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93 Dr. Shiner called again to day & dined with us from but stew. I gave him a couple of new onions. We ate them at table with salt. I bought some to day. They had just arrived and were the only ones in the place - Price $1.50 pr. lb. Dr qratified me very much by announcing the appearance of flowers. Delightful harbingers of Spring - now do we "know that Spring is at the doors". men may in but the wild flowers never! I notice the gruss is beginning to start. I hope we may soon leave Natoma's unprofitable mines. The Dr amused me with the magical effect - the name of Nicholas Biddle - his personal friend - had with the financiers of London. They were on a mussion to borrow $150.000 for building a railroad. They were about failing. His letter from N Biddle was produced - the next morning the money was in his hands.

                                                                            Teusday 22nd, 1850

The day opens gloomily for us miners. Rain falls in torrents. This had been the worst month of the rainy season. My foot though convalescent - keeps me a captive yet. Had a singular visitor - whose conversation amused me much. 'Twas a desultory - roving conversation - wherein I had only to act as listener. The person was Capt Anthony Gifford an old Quaker - from Westport R.I. He is known all over the South Sea as Father Gifford. His narration - was chiefly on his life - courtship - observations - and interspersed with various incident - and anecdote. The old gentleman - declares he is love sick and must return to the arms of his Deborah. His 9 years courtship - marriage - and the virtues of his wife - received a faithful review. "I never knew anything by nature" said he "but crying: everything else I have had to learn. Crying came natural and required no sturdy - but all else I have received by virtue of application." He had given us the fact that 7 years elapsed between his own birth and that of the brother next older than himself. "When I was born - I was a child of great solicited to my mother - she watched my growth with great hope and interest - being aware I was a child born out of dire time!" I grew very finely - and when on the third week - I looked up into her face and smiled (I recognised our family likeness I suppose - homeliness) she was greatly encouraged.