(1)



Green wood val[l]ey California November the 30th 1850

Dear father & mother

I now take my Pen in hand to inform yo[u] all that we are well & hoping when these few lines come to hand they will find yo[u] all enjoying the same health, I now will tell yo[u] something About California[.]  It is A very healthy place her[e] for I havent be[e]n sick But too[two] or three days[.]  Jonathan has been sick[.]  he was sick about four weeks, the bill was $80[.]  we hav[e] not made any thing for A Bout six or eight weeks & the gold is very scarse her[e] but I think by next fall I will have A little[.]  if [I] do not I will s[t]ay until [MS. spotted] do get some[.]  flour is worth from 20 to [MS. torn] 5 c[en]ts per lb & pork 20 to 35 cts per lb[.]  bacon is worth 50 to 75 cts per lb[.]  beaf[beef] is worth 25 to 35 cts[.]  coffee is from 50 to cts to $1 per lb[.]  sugar is 50 cts lb and so on, & union[onion] is 100[1?] Dol[lars] per lb.[,] corn meal 25 cts per lb[,] Store tea 4 Dol per lb[,] pickels[pickles] 4 Dol per gal[lon,] Honey 4 Dol per gal[,] Molasses 3 Dol.  so every thing is very high here but plenty vegitables of all kinds here in California for sale[.] Cabbag[e] [is] 20 to 25 cts per lb.  This is a very fine country[.]  it is always warm.  The rainy season is now set in[.]  it commensed the 19th Day of November And it keeps raining very near all the Time[.]  I do not expect to make much this winter for it is two[too] wet and mudy for to dig And we do not want to expose our selves no more than we can help[.]  



(2)



now I will try and Tell you how the mines are doing[.]  Some men are doing in some places are doing very well[.]  others work rite by the side of them and are making nothing[.]  Luck is a fortune I beli[e]ve[.]  There is plenty of gold here in California but the trouble of it is getting it[.]  but I hope next spring that we will get on some river and make our pile[.]  The trees here are as green as ever[.]  oak trees are green here[.]  plenty of Acorns here[.]  Deer is very fat[.]  plenty of game here[.]  Grisley Bear[,] Black tail Deer[,] plenty of Patteridges[partridges] here[,] coons[,] mountain Rabbits & I seen the Grisley Bear and Black tail Deer & There is a great many Indians here But they never hardly ever do any damage[.]  They never hav[e] trouble[d] us any yet[.]  I have not heard from any of our connection since Jonna wrote But I hope they are all well[.]  I will just mention the death of Cousin Harvey N. Biswell[.]  Jonna has written to you all about his death so I will say that he died the 7th Day of November 1850[.]  sup[p]osed to be the Typhoid Fever but we do not [k]no[w].  Uncle Thomas Biswell has been well ever since he has be[e]n in the gold diggin[g]s[ .]  He has be[e]n makeing boards [and] he gets from 4 to 5 dollars per hundred[.]  one good pine tree will make 8 to 10 Thousand Boards[.]  



(3)



I have but a few lines more to write to you But I think you had better stay at home and do the best you can And if nothing happens I will be at home next winter[.]  that is all I have to say at present[.]  But I want you to write often for we hav[e] never received but one letter yet[.]  that was written August 25th 1850 [and] it was Directed to me[.]  Take care of your selves and do the best you all can and I will do the same.  This from Norville B. Biswell[.]  

Respec[t]fully yours to John Biswell and Rebeca Biswell and Children
 
Write on the Reception of this fail not[.]  Write[.]

[P. S.] This to Mary & Dilly & the Children

Dear Sisters and Brothers
I now will endeavour to write you all a few lines to let you [know] that I am in good spirits[.]  And I hope you are all in good spirits.  Dear Sisters I do not want you to mary until I get home.  But I will Let you [k]no[w] one thing [for] certain[.]  I am not afraid of all the girls being married before I get back[.]  I want you two to take care of your selves and I will try and do the same[.]  Brother John B and Cousin Benjamin I do not want you two to get in a weaveing and marry before you [k]no[w] what you are doing[.]  I will send a small specimen of gold to William A. Biswell[.]  it will be seal[e]d in the letter[.]  it is a very beautiful specimen of gold[.]  



(4)



That is all I have to say at present[.]  Dear Brothers and Sisters & Cousins take care of your selves and do the best you can And I will try and do the same[.]  

Yours Respecfully this 
From N B Biswell

M K Biswell[,] D M Biswell[,] J B Biswell and all of my Brothers

Write on the Reception of this fail not[.]