“about three o’clock in the afternoon of Saturday last, the heat began to be insupportable and continued increasing until past four, when a horrible tempest arose, accompanied by a shower of stones, which fell with great violence. The Country is now reduced to one scene of desolation; nothing is to be heard but sighs and lamentations. This shower lasted for two hours, at the expiration of which time the country around was thickly covered, and had the appearance of being buried in snow. All the vineyards and corn crops are destroyed, and the roofs of the houses beaten in. The misery of the Inhabitants is beyond description, and the prospect before them for the ensuing winter is disheartening.”

“Ratisbon on the Danube, July 17. 1841. Dear Brother Joseph, and all whom it may concern. With pleasure I take my pen to write to you at this time, hoping this communication may find you as it leaves me, in good health and enjoying a comfortable measure of the Holy Spirit. On the 20th. of June last, I left for Rotterdam, in Holland, after writing a lengthy Epistle to you, and also the copy of a letter addressed to the Revd. Doct. S[olomon] Hirschell, President Rabbi of the Hebrews in , which I hope you have received ere this. The work of the Lord is steadily advancing in under the efficient and zealous labors of our worthy brother Elder . The fine Steamer, “Batavier,” brought me safely over the billows of a tremendous rough sea in about 30 hours. Never did I suffer more from sea sickness than during this short voyage; but it was soon over, and we landed safely in Rotterdam. I took my lodgings at the London Hotel at two florins per diem, about three shillings and five pence sterling, or seventy five cents. Here I called on the Hebrew Rabbi, and proposed certain questions to him; but as he did not understand a word of English, it was hard for me to enter into particulars with him. I asked him, however, whether he expected his Messiah to come directly from Heaven, or whether he expected him to be born of a woman on earth. He replied that he expected him to be born of a woman, of the seed and lineage of David. At what period do you look for this event? Answer. “We have been looking a long time, and are now living in constant expectation of his coming.” Do you believe in the restitution of your nation to the land of your fathers, called the land of promise? “We hope it will be so,” was the reply. He then added, “We believe that many Jews will return to and rebuild the — rear a Temple to the name of the Most High, and restore our ancient worship.” “ shall be the Capitol of our nation— the centre of our union, and the Standard and Ensign of our national existence. But we do not believe that all the Jews will go there, for the place is not large enough to contain them. They are now gathering there,” continued he, “almost continually.” [p. 1215]