G. S. L. City, April 30, 1861.
Elder William J. Stewart,
Springville U. T.
Dear Brother:-I have letters before me from br's James Hibbard and William Clegg of Sheffield, England, dated Feb. 25, to br. L. H. Hatch, in which I find statements concerning some promises you made while in England. Br Hibbard states in his letter, "Br Stewart told me, several times, that he would send for me and my family. I said I hoped his promise would not fail. He said, I am able to do it, and I don't forget my promises, br. Clegg, which words still keep sounding in my ears. I hope he will do so if it is in his power, and I will repay him as soon as the Lord enables me." Br. Clegg, which words still keep sounding in my ears. I hope he will do so if it is in his power, and I will repay him as soon as the Lord enables me." Br. Clegg states that his family consists of himself, wife, one son aged 12, one aged 7, a daughter aged 4, and an addition expected in a few weeks. It will cost about $350 to emigrate them comfortably, a very small advance for one of your means to make for so worthy an object as gathering the poor, and an amount which br Clegg would doubtless endeavor to refund at an early day
Br. James Hibbard states in his letter that you said, in the presence of br. E. T. Benson, L. H. Hatch, and Peter Robison, "if br. Webb can not find the money to send for br's Hibbard and Clegg, I can find the money, if br. Webb will be responsible for the amount."
Neither br. Clegg nor br. Hibbard urge any claim upon you, further than your voluntary promises; but upon reflecting upon the contents of their letters and your position and ability, it occurred to me that fulfilling your promises to those brethren would not only be keeping your word given in all apparent good faith, but tend greatly to strengthen your faith assisting in gathering the poor.
Please inform me, at your earliest convenience, of your views and intentions in relation to your promises to brs. Clegg and Hibbard, which I hope will be favorable for their deliverance.
I have written to br. C. G. Webb upon this subject, as he also made promises to the same persons; and, though I do not deem you legally as to the law of the land, under obligation to fulfill your promises to those persons, still I think that you made good promises, and I certainly am of opinion that fulfilling good promises is doing a good thing, the doing of which places the doer in that line of conduct to which pertain the blessings of Heaven.
Trusting that in your plenty of this world's goods you will conclude to aid one or both the families aforenamed to deliver themselves from Babylon,
I remain Your Brother in the Gospel
Brigham Young