| 529 in consequence of the wind had put into Dunkirk. She laid there till nearly sunset, at which time she run out, and proceeded as far as Barcelona, when just at twilight the Erie was discovered twenty miles astern. The Clinton immediately turned and reached the burning wreck about 10. It was a fearful sight; all the upper works of the Erie had burned away. The engine was standing, but the hull was a mass of dull red flame. The passengers and crew were floating around, screaming in their agony and shreaking [shrieking] for help.
"The boats of the Clinton were instantly lowered and manned and every person that could be seen or heard was picked up and every possible relief afforded. The Lady, a little boat lying at Dunkirk, went out of that harbor as soon as possible after the discovery of the fire, and arrived soon after the Clinton. It was not thought by the survivors that she saved any. By 1 A. M. all was still but the dead crackling of fire. Not a solitary individual could be seen or heard on the wild waste of waters. A line was then made fast to the remains of the Erie's rudder, and an effort made to tow the hapless hull ashore. About this time the Chatauque came up and lent her assistance. The hull of the Erie was towed within about four miles of the shore, when it sunk in about 11 fathoms water. By this time it was daylight. The Clinton headed off for Buffalo, which she reached about six o'clock. Of those who are saved several are badly burned, but none are dangerously injured so far as we have heard.
"Not a paper nor an article of any kind was saved. Of course it is impossible to give a complete list of those on board. Of cabin passengers, Capt. Titus thinks there were between 30 and 40, of whom 10 or 12 were ladies. In the steerage were about 140 passengers, nearly all of whom were German emegrants [emigrants].-They were in families with the usual proportion of men, women and children.-The heart bleeds at the thought.
It is singular coincidence, that the Erie was burned at almost, the same spot where the Washington was burned in June 1838. Capt. Brown, who commanded the Washington at that time, happened to be on board the Clinton and was very active in saving the survivors of the Erie."
Communications.
40 Ironmonger Row, St. Lukes,}
London, April 14th, 1841.}
Elder D. C. Smith:
As a member of the quorum of which you are president, I deem it not only a privilege, but an obligation that I am under at this time, to communicate to you some information in reference to my mission upon the island of Great Britain.
I left Nauvoo about the 20th of July last; three months from that time I arrived here in England. I am now in the city of London having arrived here on the 11th of February to take the superintendency of the church in this city, and the several branches represented under the London Conference.
Previous to my arrival in London I had visited and preached the fullness of the gospel in many of the largest, and most important towns, and cities in England: in Liverpool, in Manchester, Burslem, Wolverhampton, West Bromwich, Greets Green, Oldbury, Birmingham, &c. In all those mentioned places I stoped [stopped] some length of time, and in most of them I had the pleasure of adminsitering [administering] to different individuals the ordinances of the everlasting covenant. In the towns, and cities above mentioned we have churches established in very flourishing conditions.
Throughout all England, in almost every town and city of any considerable importance, we have chapels or public halls in which we meet for public worship. All over this vast kingdom the laws of Zion are rolling onward with the most astonishing rapidity. Though we expect tremendious [tremendous] persecutions, yet we are confident they will not for a moment stay the onward progress, and rolling forth of Zion's glorious kingdom, throughout, not only the British Empire, but the Universal world.
The gospel of our King must continue to go forth, and in its mighty progress widely spread its enlightening influence among all the nations of the earth, and over all the islands of the vast deep.-Then lift up thy head O, Zion, and sing for joy in that thy cords are being fast lengthened, and thy God is pouring strength into thy numerous stakes, and soon thou shalt rejoice upon the pleasant mountains and all the trees of the wood
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