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North Fork of the American River Sept 22 1850

Dear Uncle

I now seat myself to inform you all that I am we are well at present.  And doing very well[.]  And we hope when these few lines comes to your hand that they will find you all enjoying all the blessings you could wish for[.]  I would like to heare from you all very well As I hav[e] not heard from home since I left[.]  I hav[e] be[e]n looking for a letter [for] some time but none yet[.]  But I hope I will get one or two in a few days.
  
Now I will endeavor to tel[l] you something about the mines[.]  Some people are doing very well and some are not[.]  I and Brother Norville B has made money enough to come home on or to stay here this winter[.]  I expect we will winter in the gold diggin[g]s this winter[.]  I and Brother Norville has made about 500 Dollars since we have be[e]n here[.]  Wages from 8 to 10 Dollars per day[.]  I will now try to tell you what kind of a place we are mining in[.]  the place is between tow[two] mountains w[h]ich would take you 2 or 3 hours to go climb to the top 



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of them[.]  I will now tell you what makes the trees so high here it is because they are on the top of the mountains[.]  We hav[e] had 2 or 3 beautiful Showers of Rain since I have [been] here[.]  We expect in about 3 weekes to look out a place for winter quarter[s][.]  I will now tell you something about my health[.]  I hav[e] be[e]n wel[l] since I left home[.]  I have better health now than I ever did before[.]  Now I will tell you what Provision is worth[.]  First Flour 18 to 20 c[en]ts per lb[.]  Pork 30 cts per lb[.]  Fresh Beef 35 cts per lb[.]  Corn meal 25 cs lb[.]  Fruit 75 cts per lb[.]  Coffee 100 per lb[.]  Sugar 50 cts[.]  That is all I hav[e] to say about provision[s][.]  To my father tell him that I have started 4 letters to him and one to Aunt Betsy Haines[.]  I hav[e] not much more to say at present only I want you to write to me a[s] soon as you Receive this Letter[.]  I hav[e] not heard from your Brother since he got in the diggings[.]  Dear Uncle I send my Best Respects to you and all of your family[.]
 
So I must come to a close by saying take care of your selves and I will try and do the same[.]



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Give my Best Respects to Grandfather and all inquireing friends That is to all the girls in particular[.]  That is all I hav[e] to say only to be Remember[ed] by you until death And will Remain your friend until death[.]

To Robert Belshe                                                                                         

Yours Respecfuly Jonathan H. Biswell 
                                                                                                                                                            Norville B. Biswell
Write on the Reception of this fail not[.]  Please excuse all the mistakes for i am in a hurry[.]

Sept 22nd AD 1850