I am here waiting the arrival of my family. Steamer (St. Louis), now overdue.

I reduced wages on the 1st & all hands on the estate are on a strike since. They tried a mob but made nothing by it, and I have lost no [206]

Mary Perkins Olmsted

I have been under examination by Dr Ayres, who finds that my heart is enlarged. The disease is incurable but not necessarily fatal. It will oblige me however to live very quietly and carefully. This is exactly what I had supposed. By great care and avoiding fatigue, especially through writing & brain-work, I can avoid any distress, such as I have sometimes had lately. I am more my own master and can accommodate my work to my strength more at Mariposa than I would be likely to be able to find anywhere else, and I can more easily be making a provision for my family than in any other office I should be likely to find open to me. At the same time if the mines fail—rather if my explorations don’t succeed in [207]the latter part of the summer—I may be glad to find some employment involving less responsibility & anxiety. I have had my full share of bustling life and shall be better content to live quietly for the rest or to die where I am, than most men are. I only want to see the children provided for & I am for the present making money pretty fast for such a vagabond as I am. But the cost of moving the family out & back will be a heavy drawback on this year, if it should be necessary to go back. So I shall be likely to stay here as long as I can feel that I am able to do my duty.

I am enjoying this visit to S.F., meeting many pleasant people and a strong contrast to Bear Valley. I hate barbarism & like civilization in all its forms. I wish I could live in England.

This reminds me that I have often requested Mary O to get me a copy of Dr Bushnell’s Discourse of Barbarism the first danger—I think that’s the title. If you can’t get any otherwise—ask the Doctor, & then advertise. I would give $10 or $20 for a copy if necessary.