instead of finding rest I fo[u]nd a vary large nuber of lying before me some 25 ^[many]^ letters from vari[ou]s parts of the world
among them was one from Dr Bernhisel & one from yourself. I
also had rec[eiv]ed among othr thgs an Epistle from the valley
& Letters from the presidency ^in the valley^ requiring certain things [of] ^me^ my hads
which required me to correspod with the Ch[ur]ches which
I have to do by lettr writing as I have No other way of Communi
cation with them, and Hence I need to write some 50 Letters & mail
last Week and am[on]g [thous] I sent one ^one of that [nuber] I sent^ to Washington which I
happened to write and address to Dr. Bernhisel instead of yourself
as I had Nothing to communicate except what was from the
valley & that I expeted you would both receve before mine
woud arive in the form of a visit from Messers Haywood & Wooley
or by the Epistle, still lest you should not receve it I [send]
it in [my] letter to Dr. Bernhisel, and if ^my^ I had had time
^had permtted^ I should have ansued both letters, or if I had known that
or even th[ou]ght that it would have made any difference in
your feelings, or that you ^[consdered] you^ was slighted I certainly should
have add[r]essed you instead of him, But such a thought
neer entered my mind. In addressing him or if I had addessed
you upon that subject it would have been the came with me for I
should have Had no othr thought but that one comunicatin to
either of you Concning any News from the valley would have been
Communictated to equally to both, for I had the not the most
distant idea but what you were haveing a free exchange of views &
sentim[en]ts, in a sotcial manner, almost daily, for the Dr Berhisel had
neer hinted any idea contrary to it in any communcation to me. I
wrote to the Dr as We had spent Considerable time in social con-
versation upon a variety of subjects, ^just previous to his going to Washington^ & I should liked to have enjoyed
the came privilege with your self, that is the ownly lettr I
instead of finding rest I found a vary large nuber of
many letters from various parts of the world
among them was one from Dr Bernhisel & one from yourself. I
also had received among othr thgs an Epistle
& Letters from the presidency in the valley requiring certain things of me
which required me to correspod with the Churches which
I have to do by lettr writing as I have No other way of Communi
cation with them, Hence I need to write some 50 Letters & mail
last Week and one of that nuber I sent to Washington which I
happened to write and address to Dr. Bernhisel instead of yourself
as I had Nothing to communicate except what was from the
valley & that I expeted you would both receve before mine
woud arive in the form of a visit from Messers Haywood & Wooley
or by the Epistle, still lest you should not receve it I send
it in my letter to Dr. Bernhisel, and if my time
had permtted I should have ansued both letters, or if I had known
or even thought that it would have made any difference in
your feelings, or that you consdered you was slighted I certainly should
have addressed you instead of him, But such a thought
neer entered my mind. In addressing him or if I had addessed
you upon that subject it would have been the came with me for I
should have Had no othr thought but that one comunicatin to
either of you Concning any News from the valley would have been
Communicated equally to both, for I had not the most
distant idea but what you were haveing a free exchange of views &
sentiments, in a social manner, almost daily, for Dr Berhisel had
neer hinted any idea contrary to it in any communcation to me. I
wrote to the Dr as We had spent Considerable time in social conversation upon a variety of subjects, just previous to his going to Washington & I should liked to have enjoyed
the came privilege with your self, that is the ownly lettr I
"Letter to Almon Whiting Babbitt, 21 January 1850," p. 2, The Wilford Woodruff Papers, accessed April 25, 2024, https://wilfordwoodruffpapers.org/p/v2Ar