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.