150 EAST PRUSSIA TO THE GOLDEN GATE 



the steamer, and after forcibly taking it from the "Cru- 

 cists" they, the English, brought it hither to Valparaiso 

 under protection of the English flag and cannon. 



Under existing circumstances there is no possibility of 

 obtaining employment here in the near future, as busi- 

 ness and traffic in general are as dull as we experienced 

 them at home in the year 1848. I shall therefore go to 

 San Francisco, contenting myself for a while with steer- 

 age-meals and tea, quietly awaiting what the future may 

 have in store for me. It is true that one does not hear 

 California affairs well spoken of, but almost every Ger- 

 man here who has spent more or less time in San Fran- 

 cisco assures me from his own observation that perse- 

 verance, thrift and luck will still enable one to lay some- 

 thing aside. The circumstances in which my informants 

 are living bear witness to the truth of these assertions. 

 Not one of them has returned from there empty-handed 

 and many of them did not hesitate to say that they had 

 wasted time and spent much money foolishly. 



Thus I ask you not to believe for one moment that I 

 have lost my courage; on the contrary, I feel quite well, 

 and ready to bear all the burdens of a life of work, as I 

 have it undoubtedly before me. More than ever before do 

 I understand the value of health and work; as I re- 

 gained possession of the former after waiting a long, long 

 time and have missed the latter for nearly half a year. 

 Do not worry; I shall make my way. America is a coun- 

 try after my taste. 



The ''Aurora," on board of which I shall continue my 

 voyage, is a small, low, black brig, which goes under the 

 flag of Hamburg. With the exception of the meals, to 

 which I become quite accustomed, we shall make a change 

 for the better, which will be specially true of the quarters 

 on the "Aurora" as compared with those of the Victoria. 

 The Aurora has no steerage and we shall therefore be 

 lodged in one of the large and cosy quarters on deck, 

 where the accommodations will be just as elegant and 

 Comfortable and even cooler and more airy than the cab- 

 ins. 



