[STEAMSHIPS]. GRAHAM, John. Autograph Letter Signed. Panama [written on board the S. S. Crescent City, Sept 17 1850]. Addressed “Mssrs. R. C. Wright & Co. Baltimore Gentlemen”. In black ink and faint cross-hatching marks. Three 4to pages on one folded bifolium of plain light-blue paper. Each page approximately 270 x 207 mm. Vertical and horizontal creases, second folded leaf with a small hole (about 15 mm in diameter, with loss to text), and marginal chipping, marginal toning and rubbing. Fourth page with manuscript address, inkstamp and docketing markings. Graham was a steamship captain for R. C. Wright & Co. of Baltimore, with routes between Panama and the gold fields of California. “I arrived here on 12 instant after a teageous [sic] journey of three days through a sickly disagreeable country without roads or comforts several of our passengers dieing [sic] on the Isthmus and the natives dieing [sic] vey [sic] fast Yesterday I visited Taboga where the Columbus [another ship partially owned by R. C. Wright] is coaling and freighting for her upward trip. She appears to be in fair working order but is an unsightly looking vessel here to my surprise I hear from Capt Peck that he sold … on half the Columbus as she then lay in the bay of San Francisco for sixty two thousand four hundred dollars. This sale includes out interest and also that of Mr. Heilman Capt Peck states his reason for so doing was that he supposed that I had not fulfilled my part of the contract this however is no fault of mine I shall proceed to San Francisco and shall see our rights established…” Graham later writes, “I have taken command of the Columbus and shall continue in her until I hear of our interests being established on the sale…” The commandeering of the Columbus by Graham was later adjudicated by the Pennsylvania Superior Court (“William Heilman vs. Marshall O. Roberts”). An early look at the skullduggery involved in the steamship business for the lucrative routes from Panama to California.