American Notes

This is what Bret Harte has written of the great city of San Francisco, and for the past fortnight I have been wondering what made him do it. There is neither serenity nor indifference to be found in these parts; and evil would it be for the continents whose wardship were intrusted to so reckless a guardian. Behold me pitched neck-and-crop from twenty days of the high seas into the whirl of California, deprived of any guidance, and left to draw my own conclusions.

Protect me from the wrath of an outraged community if these letters be ever read by American eyes San Francisco is a mad city--inhabited for the most part by perfectly insane people, whose women are of a remarkable beauty. .