WCP1288

[1]

Columbia¹

Dec. 1st 1853.

My dear Mother,

I should have written before, but have been rather anxiously expecting an answer from Alfred²acknowledging the receipt of some money which I sent off by the mail which left here the middle of August, and it certainly seems that an answer might be obtained by this time, but however, I must wait and hope for the best. I received all your letters with the minature [sic] which I think I acknowledged in my last letter to Alfred although I had not time to notice them more particularly. I am glad to hear that Thomas³and Fanny⁴ have plenty of work (more work, more pay) and it is always better to have too much of that sort of then too little. I find that nothing is to be obtained in California without work, and in my situation where I have so much to superintend and see to, that I have very little leisure time. If any thing goes in the least wrong it is sure to be talked over, and I am at all to blame there is no chance for escape; so that I am obliged to keep myself awake.

The rainy season is now just commencing and is the worst and most laborious time I have, as I am obliged to be out at all hours and in all sorts of storms as it is by these deluging showers and high winds that most of our accidents happen, and like the captain of a ship, I am the first one to be there and the last last one to leave till the accident is repaired or the obstruction removed. But this is the season that we all have been wishing for the last three months, as the rainy season has been very late and we have had very little water in our ditches and flumes since September. We will have abundance probably more than we want, and it will continue to last till Sept. next year.

I cannot exactly make out where Alfred is going next voyage as near as I can understand it was first to India, then the East Indies and Peru, then Switzerland and Portugal were talked of and lastly Africa has started up, now my recommendation should be not to attempt to go to all these places at once, and certainly not to Africa at all as by all accounts it is the most sickly of all places to European constitutions, besides the natives are not at all times the most amiable and hospitable creatures that we should wish to meet with me in a foreign land.

To explain the source of the Niger or to advance science in any ^other way is certainly very praiseworthy and advisable, but when it is to be done at the sacrifice of the benevolent individuals health of life, I should certainly not wish to be that most distinguished or exalted personage. I am very anxious to see Alfred's book on the Amazon⁵, as there is a great deal of talk now of gold being found there in great abundance. I suppose Alfred has seen the account of the voyage up the Amazon (made by the United States vessels) written by Lieut. Murray, who commanded the expedition. I think it very probable that the Americans will form a settlement there shortly, and then it will not take long to annex South America, Cape H and then it will be the glorious republic, "bounded on the East by the Rising Sun on the West by the Setting Sun, on the North by the Arctic expedition, and South just as far as we please." That was the answer given in a Geographical class by a youngster who was asked to define the boundaries of the United States. That youngster had certainly an expanding intellect, and ought to be looked after.

The Mail starts off tomorrow morning, and I have just written a lot of nonsense so that you may know that I am still jolly,

and believe me to remain, | Your affectionate Son, | J. Wallace.