There were also men who had managed to get posssesion of a large amount of gold, who became so proud and overbearing, that they could hardly be approached by any one who were not as wealthy as themselves. During my short stay there, I witnessed the downfall of some of these mushroom nabobs, who were glad to take up with the most menial conditions, rather than starve. One or two instances of this came under my immediate notice. A youno* gentleman with whom I had transacted business in Boston, "came out to San Francisco, arriving shortly after I did; and certainly, for uprightness, gentlemanly deportment, and business tact, I knew not his superior. As fast as prosperity lifted, dissipation lowered.
To my utter astonishment he called on me one day, intoxicated. I took him by the hand, with a view of giving him some friendly advice, at which he was highly indignant, as though he entertained the idea that his condition was not apparent. "When I said to him, my dear fellow, you have been drinking, he very rudely replied, that it was none of my business, he should drink when and as much as he pleased! His career was short. The last time I saw him he was nearly in a state of nudity, and looked miserably. I believe he was taken to the hospital, where he shortly after died. His parents were wealthy, his father one of the most active and enterprising merchants in Boston.
There were other cases of a similar character which also came within my business sphere, but will not detain the reader by naming them. Shall pass over many occurrences which would only substantiate what I have just written, respecting the general character of most of the population of San Francisco, at that time. I have spoken of lawyers, or rather a set of black-guards, who assumed that title, and will relate one affair in which I had an opportunity of witnessing the modus operandi of a Californian Court. A gentleman who was my intimate friend, had a barque arrive, on board of which were a number of passengers. Among them was a squirt of a fellow who called himself a doctor.
On the passage to San Francisco, this chap had given some of the fellow passengers advice about the best method of relieving constipation and diarrhoea. The ship was furnished with the best medicine chest that could be obtained, and the captain freely dispensed whatever was necessary. Very soon after the arrival of the barque, some fellow put the doctor up to making a demand on the owner for medical service, rendered during the passage. The owner at once, refused to acknowledge any such demand. The other then, according to the direction of his advisers, put an officer on board the barque and commenced a suit. I was summoned as a witness or evidence for the defendant. The court was held in a shanty made of a lew joist, and rough boards.
I appeared, agreeable to the summons. The desk for the judge was a rough pen something like what we see at Brighton for the temporary security of hogs during the sale. There sat a horsejockey looking fellow, with a cloth cap on one side of his head, a cigar in his mouth, and his feet raised some two feet above his head, upon a crossbar. When I entered the Court-room (?) there stood a tall, rawboned fellow, the prosecuting attorney, laying down the case to the horsejockey judge, occasionally lifting up his arm to give vehemence to his argument, when it was easily seen that he had come out unprovided with needles or thread, for under both arms, the sleeve was torn nearly off, and no signs of a shirt anywhere.
This genius was laying down what he called Iowa law, and when he got off a pretty good grist, the judge would remove his cigar, and remark, " Well, I reckon you are right!" and when he had closed his poiverful argument, my friend's lawyer arose, and he was a greater jackass than the other. He undertook to quote Missouri law, and neither judge nor lawyer knew any more about a ship or the usuages on board, than a California Indian. I was called on the stand to give my testimony, as to what I knew, regarding these matters; and really as to any respect for such a court as this, or anything that could be construed into contempt, was out of the question.