.MTIwNg.OTMxMzY

70 Saturday December 8th 1849. The weather continues fair and pleasant. Ice makes every night - and heavy frosts - but the sun dispels - before midday - all these marks of cold. An old resident told me that December would prove a pleasant month - seeing that the rains had commenced so early. Thus far it has proved so. I am told the north and west winds bring fair weather - the south and east - foul. This fact with regard to rain may be owing to the nature of this coast. The winds blow regular down the coast six months and up the remainder of the year. Travellers who have come overland complain of heavy winds on the plains and storms similar to those on the sea. The moisture for rains - seem by this statement to be exhaled from the mountains and plains - eastward - and not from the ocean westward. Can this be true? We have had but little or no wind for the week past. Once just at night it blem smartly from the eastward. Weighed on amalgun - 8 days work - 12 ounces. This will be about $100. in gold. Poor success this! I am arrived prodigously! Torrence our companion comes in nightly - with almost as much as both Señor and myself. Why are we so behind our fellows? Had quite a [tart confab?] with Senor on the gold deposit - and the likilihood of attaining correct judgements - with regard to discovering the best locations. He contending it was all luck and chance - and I that it must be governed by some general principles or laws. He condemned me for relying on my own judgement - and preferring to do so - to believing what the other miners said about it. I could advance no witch hazel - to point out the paying deposits - therefore it was foolishness to contend for studing out laws for what had no law. But is a young men vain because he relies upon his own judgements? What does the Almighty give us faculties of discernment and determination - unless to govern and direct our actions? We are accountable for our actions - not because another deemed them proper but because - we ought ourselves to have adjudged! The true cause as I conceive is to rely upon one's own powers - yet not be so self sufficient as to be above advice. News of the arrival of the Oregon - good Oregon - clever Oregon - if thou has letters for me. I am happy anticipating. It is nearly four months since I received intelligence from home.