To the first Presidency & Quorum of the twelve Apostles Greeting Dear & much E[s]teemed Breatheren I hasten to informe you of my arival in on the the <​30​> day of Sept in Company with Elders and Wife James houston and Wm. G. Jerman [Jarman] We Left 6 of the twelve in the city of the 2nd. day of Sept and came on Bord of the Ship Columbus our pasage money was five Dollars we had a very hard passage we were very much Crowded in the Stearage, there was 236 persons Dutch Irish English and Sco[t]ch and as dirty as any I ever Saw We were not much Sick the weather was cold had it been otherwise we should have Sufered more, there is a steamer Leaves for to day and I thought I would announce to you my arival by this opertunity and Such information as I was in persession [possession] of, there is a Ship to Sail on the 14 inst by which I shall write you again

I found Elders and in and they were well and as far as I was informed by them that the church is in general a good state and on the increase, it numbers some where between Eight and nine thousand members there is a great want of Laborers in the winyard there has many of the first Elders Left this for Leaving their places Vacant I persented to the presidency hear the your dessission [decision] of Relative to the printing of Elders and they Receved it and manifested a desier to abide By it. [p. [1]]