New Orleans, May 2, 1854.

President S. W. Richards--Dear Brother--Having safely landed this morning, and having agreed for our passage up the river, to start tomorrow, I desire to write you a few lines, to inform you that we have had a first-rate time.

We had adverse winds in the Channel the first week, but since then we have been much favored indeed, and the Saints generally feel it has been like a pleasure trip to them. The organization entered into at Liverpool proved efficacious, and we still mean to sustain it, as far as practicable, up the rivers.

There have been two deaths of adults—Sister George Day, and Sister Ralph Smith, both of them having been very sickly for months before they started; also four children died; otherwise the passengers were very healthy. Sister Poulter gave birth to twins, as we neared the West India Isles. A lively spirit was kept up on board by the Saints, meetings being held every night by the Branches in some part of the ship, and we had interesting lectures delivered by Elders Woodard and McDonald. Our provisions were good and plentiful. We have as much as would last up to St. Louis, were we to confine ourselves to the ship rations. We all mean to go up the rivers together, and not leave one soul here who wishes to go with us.

We held a conference on board last, when we sustained the authorities of the Church and our own organization unanimously, counseled the Saints to help one another, to all keep together, and gave what necessary instructions and counsel the Saints needed, previous to starting up the rivers. The good Spirit of God prevailed with us, and we all felt much drawn together. This is certainly a good company of Saints, there has been no murmuring, but all have felt full of sympathy and goodwill one towards another, and this has caused the Spirit of God to abound among us. We preached forenoons on Sabbaths on deck, and invited the captain, officers, and cabin passengers. We bore them a faithful testimony of the truth, and we feel to part with them in peace and good feeling.

The fare is high up the rivers, $3 each, but we all go together and get ample accommodation, and, we believe, a fine captain. Our agent, Elder J. Brown, has agreed to go with us.

Some of the Saints left sick from the "Windermere's" company are here.

There has been some cholera in companies ahead, but I firmly believe our company will be healthy, and, with the blessings and kindness of our Heavenly Father extended to us, we shall be preserved to land safely amongst our brethren in the Valley, which is the desire of all our hearts.

My love to you, Brother Samuel, and through you to my brethren and sisters in my own native land. Hoping soon to see you all in the mountains of Israel,

I remain your brother in the Lord,

Robert Campbell[We have been favored, from a private source, with the following particulars, which are a little more full than Elder Campbell writes. The deaths on board occurred as follows -- March 23, a little child, belonging to Brother T. Todd, from Glasgow Conference, sickly when it left Scotland, aged about one year; March 27, a daughter of Henry Stoffles, of inflammation of the lungs, aged one year and a half; April 2, a child of Allen Miller, from Glasgow, weakly when it left Liverpool, aged about one year; April 3, Mrs. Day, wife of George Day, from Stockport, of consumption, ill about two years before leaving England; April 8, a child of David Butter, from Dundee Conference, of [p.366] water in the head, aged about ten months; April 27, Mrs. Smith, wife of Ralph Smith, from Manchester Conference, of dysentery, had been afflicted a long time. William Hill and Sarah Sturgess, from Leicestershire, were married April 12. Hannah Poulter, wife of Thomas Poulter, from London, gave birth to a boy and a girl April 19th. One young man was baptized before the vessel left the Liverpool docks. The anniversary of the organization of the Church was kept up April 6th, with fasting and prayer. The vessel arrived at the Balize, April 28th, but had to wait for a tug. The company went up the river from New Orleans on the steamer. [p.367]

BIB: Campbell, Robert, [Letter], Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star 16:23 (June 10, 1854) pp. 366-367. (CHL)
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