Transcript

Dear Brother, - As our sea voyage is now at an end, we write to inform you how we get along.

In ours of June 1st, we gave you particulars of our organization into wards, appointments, &c. Since then everything has gone along well with us, and although it has taken us 36 days, we realize that God has been with us, and abundantly blessed us. The Saints on board are a good people, humble, obedient, and grateful to God for their emancipation from Babylon, with but very few exceptions. We have met with little or no trouble among them, but have been agreeably disappointed by the unanimity and good feeling which have at all times existed in their midst.

We number 450 souls: men, women and children, and have been blessed with four births Sister Hodgson, wife ofHenry Hodgson, from Halifax, of twins, on the 23rd of June, a daughter, Annice Hubaldina Hodgson, and a son, John Arkwright Hodgson; Sister Taylor, wife of WilliamTaylor, from Liverpool, of a son, on the 25th of June, Daniel Arkwright Taylor; and Sister Ellen Egunson, (but recently a widow), from Birmingham, on the 27th of June, of a daughter, Rubina Egunson. The captain was sponsor to the first three, and the doctor to the last named.

We regret to report five deaths: Ann Eliza Richards, aged 7 years, daughter of sister Hannah Richards, from Mountain Ash, Glamoreganshire, on the 21st of June, of Scarlatina; Jane Altham, aged 6 years, daughter of Sister Altham, from Carlisle, on the 25th of June, of heart disease; William Airmet, aged 2 years, son of Brother J. D. Airmet, from Glasgow, on the 29th of June, of bronchitis; Brother David Jones, from Swansea, on the 2nd of July, from general debility or old age; and Sister Ellen Egunson, from Birmingham, on the 3rd of July, of milk fever, and weakness from hemorrhage after childbirth.

Provisions have been served out weekly, and their quality has given general satisfaction. The only difficulty has been, that the people sometimes have found it hard to get sufficient cooked.

The first ten or twelve days we had good weather, but since then head winds and squalls, which have length- [p.508] ended out our voyage; although we have not had any very rough weather.

Seasickness affected nearly all on board for the first few days, and a few have been ill all the voyage; but, on the whole, we have enjoyed general good health.

Meetings have been held each Sabbath on the upper deck, when weather permitted, and when not so, below; also, twice in the weekdays, and oftener when necessary. At them we have enjoyed ourselves by the outpouring of the Good Spirit, which has enabled us to speak what was necessary for the comfort and convenience of the Saints.

In the week evenings, when the weather was fine, we got up concerts and other entertainments on deck, and we have a pretty good brass band, so that our time has passed very merrily. On the evening of the 4th July the captain celebrated the day by letting off some fireworks, rockets, guns, etc.

The captain, Daniel P. Caulkins, has won the good feelings and wishes of all the Saints, by his constant endeavors to promote our convenience and happiness; and had we command of the ship, we could not have been better accommodated. The captain has been ably assisted by the first mate, David C. Huntley, the other officers and crew. Nor must we omit the doctor, Mr. S. Millar, who has been indefatigable in exerting himself for our health and happiness.

How far our labors have been for the good of the Saints we will leave others to say; but we have labored in unison for the general good and well-being of all on board, and have been among the Saints as often as possible, administering to their wants and conveniences as far as in our power.

We will now conclude with kind love to yourself and all the brethren laboring with you in the ministry, praying God to bless and qualify you for your arduous duties. - We remain, your brethren in the gospel,[p.42]

J. C. Wixom, President of Ship's Company.Harry Huff, Counselor.H. P. Folsum, Counselor.Charles Smith, Clerk of Ship.

P. S. - We have just landed at Castle Garden, 6 o'clock p.m., and met with Elders Cain and Stenhouse (Elder Taylor being at Wyoming), who have made arrangements for us to proceed on our journey this evening, per steamer to New Haven.[p.509]