47006: Henry Aleard Gold Rush Autograph Letter Signed "

Henry Aleard Gold Rush Autograph Letter Signed "H Aleard." Three pages of a bifolium, 7.25" x 12.25", California; November 12, 1849. A letter addressed to his wife Levena and his children, in which Henry describes the hard work put into panning for gold in California. The letter has numerous spelling and grammar errors throughout, and reads in part: "…we are in the mines in Calafornia we hav don but little we are all raw hands we struck a bruse and made $1.50 one day but how don much less we have aure about $6 per day but we still hope to do beter thare is Gold plenty in Calafornia but men has to work hard for it cant be picked up like men expected but fortine is raised by the multitude that is at work hear…The Death of Dr. Tate he deceased the 25th day of October about 2 miles from my camp he was our fursitian [physician] on the road & was much asteemed by the company We sempothise with his bereved wife…I am anxious to hear from home I want you to rite to me as soon as you get this and rite all about my Bisness. I want you to be patient and take good care of your selfe and children & try to live as God would have you to live…" Throngs of hopeful men flocked to California to seek their fortune in the gold fields. In their unrelenting quest for gold nuggets, they decimated the California mountain areas around them, not caring about the environment they were in. They dammed rivers, logged the forests for timber, and washed hillsides bare. Approximately 300,000 people from all over the world would come to California to strike it rich. Most were lucky just to make it home alive. Condition: Flattened mail folds. Some tears, with separations and small holes at the folds, which do not affect the text. Paper loss on the last page from where the seal was broken. Toning and soiling throughout. HID03101062020 © 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved