Since I last wrote you, I have been here, fighting merely for time. [306]It is a week since I have heard from the Estate—the second batch of attachments had been then served and the men had refused to work. As they needed provisions, there were apprehensions that they would pillage the stores. Of course I am in great anxiety but think an Express would have got through if there had been any violence.

It is twelve days since I have heard from New York, then only a sort of bunkum message from Mr Hoy, amounting simply to “don’t worry”.

I think in one way or another I shall get out of this in the course of six months. If very soon, I can find business here by which I can pay expenses for a month or two. After reaching New York I can afford to lie on my oars for a few months & hope we shall be together somewhere in the country. Then I shall want business. I can’t return to the Park while Green is in it, nor the San. Com. if it lives while they continue their present system of managment or sustain their Western Secretary. The paper is what I would like best, if it can be put on a sound & broad footing & tolerable security of success be had. I have a notion that I can get something handsome in the way of subscription of capital from Ketchum, Hoy, Opdyke, Billings, Field & Co. Not that I have much faith in it, but I should try it. It is said that they have all made much money by the operation and they must feel that they have used me rather hardly to accomplish it. Perhaps I shall be in a position to command something from them.

By the way I have a letter from the Vice President, Farlee—forwarded from Bear Val. since I last wrote you—dated 12th Dec. from which the following:

“I am authorized to say officially that your management and its results have received the approval of the Board and they would assure you of their cordial appreciation of the difficulties you have had to contend with & the marvelous persistence & success with which you have encountered and overcome them.” (!)

I think that that is funny for the 12th December. Reading it here on the 12th January, it seemed cool. I mean the "marvelous success".

I believe I told you that I received a telegram from Ketchum showing that I was safe. He sold Mariposa for me at 36, and at current rate of 5/20s he had $26000 worth, while I was in debt to him but 19,000, green backs of course. I have over $6000 gold value California stocks which have been very steady of late.

Mr Hoy communicates as the result of the meeting of the Stockholders on Monday—“half million subscription recommended.” The only important fact yet evident is that the Company has not abandoned effort to avoid bankruptcy. It may very likely depend on accidents of the money-market whether it will be successful. I rather think it will.

I have another landscape gardening nibble, and shall do all I can to hook it, for Miller’s sake. Tell him he need have no concern about my ability to find him business for the six months, as I originally advised him.

I was already to start at 3 o’ck Saturday and again yesterday but concluded that it would only make matters worse if I returned with nothing definite. I could not succeed in making even a provisional arrangment with the creditors.

I am very slowly getting the upper hand of my cold, which has been very disagreeable indeed. I had a sick headache last night, but managed to stave it off sufficiently to go out at half past ten to Mrs McDowell’s ball at the Occidental, which is considered a great event in [308]San Francisco society. It was an effort toward defining an upper ten, I believe, and of course many mistakes were made and it gave rise to much scandal. It was very brilliant and as a spectacle I enjoyed it very much. The ladies were generally pretty, some few very beautiful indeed, danced very animatedly and gracefully and were finely dressed. There was surprisingly little bad taste, very little splendor, but some superbly rich dresses. I particularly admired the long trains of heavy brocaded silk and the cleverness & grace with which they were managed in dancing. Nearly the whole second floor was used; the dining room as ball-room; parlor as reception-room, and the Montgomery Street hall as supper-room. The ball-room was well-filled without being unpleasantly crowded. I should think there might have been two hundred guests. About half the men were in uniform, army & navy. There were two bands of music, both very good. Hardly any of our acquaintance (women) were present but Mrs Governor Low, Mrs Ralston—who was about the prettiest woman—Mrs Mills, Mrs. Raymond. The other Lows, Butterworths, Avis’s, Tompkins, Ashburners, McLeans, Sherwoods were not—though I should think most of them must have been invited. The Keans were present. I left early, about half past two, being very tired.

Young Bellows was very much at home & waltzed well. I spent half an hour with him yesterday at the Commission rooms.

I am quite well today, only feel fatigued. If fair, I think I shall go to Oakland tomorrow.

I drove with Dodge to the beach Sunday. It was a very fine day; the Farralones very plainly in sight. There was a large wreck, broken up & scattered along the beach.

I hope you continue to get your ride every day.