Perhaps a paragraph of explanation should precede this letter.

Political changes had eliminated Orion in Nevada, and he was now

undertaking the practice of law. "Bill Stewart" was Senator

Stewart, of Nevada, of whom we shall hear again. The "Sandwich

Island book," as may be imagined, was made up of his letters to the

Sacramento Union. Nothing came of the venture, except some chapters

in 'Roughing It', rewritten from the material. "Zeb and John

Leavenworth" were pilots whom he had known on the river.