New York, July 22, [1840].

I feel myself glad to find my feet upon the Land of Joseph after so long and tedious a journey; we have had a very long voyage but quite as short as any ship on the sea at the same time. Many ships which sailed before us was not come in when we was set at liberty, the captain said we had a very hard voyage for the season. Started from Liverpool on the 6th of June good wind 6 hours and then a calm 4 sick in the company on the 7th on Sabbath we had a rough wind. On the 8th was had a very high wind and water came over the bulwarks all that day and all was sick. I never saw such a day in all my days. Some crying, some vomiting; pots, pans, tins and boxes walking in all directions; the ship heaving the sea roaring and so we passed that day. On the 9th a calm. 10 good wind all day--company rather better; they all came upon deck. Sister Hannah, Dorothy, Lydia and Alice was very sick; did not vomit much. I was sick and heaved up about 5 or 6 times and was 3 or 4 days as though I was half dead. William & Thomas was very sick and vomited much. Hugh and young Henry was sick about 3 or 4 days. Old Henry was not seasick at all--was poorly. As to the rest of the company you may measure them by our family and you get the length of the whole company. On the 11th not much wind. July 6--the scene has been very different, since the 11th of June then all our family was recovering but alas since that time we have had the bowel complaint among us and all the company has had it either in a greater of less degree except myself. Sister Hannah has had it all the way. It is the most dreadful complaint that has come to us. We was all sick at once and what made things worse I had the ill luck to scald my foot in boiling broth. With regard to ship and convenience it has been bad and I would say to all who may come here keep from if you want peace. Come on a packet ship if you give rather more. . .

With you getting wisdom and patience for when men begin to gather the corn they thresh it; and so it is with the Saints when they begin to gather they get thrashed and all the good will stand and the rotten will fall. I got up very early on Friday morning July 17th saw land at 4 o'clock. Tacked off until 2 in the afternoon when we saw land again. At 5 saw Long Island all covered with green trees and white houses such a beautiful sight I never saw. I did rejoice to behold the Land of Joseph; yea, I thought it did pay for all the hardships which I had gone through. Quarantine 3 days. If you [p.340] could come sometime from September to May you would not need. I got permission from the captain to go to New York on the Sabbath arrived about 1 o'clock p.m. It was with much trouble I found the Saints. I was at the meeting in the afternoon. I told them who I was and from whence I came and wither I was going. Their hearts was filled with joy and their eyes with tears. They received us with all the care possible. All the company got in on Monday the 20th of July. We have had much affliction tis true more than I can describe but after all I do not know that I ever heard one word of murmuring in all our afflictions. We have all got over safe and in a state of tolerable health. I feel glad that we have got so far on our journey. I feel somewhat sorry for all those who have to come after us but keep up your hearts and as your day is so shall your strength be. You must expect great tribulation in the way to Zion for those who John saw had come through much tribulation and I do not know anyway but one that leads to the kingdom of God. But I can say with truth that if things had been 10 times worse than they was I would just have gone right ahead through all.--We had 3 storms but the prophecy of Brother Kimball was fulfilled the winds and water was calmed by prayer and the power of God. In New York we can buy a large loaf for 6 pence sugar, 3-1/2 pence butter, 6 pence other things in like manner. Potatoes much like England in price and very good. Tea, coffee and spirits--very cheap. I have asked after Brother Garner but I can hear nothing of him
. I have also asked after Brother Benbow but they have not seen him. There were ships that sailed 10 days before us and had not come in when we got to shore. One ship had been 90 days on the water. Many of her passengers was almost worn out and many dead. Sister Eaves was delivered of a male child on June 22nd. It died on the 27th and was buried on the 28th. Love to all. &c &c. John Moon [p.341]

BIB: Allen, James B., ed., "'We had a Very Hard Voyage for the Season': John Moon's Account of the First Emigrant Company of British Saints," BYU Studies 17:3 (Spring 1977), pp. 340-341. (CHL)
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