CORRESPONDENCE 295
vance on the market prices in New York. Farming uten- sils, castings, especially stoves, tinware, nails, crockery, pat- ent pails, washtubs, brass kettles and household furniture of kinds sell very high, and all kinds of fabrics made of leather (shoes, boots, saddles, bridles, etc.), ready-made clothing, calicoes and all kind of cotton goods, flannels, silks and fashionable woolen goods for ladies' clothing, woolen hose and half hose, etc. I hope your friend still continues of the same mind. I think I can find a faithful, experienced Baptist brother who will like to embark in the business. He is now in California for his stock of goods. His name is Levi A. Rice, formerly from Ohio, whose moral character stands high. Should your friend wish farther information and still wish to do something through the medium of trade for the moral and religious conditions of Oregon, I hope God will open the door for him. We have also another brother of good standing and also an attornev-at-law who is about entering into trade in this place, who no doubt might be induced to enter into this kind of business. Freight from San Francisco to this place costs as much as freight from N. Y. to this place. Your friend will readily see the advantage of shipping directly to the Columbia. Our merchants all trade through California. Consequently it is their policy to discourage all capitalists in eastern cities from embarking directly in the Oregon trade. Oregon has suffered long from this selfish policy.
Yours with Christian esteem,
EZRA FISHER.
Received Feb. 9, 1850.
Oregon City, Jan Stb, 1850. Dear Br. Hill:
'; , v . . You have probably learned before this that I am at this place engaged in teaching and preaching. A convic- tion of duty rather than a desire to change has brought me to this place and this employment. At this period in my life I have not the most distant desire to engage in teaching and
