.MTc4.NDEyODE

arrangements, such as getting clothes if I want & materials for my conveniance. This is what I ask & all I ask & probably all I ever shall ask, & instead of asking more, I shall without doubt within a years time be able to make you a present of the rest. I may not be gone a year, but I am sure of a fortune if God prospers our Journey. Everyone admits of there being Good prospects. I have dreamed of being successful; many have already made a large fortune, No one denies that Gold is very abundant, we shall be a strong party, will take good care of what we get & of each other. If Old men & women can go so can I, & I am determined to go. I cannot return home now without making further effort. This is a cold and heartless world without money. The treasures of California are as much for me as for any one, indeed I believe my fortune is to be made in this way. I always took great delight in minerals. You know our Mount Grace excursion. Our father loved it too & if he was alive he would be favor of it. I hope I shall be successful & I shall return as soon as I can with a comfortable fortune. How much better it would be then, for me and I could help You all. I have thought it all over. I made arrangements nearly once or twice to go round Cape horn, but I think safer and better & quicker route to go overland. All of the company have to give good references as to character. We have a president vice president & directors & it is a well regulated company. I intend to be strictly temperate & shall go where I will remember my friends & their advice

[left hand side] Tell Abby I will send her my melodeon I guess and some other things before I go & I hope she will learn to play it well so we can have a good time when I come back. Mary is going to school & I am glad of it. I wish I had time to write you each a letter but I shall write again after you answer this. Give my love to mother and all our family and I hope you will all say yes to my plan but at any rate I shall go so you must send me the money. Cha Reed

Chandler, I know your disposition, your calming coolness & sobriety and you may think it strange of me, you may think, alas Charles is lost or is too wild to be prosperous but do not think hard of me. Within the last few months, indeed for the last year I have been dissatisfied with my progress & felt that I was never interested to be drudging the life of a servant for little or nothing. My mind looks higher. I feel more spiritual as I grow older & aspired to go ahead in this path I am to tread. I hope I cause no tears to flow, no sighs to heave your friendly bosoms. You all have been kind all I could wish. I hope you will still be the same. My heart beats fondly for you all and you must not try & cramp my efforts, but still I will hear your advice. Direct yours to Chas Reed Washington DC or district of Columbia. Chas Give my love to all friends

[at bottom upside down] (last) Friday 23 minutes. Taylor is expected soon.