Squire Ensworth's Letters to Mr. Whaley
October, 1861
San Diego
October 7, 1861
Mr. Thomas Whaley
Enclosed you will find something on a memorandum which Cassidy wants - If you can find time, please purchase and ship by next steamer or schooner. The paraphernalia for hunting he wants rather good and fashionable, I suppose the game bag to the meeting. Charge same to my private account. I get nothing for doing this, but disliked refusing. He says he disliked to send to R. E. R. for the reason that he would not look out and elect good articles and charged so much. Please send memo of cost separate from anything else I may require.
The Brig. Gent --- got into the wharf at New Town this morning - I have not had an opportunity, since receipt of your letter, to see Estudillo about the Escajadillo matter. I have no news - trade and everything else dull as ever. I have sold more whiskey than anything else lately. I have sold some of it at 60 cts rather than have it lay here any longer. At this rate you will see there was not much, if anything made, but offered for 65, and I sold have only 1/2 ball left. If a schooner comes down, you had better send me some of the most miserable you can find in market - The poorer the better. I am well enough off for everything else. I've looked through your letter of September 24th again and find nothing else to reply to, with one exception. How could you doubt me? Our only salvation is in the Union - This Union gone and I would not give a fig for the Nation - It will be war as long as your children will live - A perfect Mexico, & worse for the people will become greater adepts in murder and assassination. At first I was warmly in favor of Bogert for Senator, but after he left here from San Bernadino we heard strange stories that alarmed some of us, and a man, just on the eve of election was sent from here to him with a letter containing interrogations. He responded declaring himself to be a Union man, but in a manner which we thought was dodging, & I voted against him, and for one of the San Bernadino candidates. In these times I vote for no man for public office relative to whom there is the least doubt under like circumstances. I would not vote for my own father.
10:00 o'clock P.M. I wrote the forgoing early this morning, thinking the boat would arrive, but she is not in yet.
I wish you to send me by the Steamer or Schooner (I can't stand the Express. Morse is too heavy.) "Marshall's Decisions" 2 Vols. $12. You will find the work at Bancroft's. Good Night. But one thing more. Please send me 3 boxes of "Medicated Paper," a perfectly pure article for the water closet. It is in paper boxes about 6 inches by 12, I've been told its worth about 75 cents per box. I inclose an outside paper found on a box, Freemont, Jo Palmer & Mrs. St. Clair and all the young bucks are as well as some of the old ones, when they have piles. Send by steamer or schooner.
10th October. The mail arrived per stage, from Los Angeles last evening and expecting a letter containing information of the $2600 draft on Hartshorne, drawn by D. Neahr, & belonging to Hinton. I was disappointed. If you have drawn the money you will forward it by express via Los Angeles & not wait for the steamer, as I am much in need of it to fulfill engagements which Hinton has entered into this place. As to the lumber ordered for Soto, if you will not send it, but remit the money to me, which was $480.00, being part and parcel of my remittance to you of $505.00, which you directed to credit to me or my private account under the date of the 8th of September. The whole remittance to you under that date being $575.00. The steamer not arriving with the lumber when expected, Soto says it will be too late in the season to use it. I've seen Estudillo & told him that you closed with his proposition and he said that he would comply in a month, as I informed you was to be the time after notification. But don't build any air castles upon this promise, for there is no money down here....
I send you $110 through express - $100 of this you will credit on merchandise account and the remaining $10 in private account. The express charge upon it is paid - with my regard to Mrs. Whaley and children, I remain.
Yours Truly,
A. S. Ensworth
P. S. I carried my money down to Morse & he would not take it. As the Express will Carry by stage between here and Los Angeles only $500 & it was up to that amount before I arrived. I will remit by first chance.
San Diego
October 13, 1861
Mr. Thomas Whaley
Much to the surprise of us all the Senator made her appearance this morning about coffee time, & yours of this 9th inst, came duly to hand, together with the Bulletins, Books and as Mr. Morse tells me, also the $2600.00 money you received from Hartshorne belonging to Hinton. The lumber I suppose is all right, with the grave stones for Mr. Ames recd. The Major's inscription is excellent, as well as true, which is more than can be said of most epitaphs. I have seen Mrs. Robinson and informed her that Mrs. W. would write her overland. Trade is yet dull, and you had better not send me much of anything to lie here, with the exception of the whiskey, mentioned in my last letter. As to the Estudillo matter I explained it in my last overland letter which was not received at the time of your writing on the 9th inst.
The lumber did not amount to as much as I expected. The 5 percent for purchasing is all right, & in my private account I have given you credit for the full amt., $296.90 which includes the commissions. Soto must pay for it, - you are certainly entitled to the whole, for as to myself I have been put to no trouble with the exception of a little writing.
I will send you no money this time, as I intended, as you have nearly the amount. In your hands on private account which I intended to send you on merchandise account, and I have not time now to look through and fix it up correctly without making confusion and running the risk of a jumble by and by. I will write you by Express which will leave you with the mail on Friday morning next, how to apply the money. At that time I may send you a few dollars and I may not.
I have no news, unless Barnes marriage with Mrs. Conroy's daughter may be news. They went to Los Angeles & married, the mother being opposed to the match. They have not returned. The Gila House is taken down & piled up for sale. The result is now a beautiful view of the bay from the front of your home.
With respects to Mrs. Whaley,
Yours Truly,
A. S. Ensworth
San Diego
October 17, 1861
Mr. Thomas Whaley
On looking over our private account (the last entry in which is of a credit in your favor, for lumber bought by you for Sota, made on the 13th inst.,) I find I have in your hands something like $155.00. Out of this amount you will take $150.00 and give me credit for it as cash rec'd on merchandise account. I having this day made an entry in "cash paid out" on merchandise account of this amt as sent to you of this date, and given you credit for it in our private account.
I want about half a ton of some kind of ground feed for my horse. I leave you to select the kind, at the mill or elsewhere. Send by schooner and charge to private account. In a short time, most probably, I will send you an other hundred dollars to be divided between private and merchandise account.
Most Truly, A. S. Ensworth
P. S. You do not acknowledge the receipt of Major Haller's draft on Parrott & Co., for $22.45, sent you by Express in my letter; and at the time I wrote to you for 17th Vol. Reports. Have you received it? I directed to be placed on to my credit or private account.
E.
San Diego
October 24, 1861
Mr. Thomas Whaley
Yours of the 15th Inst, with 17th Rep & Bulletins, arrived safe last evening. The letter, included, was handed to Mrs. R. You say that the draft of $22.45 is placed to my credit - It should be to my credit or private account.
Estudillo has been to me again & like all Californians wants to make another bargain. He now says he cannot get the money and makes this offer - will deliver you immediately in the Cajon Ranch 60 head of calves at one year old 1/2 males, and 1/2 females. If you do not choose to receive them now, he will agree to deliver them any time within 2 years & when called for they shall be of the age then, which calves that are now one year old would be when called for. In the meantime no charges so you see how the thing is and it turns out about as I expected.
I have no coffee. You had better send me a little per schooner. 3 or 4 days ago the train came in from Warner's Ranch, but never unhitched at New Town - Loaded up & left there same day it arrived.
I send you per W. F. & Co. $150.00 of this amount $60 is to be credited to me on private account. The Express Charge is paid.
With Respects to your family, I remain yours
A. S. Ensworth
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