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Sacramento City

May 23rd 1851 

Dear Parents

The two letters which accompany this were written before the departure of the last mail but through my 
misapprehension of the day when the steamer was expected to sail I did not get to the office until the 
day after the mail was closed. Though they are too old to deserve to be sent, yet for fear that I shall not 
have time to write anything better between this and the 1st of next month I will mail them; hoping that 
some part of them may interest you. A day or two since I recd. your notes of March 6th & 7th enclosed 
in Rens long letter of Mar 1st and mailed at W Spfield. I am glad to hear of the health of the whole 
family and to [learn] that prosperity and peace continue to attend you. I hope sincerely that the 
goodness of Providence will cause these blessing to be continued for a long period to come.

The health of Sacramento is very fine. It is but seldom that I hear of a case of sickness & deaths at 
present seem to be almost wholly unknown. How long this will last, we certainly cannot tell; but I am 
strongly inclined to the opinion that this is one of the healthiest countrys in the world and think it not 
unlikely that good health will continue all summer. A few persons express the belief that the cholera 
may pay us another visit, but unless the city should be crowded again with destitute emigrants, I shall 
hard- 

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-ly expect it again. My own health still remains excellent. A slight cold a few days since caused by a very 
thoughtless and imprudent change of clothing has been the only instance of indisposition that I have 
known.

We hear that the emigration will be very small; but the mountain rangers tell us that 400 waggons are 
now waiting at the eastern foot of the "Sierra Nevada" for the snow to melt so that they can cross. They 
certainly must have wintered at the "Salt Lake" City, for they could not have travelled from Mo. so soon. 
I hope they may have a "good time" climbing the snowy crags of the California Range. I have an idea of 
the pleasure it affords to the traveler, and can well sympathise with them.

I learn that Mr. Gore, my travelling companion has reached home in safety. The black boy who was our 
driver started home 1st Feby in very poor health, and by the last mail I learned that he died on the way 
home. The changes of the last year have been rather strange.

But I must close. Write often. Yours affectionately 

Elisha C.W.