Soonafterwehadreachedthehotel，weorderedabuggy，andGovernorJohnsonandIdrovetoVallejo，sixmiles，crossedovertoMareIsland，andwalkeduptothecommandant’shouse，wherewefoundCommodoreFarragutandhisfamily。Westatedourbusinessfairly，butthecommodoreansweredveryfranklythathehadnoauthority，withoutordersfromhisdepartment，totakeanypartincivilbroils;hedoubtedthewisdomoftheattempt;saidhehadnoshipavailableexcepttheJohnAdams，CaptainBoutwell，andthatsheneededrepairs。Butheassentedatlast，tothepropositiontoletthesloopJohnAdamsdropdownabreastofthecityaftercertainrepairs，tolieoffthereformoraleffect，whichafterwardactuallyoccurred。
WethenreturnedtoBenicia，andWool’sfirstquestionwas，\"Whatluck？\"Weanswered，\"Notmuch，\"andexplainedwhatCommodoreFarragutcouldandwoulddo，andthat，insteadofhavinganavalvessel，wewouldseizeanduseoneofthePacificMailCompany’ssteamers，lyingattheirdockinBenicia，tocarrydowntoSanFranciscothearmsandmunitionswhenthetimecame。
Asthetimewasthennearathandforthearrivaloftheeveningboats，weallwalkeddowntothewharftogether，whereItoldJohnsonthathecouldnotbetoocareful;thatIhadnotheardGeneralWoolmakeapositivepromiseofassistance。
Uponthis，JohnsoncalledGeneralWooltooneside，andwethreedrewtogether。Johnsonsaid:\"GeneralWool，GeneralShermanisveryparticular，andwantstoknowexactlywhatyouproposetodo。\"
Woolanswered:\"Iunderstand，Governor，thatinthefirstplaceawritofHabeascorpuswillbeissuedcommandingthejailersoftheVigilanceCommitteetoproducethebodyofsomeoneoftheprisonersheldbythem（which，ofcourse，willberefused）;thatyouthenissueyourproclamationcommandingthemtodisperse，and，failingthis，youwillcalloutthemilitia，andcommandGeneralShermanwithittosuppresstheVigilanceCommitteeasanunlawfulbody;\"towhichtheGovernorresponded，\"Yes。\"\"Then，\"saidWool，\"onGeneralSherman’smakinghisrequisition，approvedbyyou，I
willordertheissueofthenecessaryarmsandammunition。\"I
rememberwellthatIsaid，emphatically:\"ThatisallIwant。——
Now，Governor，youmaygoahead。\"Wesoonparted;JohnsonandDouglastakingtheboattoSacramento，andItoSanFrancisco。
TheChief—Justice，Terry，cametoSanFranciscothenextday，issuedawritofhabeascorpusforthebodyofoneMaloney，whichwritwasresisted，asweexpected。TheGovernorthenissuedhisproclamation，andIpublishedmyorders，datedJune4，1855。TheQuartermaster—GeneraloftheState，GeneralKibbe，alsocametoSanFrancisco，tookanofficeintheCityHall，engagedseveralroomsforarmories，andsoonthemenbegantoenrollintocompanies。Inmygeneralorderscallingoutthemilitia，Iusedtheexpression，\"Whenasufficientnumberofmenareenrolled，armsandammunitionwillbesupplied。\"Someofthebestmenofthe\"Vigilantes\"cametomeandremonstrated，sayingthatcollisionwouldsurelyresult;
thatitwouldbeterrible，etc。AllIcouldsayinreplywas，thatitwasforthemtogetout。oftheway。\"Removeyourfort;ceaseyourmidnightcouncils;andpreventyourarmedbodiesfrompatrollingthestreets。\"TheyinquiredwhereIwastogetarms，andIansweredthatIhadthemcertain。ButpersonallyIwentrightalongwithmybusinessatthebank，consciousthatatanymomentwemighthavetrouble。Anothercommitteeofcitizens，aconciliatorybody，wasformedtopreventcollisionifpossible，andthenewspapersboiledoverwithvehementvituperation。ThissecondcommitteewascomposedofsuchmenasCrockett，Ritchie，Thornton，BaileyPeyton，Foote，Donohue，Kelly，andothers，aclassofthemostintelligentandwealthymenofthecity，whoearnestlyandhonestlydesiredtopreventbloodshed。Theyalsocametome，andI
toldthemthatourmenwereenrollingveryfast，andthat，whenI
deemedtherightmomenthadcome，theVigilanceCommitteemastdisperse，elsebloodshedanddestructionofpropertywouldinevitablyfollow。TheyalsohaddiscoveredthatthebettermenoftheVigilanceCommitteeitselfweregettingtiredofthebusiness，andthoughtthatintheexecutionofCaseyandCora，andthebanishmentofadozenormorerowdies，theyhaddoneenough，andwerethenwillingtostop。Itwassuggestedthat，ifourLaw—and—Orderpartywouldnotarm，byacertaindaynearathandthecommitteewoulddisperse，andsomeoftheirleaderswouldsubmittoanindictmentandtrialbyajuryofcitizens，whichtheyknewwouldacquitthemofcrime。Onedayinthebankamancalledmetothecounterandsaid，\"IfyouexpecttogetarmsofGeneralWool，youwillbemistaken，forIwasatBeniciayesterday，andheardhimsayhewouldnotgivethem。\"Thispersonwasknowntometobeamanoftruth，andIimmediatelywrotetoGeneralWoolalettertellinghimwhatIhadheard，andhowanyhesitationonhispartwouldcompromisemeasamanoftruthandhonor;addingthatI
didnotbelieveweshouldeverneedthearms，butonlythepromiseofthem，for\"thecommitteewaslettingdown，andwouldsoondisperseandsubmittothelaw，\"etc。Ifurtheraskedhimtoanswermecategoricallythatverynight，bytheStocktonboat，whichwouldpassBeniciaonitswaydownaboutmidnight，andI
wouldsitupandwaitforhisanswer。Ididwaitforhisletter，butitdidnotcome，andthenextdayIgotatelegraphicdispatchfromGovernorJohnson，who，atSacramento，hadalsoheardofGeneralWool’s\"back—down，\"askingmetomeethimagainatBeniciathatnight。
Iwentupintheeveningboat，andfoundGeneralWool’saide—de—
camp，CaptainArnold，ofthearmy，onthewharf，withaletterinhishand，whichhesaidwasforme。Iaskedforit，buthesaidheknewitsimportance，andpreferredweshouldgotoGeneralWool’sroomtogether，andthegeneralcouldhandittomeinperson。WedidgorightuptoGeneralWool’s，whotookthesealedparcelandlaiditaside，sayingthatitwasliterallyacopyofonehehadsenttoGovernorJohnson，whowoulddoubtlessgivemeacopy;butI
insistedthatIhadmadeawrittencommunication，andwasentitledtoawrittenanswer。
Atthatmomentseveralgentlemenofthe\"Conciliationparty，\"whohadcomeupinthesamesteamerwithme，askedforadmissionandcamein。IrecallthenamesofCrockett，Foote，BaileyPeyton，JudgeThornton，Donohue，etc。，andtheconversationbecamegeneral，Wooltryingtoexplainawaytheeffectofourmisunderstanding，takinggoodpainsnottodenyhispromisemadetomepersonallyonthewharf。Irenewedmyapplicationfortheletteraddressedtome，thenlyingonhistable。Onmystatementofthecase，BaileyPeytonsaid，\"GeneralWool，IthinkGeneralShermanhasarighttoawrittenanswerfromyou，forheissurelycompromised。\"UponthisWoolhandedmetheletter。Iopenedandreadit，anditdeniedanypromiseofarms，butotherwisewasextremelyevasiveandnon—committal。IhadheardofthearrivalatthewharfoftheGovernorandparty，andwasexpectingthematWool’sroom，but，insteadofstoppingatthehotelwherewewere，theypassedtoanotherhotelontheblockabove。Iwentupandfoundthere，inaroomonthesecondflooroverthebar—room，GovernorJohnson，Chief—JusticeTerry，Jones，ofPalmer，Cooke&Co。，E。D。Baker，VolneyE。Howard，andoneortwoothers。AllweretalkingfuriouslyagainstWool，denouncinghimasad———dliar，andnotsparingtheseverestterms。IshowedtheGovernorGeneralWool’slettertome，whichhesaidwasineffectthesameastheoneaddressedtoandreceivedbyhimatSacramento。HewassooffendedthathewouldnotevencallonGeneralWool，andsaidhewouldneveragainrecognizehimasanofficerorgentleman。Wediscussedmattersgenerally，andJudgeTerrysaidthattheVigilanceCommitteewereasetofd———dpork—merchants;thattheyweregettingscared，andthatGeneralWoolwasincollusionwiththemtobringtheStateintocontempt，etc。IexplainedthattherewerenoarmsintheStateexceptwhatGeneralPoolhad，orwhatwereinthehandsoftheVigilanceCommitteeofSanFrancisco，andthatthepartofwisdomforuswastobepatientandcautious。AboutthattimeCrockettandhisassociatessentuptheircards，butTerryandthemoreviolentoftheGovernor’sfollowersdenouncedthemasnobetterthan\"Vigilantes，\"andwantedtheGovernortorefuseeventoreceivethem。Iexplainedthattheywerenot\"Vigilantes，\"thatJudgeThorntonwasa\"Law—and—Order\"man，wasoneofthefirsttorespondtothecallofthesheriff，andthathewentactuallytothejailwithhisonearmthenightweexpectedthefirstattemptatrescue，etc。Johnsonthensentwordforthemtoreducetheirbusinesstowriting。Theysimplysentinawrittenrequestforanaudience，andtheywerethenpromptlyadmitted。Aftersomegeneralconversation，theGovernorsaidhewaspreparedtohearthem，whenMr。CrockettroseandmadeapreparedspeechembracingaclearandfairstatementoftheconditionofthingsinSanFrancisco，concludingwiththeassertionofthewillingnessofthecommitteetodisbandandsubmittotrialafteracertaindatenotveryremote。AllthetimeCrockettwasspeaking，Terrysatwithhishaton，drawnoverhiseyes，andwithhisfeetonatable。AssoonasCrockettwasthrough，theyweredismissed，andJohnsonbegantoprepareawrittenanswer。Thiswasscratched，altered，andamended，tosuitthenotionsofhiscounselors，andatlastwascopiedandsent。Thisansweramountedtolittleornothing。
Seeingthatwewerepowerlessforgood，andthatviolentcounselswouldprevailundertheinfluenceofTerryandothers，Isatdownatthetable，andwrotemyresignation，whichJohnsonacceptedinacomplimentarynoteonthespot，andatthesametimeheappointedtomyplaceGeneralVolneyE。Howard，thenpresent，alawyerwhohadoncebeenamemberofCongressfromTexas，andwhowasexpectedtodrivethed———dpork—merchantsintothebayatshortnotice。I
wentsoonaftertoGeneralWool’sroom，whereIfoundCrockettandtherestofhisparty;toldthemthatIwasoutofthefight，havingresignedmycommission;thatIhadneglectedbusinessthathadbeenintrustedtomebymySt。Louispartners;andthatIwouldthenceforwardmindmyownbusiness，andleavepublicaffairsseverelyalone。WeallreturnedtoSanFranciscothatnightbytheStocktonboat，andIneverafter—wardhadanythingtodowithpoliticsinCalifornia，perfectlysatisfiedwiththatshortexperience。JohnsonandWoolfoughtouttheirquarrelofveracityinthenewspapersandonpaper。But，inmyopinion，thereisnotashadowofdoubtthatGeneralWooldiddeliberatelydeceiveus;thathehadauthoritytoissuearms，andthat，hadheadheredtohispromise，wecouldhavecheckedthecommitteebeforeitbecameafixedinstitution，andapartofthecommonlawofCalifornia。
Major—GeneralVolneyE。HowardcametoSanFranciscosoonafter;
continuedtheorganizationofmilitiawhichIhadbegun;succeededingettingafewarmsfromthecountry;butonedaytheVigilanceCommitteesalliedfromtheirarmories，capturedthearmsofthe\"Law—and—Orderparty，\"putsomeoftheirmenintoprison，whileGeneralHoward，withothers，escapedtothecountry;afterwhichtheVigilanceCommitteehaditalltheirownway。Subsequently，inJuly，1856，theyarrestedChief—JusticeTerry，andtriedhimforstabbingoneoftheirconstables，buthemanagedtoescapeatnight，andtookrefugeontheJohnAdams。InAugust，theyhangedHetheringtonandBraceinbroaddaylight，withoutanyjury—trial;
and，soonafter，theyquietlydisbanded。Astheycontrolledthepress，theywrotetheirownhistory，andtheworldgenerallygivesthemthecreditofhavingpurgedSanFranciscoofrowdiesandroughs;buttheirsuccesshasgivengreatstimulustoadangerousprinciple，thatwouldatanytimejustifythemobinseizingallthepowerofgovernment;andwhoistosaythattheVigilanceCommitteemaynotbecomposedoftheworst，insteadofthebest，elementsofacommunity？Indeed，inSanFrancisco，assoonasitwasdemonstratedthattherealpowerhadpassedfromtheCityHalltothecommitteeroom，thesamesetofbailiffs，constables，androwdiesthathadinfestedtheCityHallwerefoundintheemploymentofthe\"Vigilantes;\"and，afterthreemonthsexperience，thebetterclassofpeoplebecametiredofthemidnightsessionsandleftthebusinessandpowerofthecommitteeinthehandsofacourt，ofwhichaSydneymanwasreportedtobetheheadorchief—justice。
Duringthewinterof1855—’56，andindeedthroughouttheyear1856，allkindsofbusinessbecameunsettledinCalifornia。Theminescontinuedtoyieldaboutfiftymillionsofgoldayear;butlittleattentionwaspaidtoagricultureortoanybusinessotherthanthatof\"mining，\"and，astheplacer—goldwasbecomingworkedout，theminerswererestlessanduneasy，andwereshiftingaboutfromplacetoplace，impelledbyrumorsputafloatforspeculativepurposes。Agreatmanyextensiveenterprisesbyjoint—stockcompanieshadbeenbegun，inthewayofwater—ditches，tobringwaterfromtheheadofthemountain—streamsdowntothericheralluvialdeposits，andnearlyallofthesecompaniesbecameembarrassedorbankrupt。Foreigncapital，also，whichhadbeenattractedtoCaliforniabyreasonofthehighratesofinterest，wasbeingwithdrawn，orwastiedupinpropertywhichcouldnotbesold;and，althoughourbank’shavingwithstoodthepanicgaveusgreatcredit，stillthecommunityitselfwasshaken，andloansofmoneywereriskyintheextreme。Agreatmanymerchants，ofthehighestname，availedthemselvesoftheextremelyliberalbankruptlawtogetdischargedoftheirolddebts，withoutsacrificingmuch，ifany，oftheirstocksofgoodsonhand，exceptalawyer’sfee;
thusrealizingMartinBurke’ssayingthat\"manyacleverfellowhadbeenruinedbypayinghisdebts。\"Themerchantsandbusiness—menofSanFranciscodidnotintendtoberuinedbysuchacourse。I
raisedtherateofexchangefromthreetothreeandahalf，whileotherskeptonattheoldrate;andIlaboredhardtocollectolddebts，andstrove，inmakingnewloans，tobeonthesafeside。
TheStateandcitybothdeniedmuchoftheirpublicdebt;infact，repudiatedit;andrealestate，whichtheyearbeforehadbeenfirst—classsecurity，becameutterlyunsalable。
Theofficelaborandconfinement，andtheanxietyattendingthebusiness，aggravatedmyasthmatosuchanextentthatattimesitdeprivedmeofsleep，andthreatenedtobecomechronicandserious;
andIwasalsoconsciousthatthefirstandoriginalcausewhichhadinducedMr。LucastoestablishthebankinCaliforniahadceased。Isoreportedtohim，andthatIreallybelievedthathecouldusehismoneymoresafelyandtobetteradvantageinSt。
Louis。Thismethispromptapproval，andheinstructedmegraduallytodrawout，preparatorytoaremovaltoNewYorkCity。
Accordingly，earlyinApril，1857，IpublishedanadvertisementintheSanFranciscopapers，notifyingourcustomersthat，onthe1stdayofMay，wewoulddiscontinuebusinessandremoveEast，requiringalltowithdrawtheiraccounts，anddeclaringthat，ifanyremainedonthethatdayofMay，theirbalanceswouldbetransferredtothebanking—houseofParrott&Co。Punctuallytotheday，thiswasdone，andthebusinessofLucas，Turner&Co。，ofSanFrancisco，wasdiscontinued，exceptthemoredifficultanddisagreeablepartofcollectingtheirownmoneysandsellingtherealestate，towhichthefirmhadsucceededbypurchaseorforeclosure。Oneofthepartners，B。R。Nisbet，assistedbyourattorney，S。M。Bowman，Esq。，remainedbehindtocloseupthebusinessofthebank。
CHAPTERVI。
CALIFORNIA，NEWYORK，ANDKANSAS。
1857—1859。
HavingclosedthebankatSanFranciscoonthe1stdayofMay，1857，accompaniedbymyfamilyIembarkedinthesteamerSonoraforPanama，crossedtheisthmus，andsailedtoNewYork，whenceweproceededtoLancaster，Ohio，whereMrs。Shermanandthefamilystopped，andIwentontoSt。Louis。Ifoundtherethatsomechangeshadbeenmadeintheparent，house，thatMr。Lucashadboughtouthispartner，CaptainSymonds，andthatthefirm’snamehadbeenchangedtothatofJamesH。Lucas&Co。
IthadalsobeenarrangedthatanofficeorbranchwastobeestablishedinNewYorkCity，ofwhichIwastohavecharge，onprettymuchthesametermsandconditionsasinthepreviousSanFranciscofirm。
Mr。Lucas，MajorTurner，andI，agreedtomeetinNewYork，soonafterthe4thofJuly。WemetaccordinglyattheMetropolitanHotel，selectedanoffice，No。12PallStreet，purchasedthenecessaryfurniture，andengagedateller，bookkeeper，andporter。
ThenewfirmwastobearthesametitleofLucas，Turner&Co。，withaboutthesamepartnersininterest，butthenatureofthebusinesswastotallydifferent。Weopenedourofficeonthe21stofJuly，1857，andatoncebegantoreceiveaccountsfromtheWestandfromCalifornia，butourchiefbusinesswasastheresidentagentsoftheSt。LouisfirmofJamesH。Lucas&Co。PersonallyI
tookroomsatNo。100PrinceStreet，inwhichhousewerealsoquarteredMajorJ。G。Barnard，andLieutenantJ。B。McPherson，UnitedStatesEngineers，bothofwhomafterwardattainedgreatfameinthecivilwar。
MybusinessrelationsinNewYorkwerewiththeMetropolitanBankandBankofAmerica;andwiththeverywealthyandmostrespectablefirmofSchuchhardt&Gebhard，ofNassauStreet。Everythingwentalongswimminglytillthe21stofAugust，whenallWallStreetwasthrownintoaspasmbythefailureoftheOhioLifeandTrustCompany，andthepanicsoresembledthatinSanFrancisco，that，havingnothingseeminglyatstake，Ifeltamused。Butitsoonbecameaseriousmattereventome。Westernstocksandsecuritiestumbledtosuchafigure，thatallWesternbanksthatheldsuchsecurities，andhadprocuredadvancesthereon，werecompelledtopayuporsubstituteincreasedcollaterals。OurownhousewasnotaborrowerinNewYorkatall，butmanyofourWesterncorrespondentswere，andittaxedmytunetowatchtheirinterests。
InSeptember，thepanicextendedsoastothreatenthesafetyofevensomeoftheNewYorkbanksnotconnectedwiththeWest;andthealarmbecamegeneral，andatlastuniversal。
IntheverymidstofthispaniccamethenewsthatthesteamerCentralAmerica，formerlytheGeorgeLaw，withsixhundredpassengersandaboutsixteenhundredthousanddollarsoftreasure，comingfromAspinwall，hadfounderedatsea，offthecoastofGeorgia，andthataboutsixtyofthepassengershadbeenprovidentiallypickedupbyaSwedishbark，andbroughtintoSavannah。Theabsolutelossofthistreasurewenttoswelltheconfusionandpanicoftheday。
Afewdaysafter，IwasstandinginthevestibuleoftheMetropolitanHotel，andheardthecaptainoftheSwedishbarktellhissingularstoryoftherescueofthesepassengers。Hewasashort，sailor—like—lookingman，withastrongGermanorSwedishaccent。HesaidthathewassailingfromsomeportinHondurasforSweden，runningdowntheGulfStreamoffSavannah。Theweatherhadbeenheavyforsomedays，and，aboutnightfall，ashepacedhisdeck，heobservedaman—of—warhawkcircleabouthisvessel，graduallylowering，untilthebirdwasasitwereaimingathim。
Hejerkedoutabelaying—pin，struckatthebird，missedit，whenthehawkagainrosehighintheair，andasecondtimebegantodescend，contracthiscircle，andmakeathimagain。Thesecondtimehehitthebird，andstruckittothedeck……Thisstrangefactmadehimuneasy，andhethoughtitbetokeneddanger;hewenttothebinnacle，sawthecoursehewassteering，andwithoutanyparticularreasonheorderedthesteersmantoalterthecourseonepointtotheeast。
Afterthisitbecamequitedark，andhecontinuedtopromenadethedeck，andhadsettledintoadrowsystate，whenasinadreamhethoughtheheardvoicesallroundhisship。Wakingup，herantothesideoftheship，sawsomethingstrugglinginthewater，andheardclearlycriesforhelp。Instantlyheavinghisshipto，andloweringallhisboats，hemanagedtopickupsixtyormorepersonswhowerefloatingaboutonskylights，doors，spare，andwhateverfragmentsremainedoftheCentralAmerica。Hadhenotchangedthecourseofhisvesselbyreasonofthemysteriousconductofthatman—of—warhawk，notasoulwouldprobablyhavesurvivedthenight。
Itwasstatedbytherescuedpassengers，amongwhomwasBillyBirch，thattheCentralAmericahadsailedfromAspinwallwiththepassengersandfreightwhichleftSanFranciscoonthe1stofSeptember，andencounteredthegaleintheGulfStreamsomewhereoffSavannah，inwhichshesprungaleak，filledrapidly，andwentdown。Thepassengerswhoweresavedhadclungtodoors，skylights，andsuchfloatingobjectsastheycouldreach，andwerethusrescued;alltherest，somefivehundredinnumber，hadgonedownwiththeship。
Thepanicgrewworseandworse，andabouttheendofSeptembertherewasageneralsuspensionofthebanksofNewYork，andamoneycrisisextendedalloverthecountry。InNewYork，Lucas，Turner&Co。hadnothingatrisk。WehadlargecashbalancesintheMetropolitanBankandintheBankofAmerica，allsafe，andweheld，fortheaccountoftheSt。Louishouse，atleasttwohundredthousanddollars，ofSt。Louiscityandcountybonds，andofacceptancesfallingduerightalong，noneextendingbeyondninetydays。IwasadvisedfromSt。Louisthatmoneymatterswereextremelytight;butIdidnotdreamofanydangerinthatquarter。
IknewwellthatMr。Lucaswasworthtwoorthreemilliondollarsinthebestrealestate，andinferredfromthelargebalancestotheircreditwithmethatnomerepaniccouldshakehiscredit;
but，earlyonthemorningofOctober7th，mycousin，JamesM。Hoyt，cametomeinbed，andreadmeaparagraphinthemorningpaper，totheeffectthatJamesH。Lucas&Co。，ofSt。Louis，hadsuspended。
Iwas，ofcourse，surprised，butnotsorry;forIhadalwayscontendedthatamanofsomuchvisiblewealthasMr。Lucasshouldnotbeengagedinabusinesssubjecttosuchvicissitudes。I
hurrieddowntotheoffice，whereIreceivedthesameinformationofficially，bytelegraph，withinstructionstomakeproperdispositionoftheaffairsofthebank，andtocomeouttoSt。
Louis，withsuchassetsaswouldbeavailablethere。Itransferredthefundsbelongingtoallourcorrespondents，withlistsofoutstandingchecks，tooneorotherofourbankers，andwiththecashbalanceoftheSt。LouishouseandtheiravailableassetsstartedforSt。Louis。ImaysaywithconfidencethatnomanlostacentbyeitherofthebankingfirmsofLucas，Turner&Co。，ofSanFranciscoorNewYork;but，asusual，thosewhooweduswerenotalwaysasjust。IreachedSt。LouisOctober17th，andfoundthepartnersengagedinliquidatingthebalancesduedepositorsasfastascollectionscouldbeforced;and，asthepanicbegantosubside，thisprocessbecamequiterapid，andMr。Lucas，bymakingaloaninPhiladelphia，wasenabledtocloseoutallaccountswithouthavingmadeanyserioussacrifices，Ofcourse，nopersoneverlostacentbyhim:hehasrecentlydied，leavinganestateofeightmilliondollars。Duringhislifetime，Ihadopportunitiestoknowhimwell，andtakemuchpleasureinbearingtestimonytohisgreatworthandpersonalkindness。Onthefailureofhisbank，heassumedpersonallyalltheliabilities，releasedhispartnersofallresponsibility，andofferedtoassistmetoengageinbusiness，whichhesupposedwasduetomebecauseIhadresignedmyarmycommission。IremainedinSt。Louistillthe17thofDecember，1857，assistingincollectingforthebank，andincontrollingallmatterswhichcamefromtheNewYorkandSanFranciscobranches。
B。R。NisbetwasstillinSanFrancisco，buthadmarriedaMissThornton，andwascominghome。TherestillremainedinCaliforniaagooddealofrealestate，andnotes，valuedatabouttwohundredthousanddollarsintheaggregate;sothat，atMr。Lucas’srequest，Iagreedtogooutagain，tobringmatters，ifpossible，nearerafinalsettlement。IaccordinglyleftSt。Louis，reachedLancaster，wheremyfamilywas，onthe10th，staidtheretillafterChristmas，andthenwenttoNewYork，whereIremainedtillJanuary5th，whenIembarkedonthesteamerMolesTaylor（CaptainMcGowan）forAspinwall;caughttheGoldenGate（CaptainWhiting）atPanama，January15，1858;andreachedSanFranciscoonthe28thofJanuary。
IfoundthatNisbetandwifehadgonetoSt。Louis，andthatwehadpassedeachotheratsea。HehadcarriedtheledgerandbookstoSt。Louis，butleftaschedule，notes，etc。，inthehandsofS。M。
Bowman，Esq。，whopassedthemovertome。
Onthe30thofJanuaryIpublishedanoticeofthedissolutionofthepartnership，andcalledonallwhowerestillindebtedtothefirmofLucas，Turner&Co。topayup，orthenoteswouldbesoldatauction。Ialsoadvertisedthatalltherealproperty，wasforsale。
Businesshadsomewhatchangedsince1857。Parrott&Co。;Garrison，Fritz&Ralston;Wells，Fargo&Co。;Drexel，Sather&Church，andTallant&Wilde，weretheprincipalbankers。Propertycontinuedalmostunsalable，。andpriceswerelessthanahalfofwhattheyhadbeenin1853—’54。WilliamBlending，Esq。，hadrentedmyhouseonHarrisonStreet;soIoccupiedaroominthebank，No。11，andboardedattheMeiggsHouse，cornerofBroadwayandMontgomery，whichweowned。Havingreducedexpensestoaminimum，Iproceeded，withallpossibledispatch，tocollectoutstandingdebts，insomeinstancesmakingsacrificesandcompromises。Imadesomefewsales，andgenerallyaimedtoputmattersinsuchashapethattimewouldbringthebestresult。SomeofourheaviestcreditorswereJohnM。Rhodes&Co。，ofSacramentoandShasta;Langton&Co。，ofDownieville;andE。M。StrangerofMurphy’s。Intryingtoputthesedebtsincourseofsettlement，ImadesomearrangementinDownievillewiththelaw—firmofSpears&Thornton，tocollect，bysuit，acertainnoteofGreen&Purdyfortwelvethousanddollars。
EarlyinApril，IlearnedthatSpearshadcollectedthreethousandsevenhundreddollarsinmoney，hadappropriatedittohisownuse，andhadpledgedanothergoodnotetakeninpartpaymentofthreethousandandfifty—threedollars。Hepretendedtobeinsane。I
hadtomaketwovisitstoDownievilleonthisbusiness，andthere，madetheacquaintanceofMr。Stewart，nowaSenatorfromNevada。
HewasmarriedtoadaughterofGovernorFoote;waslivinginasmallframehouseonthebarjustbelowthetown;andhislittledaughterwasplayingaboutthedoorinthesand。StewartwasthenalawyerinDownieville，ingoodpractice;afterward，bysomeluckystroke，becamepartownerofavaluablesilver—mineinNevada，andisnowaccountedamillionaire。ImanagedtosavesomethingoutofSpears，andmoreoutofhispartnerThornton。ThisaffairofSpearsruinedhim，becausehisinsanitywasmanifestlyfeigned。
IremainedinSanFranciscotillJuly3d，when，havingcollectedandremittedeverycentthatIcouldraise，andgotallthepropertyinthebestshapepossible，hearingfromSt。Louisthatbusinesshadrevived，andthattherewasnoneedoffurthersacrifice;Iputallthepapers，withafullletterofinstructions，andpowerofattorney，inthehandsofWilliamBlending，Esq。，andtookpassageonthegoodsteamerGoldenGate，CaptainWhiting，forPanamaandhome。IreachedLancasteronJuly28，1858，andfoundallthefamilywell。Iwasthenperfectlyunhampered，buttheseriousandgreaterquestionremained，whatwasItodotosupportmyfamily，consistingofawifeandfourchildren，allaccustomedtomorethantheaveragecomfortsoflife？
IremainedatLancasterallofAugust，1858，duringwhichtimeI
wasdiscussingwithMr。Ewingandotherswhattodonext。MajorTurnerandMr。Lucas，inSt。Louis，werewillingtodoanythingtoaidme，butIthoughtbesttokeepindependent。Mr。EwinghadpropertyatChauncey，consistingofsalt—wellsandcoal—mines，butforthatpartofOhioIhadnofancy。Twoofhissons，HughandT。
E。，Jr。，hadestablishedthemselvesatLeavenworth，Kansas，wheretheyandtheirfatherhadboughtagooddealofland，somenearthetown，andsomebackinthecountry。Mr。Ewingofferedtoconfidetomethegeneralmanagementofhisshareofinterest，andHughandT。E。，Jr。，offeredmeanequalcopartnershipintheirlaw—firm。
Accordingly，aboutthe1stofSeptember，IstartedforKansas，stoppingacoupleofweeksinSt。Louis，andreachedLeavenworth。
Ifoundabouttwomilesbelowthefort，ontheriver—bank，wherein1851wasatangledthicket，quiteahandsomeandthrivingcity，growingrapidlyinrivalrywithKansasCity，andSt。Joseph，Missouri。Afterlookingaboutandconsultingwithfriends，amongthemmyclassmateMajorStewartVanVliet，quartermasteratthefort，IconcludedtoacceptthepropositionofMr。Ewing，andaccordinglythefirmofSherman&Ewingwasdulyannounced，andourservicestothepublicofferedasattorneys—at—law。WehadanofficeonMainStreet，betweenShawneeandDelaware，onthesecondfloor，overtheofficeofHamptonDenman，Esq。，mayorofthecity。
Thisbuildingwasamereshell，andourofficewasreachedbyastairwayontheoutside。AlthoughinthecourseofmymilitaryreadingIhadstudiedafewoftheordinarylaw—books，suchasBlackstone，Kent，Starkie，etc。，Ididnotpresumetobealawyer;
butouragreementwasthatThomasEwing，Jr。，agoodandthoroughlawyer，shouldmanageallbusinessinthecourts，whileIgaveattentiontocollections，agenciesforhousesandlands，andsuchbusinessasmyexperienceinbankinghadqualifiedmefor。Yet，asmynamewasembracedinalaw—firm，itseemedtomepropertotakeoutalicense。Accordingly，onedaywhenUnitedStatesJudgeLecomptewasinouroffice，Imentionedthemattertohim;hetoldmetogodowntotheclerkofhiscourt，andhewouldgivemethelicense。IinquiredwhatexaminationIwouldhavetosubmitto，andhereplied，\"Noneatall;\"he’dwouldadmitmeonthegroundofgeneralintelligence。
Duringthatsummerwegotourshareofthebusinessoftheprofession，thenrepresentedbyseveraleminentlaw—firms，embracingnamedthathavesinceflourishedintheSenate，andinthehighercourtsofthecountry。ButthemostlucrativesinglecasewasgivenmebymyfriendMajorVanVliet，whoemployedmetogotoFortRiley，onehundredandthirty—sixmileswestofFortLeavenworth，tosuperintendtherepairstothemilitaryroad。Forthispurposehesuppliedmewithafour—muleambulanceanddriver。
Thecountrywasthensparselysettled，andquiteasmanyIndianswerealongtheroadaswhitepeople;stilltherewereembryotownsallalongtheroute，andafewfarmssprinkledoverthebeautifulprairies。OnreachingIndianola，nearTopeka，Ifoundeverybodydownwiththechillsandfever。MyowndriverbecamesoshakythatIhadtoactasdriverandcook。ButindueseasonIreconnoitredtheroad，andmadecontractsforrepairingsomebridges，andforcuttingsuchpartsoftheroadasneededit。IthenreturnedtoFortLeavenworth，andreported，receivingafaircompensation。OnmywayupImetColonelSumner’scolumn，returningfromtheirsummerscoutontheplains，andspentthenightwiththeofficers，amongwhomwereCaptainsSackett，Sturgis，etc。AlsoatFortRileyIwascordiallyreceivedandentertainedbysomeoldarmy—friends，amongthemMajorSedgwick，CaptainsTotted，EliLong，etc。
Mrs。ShermanandchildrenarrivedoutinNovember，andwespentthewinterverycomfortablyinthehouseofThomasEwing，Jr。，onthecornerofThirdandPottawottamieStreets。Onthe1stofJanuary，1859，DanielMcCook，Esq。，wasadmittedtomembershipinourfirm，whichbecameSherman，Ewing&McCook。Ourbusinesscontinuedtogrow，but，astheincomehardlysufficedforthreesuchexpensivepersonages，Icontinuedtolookaboutforsomethingmorecertainandprofitable，andduringthatspringundertookfortheHon。
ThomasEwing，ofOhio，toopenafarmonalargetractoflandheownedonIndianCreek，fortymileswestofLeavenworth，forthebenefitofhisgrand—nephew，HenryClark，andhisgrand—niece，Mrs。
Walker。Thesearrivedoutinthespring，bywhichtimeIhadcausedtobeerectedasmallframedwelling—house，abarn，andfencingforahundredacres。Thishelpedtopassawaytime，butaffordedlittleprofit;andonthe11thofJune，1859，IwrotetoMajorD。C。Buel，assistantadjutant—general，ondutyintheWarDepartmentwithSecretaryofWarFloyd，inquiringiftherewasavacancyamongthearmypaymasters，oranythinginhislinethatI
couldobtain。Herepliedpromptly，andsentmetheprintedprogrammeforamilitarycollegeabouttobeorganizedinLouisiana，andadvisedmetoapplyforthesuperintendent’splace，sayingthatGeneralG。MasonGraham，thehalf—brotherofmyoldcommanding—general，R。B。Mason，wasveryinfluentialinthismatter，andwoulddoubtlessbefriendmeonaccountoftherelationsthathadexistedbetweenGeneralMasonandmyselfinCalifornia。
Accordingly，IaddressedaletterofapplicationtotheHon。R。C。