Nubia to Frederick Douglass, May 14, 1855

San Francisco, May 14, 1855.

Frederick Douglass:—The rainy season, from all appearances, has just set in. Not within the memory of the oldest antive, has it rained at this season of the year; but changes are not confined to the climate.—Everything is changing in California. The whole face of the country is changed. Everywhere is to be seen the fruit of Yankee industry and enterprise. In five yers from a desolate wilderness, where roamed the grizzly bear, and the uncouth digger, Indian cities, towns, villages, well stocked and beaitifully laid out farms, have sprung up as if by magic. The poor natives can hardly realizenthe change, so recently the lordly possessors of thousands of acres, and so suddenly wrested from their grasp, and this so quietly, so legally, so easily effected. It is enough to astound them. Truly, these Americans are a strange people; they as effectually destroy nations by their crushing civilization, as their fixed bayonets.

There are other changes taking place—political and roral changes. The Know Nothings were successful at the last election for city officers; and this political element has given birth to a new party, (the anti-Know Nothings.)—This party has no affinity with the old Democratic party. The idea of dividing the State for the purpose of enabling slaveholders to bring their slaves with them, seems to gave been abandoned. It is generally conceded that slavery cannot be maintained on the Pacific coast; so there cannot be said to be any slavery party in the State, unless it is the (almost extinguished Administration party, the head and front of which (in the State) is Dr. Gwin. The morals of the people are being improved, both by legislation and by home influences. A Sunday law is to take effect from the first of June—a death blow to theatres and livery stable keepers, (the latter are affected by the prohibition of racing on the Sabbath.)

The temperance reform (or rather the intemperance reform) is rapidly progressing. Temperance organizations are taking place throughout the interior of the State. This is attributable to the indefatigable efforts of Miss Pellet, who is lecturing on the subject. It is said she has accomplished more than fifty male lecturers could have done. Before her arrival in the State, she was heralded as a "strong-minded woman;" and as no monster of this kind had been seen in the State, and the imaginations of a great portion of the people pictured something terrible in petticoats, there was a grand rush at her first lecture, when "Mirabile Dictu," a little, unassuming, unusually modest woman, was holding forth on some dry subject. The illusion was disspelled—people regretted that they had not gone to the theatre. Her effort was considered a failure; but she (nothing daunted by the cold water of the press) has succeeded in making herself immensely popular by reason of unearied labor and devotion to the cause in which she is engaged.

The colored people of this city—and, I believe, throughout the State—are not surpassed anywhere for energy and enterprise. Quite a number are engaged in mercantile pursuits, among whom may be mentioned Messrs. Lesten and Gibbs, fashionable boot and shoe dealers, Messrs. Johnson and Pointer, importers of ready made clothing, Messers. Buler and Cornish, do., Mr. Parker, boot and shoe dealer. These and others have stores on the business thoroughfares, and are doing a good business.

A discussion is taking place of an unusual character among us, between Mr. S. Howard and Rev. J. J. Moore. The question is, "Are the contents of the Bible of purely divine origin and authority?" Rev. J. J. Moore, affirmative—S. Howard, nagative. Never was the St. Cyprian Church so packed with such an intelligent audience—white and black mingled together—to hear this strange discussion. A portion of the audience (the least intelligent) behaved, to say the least, rudely, when Mr. Howard attempted to speak. The discussion of this question is calculated to lead the people to reading and thinking for themselves, and to depend lass upon the dogmas of sects or individuals, whose professionis of sacred calling.

The suspension of Page & Bacon, of St. Louis, as might be expected, caused the closing of all the branches in this State. The morning after the reception of the news, the doors of the house were, beseiged by anxious depositoirs. A few of them received their money (those who deposited after their first suspension) when the doors were closed. It is impossible to resuscitate the house. People have lost all confidence in banks.

Yours respectfully,

NUBIA.