Velezo, April 29th, 1851
My Dear Wife,
I want You to write Me a Good Long Letter and tell me all the News all about Yourself & Children & all My Como friends, as for My writing any satisfactory news I Cannot at Present. I Have Seen No Big Lumps of Gold Yet. The Prices of Labor Has reduced the Best of Mechanics Get but 6 to 8 dollars per day. Mr May is at work on a wharf Here for 3 dollars a day & Boarded as for Myself I am Just about Making My Board at present. As Soon as the Genl gets up here I think I shall do something Better. Oh how I do long to see You & the Children & How I do Long to get a Letter from you as I Have Not Heard one word since I Have been in California. The Mail Has Just Got in but as Yet Have Got No letters. I Heard Col. McLemore and Henry Burr Had Come out but Have Not Seen them. Yet it is thought that this will be a Large place. I Have pickd out my Lot but dont Know whether I shall Build right away or not. Joe Wilson left here a few days ago & gone to the Mines. He thinks I heard from Mrs. Merrill the other day & she Spoke of Brittell & Pelt Crook being there a few days ago they were all well as for My own Health it is verry Good at present & Has been ever Since I Left Home & Hope this may find Yourself & Children enjoying the Same Good Blessing. Take Good Care of yourself & Children. I dont know when I shall be able to send you any Money. I hope Addeline has sent You what She promised me She would. That was Money enough to Pay off all My Debts & for you to want for Nothing was the Last words from Her & I do Hope she will fulfil it as I have never Heard from You to know. I feel very conscious. I Must Now Close as the Mail Goes out in a few Minutes -- tell Theodore to write me. Kiss all them Little girls and boys for Me Old Add , Old Eunice, old Hette, and particularly Charley boy. My best respects to all my Como friends
James M. Burr
P.S When You write direct Your Letter to this place or this James M. Burr,
Velezo, Solano County, Capital of Cal
[Next letter, June 25th, 1851]