Among the various and multiplied phases of human character, there is one class which is common to an almost unprecedented extent in California. Upon every street corner, in every public place, in the avenues of business, and especially in the arena of politics, gentlemen of the class referred to are to be found, conspicuous among the crowd. Their chief trade is to manufacture opinion, deceive the unwary?magnify their own importance, and impose upon the community a bogus sentiment for the genuine article. Those who compose the class we refer to, in Bowery parlance, are known by the not very euphonious, yet expressive soubriquet (that is in contrast to modern American spelling Sobriquet) of "Blow-hards."

- Daily Placer Times and Transcript (San Francisco, CA) 8 Jan. 1855