G. S. L. City, March 26. 1863
Brigham Young Jr.,
42 Islington, Liverpool, England.
My Dear Son Brigham:
Your very welcome letters of Feb. 4 and 6 came safely to hand, and, as heretofore, we were all much gratified with their tenor and spirit; and feel assured that you are laboring diligently and with your might in behalf of the great cause in which you are engaged. I cordially approve of your trip to Ireland and visit to different Branches in Wales and elsewhere, for, with the Spirit you are blest with, such visits will prove mutually beneficial.
As probably already advised through br. Cannon, I wish you to omit purchasing any bolting cloths, for I have made other arrangements.
Gov. Harding and Judges Waite and Drake had, by their efforts to stir up strife between Utah and the general Government, become so obnoxious to the people that a large and enthusiastic mass meeting convened in the Tabernacle early this month, and unanimously adopted resolutions condemnatory of the course of said officers, and a petition to President Lincoln to forthwith remove them and appoint good men in their places. The petition was in a few hours signed by some 2500 persons in the City alone, and was handed to br. H. S. Eldredge to deliver to br. Bernhisel for him to present to the President. Said officials, more or less countenanced and aided Col. Conner, continuing their meddlesome and mischeivous [gap in typescript] Judge Kinney, upon complaint, issued a writ citing me to appear before him and answer to a chare of bigamy. The writ was served by U. S. Marshal Gibbs, to which I promptly responded, and after examination was bound over to appear for trial at the March term in 1864. Since then the hue and cry about testing the operation of the antipolygamy Bill, passed by Congress last summer, has considerably abated, and Harding, Conner & Co. are at present quite crestfallen and apparently at a loss what to try next. It is probable that their efforts to create trouble will prove futile, and that they and their like will disappear as the grass grows.
Br's H. S. Eldredge, Feramorz Little, Your brother John W. Young and Lewis Hills started for the States in the Stage on the 11th inst.
Br. Eldredge goes to New York to transact business and superintend the affairs of our this year's immigration, and your brother John will go with him; Fermorz will stop at Florence and operate there and in the regions round about, assisted by br. Hills.
We are not yet advised of the probable number of our this year's emigration from abroad, and of course do not know the number that will need assistance across the plains, but presuming it to be unusually large the brethren are preparing to send 500 four-yoke oxteams to Florence, to leave here about the 25th of April, and to arrive on the Frontier about the middle of July. This number we presume will answer the contemplated purposes, as did the numbers sent the last two seasons.
Cotton being high priced in the States, and our facilities for manufacturing it not quite in readiness, arrangements are being made to send by the ox trains a quantity of Cotton to the States for sale. This may appear some like "taking coals to Newcastle," but under present circumstances it is thought that it will pay, and at the same time have a beneficial effect in increasing the production to meet home demand as soon as we can get the requisite machinery in operation.
On the 14th inst. in company with br's Kimball and Wells, some of the Twelve and others, I went to Bountiful to dedicate their recently finished meeting house. We held interesting meeting there on the 14th and 15th, and returned home p. m. of the 15th.
As I have already advised br. Cannon, so I also wish you, as far as you may have oppertunity, to counsel the Saints about to emigrate this season, especially those who expect assistance across the plains, to dispense at the st[word cut off] with all useless luggage, for they had better give it away at home than to pay expenses on it to Florence, and then have to leave it through lack of transportation; also to use <sacking> so far as possible instead of chests, trunks and boxes, [word cut off] packing such articles as they bring. Also inform them that very many, if not the great majority, of those furnishing teams for their assistance do not use tobacco, tea, nor Coffee-- all high priced and cash articles-- and that cash is very scarce with us, for which reasons it will be a good time while crossing the plains to begin to learn to dispense with the use of said articles, as we do not expect to be able to furnish them only for cases of sickness, or as medicinal stores.
James Cobb and his sister Charlotte started for Boston in the stage on Monday last, 23d inst., and will write to you soon after their arrival in that City.
Lest my Nov. 13 letter to George Q may not have come to hand, I will here make an extract from it. "In my next letter to Brigham I shall inform him that I wish him to purchase and bring with him one dozen of the best and largest sized opera glasses he can find. I do not care so much about the style and finish of their mounting, so it be plain and substantial, as I do about the size and quality of the glasses; I also wish him to have each one furnished with a good well made leather cover and strap suitable for carrying it when traveling. I also wish him to purchase another dozen in New York City, on his way home, to be, as the dozen first named, of the largest size, best quality, and leather covered and strapped. I would like to have the object glasses of the opera glasses capped, as spy glasses are, if he can get it done."
Katy and Jane and your children are well, and the children are growing finely.
My health, your mother's, your brother Joseph's and family, my family's and that of your friends and the people in general is good.
The month thus far has been very pleasant. Home affairs are peaceful, and bid fair to continue so.
That you may be continually guided, blest and prospered in all your desires and labors in behalf of the truth, and return to your home in health and safety, as previously advised, is the prayer of,
Your Father,
Brigham Young