To The First Presidency Salt Lake City Utah Dear Brethern: Your kind favor of the 30th ult. was received & persued with pleasure, also the Draft for $389.50, but I am sorry to state the amount is insufficient to meet the return fares of Elders Freeze, Van Cott, Kinghorn & Butler, besides the $50 00/100, expense of Catechsim, as the fare alone ^from Samoa^ to Ogden is $9350, and as the two last named Elders are laboring upon the Friendly Islands it will take $2400 extra for them. The new Elders arrived here all well, and in good spirits, and we were indeed pleased to see them. The missionaries are all in good health at present, but I am very much pained at being compelled to report the sudden demise of our beloved President Elder Ransom M. Stevens, who departed this life on the 28th ult. after an illness of about two weeks; He was first taken down with typhoid fever, and, we thought, was getting along real well, when inflammation of the bowels commenced and shortly brought about paralysis of the heart. We formed prayer circles, and prayed for and

To The First Presidency: Dear Brethren: I trust that, in addressing this communication to you, I am not intruding upon your valuable time with a matter which has no claim thereto, as a sense of duty impels me to lay it before you. In the year 1878, when I was in New England, gathering genealogies, I became acquainted with W H Whitmore Esq, of Boston, who is probably the most accomplished genealogist and herald in America. He informed me that he possessed an extensive collection of books relating to American genealogy, which embraced a copy of nearly every family genealogy that had ever been printed in this country. Know- ing the inestimable value to Latter-day Saints of American lineage which would attach to such a library, I asked Mr Whitmore if he would sell it. He relplied positively that he would not sell it at any price, and stated that it was his intention to some time bestow it as a gift upon some public library or institution. Nearly two years ago, while I was in Boston, collecting genealogical records, I again met Mr Whitmore, and conversed with him in regard to his collection of genealogical books. He informed me that it embraced nearly every family genealogy that had issues from the American press up to a few years ago, since which time he had not, however, taken such pains to keep it complete. He thought that most of the volumes he lacked could readily be onbtained, but that a large number that were embraced in his collection could not be duplicated at any price. I again asked him if he would be willing to sell his collectiion, and he replied in the negative, saying that he had a son approaching maturity to whom he intented to leave it, pro- vided the son would interest himself in it; otherwise he would give it to some public institution. A few days since I received a letter from Mr Whitmore, stating that he had had a fire, which had impressed upon him the risk of such property, and he intimates his willingness to sell the collection in a lot. He says that many of the books were damaged by smoke, but not by water, and that re-binding will be necessary in many cases, though I infer that few or none of the books were ruined for practical use. He states that the appraised value was $9,500, which I suppose is the appraise- ment of the insurance adjusters. He does not name the price at which he would sell, probably deeming it best to leave that open for the present. Nearly one thousand New England families have had their genealogies compiled and printed in book or pamphlet form, and I understand that Mr Whitmore's collection embraces a copy of nearly every one, except a portion of those published within the last few years. I also understand that it includes a large number of town his- tories, and works of like character, containing genealogical material. I have only a partial understanding of the character of the library, and am not able to speak of it from personal knowledge, as I never saw it, though Mr Whitmore kindly invited

Salt Lake City, Utah, . Presidents Woodruff, Cannon and Smith, Dear Brethren: I herewith enclose my final report of the Mission from the presidency of which I have just been released, and which is now trans- ferred of date April 7, 1894 to Elder David F. Stout, who has acknowledged to me his perfect satisfaction with the "careful manner" in which he has been put in possession of all necessary details. As stated when in your office, I find my- self on my return, without business, although having a profession with which to start one. My long absence has turned into other hands all that might in the ordinary way have come to me. I am therefore confronted with the task of building anew, a business that shall support myself and family. During my investigations of the prospects before me, I find many banks and institutions, over which leading men among us; church au- thorities and others have control or influence, and that have legal business to entrust to some one

Salt Lake City, Utah, Presidents Woodruff, Cannon and Smith. Dear Brethren: In making my final report as to the transfer of the Northern States Mission, it may be advisa- ble for me to present a few matters for your consideration. In the first place, allow me to trespass on your valuable time to thank you Brethren for your confidence and kindness in appointing me to so important a trust, and for your counsels and assistance so often found ne- cessary during my period of presidency. And I trust that my labors since my appointment, covering four years, have met with your generous approval. It certainly has been my constant desire that you should find in me, one worthy of your trust and confidence. I would res- pectfully call your attention to an article sup- plied to Elder A. H. Cannon, at his request, and soon to be published in the "Contributor," for certain suggestions applicable to that field, and necessary in my opinion for the future advancement of the work in the regions comprised within its limits. There