| 510 I baptized an eminent physician by the name of Copeland. At that place is a large dock yard, in which 3000 men are constantly employed in building ships and preparing for war, 1,500 of them are convicts. There is a great number of soldiers constantly at this place. The barracks are very extensive and beautiful, surrounding the parade ground, which is an elevated piece of ground extending back some distance from the river; it much resembles the western prairies, it is very healthy, and a place of resort in the summer season for pleasure, and also for health. I afterwards visited the place once with Elder Woodruff, and once with Elder Snow, to give him an introduction to the Saints, and friends of that place, which visit was very interesting to them.
We held a conference in London at J. Barrett's Academy 57 Kings Square, on Sunday 14th of February, 1841. There were represented 4 churches; 1 at Woolwich, one at Ispwich, about 60 miles from London built up by Elder Pitt, one at Bedford which was raised up by Elders Goodson and Richards in 1837 consisting of 42 members; the church in London numbered 46 members. A conference was then organized consisting of one hundred and six members, over which Elder Snow was left to preside. We baptized an independent minister who was ordained an elder, and we left him preaching to, and baptizing his own congregation. This man was the only minister who would open their chapel for us in London. We preached only once in his chapel, at which time we secured the shepherd. Elder Snow spent about two weeks with us previous to our leaving the city, which time was spent in visiting the Saints, and friends with whom we had become acquainted in that place. We continued preaching to large congregations, and before we left found our places of meeting had become far too small for us, and the brethren were looking for a larger hall, for their better accommodation. I have said but little about opposition, but suffice it to say, we had enough of it.
I left that city for Bedford February 20th, a distance of 50 miles; went by coach and arrived there in the evening and found the Saints well, and about the same number and standing in which we left them three years before. I remained in that place one week, preached once every day, excepting the Sabbath, on which day we preached three times; this raised quite an excitement in that place and the regions round about. We ordained 2 priests, one teacher, and one deacon, some were baptized, others expressed feelings that they would be in a few days. I left that place for Birmingham by coach and railway; passed through Northampton, Weedle, and Covington, and arrived at Birmingham on Saturday evening, a distance of one hundred miles. Sabbath morning the Saints assembled for the purpose of organizing a conference, which was done, and Elder Cordon appointed to preside over it, the conference numbered 107 members, being one more than there was in the London conference. The work commencing at the same time, the prospect there was very favorable. Birmingham is a large place, containing about 300,000 inhabitants, is a place of much business, Iron works, Brass foundaries [foundries] , Cutlery, &c., and lies near the center of England. I left that place for Manchester, stayed at the Staffordshire Potteries two nights and preached and baptized some, who have settled up their accounts in that place and are now in the city of Nauvoo. I arrived in Manchester the first day of April, 1841. On the 6th of April, we held our general conference, at which place we had the pleasure of meeting with Elder Hyde, which causes our hearts to rejoice, the particulars of this conference have been published in the 12th number of the Millennial Star.
I will also mention that Elder Young received, on our arrival here, a letter form Elder L. Snow from London bearing date 16th of May, on which day they held a conference which was just three months after the conference held by us in that place, the church in London at that time numbered seventy four, the church in Bedford 80, the other branches had increased in proportion. That conference had, almost or quite, doubled in three months. Elder Hyde and G. P. Adams were at the conference in good health and spirits. Elder Hyde was going from there to Bedford, where he calculated to stay two weeks to complete his writings; he was then going to London to have it translated into the German language, from thence he will immediately go on his mission to Palestine.
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