G. S. L. City, Nov. 20, 1861.
Elder Louis A. Bertrand,
Chaussee, Clignancourt,
Paris, France.
Dear Brother:-- Your very welcome letter of Oct. 9 came safe to hand, and we were much gratified in learning of the blessings and prosperity attending your labors, and of your excellent health and cheerful, hopeful spirits. Increased openings in private houses, saloons, &c., are affording you many additional opportunities for presenting the truth to the people, and we trust the honest in heart within its sound will embrace it, and live in the enjoyment of these privileges again placed within the reach of the human family through obedience to the requirements of the gospel of the Son of God.
Opposition you of course expected to meet, and in this you have certainly not been disappointed; but we are pleased to learn that you exercised so goodly a degree of fortitude, wisdom, and patience under difficulties, and = hope you will continue to be able to enlarge your sphere of usefulness in your important field of labor.
I shall be much pleased to receive a copy of whatever you may have published at the time you have a good opportunity for sending, also a copy of M. Jules Remy's work on "Mormonism." Whenever you send, a aforesaid, I wish you to be very careful to send by a trusty and responsible person, that what you intrust to him may stand a fair chance of coming to hand as ordered. Should you not meet with a chance of the kind mentioned, I presume br. George Q. Cannon can, among our next season's emigration, if you furnish him the publications in time, with word that they are to be forwarded to me.
Previous to procuring a copy of Remy's book, or whether you already have one or not, I would like to have you advise you with br. Cannon on the subject, for I some time ago wrote to him to procure for me a copy of that book, which he may have done, in which case it will not be necessary for you to incur the expense of another copy, except you wish one for your own use.
While contention is rife in the States, Utah continues to be blest with peace and constantly increasing prosperity. Our this year's immigration were signally blest in their travels, and in arriving here in excellent season. The oxen sent from here last Spring to help the poor from Florence performed the trip down and back in much better plight, as a very general thing, than did the oxen purchased this season on the frontiers.
Upwards of two hundred four-yoke teams having been down and back in the season, with so good a result, bringing all who were at Florence wishing to come, we purpose endeavoring to send as many teams as may be required next Spring.
With a view to producing all the cotton necessary for home consumption, also indigo, olive oil, and other products of <warm> climes, some two hundred brethren, selected and volunteered, are either on their way or preparing to go south to strengthen the old and make new settlements on the Santa Clara and Rio Virgin; Elders Orson Pratt and Erastus Snow accompany that mission.
Many improvements, both public and private, have been made in this city and other settlements in the Territory during the past season. Among the improvements made in this City is a very substantial building, 80 X 144, feet began on the 1st of July, upon which the workmen are now putting on the roof timber. It is designed to be used for public lectures, exhibitions, theatrical performances, &c., and we hope the weather will so favor us that we will be able to complete the building sufficiently for comfortable use during a portion of the coming winter.
Since the 24th ult. we have enjoyed the privilege of telegraphic communication to and from either ocean, which gives us speedy information of the prominent events transpiring in the States.
Praying the rich blessings of Heaven to attend you in every laudable effort for advancing the cause of truth, I remain,
Your Brother in the Gospel,
Brigham Young