Quarto ca. 24.7 x 18.6 cm (9 ½ х 7 in). 4 pp. Brown ink on wove paper.

Dated 30 July 1852, this early California letter offers a unique insight into the hardships of San Francisco’s hostelry industry during the gold rush.

The Niantic Hotel was erected out of the remains of the 1849 gold rush passenger and whaling vessel in San Francisco in 1851. “The House is located in the very heart of the city, and whether for the man of business or pleasure, the location is not excelled by any other in town. The parlors are spacious and tastefully furnished, while the sleeping rooms are neat, airy and pleasant. The larder will be amply supplied with every substantial and luxury which the market affords, and the choicest wines and liquors will always be found at the bar.” (The Nevada Journal. 29 November 1851. P. 1.) Over the years, San Francisco’s top hostelry, the Niantic Hotel, changed multiple owners and was rebuilt several times after California fires. The hotel stood until 1872 when it was torn down to make way for stores built by the land owner, Mr. C. L. Low.

The author of the letter, Thomas G. Johnson, moved to San Francisco in the late-1840s at the height of the California Gold Rush. Johnson purchased the hotel from its founder L. Ruby in 1851, and apparently, after failing to succeed, resold it to the next owner.

In the letter, the disappointed owner of the Niantic Hotel writes to his friend about his struggle to survive in California and laments his failing business, San Francisco’s extremely high labor/provision costs, and his inability to make a single cent. The author bitterly calculates the hotel expenses for previous months and details the net loss of the Niantic Hotel: “house with 54 rooms and furniture $1500,” “3 mos rent in advance say $4500,” etc. Johnson sadly notes that he’s not smart enough for San Francisco’s “sharpest population mixed with… rascality” and emphasizes what a tough country California is for a man of no means. The homesick author also talks about the “poverty and shame” that prevented him from returning to his dear family, more precious “than all the gold in California.” In the rest of the letter, Johnson speaks of San Francisco’s exceptional climate and promises to carry on his humble business for as long as he can.

Overall, a historically interesting original autograph manuscript letter by a California pioneer and the owner of one of the earliest hotels in San Francisco, offering a unique insight into the hardships of the hostelry industry during the gold rush.

The text of the letter:
“Most esteemed and beloved friend your kind letter of 8 May was handed me some few days since by our old friend - -. I do assure you it was to me a sorce of much pleasure to hear from one so valued and esteemed as yourself. I congratulate you my dear friend on your success and good fortune, it is only in keeping with the course and acts of our kind and - further always sooner or later to reward virtue and repay, honesty and true worth for all its troubles - within in the crowd or the one to cauce will. Dr you are rewarded in this trouble I have no doubt you will make a still richer one above - god - it is my prayer. I have not time to write you a long letter, you are right as to - and - - judging of the future by the past as to what we shall or may make our chance is rather slim, I have made all the efforts in my humble - I was capable of doing I have nothing to - on myself for - I have done what I - for the best I have failed of success and to tell you the truth I would of come home before this but poverty and shame prevented my doing so - I could of returned long since had I of been able to of started business or of - - when I got here, and I am unwilling to bring my family to this Country unless I was better off and better able to take care of them than I can. I am keeping this hotel and have done so since 1st April paid for the house with 54 rooms and fur niture $1500 plus paid 3 mos rent in advance say $4500, and worked hard not made a cent one still as it but not as such a - the last month paid $500, but dull -, have done much, I rather expect to continue if I can, unless Dr. I can - I am doing very - I will return to my family next - I can not I will not if spared be deprived the society and presence of them much longer - is there a place in - or - I can support my family by my efforts I am still bless with good health and ability to attend to business - if there is I will return and go back to work I do here have - since in the Country, am - , as now more than mining to do so for the society of my dear family that is more to me than all the gold in Calfiornia, I am happy my dear friend to tell you I have some good friends and in my business as a man and my house is at the top of the list. I will not attempt to give you at this time an idea of the expense of doing business in this Country - provisions are extremely high labour also as - as - sufficient to sey altogether. I have not much means, nor - money in this Country it is a hard Country unless a man has means and then Dr to tell you the truth he must be smarter than I think I am to keep it its the sharpest population much mixed with rascality I - - I am - they are too smart for me. I have wrote you some several times - have not got but the one letter from you shall be glad to hear from you and I tell you truly if I can make a support for my family I will return, our old friend -. J. you know is of a sanguine temperament sure he will make a fortune. I hope Dr may is in - land operations that may same of these day pay hope is a great thing. - - - - staid with me last night send his love to you and his family. Dr I do tell you - takes us all to - are - paid for - in this Country. Our thing doctor this is the best climate I saw for its - the most healthy. and the Country and - are going ahead. I think if I was a young man I would - on and would ultimately make something if one gets - in the way it - in fact but the trouble is - few get in that way, I will write you again before - and more at length. Please give my best love to all the little family and tell Jeptha if i had him here I could pay the basket of oranges for this our abundance and - them at a - for - Dr. I hope to do you - and that before -. Do let me hear from you as often as you can communicate. my best respect to an old and ensuring friend, and accept - very best wishes for your health - and continued prosperity so goodly.”