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[Gold Rush era letter on “Saloon of International Hotel” letterhead.]

New York: 19 March, 1854. One quarto letter (11” x 8.5”), 2 pp. On letterhead depicting the “Saloon of International Hotel, Broadway, Corner of Franklin Street.” CONDITION: Small tears at 3 of 4 crease edges, no loss. Very good.

A gold rush letter capturing the hope of “a fortune” in California, written from the comfort of the most famous restaurant in New York City, notable for its lavish interior and for granting women unrestricted access.

This letter from a hopeful Forty-Niner to his sister conveys all the breathless anticipation of “a fortune” from a setting about as far away from the hardscrabble goldfields as it was possible to get: Taylor’s Saloon, of New York’s International Hotel, “one of the most magnificent restaurants in the world” (Beebee). The letterhead provides a detailed view of its opulent interior, whose marble floors and vaulted ceilings housed a hundred tables, as well as rich displays of fruit, candy, and flowers, all multiplied by the many gold-framed mirrors. The saloon was just two years old when John composed this letter, but he already refers to it here as “Taylor’s famous saloon!” and describes it as “a perfect palace of mirrors.” By the mid-nineteenth century, restaurants were well-established spaces for dining, entertainment, business, and networking, but few were open to women, especially without a male escort. Taylor’s Saloon was among the exceptions, and quickly became “the foremost women’s restaurant in mid-century New York” (King Cotton). It closed, to the dismay of many famished female shoppers, in 1866.

Besides its reference to Taylor’s, John’s letter indicates his intention of traveling to Benicia, California, where, rumor has it, news of the gold discovery at Sutter’s mill first leaked, and precipitated the gold rush; and his wish that “Ai” sell his land in order to liquidate cash for the journey. The letter reads in full:

March 19th 1854

Dear Sallie,

Here is the saloon of the House where I am stopping. Taylor’s famous saloon! It is a perfect palace of mirrors. I am coming to say goodbye if I can get there. I hope you are all very well. Grandpa I trust is very well, Ai yourself and all. Tell Ai to sell my land if he can as I want the money to carry to Cola—to make a fortune on. I shall scrape up all I can get, and I wish I had more Cola is a long way off, but not much worse than Minnesota. I can hear from home about as quick. My destination is Benicia not far from San Francisco. I will tell you a thousand things when I come home that I have not time to write.

Perhaps I had better not come home, twill save all the sadness of a Goodbye. But I will try and see you Much love to Mother and all of you

Good night
Your aff. Brother
John

REFERENCES: Beebee, James. “In the Heart of Things,” Scribner’s Magazine, 32c, February 1911; “King Cotton and the Telegraph, 1853–1862,” The Grolier Club online.

Item #7664

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