Letter from a member of a farming family newly arrived in Monterey County, California addressed to her brother, Thomas Davis, and sister (probably sister-in-law), Nancy Davis, in Missouri. Describes trip to California via New Orleans and across Isthmus of Panama to San Francisco. Details provided include: description of trip to California by various means including overland stage and by sea, food and livestock prices in California, descriptions of plants, crops, animal behavior including that of grizzly bears, typical weather encountered, health of family members, and opinions of other people living in the area including Indians, Mexicans, Dutch, Irish, French, and Mormons. Expresses negative opinions about Mormons in general and as horse thieves in particular. Author writes that the neighborhood will improve when the Mormons leave and details a list of "pests" the family has to contend with that include "horse thieves that is the Mormons," squirrels, and wild mustard. Details an accounting of the total expenditures made in their journey to California including the amount paid for a claim of land.
