San Jose March 3, 1851
Dearest Caroline
I wrote you a few Lines a day or two ago. Merely to inform You of our Safe arrival. Since that time there Has been a delay in the mails Leaving which affords Me another opportunity which I Cheerfully Embrace, although I Have Not Much to Communicate as I Have Just arrivd. We are stopping at Present at the Mansion House Here. Genl Green Having Private rooms. Yesterday we visited a Grand Bull fight, from there we went out to a Mr. Mathers, which Has a Ranch where Mr. Alphias Clark & Mr. Gershwin Kirby are staying. Kirby is quite out of Health. I took Him Some Medicines. He is so as to about. He Came down Here to recruit, took tea with them & Came down to the City where I was introduced to Mr. Bill Rodgers. He seemed to be verry Glad to See Me. I Learnt from Him where Brittel & Pelt Crook was & a number of other acquaintances. Tell Mrs Brittel I shall most Likely See Her Husband in a few days. Mr. May & myself will probably leave Here in a few days for Benicia where I expect to Locate & when we Get Settled I will then Give You all the particulars until then I am unable to do so as I am at Present unsettled although I Have some prospects before Me. Genl Green Has Succeeded in Getting Me an appointment as Port Warden for the Port of Velezo. What the pay will be I am unable to say yet. Capt Foster is here & expecting an office of the Same Kind. I Expect it will pay Something Handsome after a Little. We Shall Leave Here in a few days for St Francisco & the upper Country & I Get established I will then Give You all the information I am Capable of. I Presume You Have received the necessary funds to square up with Everybody before this as Addeline Promisd Me before I Left She would attend to every thing of that Kind & See that everthing Should be done to Make You Comfortable besides. Therefore if You Have not receivd what you stood in Need of You must write to Her for this reason. She is verry apt to forget. I Hope you will not Neglect to write me every Mail for you Have No Idea of the anxiety I Have to Hear from You as I Have Not Heard One word from You Since I Left you. I am at Present enjoying Good Health & Hope this may find You all enjoying the same Good Blessing. Remeber to all My Friends Kiss all the Children fore Me Several times & Make them Kiss You for me
Yours with Much Respect
JMBurr
[Next letter, March 12th, 1851]