John Hughes, San Francisco Post Office, to his brother, /Co. Meath? May 17, 1885. In McCall Family Papers, Ms. 13,852, National Library of Ireland. Post oFFice San Francisco May 12-1885 "My Dear Brother I am verry sorry for not writting you long before now. I read with much interest and pleasure your beautiful poem on the demise of Mr Sullivan no doubt you lost a good friend by the death of that gentleman and also the departed Mrs /Devery?) she was a good friend to Mother doubtless you know all about the Donovan Rossa Business and the aquital of Mr Short for the stabbing of Cap' Phelan I guess Mrs Dudley the would be Murderer of Mr Rossa will not be punished as she deserves to be. the pistol and the knife are used to frequently in this Country by men and woman and they either are aquited or gets but a light sentence a week a go a woman was shot dead on the streets of this Citey the press of San Francisco says England has shown the white feather that she is a fraid to fight Russia and before many years she is likely to loose her Indian posses- ions she is much snubed in this Country Except Itily no power is friendly towards her an English war vessel and a Russian war Vessel were in New york harbour a short time ago while the Russian ship was hounded with visitors the English Ship had but very few while an Oficer was showing the visitors around the English Ship when passing the Queen's Portrait that slave and Flunky would raise his hat and say this is our beloved queen God bless her. the Prince of wales telegraphed his Mamma in paris, I had a glorious reception in Ireland, San Francisco has a Population of about three hundred thousand it is a lively and Business place always somting Exciting or Censasional going on if it is only some stabing or shooting afair or Suicide of some man or woman owing to financial and other trubles there is no other place where more goes insane and takes their own life through losses in business and other Causes than in this State of Calofornia there are people here from all parts of the world here is quite a Colony of French here the streets and sidewalks of this city are the worst in the union for causion killed feet my feet are ruined through walking on them so much they say the Cable Cars are the finest in the union they are talking of having Electric Cars here, there are a good many fine Catholic Churches but no Public buildings of any acount the climate of this place is very changable foggy cold dusty but is not so bad as the have it other places about three ago there was a heavy fall of snow somting that does not take place in thirty years "Dear Brother I am a poor hand at writting a letter next time i will describe this place better I am not working i have rheumatism in my feet - please tell my dear Mother and Sister I will shortly write 11 I Feel well your Affectionate Brother John