CALIFORNIA MISSION

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 14, 1868

CALIFORNIA MISSION.

KNOWING the interest with which our brethren will hail any news from the California mission, we take the liberty to insert the following, dated, San Francisco, July 23, 1868.

DEAR BRO. ALDRICH: Here we are in California. After a good shaking on the Atlantic through the Gulf Stream off Cape Hatteras, and in a supplement to it in the Caribbean Sea, a pleasant trip over the Isthmus, and a delightful sail on the Pacific, we arrived in S. F. last Sabbath, 24 days less 2½ hours, from New York. We were glad to get here, although we do not find much house room among our people. We are not yet settled, but are boarding ourselves at Bro. St. John's. We find a great variety of fruit here. Ripe peaches, to-day, are less than $1.00 (specie) per bushel. Our tent, although shipped as slow freight, came as soon as it would if sent here by express. The charges on our tent from Rochester to this place did not exceed $40.00 in currency. I did not bring the small poles, but brought the irons that belong on them. The poles in Rochester were worth $3.00. The transportation (owing to their bulk) would have been about $11.00. I engaged a new set of poles to-day for $3.50; hence I made something in leaving the poles. I did not bring the ropes. On these I saved all the transportation and about 2 cents a pound in gold. So there are some favorable strikes we made, as well as on the fare.

I am working as fast as I can, to get the tent rigged up. We design to strike out the first of the week to look a place to pitch the tent. There is considerable small pox in the place just now, and a good deal of excitement about vaccination. Most of the cases have been among the Chinese coolies. We learn there have been a few cases in Petaluma, where we had thought of going to look a site for the tent.

Well, we think of you all every day, in your round of business at the Office. The last REVIEW we have seen was the closing number of the last volume. Bro. Bourdeau's copy of No. 12 of Reformer came to-day, but none for me. Of all the papers I have subscribed for, I have received but two copies, one of Battle Creek Journal, and one of Detroit Post. I am in hopes we shall get something by the steamer that is expected to-night.

I send you a duplicate “bill of lading,” given me in New York, so that you can see some of the arrangements about sending freight to these shores. I learn, by other parties, that you have sent me another box of books. In order to claim a box of books, or goods, here, it is necessary for the consignee to have a bill of lading from the consignor. Otherwise it will go into the bonded warehouse; and when it gets there, it is some like a case in the court of chancery, “Easier got in than out.” I wish you to send me immediately, if you have not already, a receipt from the express company in Battle Creek for the box.

Wishing and praying for the prosperity of the cause in all its departments in every State, and hoping to hear from you soon here, I remain your brother.

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.

San Francisco, Cal.