Doctor to see him every day[.] I think he will be well in a few days[.] The rest of the Boys are all 
well at present[.] they are all here at Auburn[.] I will mention afew of thir names[:] Gideon Haines and Brothers Gideon 
Wright & Jon Wright and William Belshe and a great many others from Randolph[.] they are all well[.] I have not heard 
from William P Clarkson nor Jerry for three months[.] they were well the last time I he[a]rd from them[.] I seen John D. 
Cleveland last week[.] he was well but not doing nothing but Gambling[.] he said he did not [k]no[w] wether he ever would 
go home or not[.] I will let you [k]no[w] my opinion about it[.] I don’t think he ever will see mo[Missouri] anymore[.] I 
could say a good deal more about him [but] I will not[.] if you see any person writeing to Missis Cleveland tell them to 
write that John D. Cleveland is well[.] Now I must write about something else[.] 


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Now I will tell you something about the mines[.] times is pret[t]y good at present[.] it is raining at present[.] the 
miners are all in good spirits at presents[.] we will have plenty of [water] in a few days to wash our dirt[.] I 
ha[letter torn] some pretty good dirt here[.] I expect to start home about the first of of[sic] May[.] I do not want you 
to be uneasy about us for we can make a living here[.] I have got[ten] use[d] to staying away from [Home] that is all 
I have to write about the mines[.] Sacramento City is bur[n]t up[.] it got burnt the night of the presedents[Presidents] 
Election[.] the [w]hole city is burnt up[.] I s[u]ppose you would like to [k]no[w] who I voted for[.] I voted for Pierce 
and King the Democrat ticket clean through[.] I was 22 year[s] old the 29th of last month[.] provision[s] of all kinds 
are very high[.] Flour sells for 30 to 40 dollars per hundred and every thing else is high on the account of the fire[.] 
it burnt all the provisions in Sacramento[.] that is all I have to write at present[.] I want you to write all the news[.] 
I am looking for a letter every day from you[.] I want you to write 2 letter[s] a month[.] Direct them to Auburn Placer 
County Cal. That is all I have to write at present[.] please excuse all mistakes for I am in a hurry[.] I remain you[r] 
son until Death[.] Write as soon as you get this fail not[.]

Jonathan H. Biswell

To you all 
Write 


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[P.S.] Give my best respects to all enquiring friends[.] I will write in afew days again[.] I will try and do better the 
next time[.] Mary you and Dilly must write me a letter as soon as you can[.] write all the news[.] I weigh 145 lb[.] you 
want[won't] [k]no[w] me when I get home[.]

J H Biswell

To John Biswell and all the rest