Octavo (ca. 20.5x16 cm or 8x6.5 in). 2 pp. Brown ink on yellowish wove paper. Fold marks, but overall a very good letter written in a legible hand.

Historically important letter written at the height of the Fraser River Gold Rush by a disheartened fortune-seeker from Dayton (incorporated in 1880), Yamhill County, Oregon. Dated 27 November 1858, the letter provides lesser-known details about the journey of prospectors traveling from Oregon to British Columbia via steamboat.

In 1858, James Douglas discovered gold in the Fraser River, British Columbia, triggering a rush that attracted thousands of prospectors from San Francisco and beyond. While some struck gold, most faced challenging conditions and limited success, leading to the decline of the Fraser River Gold Rush in the early 1860s.

In the letter, the author, “C.B.,” declares the entire Fraser River gold rush as a scheme to rip off naïve fortune-seekers and urges his friends to abandon this “humbug” devoid of gold. He reveals the staggering influx of ca. 15,000 prospectors to British Columbia, the costly ($300) two-month journey via steamboat, and hundreds of casualties en route to the mines (50 reported deaths from Indian attacks and around 500 drownings). “C.B.” also shares the challenging experiences of his acquaintances who ventured to the Fraser River only to return empty-handed and disheartened by the realities of the gold rush. The letter concludes with “C.B” urging his friend “Silas” to relinquish the idea of gold mining and pursue a more promising trading realm.

Overall, a historically important original autograph manuscript letter written by a disheartened fortune-seeker in the first months of the Fraser River gold rush.

The text of the letter (original spelling and punctuation preserved):

“Wall Lewis i have received a letter from you at last. I have left Portland and have gone to a small place called dayton right in the woods about 35 miles from Portland and I am very sory to say to you that i have bin very sick indeed since i have bin here but i am about well again i do not no much news to rite but i want you to do one thing for me sure that is to tell Silas and all of my friends and every body that is excited about that Frazer river gold mines to drop it at once and not think any thing more about it because it is all a Humbug and nothing els it is a speculation among, the stream boat men thare was a young man that went thare and it coast him 2 months at getting thare and it coast him about three hundred dollars to fit out now he has come back and has not got a cent and thare has ben about 15 thousand people thare and all come back the same way. now be sure and tell Silas and all of the folks that thinks that thare is so much gold out here in that river that thare is nothing in it at all it is all a humbug. i come very ner going there my self but i did not go and i think that i was very luckey for not goin and everybody tells me so that has ben there there has ben about 50 kild by the Indians and about fivehundred drowned a getting thare. i am very well aquainted with 8 or 10 of the boys that has ben thare and they say that that are never going to go to any more of theese excitements for it is all done to carry people thare and get all of their money so you can have just as good a gold river thare as we have here. To Silas now Silas do not think any thing more about this gold rivers you can do better by going and learn some trade as rather than you can to come out here twice over i would like to see you very much but i don't want you to come out here sure.”