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.