New York, Sept. 7, 1887.President George Teasdale:

Dear Brother,--We are pleased once more to have the opportunity to write a few lines to you to inform you how we are all getting along. After leaving Queenstown, all that day and the next was quite pleasant, but on the 30th ultimo, it became a little rough, which lasted about three days. Many of the Saints suffered somewhat with seasickness. On Thursday evening, the lst instant, a very interesting affair happened; President Hart was invited into the smoking room of the first cabin by a number of gentlemen to give them an account of the principles of the gospel, which he accepted. The saloon was crowded to hear him; he was asked a great many questions, which he answered to their entire satisfaction. The captain of the vessel came in two or three times during the meeting, at one time he testified before all that were present that the Saints were the best passengers he had to take across the ocean; the most quiet and orderly people he had to do with. He said he had had the pleasure of taking a good many companies of Saints over. Of course anyone speaking a good word for the poor, despised "Mormons", must be accused of being one of them, which was the case in this instance, but the captain told them he was no "Mormon", in fact he didn't know that he was anything, all he wanted to say was to speak the truth of the people, no matter to him what their religion was.

In the meeting there was present one infidel and one Jewish Rabi; the latter tried to condemn plural marriage, but President Hart proved to all present that the learned Rabbi had not studied the laws of Moses nor his Jewish Bible. After the meeting was over, the entire company gave President Hart a hearty, unanimous vote of thanks.

At about 3 p.m. on the 3rd instant, we encountered a severe storm, which lasted several hours. One lady (not belonging to our company) fell and broke her leg.

About half past two o'clock on Sunday morning, we had a new passenger come on board; Brother James [p.621] Cotton's wife, Emily, of the Ashton Branch, Liverpool District, was delivered of a fine boy, both mother and baby are doing first-rate, of course the father is doing as well as can be expected under the existing circumstances.

We are pleased to say that the Saints have been able to attend to morning and evening prayers regularly every day; we held two meetings on Sunday, the 4th instant. The speakers were very much blest with the good Spirit of the Lord, and all that were present seemed to enjoy the same blessing. We are happy to state that the Saints, as a general thing, are feeling well.

On the morning of the 6th instant our little stranger was blessed, President Hart being mouth, it was named Edward Wisconsin Cotton.

The same day was presented to the captain, by President Hart, the following: TESTIMONIAL

to the captain and officers of the S. S. Wisconsin, Sept. 6, 1887.
We, the undersigned, return to Captain E. Bently and officers of the S. S. Wisconsin, in behalf of the company of the Latter-day Saints, their sincere and heartfelt thanks for their kind and generous treatment of them during their voyage across the Atlantic Ocean.
Ever praying the God of Heaven to bless both you and your's,
We remain your obedient servants,

John I. Hart, president of company,J. C. Nielsen, counselor,F. Theurer, counselor,C. J. Thomas, secretary.

We arrived at Sandy Hook at about 3:30 p.m. on the 7th instant; got into dock at New York at 5:30 p.m.; met our friend and brother, Elder Hart, the Church Emigration Agent, and several other friends from home. We leave New York tomorrow at 3 p.m.

So far our journey has been a prosperous one; the Saints having got along the best kind and feel splendidly. We return to the Lord our grateful thanks for his preserving care over us during our voyage across the mighty deep, and pray that we may be blest with a safe and speedy journey across the continent to our destination.

With kind regards to yourself and all at "42," [42 Islington WAS THE ADDRESS OF THE BRITISH MISSION IN LIVERPOOL] we remain your brethren in the gospel of peace,

John I. Hart, president of company,J. C. Nielsen, counselor,F. Theurer, counselor,C. J. Thomas, secretary. [p.622]

BIB: Hart, John I., et. al, [Letter], Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star 49:39, (Sept. 26, 1887) pp. 621-22. (CHL)
(source abbreviations)