EXTRACTS FROM A PRIVATE LETTER

UNDER A BIG OAK TREE, NEAR QUARTZBURG-PINE.

  MY DEAR S.: . . .

  You need not think of me as not knowing what is passing among you, especially such occurrences as get into the papers. "Uncle Tom's Cabin" seems to be a new thing to all you eastern people; yet all the inmates of our farm-house had read it six months ago with intense interest. Several other families in our valley were very familiar with it. It will do much good in California, by arousing the feelings of northern men against that blessed institution which the southern portion of our citizens are struggling to introduce among us. Within sight of me now is the house of a Texan who holds some half dozen slaves and works them at an immense profit, contrary to our constitution.