Autograph letter signed by John Holman (1807-1872) to his wife Elizabeth. Rio de Janeiro, [Brazil], 16 April 1849. 3 pages, 4to, 7 5/8 x 9 7/8 in. Integral address panel to verso.

An excellent 1849 Gold Rush Era letter written from Brazil by fortune-seeker John Holman while en-route to San Francisco. A farmer from Massachusetts, Holman joined the Suffolk Mining Company, departing Boson aboard the 210-ton barque Drummond on 1 February 1849. The 21 member company was led by anti-slavery lecturer, Rev. Hiram Cummings.

In the letter, Holman writes home while the Drummond was docked in Rio de Janeiro in order to make repairs. Holman notes that rigging has been overhauled, but carpentry repairs are still in the works. He provides his wife a summary of their voyage so far and his great anticipation for wealth: "I have great reason to be thankful that I enjoy so good health. I have not yet had a sick hour since we left Boston. There is but few on board that can say this. Should we all live to arrive at the gold region, the climate may agree with others better than myself. I think if we all arrive there in the enjoyment of good health, that there is some prospect of our doing well. There was a whaler arrived in this port yesterday from San Francisco. They bring good news from the gold regions. They were there three months. The Captain had 50,000 in gold dust, one of the sailors 7000, & the remainder of the crew had about 5000 each."

He also provides an engaging report on Brazil, including a description of the slavery: "I must give you a little sketch of what I have seen since I arrived here. I have seen the Emperor & Empress & Mr. Gorham Parks, the U.S. Consul. I have been several miles out into the country, have seen a number of very fine plantations. The trees are loaded with oranges. The coffee tree looks very fine; likewise banana trees. I will give you a good description of Rio in my Journal if I live to return home to old Wilbraham. Likewise of the natives & slaves. The poor slaves have a hard time of it. They are compelled to carry heavy burdens on their heads. They will take a barrel of flour & a large bag of coffee & run through the streets. I suppose there are more than a thousand persons in this harbor bound for the gold regions, but enough of this."

After departing Rio de Janeiro on 19 April, the Drummond made another stop in Lima, Peru before arriving in San Francisco. John's success or failure in California is not recorded. We only know that his wife, the recipient of this letter, died in early October. John returned to Massachusetts probably not long after learning of her death. He remarried in 1851, and resumed life as a farmer.

Letters from future miner's long journeys to the west are exceedingly scarce.

Condition: some brown spotting.

[Manuscripts, Letters, Documents, Ephemera, Gold Rush, California, '49ers, Mining, Brazil, Enslavement, Slavery, Abolition, South American History]