Handwritten letter from a "practicing attorney" camped near Fort Smith, Arkansas to former law associates in New York providing details of his experiences as he journeys overland to San Francisco The writer describes the difficulties and disillusionment among the party as they have traveled and where they have been camped for some weeks as they round up mules more suitable than the "40 wild Mexican mules" that had been arranged for delivery to them by a previous purchase. He notes that their romantic vision of adventure has been replaced by hard work which he is glad for because it keeps his mind occupied away from his difficulties but that some others in the party have given up and returned home. He ends the letter describing his being interrupted by the common calls of "mule loose" and "all hands" and that he is writing the letter on the top of his hat while sitting "tailor fashion." He requests that they write him back in one and two months and direct the letters "to San Francsico where both letters will probably arrive long before I shall." The stationery has an embossed seal in the upper left corner of a circular design with flowers inside of it, postmarked from Fort Smith, Arkansas dated April 29. It is addressed to R. Fayweather Esq. [or?] Edwards Pierrepont Esq., Attorneys at Law, New York.