| 70 with such books as will give information on our religion, as well as the history of our unparalleled persecution in Missouri.
We reside, at present, at the corner of 9th and D streets. We are, respectfully.
E. HIGBEE. P. P. PRATT. Washington. February 9, 1840.
P. S. Editors through the States would oblige us by publishing the above.
COMMUNICATIONS.
New York, Feb. 19th, 1840 Brigham Young, H. C. Kimball, Orson Pratt, and P. P. Pratt, to the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Commerce, Ill. and to the Saints in general, GREETING. Dear brethren, after so long a time we have met in New York and are about to sail for England. We have bespoke our passage on the old ship Garrick, which carried out Elder Kimball, and others three years since, we sail on Tuesday the 25 inst.
Bro. George Smith was here also, and is gone to Pensylvania [Pennsylvania] on a short mission and will probably be here to go with us. Bro. Hadlock is here, and is also going; Elders Taylor, Woodruff, Turley, and Clark have already gone over to Eng. Most of us have had a very long and tedious journey, and have suffered much from sickness &c, and some are not yet wholly free from the lingering chills and fever, more particularly elder Smith. In journeying through the several states we found many brethren, friends and churches, and many elders who were laboring to advantage; the work is rolling on.-Indeed there were many elders whom we had never heard of before, that were preaching and baptizing, and ordaining other elders, who were still rolling the work of truth, wide and more wide; and thus it spreads. Br. Kimball baptized one in Weathersfield, Genesce co N. Y. and 3 in victor Ontario co. near where the records were found. Many were believing, and a very urgent door for preaching, such as he has seldom witnessed. He has been taken down with the fever four different times on his journey, and has sufferred [suffered] much; but has persevered, and is brought through in safety, and is now tolerably well.
When we reflect upon the mountains of embarrassment which have intervened, to prevent the Twelve from accomplishing their present mission, and consider that most of them have persevered, through mobs, murderers, robbers, thieves; and through storms of persecution, poverty, sickness and death, and at last find themselves upon the sea shore, in health and peace and plenty; ready to set sail, it is a matter of joy and consolation to us and fills our hearts with gratitude to that god [God] who commanded us to cross the mighty deep for Christ's sake and the gospel's. We consider that there is no instance on record where men have been called to so great an undertaking, under the same circumstances of poverty, sickness and distress; both ourselves, families, and brethren; but yet through the mercy of God, we think the mission will be accomplished, and will stand on record, for the wondering gaze of succeeding ages, and to God and the Lamb be all the praise and glory.
When we contrast the parting of Jacob and his son Benjamin, at the time of sending into Egypt for corn, and how it grieved the Patriarch to part with his son for so short a journey, with our having to part with tender wives and helpless offsprings, under cirstances [circumstances ] of poverty, sickness, and death, robbed, plundered and driven, houseless, and unprovided for, either the journey or for our families. When we look upon the sufferings of the society around them, and think on the many long miles of our journey and sickness we have had to endure by the way, also the mighty deep which lies before us, and the distance which well separate us from home and country, and friends and wives and children, and from all things naturally dear to our hearts, we are led to think that our sacrifice is almost as great as the old Patriarch's was in the absence of his son; but God will give us grace to perform all these things; and we hope that our transit from sorrow to joy may be like Jacob's when he found that Joseph was yet alive and had sent waggons [wagons] and a great preparation to carry all Israel to Joseph the young dreamer, who had been lost but now was found; who had been in bondage, and in chains and dungeons, but was now exalted to a
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