The Brigham Young Center

Great Salt Lake City, U. T.
Nov. 9, 1867.

Lewis A. Sayre Esq. M. D.
285 -- 5th Avenue,
New York City.

Dear Sir:

While you were out here last year, you kindly proffered -- if we would send one or two young men to New York -- to take them as pupils and gratuituously extend to them the needed facilities and instruction to perfect them in the art of surgery. My son Brigham, has given me an account of his visit to you, and the kind attentions which you rendered him while in your city. He informs me that you repeated to him what you said to me respecting sending a student or two to New York. We really need good surgeons out here, it being frequently the case that a surgeon has to travel a hundred miles and upward to perform an operation. Permit me therefore to introduce to you the bearer of this letter Mr Heber John Richards, whom I have selected to go to New York and study under you. He is the son of
my cousin, the late Dr Willard Richards 

Mr Heber Jno Richards is a Latter-day Saint, and has visited Europe as a Missionary. He is intelligent and apt, has a taste for surgery, and is a young man of high character, and beloved by all who know him. I recommend him to your confidence, and bespeak for him any attentions he may need to
assist him in mastering the surgical profession.

For your kind attentions to my son, please accept my thanks. We trust we shall see you here again before long, at least when the Rail Road is completed, if not before.

With kind regards to yourself, and family, and hoping that you may be greatly prospered in your movements, and that the blessing of the Lord may rest upon you, I remain,

Your friend,
Brigham Young