| 239 stood firm and unshaken upon that foundation which wind and rain cannot remove. The doctrines of Calvin, Luther, Wesley, Miller, &c. &c., have been contested with equal warmth, and all have made great acquisitions to their numbers. Fear has seized upon the people and they are gliding down the current of men's opinions, to the destruction awaiting such.-Comparatively, few are willing to leave the paths of popularity and walk in the humble narrow way.
The disciples of Miller are particularly loud against our principles, and some of them stoop to the lowest and most foul slanders, and the prophet whom God has raised up for his glorious work, is surely "taken up in the lips of talkers." The foul and nefarious statements of the vile and perjured Bennet, together with the various falsehoods in circulation, are poured in from all quarters upon the advocates of truth, with untiring diligence, and I have thought as the mighty avalanch [avalanche] increases in magnitude and velocity, as it descends the steep declivity, so falsehood and calumny increase in bulk and momentum, as they recede from their place of coinage.
The unfavorable situations of the few who have been called to the ministry in this region, are such as will deprive them of the privilege of preaching extensively, and a number of experienced elders are much needed here. Will some venture on a mission from the home of the saints, to this state, as formerly? A number of the saints removed west last fall, and many more are making great exertions to procure means for their removal to Nauvoo next fall.
Notwithstanding I gain much, useful and comforting instruction from your very valuable paper, (Times and Seasons,) I feel very desirous of being in your midst, and of receiving oral instruction from those whom God has appointed to lead and instruct his people, Israel.
With respect, I am as ever, yours, &c.,
CALVIN C. PENDLETON
GREAT HAIL STORM.
An extraordinary hail storm occurred in Adams county Pennsylvania, on Monday last, which did much damage. The hail stones were from six to eight inches in circumference. In the town of Gettysburgh upwards of ten thousand five hundred panes of glass were broken. The Gettysburgh Star says: "The storm was of short duration, and did not extend much in breadth, but we learn that some little damage was done to the fruit, grapes &c., in the immediate vicinity of Gettysburgh, but we are happy to hear that no material damage was done to the grain crops. Numbers of Larks and other birds were killed in the neighborhood, and a gentleman has brought to our office, the head and feet of a wild goose which was knocked down by the hail, and which he captured, and of which he made a fine dinner on the day following.-Baltimore Sun, May 22d.
On Sunday last the house of Mr. Narau, a Canadian, at "Nip City," Clinton county, was struck with lightning. There were fifteen persons in the house at the time, and four of them were stricken down, but they all recovered after a couple of hours. One of them, Mrs. Flarinton, was struck on the foot, and the shoe separated from heel to toe without materially injuring the wearer.-Buffalo Advertiser.
CALAMITIES OF THE YEAR.
The past year has been distinguished by providential calamities. In some instances, the elements seem to have been commissioned to perform the work of destruction to an awful extent, and unprecedented severity. Three of the greatest calamities that have occurred within a century, happened within a short period of one hundred hours. The terrible fire at Hamburg, which destroyed 2,000 houses, and nearly $20,000,000 of property, in the fairest portion of the city, was followed in less than two days by the earthquake at St. Domingo. In this earthquake the towns of Cape Haytian and Santiago, sixty miles apart, were entirely destroyed, and not less than 7,500 of the inhabitants perished. On the very next day while St. Domingo was yet rocking with shocks of the earthquake, and the ruins of Hamburg were not three days old, a train of cars filled with passengers on the railroad from Paris to Versailles, were thrown from the track, and set on fire by the engine. Before the passengers, who were locked in could be removed, seventy of them perished in the flames. More recently the city of Liverpool has suffered by fire to an extent only surpassed by the fire at Hamburg.-In this country, the cities of Portland, New York, Charleston and Columbia have suffered severely from the same cause. At one period of several weeks during the year, it was estimated that the loss of steamboats on the western waters, averaged one a day. In connexion [connection] with six of the boats, two hundred lives were lost. If to all this we add the loss of life at sea, which has been usually great the past year, we must regard it as a year of calamities.
WENHAM.
It is said that this town probably received its
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