| 740 natives still remain under arms about 10 miles from Papata the principal town of the island.-What their intentions are is hard to tell, but I do not think there will be another engagement between them at any rate. What the English may do I know not. There is two large men-of-war cruising off the harbor, and more expected shortly peradventure they may take the natives' case in hand.
But notwithstanding all these difficulties, they are no detriment to us as I know of. We are perfectly safe we think from any injury from the natives, as they have great regard for Americans, and we are living right among them. They are very kind and attentive to us, and declare that let what will happen, no harm shall befal [befall] us if they can prevent it. But there is not the slightest danger, the English and French will do all that is to be done. Brother Pratt is on a small island called Tooboni about 300 miles from here. He is the only missionary there, and consequently will get along much better than we shall, who have eight or ten to work against us.
The progress we have made in the language has been very rapid indeed. It is only twenty five days since we came on shore, and we are able to hold quite a conversation, and read without difficulty. In fact the natives tell me I can read better than Mr. Moore, a missionary who has been here eighteen months. We shall soon be able to appoint meetings and preach; what success will attend it time alone can determine, but we think it will be good.-The Lord grant it. Pray for our success Brother ***** and request the church to do the same, for we feel in need of all the help we can get.
We have heard nothing from the church since we left, with the exception of a few words by some missionaries, bound to the Sandwich Islands, who left America two months after us. They said they did not think the church had been driven; at any rate they had not heard so. God grant it may be so, but still such news is but little better than no news at all.
We feel very anxious, and shall wait very impatiently until we get letters. Do write to us Brother *****, and give us every particular that you think will interest us, for news is precious from the church here, I assure you.
I am your Brother in the
bonds of the covenant,
BENJAMIN F. GROUARD.
[The foregoing is an extract only, of a letter directed to Elder P. B. Lewis, of this city.-We hope Elder Pratt of New York, will forward files of papers, and also write, by a ship leaving that port, or any eastern one, for the Society Islands. News will be precious to those elders.] Ed.
TO THE SAINTS SCATTERED ABROAD:
Greeting.
After the storm has passed, and the floods abated that have borne [born] our brethren, Joseph and Hyrum, down to the grave: and after Rigdonism has passed off with the filth and rubbish of our population, I sit down in an atmosphere tempered with the pure spirit of God to write a few lines to my brethren and sisters in the new and everlasting covenant.
To be placed at the head of a great and flourishing people in connection with my brethren of the Twelve, is a station that none can fill with acceptance to God, or with profit to the people unless he is endowed with the Spirit of Him who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ. Brethren, let your prayers to Almighty God ascend for me and also for my brethren by whose request I write this epistle, that we may be fully competent for the great work that was laid on us by Joseph Smith in March last, and confirmed by the spirit of the living God. Namely: to lead this church, and to take the entire responsibility of all its affairs.
I am happy to say that a better feeling, as a general, and I may say, almost universal thing, never prevailed among the saints in any place since I have known them, than at the present time. The people are willing to take counsel and to do their duty. The few that adhered to Mr. Rigdon have become sensible of their error, and are glad to flee from it. Mr. Miller and his adherents showed very plausible reasons for the advent of the Son of God on a certain day: yet when that day arrived, no Savior came, which proved they knew nothing of the correctness of the position they had taken.-So also Mr. Rigdon may show plausible reasons to the inexperienced and uninformed that the right of presidency is in him. Mr. Miller succeeded in convincing many men and made them acknowledge that his calculations were correct, but God never acknowledged them by sending his Son according to the calculations. So may Mr. Rigdon cause some to acknowledge him to have the right and power of the priesthood, but God will never acknowledge it: and I will now give you a sign by which you may all know that God is not with the man.-Nothing that he doeth shall prosper. His friends will distrust and forsake him. They will feel a great fear and uneasiness about being wrong, unless they are completely abandoned to their own ways. They shall go backward
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