S.S. Manhattan, Queenstown, July 14, 1870 10 a.m.President Horace S. Eldredge.

Dear Brother,--Our little company generally are well and in high spirits. As you are aware, we left the Mersey at 11 a.m. yesterday. Brother Karl G. Maeser, president of the company, with L. W. Shurtliff and Lorin Farr his counselors, proceeded at once to organize the company. The following officers were elected--Secretary, G. H. Knowlden; captain of the Guard, Joseph S. Richards; with Lewis M. [p.460] Grant to preside over the German portion of the Saints. Two meetings are held each day, and of two kinds, namely, English and German, the English occupying the forward part of the ship, while the German occupy the middle. All seem to aim to make our journey pleasant, each extending the helping hand whenever necessary for the benefit of all. The returning elders are all at the table this morning, and many who had various complaints during the last half year are braving the storm and getting fat, our mutual friend Levi not excepted. The Saints appear determined to feed the fishes, if possible. We anticipate the best kind of a time on board, and realize the saying of Brother Joseph before leaving us, that we have a through ticket. The weather is calm this morning, and merrily on the way we go.

Wishing a kind remembrance to all the brethren at the office and all Saints, I remain your brother in the gospel,

Karl G. Maeser.per G.H. Knowlden, Secretary [p.461]

BIB: Maeser, Karl G. [Letter], Latter-day Saints' Millennial
Star 32:29 (July 19 1870) pp. 460- 61. (CHL)
(source abbreviations)