Squire Ensworth's Letters to Mr. Whaley
December, 1860
San Diego, Ca.
December 8, 1860
Mr. Thomas Whaley
San Francisco
Dear Sir:
As the steamer may be along tomorrow or the next day, I jot a line in anticipation of her arrival.
The articles rec'd agrees with the invoice except in one particular. You say "1 case Alden's Lard 10 tins, 60 pounds at 20 cents per pound, amounting to twelve dollars." All right so far, but in the case I found only 6 tins. I have sold the claret to Meier for $20, and one or two sacks of flour, and although I offer to sell at $1.75 per sack, yet I see others selling at $2.50 and $3 on a credit. "This people," (As Brother Brigham says) will be slow to learn the economy of the cash system. When the goods arrived, there was yet due on them, and not having any money of mine own, I used some of yours which I had drawn in payment for your city scrip. This I charged to you in my account current with you, as I had credited myself with the amt. when rec'd. I rec'd a bundle of account books (2 in number) what am I to do with them? Now while I think of it - Please send me two almanacs for 1861. I want one for Col. Ferrell. He is away down there where he will forget the year, unless he has an almanac to keep him right. I have seen or... Escajadillo, & notwithstanding he seems to have some faith, yet I have not. He nods his head & says Esta Bueno - poco tiemp. The fact is Esersa has run off Mendoza, and Rivos & Escajadillo are friendly with Esparse, who is death on Moreno and Arrenarve. Revos cattle are now below, Pero Espara en poco, & we shall see what we shall see. Now about the house. Send more tar, more tar. At the time the tar was put on, I was satisfied there was not quite enough. Last night it commenced raining, and only finished today about one o'clock. Although there were no leaks of large size, yet the water comes through in dribbles in numerous places spreading over the underside of the sheathing, moulds, rots and decays the boards. To go helter skelter from one thing to another, you did not tell me how to keep these accounts - I mean the acct. between us - of these goods for that is the only kind of acct. I want to know how to keep, intending to have no other. I want you to detail it to me, so that I shall not get it all in a snarl. I, suppose, of course, the principle is the same as though it was an operation of $100,00 per week. If one of us should die, I want it all to show plain in a book. I have nothing now to write (Now I think of it - Pendleton has paid me $10). The sun has come out warm after the rain. You say Doyle says the windows were broken by him, While he was living here, his men were at me several times to mend the windows, fix the pump and get tom cats to catch the mice. This attracted my attention to the windows, and I recollect seeing the light out - not one, but several. You can't imagine how dull this place is. It is turned into a perfect ranch. Mark Jacobs' house having stood empty since Doyle left it only yesterday. I rented it for $5 for a month. The first ship I have seen in the harbor for a long time arrived a few days ago from the Sandwich Islands. The ship ocean, Capt. Cook, of New Haven, Conn, 560 tons, two years from home. She will stay here during the whaling season. I have not yet been able to see Morse, as you requested. What more shall I tell you in this rambling, sub strip letter? Nothing until the boat comes. I want you to tell me how much to boil the tar. How big must a gall be when sufficiently boiled? The hay scales have been lying in the water ever since the first rain, the 16th of last month. Do you think it will hurt them?
December 10
I have enquired more fully this morning. I find I am mistaken, as Rivas and Escajadillo are both residing at Temecula with their cattle. I will look after the matter. Beans will sell if bought cheap. In Los Angeles they can be bought for 2 cents, & maybe less. Also yeast powders.....
December 11
The 2 sacks are rec'd and also the papers for which I am obliged. I shall sell all this flour in a day or two. It's no use sending me a little dribble of money. My respects to Mrs. Whaley and the Little Whaley.
N. B. As every body wants to know about another man's business, the whole community has been violently exercised to find out whose goods these are, and some, more particularly curious than others. I told them they were mine. Some set the matter down as Hinton's and Little Ames. I mean Mr. Ames concluded that they might be Whaley's, but they are all yet in the dark.
San Diego, Ca.
December 13, 1860
Mr. Thomas Whaley
Dear Sir:
As Jose Antonio Bandini goes to Los Angeles tomorrow morning, maybe you will receive this before the boat leaves.
I have sold all the flour - I think I sold it too cheap - Don't believe I made anything out of it. The merchants here have got their backs up with me... This is the only article you need send me.
We have had a glorious rain, and it has rained quite hard for several days. It has now let up. It is warm and pleasant. The hills look fresh and green. I am afraid if we have much more of it - some of your older walls will fall, and they are much washed & the water has permeated from the bottom one third of the way toward the top.
I can't as yet get rid of the rats. How they get in and out is incomprehensible to me. I have killed immense numbers of them and the cry is "Still they Come."... but the devil is in them. They are like the plague of Egypt.
Do me the favor and make enquire at the Law Book Store and see if they have yet received from New York the 10th volume of Abbott's Practice Reports - If so buy it for me - It will cost about $3.50, or $4.00, and I have all the volumes with the exception of the 10th, having made it my business to purchase them as they came out. The 10th volume may not have arrived yet. Bleecker has formerly sent them to me.
Neither Pendleton or Witherby have yet paid me for the bricks.
The greasers have been having a great time during the last 3 or 4 days. It has been a feast for some body or for some thing. I think "A La Conception" or something of that sort. The Plaza has been fenced in and bull fighting has been the order of the day.
Truly,
A. S. Ensworth
San Diego, Cal.
December 24, 1860
Mr. Whaley,
Dear Sir:
As the boat will arrive tomorrow, I thought I would drop you a line, altho nothing of consequence to say.
I have not much expectation that you rec'd my last, via Los Angeles, in time for this boat. If not it will be in time for the next. Trading is dull work. People will not buy for cash, when they can purchase on credit. I find myself with a hundred dollars, which I send through W. F. & Co.
I wish you to send me a pair of boots, No. 10 for my own use. I can't find a pair of size and quality in town. Let them be sowed, thick understandings & large enough in the legs so that I will not have to cut them open as usual. Not costly, Not fine, not course, but semi genteel.
I have made up my mind after looking over the papers and records in the clerk's office in your case with Escajadillo, & a talk with Dr. Arravarva, to commence a suit against Rivas and Escajadillo, and get out an injunction (If I can get any person to go on your bond) restraining them from disposition of the cattle, which are now at Temecula, until it is decided, which I hope to have done at the next term, about the middle of next month. If the demand was my own, altho a failure will make a bill of costs, yet upon due consideration of all the facts, I would consider myself justified in taking the risk. As you are not able to consult and assent, and as it will be too late for the next term if I await your answer, I shall treat the matter as if it was my own, and commence suit as soon as Rivera comes in town. To save shff's costs if I am not successful which will be in a day or two Escadillo being now here.
The shff's sale is concluded by selling no property - no person having money to bid.
Yours Truly etc.,
A. S. Ensworth
December 26, 1860
The boat did not arrive until this morning about nine o'clock - your letter of the 21st inst. is rec'd, but neither almanacs or papers have come to hand. I have not yet been able to see Morse. Please send the tar, of course. It is now raining, & coming from the South with a wind. I see you did not receive my letter in time for next boat. I only sold a few sacks of flour to Meier - the rest to different people through W. F. & Co. I send you $120 of which I have charged to you in merchandise account. In a letter or two ago, I wrote you for the 10th Vol. Of Abbot's Practice Reports (a New York work) if the law book sellers have rec'd it. You say nothing about it. Please send it.
Truly etc.
A. S. E.
I have paid express charges on the money. A. S. E.
Don't forget Major Ringgold's Politics - Forget everything else - but not them!
It is now 2 o'clock P.M. and the way the rain is driving in upon us from the S.E. is a caution.
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