My Dear Brother Woodruff
I now take my pen to informe
you that I have arived home safe to the Land that gave me
Birth and found my wife and family all well and all the
Saints in that^is^ region and all much rejoiced to se me once more
standing in there midst my wife and Daughtor could not speak
for joy for some time But it was truly A happy time to
me to meet my friends once more here on the shores of time
and enjoy their company again and find them rejoicing in
the Gospel of our Savour I feel verry anxious to hear from you
and the Saints in England for truly you are my best
councellor and they are near and Dear to my heart my mind
often runs back to England amonks my Brethren & sisters
[page torn] ^my^ prayers shall be Daily that they may be subject
[page torn] your councel for I know it is good by experiance
[page torn] found my family rather Destitute of the things of
the world but not A word of complaint from her
She says the Brethren & sisters have been verry kind
to her ever since I left home and She has no reason if to
complaine she thinks much of you and Sister Woodruff
and wants so see you much the Blessing you pronounced on
her head has given her much comfort and has been fulfilled
according to your prediction which gives her much
joy and satisfaction she and the children sends their kind
love to you and Sister Woodruff with there thanks for
the presents sent to them By sister Woodruff &
Jackson
I never wanted to hear from you more than I do at the
present time I want to know how all things are in
England about Emegration for there is many reports here
about the Brethren leaving Nauvoo for California in the
spring and I want you to write me all you know
about it and give me all the instruction you can
now Dear Brother I will procede to give you a history
of my Journy acros the Atlantick we had A verry
rough passage I was verry sick about three days and
nights milton was not so sick as he was a going over
we had head winds and the power of steam was not
suficient to drive her against the wind we had the
cry of Fire four times aboard of the ship and
on the 10th of this month 9 'o clock in the morning
A Squall Struck us with all her sail spread
striped five sail all to pieces and tore some
others considerable and done much others Damage
the passengers were much fri^gh^ted and Expected
we should be lost but we were preserved by
him who rules the Heavens and the sea an[page torn]
things we then next run aground on the Ha[page torn]
Shoules making us 31 days on the ship [page torn]
I grew sick of the screw propeller they
threw over many Bags of salt to lighten
her and took out one schooner load from her
and she would not come up out of the sand we
took A pilot Boat with the rest of the stereage
passengers and went into New Bedford stayed
all knight next Day took the cars for Boston
and Bradford Dome the Buisness that we were
to do in New York in Boston but have not
had any anser yet from them but no Dout
it was done right I expect to se Brother Branen
next week and then I shall know all about
matters and things and I will write all the
particulrers next time
there is much Excitement here about California
and I wish you would tel me your opinion on
the subject and also give me your council in
regard to myself considering my poverty at the
same time for I desire to do the will of the Lord in
all things if I ever come to England again I hope
I Shall be able to take many of the Saints back
with me to the places of Gathering I have many
things to say to you cannot say them all this time
it apears the Saints have no resting place yet
and I am afraid they never will til the Devil
is Bound and this ungodly Generation Destroyed
from of[f] of the Earth I have visited Salem and the
[page torn]nch there is twice Dead pluct up by the
[page torn]ots as far as I could judge father Holms [page torn]
[page torn]ut the same as ever Brothr Milton [page torn]
the same has not started for the East yet but
I expect he will soon he sends his kind love
to you all Mr Burbanks & Sister & family send
their kind love to you all I have mailed your
letters according to your request and done
all things as well as I knew how and shall
be happy to Do any thing I can for you with
the greatest pleasure that you may entrust to
my care I have A verry sore thumb and I hope
you will excuse my bad wri^gh^ting I am almost
sick A Bed with a cold to day is Thanksgiving
with us every thing is Dear flower $7.75 cents per
Barrel potatoes 50 cts pr Bushel and other things accordingly
and to tel you the truth things look Black
[upside-down text] these lines ^love^ us all comfortably well and hope
they will find you and yours the same please
to Except my kind and warmest love yourself
and give it to sister Woodruff and your family
and all the Saints that may enquire after
me I must draw my letter to A close by [end of upside-down text]
By steam ship
[sideways text] Leonard Hardy
Nov 27th
Arivd Dec 13th 1845
[stamp]
AMERICA
LIVERPOOL
DE 16
1845
E. Bradford Ms,
Nov 29
Paid 5
Mr Wilford Woodruff
Stanley Buildings Bath St
Liverpool
England [end of sideways text]
wishing you all the Blessings of Heaven and Earth
and all the faithfull Saints please to write as quick
as possible by the first steam ship and you will
oblige your unworthy Broth I remain as ever
your Brothe in the New and Everlasting covenant
My Love to Brethren in the office
Leonard Hardy
1107.2 1575
9497