1859 May 5 Letter to Asa Calkins

Title

1859 May 5 Letter to Asa Calkins

Description

Calkins is encouraged to travel to the United States and spend time with his wife and family. The children survivors of the Mountain Meadow Massacre are ready to be conveyed to their relatives.

Type

Correspondence

Sender

Brigham Young

Recipient

Asa Calkins

Date

1859 May 5

Location

Great Salt Lake City
Islington, Liverpool, England

Subject

Personal
Overland Travel
Mountain Meadows Massacre

Item sets

 

G. S. L. City, May 5, 1859

Pres. A. Calkin
42 Islington, Liverpool, England,

Dear Brother:--
The train for Florence, of which you have been advised, will leave here to morrow. Your son will go with it until he meets Elder Joseph W. Young, when he will join br. Joseph and assist him to come here. Your wife will also go down with the train on a visit to her relatives and friends in Iowa City and Burlington, Iowa, also in Wisconsin and, perhaps, Vermont. You can, doubtless, so arrange your business as to be able to meet her at some point, which you may mutually agree upon, and very pleasantly spend some time in visiting with her. To do so you not only have the fullest permission, but I anxiously hope you will avail yourself of the privilege as a matter highly beneficial to your health and spirits, for you have been a long time closely confined to the immediate duties of your mission, and an out' will be of much benefit to you in many ways and highly gratifying to your wife and friends.

Since the 28th of april, with the exception of the usual variety of idle rumors, nothing of much importance has transpired. Superintendent Forney lately returned from a trip to some of our Southern Indian tribes, and brought with him the children saved from the mountain meadow massacre, and has them in readiness for the two Commissioners appointed at the last session of Congress to receive and conduct them to their relatives. Such an expenditure of public money is altogether needless, as they could at any time, from the first, have been forwarded to their destination by any returning company at a very trifling expense,; but governments do not always study economy.

This letter will be forwarded by to morrows mail, and a copy, as also copies of such letters as you have not as yet advised us of the receipt, will be forwarded by br. Feramorz Little who goes in charge of the train; this proclamation will, we trust, make their arrival tolerably certain.

As ever, Your Brother in the Gospel

Brigham Young