Great Salt Lake City Jan. 28, 1864
Pres. George Q. Cannon
42 Islington, Liverpool, England
Dear Brother:
Since my last letter to you, Nov 30, your favor of Nov. 6 has come to hand. Cold weather & snow have made our winter mail very irregular.
As I advised you on the 30th of November, we expect to send trains to Florence next Spring, but probably not so many as last season; the number is not yet determined. They are expected to reach Florence on and before the 1st of July next, in readiness to load and return, and we suggested, Nov. 30, that it might be well, so far as practicable, to accordingly time the departure from Liverpool of those who expect to be provided passage across the plains.
Elders Lorenzo Snow, Ezra T. Benson, W. W. Cluff and Alma L. Smith have been selected to take a mission to the Sandwich Islands-- to start about the 1st of March,-and it is designed to select during the April Conference a few more for that mission. Bro's Snow and Benson go to set matters to rights on those Islands, and probably will have to remain there only a short time.
We also think of selecting, at the April conference, Elders for other missions, but have not yet concluded upon who or how many, and of course can not yet inform you as to br. Widerberg-- or some other suitable person for the Scandinavian Mission, nor as to who should replace br. Schettler in speaking Holland Dutch.
To assist me in conducting the affairs of our this year's immigration. I wish you, directly upon receipt of this letter, to inform me of your nearest estimate of the emigration from your Presidency and the cash balance in your Office at the time of writing, and then continue to inform me on those two points, as often as twice each month, until further advised.
The Manchester Guardian is not now wanted.
I am told that Vander Worde has returned to his home in Coalville, Summit County, but I have not seen him, and do not know what he has to say about his conduct while on his mission, nor what his circumstances are.
On the 9th and 10th inst. myself, Presidents Kimball and Wells and several of your Quorum and of the Home Missionaries held very interesting meetings in the new meeting house in Farmington, appointed for the purpose of dedicating it. At the close of the meetings, my sons Joseph A. and Brigham Jr., my nephew Joseph and br. Wm. H. Folsom started on a preaching tour as far north as Franklin, and I am informed that they are holding many meetings, and speaking much to the edification of the brethren. Brigham Jr. returned yesterday in good health and spirits.
The Utah diggers, on the bench east of the City, are the meanest lot of diggers that I have yet heard of, for after ransacking the count<r>y from side to side, in the mountains, in the canons, among the hills, everywhere, trying to hire Indians and whites to tell them what they know about gold in Utah, and finding none they still keep crying, printing and writing gold, gold, gold in abundance in Utah, and that too when they cannot so much as provide themselves with bread without depending upon the community for it. Bishop Sharp, notwithstanding they rejected his bid to furnish them with flour, has, at my request, for sometime been keeping them in bread stuff, and will endeavor to do so as far as possible; but that extra amount being supplied cause wheat and flour to be rather high priced, the latter selling for from $12 to $14 in legal tender, and still the Utah diggers on the bench, the ones we are supplying with flour, are using every effort to induce an influx of poor people to a region where they have not only found no gold, but where they themselves are dependent for supplies.
My health is good, as is also that of the people generally. Pres. Kimball's health is about as usual, and Pres. Wells' is so much improved that he was able to preside in the Legislative Council during its late session, and visits my Office daily. As already advised, please inform me twice each month as to the probable amount of emigration and your cash balance at each time of writing. That you may be abundantly blest in the performance of all duties is the prayr of
Your Brother in the Gospel
Brigham Young
P. S. I have drawn the following drafts, and they are herewith inclosed
No 385, L5.14.0 Mary Marsden;
386, L1.8.6, Thomas sayers & Mary Perkins
387, L42 .17.0, Joseph Howard.
B. Y.