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(1 March Abby Opened this letter to put in the Constution? $ C Chandler) Washington March 7/49

Dear Sister Abby

              I hope you will excuse me for not writing to You of late, & I know you will feel inclined to pardon my apparent neglect, when I tell you that tis not for the want of a disposition to correspond with my Sisters, & of late. Since I have been so long. I have written a Sort of general letter intending each of all to have a Share of the value of its contents. Some of my last letters were written horribly bad, for I had not a decent pen.
I hope my California letter have not occasioned any one of You unnecessary uneasiness. I have been and am Still Sincere & am waiting the arrival of the wherewith to complete my arrangements. For myself I lot upon the expedition. I have made out a complete list of the little necessities for convenience & comfort to take with me. We are not going to start unmindful of what we are to contend with consequently have thoroughly investigated the matter and Shall provide ourselves amply with all the requisites for the Journey. The flakes of Gold are not so close to our eyes as to hide the great object in view and to exclude from our vision the privations which naturally must follow Such an enterprise.

[left-hand side] I rec'd Chandler's letter dated the18th mailed at Athol and the x which he enclosed. It came in a good time. I left word at Baltimore to send letters that come I rec'd it last Sunday. I hope I can sometime return a like favor.

I know many who go out to Cal. and [?] that is men furnish them with capitol will receive half the proceeds. Now I want to find my own capitol and get Whole instead of half. Stay about a year and come home, settle down somewhere near home or in Boston. It is much better than to go now and to drag from year to year on a little.

I write this letter to let you know I have received your letter and the money. So you must not think it lost, I am greatly obliged. I am looking for that 300 every day. I hope you are not going to disappoint me. Now to not let my movement surprise you, all will come sound right by & by.

I think if nothing happens I shall come home in about a year at any rate if I am successful. ? We shall go to Independence? about the 25th from here and by cars and steamboat and from there ? and go by waggons. We shall get to California about the last of July or the first of August and have four months to work for the mining season ?. I hope Chandler has sent me the money and when it comes, I will write back and tell you must send soon the note?