Star office 149. oldham Road 

Manchester, End

 

Sept 5th 1840

 

To the first Presidency of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, viz, Joseph Smith Jun, Sidney Rigdon & Hyrum Smith,

 

Beloved of the Lord and of his saints;

 

We esteem it a great privilege to be permitted to address you on paper, while we are far separated from you in a land of strangers, or perhaps we might say with propriety, the land of our forefathers; but be this as it may, it, is, indeed, a land of strangers to us, only so far as we have began to become acquainted with the inhabitants by a few months or years travels among them, The time <of> our acquaintance is but short at the longest, but when we contemplate our absence from our homes & kindred, & especially from the society of those who are over us in the Lord, whose faces we delight to look upon, & whose councils we are ever glad to receive, & rejoice in following the time seems to be prolonged; & while we remain in this situation we hope you will not think us burdensome, if we trouble you occasionally to read our thoughts, & answer us a few questions, or many, even as many as is wisdom in God you should answer, for if we ask those which are improper, it shall be on account of our ignorance, therefore we pray you forgive us. We desire not to council you in any but to be counseled by you, for it is the desire of our hearts to do the will of God in all things, & we feel our own weekness & insufficiency for the [p. 1] great work which is committed to us, & feel to place all our hope, strength, & confidence in Israel’s God, who is sufficent for all things, & not do as ma<n>y who profess to love the Lord, & at the same time live in neglect of his commandments & his ordinances, & dispise the order of his council & government.

 

No, we rejoice that the Church has a Moses in these last days. (and an Aaron by his side,) of whom the saints may enquire, as in days of old, & know the mind of the Lord. We by no means suppose you ignorant of our situation or the situation of the people here, or of our proceedings, & yet as is common among men we suppose presume it will not be unacceptable to you to read something from us also, concerning the circumstances by which we are surrounded. There are some things which we expect to find common amongst men of different nations generally such as a disposition to believe error instead of truth, & love sin instead of holiness; also, a disposition, among a few of the honest in heart to believe the truth. <&> rejoice in it when it is brought within their reach; & yet, such are the attendant circumstances with which people of different nations are surrounded. & individuals of the same nations, but of different neighborhoods that they require very different treatment or address in order to induce them to receive the truth, & even then will require very different degrees of time to accomplish or bring <in>to exercise the same amount of faith, The man who has only read the histories [p. 2] of the people of England, which we had seen before we left America, is liable to meet with some disappointments, at least, when he comes to make his introduction amongst them. This may in part be owing to the historian & traveller for it is generally the case that what we find in history relates more particularly to the higher classes, in the nations, for England, unlike America, is divided into classes; many indeed, but they may all be comprised, in three, so far as we need designate at this time, (viz) Lords, Tradesmen, & mechanics or laborers, or, in other words, the highest, middle, & lowest classes, each of which have their particuler customs, & manners but the histories, which we refer to, have more generally treated of those of the higher order, or, at least, we find an a<c>quaintence that those histories are now more applicable to the higher <& middle> classes than any other. But, perhaps a part may be owing to the great changes which have taken place in the nation within a few years, with regard to money matters, which has caused a mighty revolution, in the affairs of the common people.

 

A few years since, and almost every family had their garden with their house their cow on the common & their pig in the stye, which added greatly to the comforts of the household; but now we [p. 3] seldom find either garden , cow or pig.

As we pass around among the count<r>y cottages & see the stone walls which are thrown down, but more commonly the hedges in a decaying & mutilated state, it is very natural for us to enquire what have you here? & what the cause of this destruction? & we generally get but one an<s>wer, "a few years ago I had a flourishing garden on the spot you now see, & it was surrounded with this hedge which was planted by my own hand; I had a cow of my own which fed on yonder common, I worked labored on my masters farm, & had plenty of time, morning, and evenings, to till my garden, in which I raised sauce enough for my family, & evry year I had a good pig, & a plenty to eat, & we were happy, but our Lords & masters have become more avaricious, & are trying to get all they can themselves, & will hardly let the poor live, you see my landlord has made my garden into a meadow, & feeds his own cattle upon it; the Lord of the mannr has fenced in the common, so that I had no place to keep my cow & I was obliged to sell her; I killed my pig to prevent its starving. The small farms are united & made into large ones, so we could get nothing to do on the land, I have been obliged to go into the factory, with my wife & children, to get a morsel of bread;" or, "I have taken to hand-loom weaving to keep my wife & little one from starvation." [p. 4]

 

By this brief sketch you will easily discover that the histories, which we refer to, were much more applicable for <to> the times concerning the lives for which they were written, than for the present time, so that it is no wonder foreigners should be disappointed in visiting England at the present time, who may not have seen some very recent histories. It cannot be expected that we should give any thing like a history of all the changes in Old England, in one brief communication, & that in the midst of much confusion, arising from the preparation for the departure of the brethren, the getting up of the store &c, &c, which is now crowding us, but you will see at a glance that the few changes we have hinted at would prove only as the cause of a multitude of effects,

 

Manufacturing is the business of England. The cotton mills are the most numerous, the weavers will get from 6 to 10 shillings per week, the spinners something more. The hand-loom weavers have to work hard to get 6 shillings per week. Now after paying 2 or 3 shillings rent per week- 1 shilling for coal, besde <beside> taxes of every kind, we might say for smoke must not go up chimney in England without a tax, Light must not come in at the window without -paying duties, many must pay from 1 penny to 6 pence per week for water, & if we should attempt to tell all we should want a government list, after paying all taxes what think you will a family have left for bread stuff? [p. 5]

Add to this the tax for bread <on corn>, which is a great share of the expence of the article, & what is left but starvation, leaving out of account all seasonings, such as Peppers, spices, &c which by taxation is four times the value it is in the United States so you may well suppose that the poor are not troubled much with these things.

The poor are not able to keep dogs, & if they were they would have to pay from 8 shilling to 1 L per head per annum, tax. There are taxes for living & taxes for dying, inasmuch that it is very difficult for the poor to get buried any how, & a man may emigrate to America & find a grave, for less money, than he can get a decent burial <for> in old England. We scarce recollect an article without tax but <except> cats & mice & fleas.

 

After what we have written we scarce need tell you that England is filled with beggars. They call at our doors, from 2 a Dozen to a Dozen per day. If we go in the streets they gather round us and it is hard to get rid of them without a penny, indeed, we do not try, so long as we can get a penny by buying or begging, for we remember that the measure we meet shall be measured to us again. Hunger & Rags are no curiosity here, & while things remain as they are what can we expect but theft, robery, murder which now fill the land. Leaving out of the account, both as cause & effect the drunkards & gambling & swearing & debauchery- which are common on every hand.? [p. 6]

 

It will readily be discovered that the people have enough to do, to keep from dying with hunger without, without taking much thought for the improvment of the mind. Many of the people cannot read, & a great many cannot write, children are admitted into the factories at 8 years old, working a part of the day & attending school a part till they are 14 years old, & then work continually, though as yet we have been able to discover but very little benefit from the factory school, it is by Parliament compusion on the part of the masters, & not of free will, of course the easier get over the better, the cheaper the master, the more money remains in pocket

 

A few years since they <the spinners & weavers> had "Turn outs" ( as they now sometimes have in America.) when their masters displeased them.-but trade is now so dull, the masters care little for their manafactures, & have reduced their <workers> wages to, almost, the lowest extremity, & if their hands should turn out, they for more wages, they have nothing before them but destruction for there [are] thousands & tens of thousands who cannot get one days work in a month, or six months, so they continue to labor 12 hour in a day for almost nothing rather than starve at once. Their miserable pittance is mostly oatmeal & water boiled together, & they would be quite contented if they could get enough of that, with sometimes a little Treacle, which is blood & molasses, or a little rancid butter, or skim milk made of whiting & water to a great extent if we mistake not, although they have to give from 3 to 4 pense, per quart, for it. Buttermilk is also a great treat to the poor people and is easily increased in quantity, by whiting & water. There is no scheme which can be devised left unimproved, to grind the face of the poor & <& thus [-]> we feel that the time has nearly come for the words of James to be fulfilled go to now ye rich men weep & howl for the miseries which are come upon you & [p. 7]

Much has been said in history, & story of the learning & neetness of the English people, of the latter subject we have neither time nor disposition to say much, although we are not short of matter, but of the former how can it - be but simply ask how can it be expected that neatness should be a very prominent trait in the habits of a people who are obliged to improve evry moment to get a morsel of bread? And as to learning such a thing as as a news-paper is scarcely to be found among the common people, & if it was it would only abo the English papers are filled with little else than "cold blooded murder", "Horrid Tragedies" "Roberies" "Thefts" "Fires" "Notice of the Que[e]ns Dinner" or Prince Alburts Ride out." or ["]visit to the Theatre," or ["]Rail Road accident," "<Hunting excursions>["] &c, &c, &c, which is calculated to harden the heart & prepare it for far still greater wickedness. Such is the poverty of the people that but few of the saints can afford to take the Star we are publishing once a month, price 6 pence

 

Neither have the priests much more information thin the people, indeed there are many of the common people whom they dare not meet in argument, although they have their livings, thousands upon thousands, & some of their own whole townships or parishes, & will tell their Parishioners <& tenants> if they allow any one to preach in their houses they will be turned out of doors, or if they are baptized they will face no better, & thus may simple souls who believe our message dare not be baptized, because they have not faith sufficient, to screen them from the threats of an insolent priest,<or factory master> knowing they will worry them to the utmost if they displease him, our hearts mourn for such. It is apparently starvation on one hand, & damnation on the other. The Lord have mercy upon them.--Amen. [p. 8]

We find the people of this land, much more ready to receive the gospel, than those of America, so far as they do receive it, for they have not that speculitive inteligence, or prejudice, or prepossession, or false learning call it what you please, which they have there, consequently we have not to labor with a people month after month to break down their old notions, for their Priests have taught them but little, & much of that is so foolish as to be rebuted at a glance. viewing the subject in this light we find ignorance a blessing, for the more ignorant of false notions the more readily they receive truth. The greatest opposition we meet with is from the Methodist, The Church of England would fain make themselves believe they are on the rock and cannot be shaken, therefore they trouble themselves little about these things, as yet, the more is to come.

 

Thus while we have not the Learning and prejudice of the people to contend against us in America we have the influence of the <monied> monopolizing Priests & factory Masters, & yet after all their influence, those who have received the word have <generally> received it very readily & the trouble of keeping up church discipline here has been small compared with our native country, but how, those who receive the word so readily will stand in the day of trial remains yet to be proved, as there has been nothing in this land as yet which need try the faith of any one. but of this we confidently hope that many have already received the word which will endure unto the end. [p. 9]

We have many things we would gladly say to you did time permit, & were we not afraid of wearying your patience, but, brethren, bear with us a little further, we beseech of you, for we want to tell you a little of what we have done, & ask a few question, & for your patience you shall have our feeble prayers that our heavenly father will multiply his blessings unto you.

 

According to council we have gathered from different parts of England & Scotland, more than 600 of the <a company of the> Brethren, mo -s-t of whom arevery poor are <and sisters> who are now in Liverpool ready to sail for America on Monday next. Most of them are very poor; Those who have money have given most of it to help those who had need, but as this was not sufficient, we, seeing the poverty & distress of some families, have made use of our own credit, <among the brethren> to carry them along with the rest, It was the decision of the council in July that Elder Turly should lead this company to Zion, & he goes accordingly.

 

Brethren, our hearts are pained with the poverty & misery of this people. & we have done all we could to help as many off as possible, to a land where they may get a morsel of bread, & serve God according to his appoinment; & we have done it cheerfully as unto the Lord, & we desire to ask you have we done right? or is it <a> right principle, for us to act upon, to involve ourselves, to help the Lords poor <saints> to Zion?

 

We have heard by the bye that Brothers Joseph & Hyrum Smith are coming to England next season. Is this good news true? May we look for you? [p. 10]

 

Shall we gather up all the saints we can & come over <with them> next spring?

Have we done right in Printing a hymn book?

Are we doing right in Printing the book of Mormon?

Are we doing right in staying here to leave & leaving our families to be a burden to the C[hurch] ?

We have sent <some of> our paper to America, is this Right?

When the Book of Mormon is completed, will it be best for any one to carry any of them to America?

Shall we print the Doctrine & Covenants here or not? or will the D. & C. be printed & go to the nations, as it now is or not? or will it be revised & printed for the nations?

Shall we send all we can to america next season & stay here ourselves?

What is the Lords will concerning Br. Richards? Shall he take his family to America next season? or shall he tary here with them awhile longer? what shall he do?

We have lately visited a museum, where we saw an E. Mummy, on the head stone & are many ancient & curious characters, & we asked the privilege of copying them for translation but have not received an answer, yet,

Shall we copy them & send them to you for translation?

 

Finally, Brethren, how long must we be deprived [of] the company of our Dear Brethren whom we Love, for this works sake, & we feel that it is our privilege to love those who are willing to lay down their lives for the Brethren [p. 11]

We need not say we send our love to you for that is always with you. Should you doubt it time & works must declare it, We hope you will favor us with a letter, for we exceedingly desire council in these matters, & all others, which the Lord may have in store for us.

 

We would rejoice to see you in this country & although your hearts would be pierced with the poverty & wretchedness that prevails, you would see many things which would interest you, <such as> the ancient & curious workmanship of the churches, cathedrals, monuments & which have stood, some of them a thousand years or more & are now in a good state of preservation.

 

We remember the observation of Bro Joseph, "that we should hardly get over the nation before the judgments of God would overtake the people," & we fully believe it & are trying to do what we can to send forth the gospel, one of our Elders has gone to South Australia. One to the East Indies, & we expect one to start for Hamburgh <in Holland> this week. We want council & wisdom & any thing that is good Our motto is go ahead. go ahead. & ahead we are determined to go. unttill we have conquered any foe, so come life or <come> death we’ll go ahead, but tell us if we are going wrong and we will right it.

 

Your Brethren in the Everlasting Lord

 

B. Young

W. Richards

 

Source: Letter, Brigham Young and Willard Richards, Manchester, England to the First Presidency, Nauvoo, Illinois, 5 Sep 1840, RC, JSC (Bx ?, fd ), LDS Church Archives; Ronald Walker, ed., "The Willard Richards and Brigham Young 5 September 1840 Letter from England to Nauvoo," BYU Studies 18 (Spring 1978): 466-75; James B. Allen, Ronald K. Esplin, David J. Whittaker, Men with a Mission (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1992), 388-95.