December 9, 1849

It seems almost beyond belief, that a steamboat of any size could be raised in so brief a space. This will give you an enviable reputation, and will undoubtedly increase business upon your hands as fast as you could desire….

your last letter makes me almost certain that you will not think of leaving the river at present. I might almost as well expect a miner to leave the madder El Dorado when the metal was glittering in his clutch.

December 16, 1849

I am working two sets of men, numbering eight each, and am paid eighty dollars per day for them. One set is removing the wreck of the "Martha" and the other the "Kit Carson." It is no small loss to forego the pleasures of Christmas time with those I cherish so dearly, but with a man in debt it cannot be said that his time is his own …

After dinner I went out to see your father's family and was very warmly welcomed by him. Your Father invited me to eat a Christmas dinner with [them] which I agreed to. He has taken quite an interest in my affairs lately, and told Mr. Dickson that if I had not gone in partnership with that d--d Yankee, [probably his former business partner Calvin Case] he would have done anything for me. He wanted me to stay all night and remarked that his house was as near to the boat as Mr. Fife's [where Eads was boarding].