Packet ship Antarctic, July 4, 1863.President [George Q.] Cannon.

Dear Brother,--We presume, ere this reaches you, you will be anxious to learn of our welfare. The letter we sent you on Tuesday, May 26, giving you an account of our proceedings to that date, we hope you received safely. From that time to the present we have been actively employed; the measles having broken out that day among the children and extended to about forty cases, and there being many aged, they, together with the sick, kept us busy waiting on them. Independent of these cases, the health of all on board has been generally good; which we could not fail to notice, from the lively spirit manifested by the Saints, and we can truly say we would not wish to travel with a better people than the Saints have been during the voyage. We can also say we have been greatly blessed while crossing the ocean, although we had head winds nearly all the way. The captain willingly aided us in doing all we thought necessary to insure health and comfort, by continual cleaning, laying down lime, and the burning of tar. Elder [John] Needham has been somewhat sick, but has enjoyed much better health than on any previous occasion while crossing the sea. We will here remark that every Sunday it has been very fair and pleasant weather, and although we are at sea, the Saints do not forget that it is a day of rest, but feel to enjoy themselves in contemplating and speaking of the blessings they enjoy in having the privilege of gathering to Zion. We have had sacramental meetings each Sunday afternoon in the wards; and in the evening all the Saints met together on the lower deck, when they received such instructions as their circumstances demanded and the Spirit of the Lord suggested.

On Sunday, June 7, the Saints generally fasted. At 6 p.m. all met on the lower-deck, when a very spirited address was given by President [John] Needham; the Spirit of the Lord was made manifest, and his instructions were applicable to all. He exhorted the elders of Israel to be faithful in protecting the weak and inexperienced from evil, and to see that the Saints under their charge were not overcome by base and seducing spirits. His remarks were interpreted to the French by Elder De La Mare [Philip De La Mere], to the Norwegians by Elder [John] Dorius, and to the Swiss by Elder Huber.

We have had three marriages among the foreign Saints; on one occasion the captain, his wife, his brother and mate favored us with their presence, and also provided wine and refreshments for the occasion. They manifested a friendly feeling, and the captain took the opportunity of kissing the bride; it not being the custom in Norway, the bridegroom and bride looked rather astonished, but after being explained, the bridegroom soon followed the captain's example.

We are sorry to have to report to you the death of Sister Sarah Walters [p.556] and child; after some considerable suffering, she was delivered of a girl on Sunday, June 14; she died the following morning at half-past three; her remains were consigned to a watery grave at 8 p.m.; her infant child died on Tuesday, June 23. A son of John Dean, from the Preston Conference, named Henry, died on Friday, the 3rd instant, and a daughter, named Annie Leine, the following day; also, four infants of the Norway Saints, and a child and infant of the Swiss--making ten deaths to the present.

We found the extras so kindly furnished by you--such as the sago, arrowroot, soup and white sugar--a great boon, and many suffering from general debility attribute their recovery to the use of the same.

Friday, July 10.

We were met by Brothers [William C.] Staines and [John] Young on board, and landed at Castle Garden by 11 o'clock today. We start for Florence at six tonight.

Accept our united regards; wishing you every success in your labors, we remain your brethren in the kingdom of God,

John Needham,Phillip De La Mare [De La Mere],
Samuel H. B. Smith,
R. [Richard] K. Thomas, Clerk. [p.557]

BIB: Needham, John, et. el., [Letter], Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star 25:35 (August 29, 1863), pp. 556-57. (CHL)
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