| 71 prince, and was able to settle his Israelite relations in the best of the land. ("He that hath ears to hear let him hear." We would renewedly [renewably] commend our families to the mercy of God and to the kind attention of the saints, and ourselves to their prayers. We hear continually of the sickness and deaths which still prey upon the Saints in the west, and feel to cry how long O! Lord.
The work of the Lord is still rolling on in all this region where it is preached. The church in Philadelphia now numbers near one hundred, and 8 or 10 come forward for baptism almost daily; some are still coming forward in New York, doors are open more than can be filled at present. The Saints here in N. Y. are filled with faith and joy and charity and hospitality, and the same may be said of the saints in general in all this region.-The spirit that prevails is "westward Ho!" to suffer, to live, or to die with the saints their brethren. There is scarce a saint here who would stay another month if they had means to go west. It is the bad times here and not the good times which keeps them from emigrating. There is but little money, little employment, little business of any kind here, and consequently they are most all groaning in poverty; but their deep poverty abounds unto the riches of their liberality, in forwarding the elders on their journey, and in every good work., while some of them almost lack daily bread. We think at present the church in N. York, with the utmost economy would not be able to emigrate, if land could be given them free of cost when they get there, much less to purchase; yet they hope to come some time another, through the utmost perseverance and industry, and looking to God to open their way: Brethren pray for them. Concerning printing in the west, Br. Charles Ivin of New Jersey, (one of the committee to raise means in this country) had concluded some time ago that he would spare five or six hundred dollars, which we hope he will forward to Commerce for that purpose, We are glad to hear of your resolutions in Commerce for that purpose. We are glad to hear of your resolutions in Commerce to publish the word of God, and pray that you may be successful, and we would take this opportunity to exhort the saints who have not been reduced to poverty by persecution to aid liberally in this matter, as the fulness [fullness] of the gospel as well as a good Hymn book is very much wanted abroad. It is awful times of distress, perplexity, and embarrassment in the commercial world, both here, and in Europe. Tens of thousands are starving, or living on charity. Fires and tempests, ship wrecks, and famine, fearful sights and great signs, the sea heaving beyond its bounds, and all nations are perplexed beyond measure. Merchants weep and howl because no man buyeth their merchandize [merchandise] any more. But the saints rejoice, for they know what it means.
Elder P. P. Pratt has just returned from Washington city, after warning them faithfully. Whether he will be able to go with us to Eng. at this time is uncertain; he could have done it had he not been called to Washington just as he was getting ready to cross the ocean. but it is a good thing that he went to Washington, for by so doing we can go from America feeling our duty to this Government for the present more fully done.
We must now close by saying, may the the God of Israel bless and preserve the saints in America, and deliver them from their great tribulation, may he go before us, and be with us and enable us to return to this land with our hundreds of thousands of souls saved in the kingdom of God.
We remain your brethren in the everlasting covenant.
P. P. PRATT,
BRIGHAM YOUNG,
H. C. KIMBALL,
ORSON PRATT.
Commerce, March 4th, 1840.
BROS. SMITH & ROBINSON, Having a few moments leisure time, I cheerfully improve them in communicating a few lines to you; and should you think them worthy of a place in your paper, you are at liberty to give them an insertion.
On the 14th of Nov. last, I left this place on a journey eastward, intending to go as far as Philadelphia. At that time I had just began to recover from a long course of the fever and ague, having been afflicted with that disease about 4 months. When I arrived
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