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 Jack & Frank went over to the middle Yuba this morning with 3 mule loads of Provisions that we agreed to pack over for some men at 12$ per hundred for packing 8 miles, so you can see what prices men have to pay for every thing here. I would be glad if we could get such jobs to do all the time. It would be much better than mining. they will be back early in the morning & then Jack will go down to Nevada -- Frank has gotten to be quite a man but I think that he dont look as old as he used to by about 40 or 50 years. I hope that Ghol has entirely given up the idea of coming to California by this time He must recollect that golden crows always fly in foreign lands, at least I have not seen any full grown ones since I have been in this country. Tell sister that I am very anxious to know what that was that she promised to tell me in her last letter that was so rich concerning herself.  I think I can guess pretty near it, if I am not mistaken. At any rate I would like to be knowing something about it. Mother, I sincerely hope that before this time yours & grandmothers health is better than when we last heard from you for nothing could give us more uneasiness than to hear that you were unwell. Grandmother, I fear will not survive many years longer for she was apparently very? feeble when I left & I then feared that I never should see her again yet I still cherish the hope of seeing you all before this time next year provided nothing happens. I think that our destinies have been cast in diferent lands long enough & I still look forward to the day when we can all once more be together to enjoy that very rare blessing which is found only at home. You must all write as often as you can. Ghoh you must write too & dont think hard of us for not writing oftener, for although I am ashamed of it yet we cant well help it for want of opportunity. My respects to Col Burns & Bro. Henry? Capers &c Tell Josephine that I never mean to write to her untill I hear that she has discarded that fellow Jack Donaldson I knew he would dip? me up if he staid there & I tried to coax him to come to California but he would not tell her however that I still love her as fondly & devotedly as ever -- but I fear that I shall yet have to drag out a miserable existance as a consequence of unrequited love. My love to Mrs. Randolph & also to Emily & Adeline Skinner. I had intended to leave some room for Jack & Frank to fill up but I see I have about consumed it all & they will have to use another sheet if they write & if not this will answer for all. give my love to grandmother & Uncle Presleys family when you see them and for yourselves receive the same from your devoted son & Brother. May God help you all

from Thomas Jefferson Oxley letters, 1850-1853. Transcribed by Chricton on 12/02/2018

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47.     April the 2.    Sunday 1843

we cut in the whale in the forenoon - and caught another
by the waste boat  and cut him in in the                      wast boat
afternoon and commenced boiling in the evening 6W held the rough ruged weather some fort of the time strong
wind from the SW - a french boat came in sight close to us in the morning and caught a whale - plenty of whales around

48  Monday the 3 -         My first watch on deck at night boiling - rough rugged weather -  all day wind - NW 

49  Tuesday the 4 -  wind the same - weather thick - and rainy
the better part of the day - boiling and storing down oil in the after hactch

50  Wedensday the 5 finished boiling this morning - and stored down again today - a Ship in sight boiling - good weather and wind W

51    Thursday the 6  gale of rain from SW

52   Friday the 7 - gale of wind - lat 4 W -long [179.32] -

53  Saturday the 8  gale of wind - with squalls of hail rain

54 Sunday the 9  weather more moderate - cold bad weather

55 Monday 10  rought rugged weather - lat 42. long 173    51-W 

56 Tuesday the 11 nearly in gale of wind - laying to - the first part of the day - the later part juste good weather - laying to all day - [ragerg] lat 41.24, long 179 - W -- good whale weather the latter part of the day

57  Wedensday the 12 thick [runy] weather the first part the latter part quite good whale weather -  saw nothing -

58 Thursday the 13 rought rugged weather the [[?]] boat struck a what and ironed and [[?]] from it and lost it we saw a Ship.  to the windward get a whale to day- lat 45-45 - long 180-00 in the meridien or there about
During the midle watch I spoke to Ship Lagada [[?]] laying by a whale [[?]] the ship rec[[?]] saw yet me

59 Friday the 14th rough rugged weather
we spoke the Lisgoda again and went on board in the afternoon they had got 2 right whales and 120 burrels of sperm since we laste saw them [[?]] 2700 in all 500 Sperm 

60 Saturday the 15  gale of wind from the SW all day 

61 Sunday the 16 the first part of the day quite good weather the latter part a gale of wind from the [[?]]

62. Thursday the 17 gale of wind from the N to SW the fore part the latter good weather - saw a number of hump and fin backs to day 

from William Ellen Wallace whaling logbook [2], 1841-1844. Transcribed by Dblaz on 07 / 13 / 2025