1842 09 01 Times and Seasons-An Epistle Of The Twelve
From the Times and Seasons 15 August 1842, pg 879-884
From the Millenial Star
AN EPISTLE OF THE TWELVE.
To the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and the Isle of Man, Greeting:--
Beloved Brethren,--Inasmuch as we have been laboring for some time in this country, and most of us are about to depart for the land of our nativity; and feeling anxious for your welfare and happiness in time and in eternity, we cheerfully offer you our counsel in the closing number of the first volume of the Star, hoping you will peruse it when we are far away, and profit by the same.
We have found that there are so many "pick pockets," and so many that will take every possible advantage of strangers, in Liverpool, that we have appointed Elder Amos Fielding as the agent of teh church, to superintend the fitting out of the saints from Liverpool to America. Whatever information the saints may want about the preparations for a voyage, they are advised to call on Elder Fielding, at Liverpool, as their first movement, when they arrive there as emigrants. There are some brethren who have felt themselves competent to do their own business in these matters, and rather despising the counsel of their friends, have been robbed and cheated out of nearly all they had. A word of caution to the wise is sufficient. It is also a great saving to go in companies, instead of going individually.--First, a company can charter a vessel, so as to make the passage much cheaper than otherwise. Secondly, provisions can be purchased at wholesale for a company much cheaper than otherwise. Thirdly, this will avoid bad company on the passage. Fourthly, when a company arrives in New orleans they can charter a steam-boat so as to reduce the passage near one-half. This measure will save some hundreds of pounds on each ship load. Fifthly, a man of experience can go as leader of each company, who will know how to avoid rogues and knaves.
Sovereigns are more profitable than silver or any other money in emigrating to America; and the brethren are also cautioned against the American money, when they arrive in that country. Let them not venture to take papermoney of that country until they become well informed in regard to the different banks; for very few of them will pass current very far from the place where they were issued, and banks are breaking almost daily. It is much cheaper going by New Orleans than by New York. But it will never do for emigrants to go by New Orleans in the summer on account of the heat and sickness of the climate. It is, therefore, advisable for the saints to emigrate in Autumn, Winter, or Spring. Let the saints be careful also to obtain a letter of recommendation, from the elders, where they are acquainted, to the brethren where they are going, certifying their membership, and let the elders be careful not to recommend any who do not conduct themselves as saints; and especially those who would go with a design to defraud their creditors.
