. . . We arrived in Liverpool the same night it being Aug. 30th, and stopped at the Music Hall, which had been rented for the reception of the ship's passengers, until it would be ready to receive us on board. On the following day Brother [Job] Salter [Satler] and I took a walk around town, to purchase some necessary articles for our use also went to look at the ship. On Sept. 1st we are all shipped on board the ship James Pennell, [p.10] Captain Fullerton commanding. I believe altogether there are about 250 souls, probably one hundred or more of whom are from Scotland. But all are filled with the spirit of the gospel, and working in harmony with each other. Some are lashing their trunks so they would not tumble about at sea, others are preparing their berths and some of them have already begun cooking. Thomas H. Clark is appointed to preside over the company, and the hold of the ship divided up into districts, with a superintendent over each. Whose duty it is to keep order, call to prayers at proper time
, and look after the cleanliness of his district, and the health and welfare of the same. Thus the whole company are well provided for, and peace reigns supreme. On the following morning Sept. 2nd we were taken out of the dock. A tug was made fast to us to take us down the Mersey. The company nearly all of whom are on deck are singing. The gallant ship is under way and followed by other stirring hymns, after being towed a few miles, we set sail, with a stiff and fair breeze. I should think there was never a more happy company pass out from the docks of Liverpool. On our third day out, we had cleared the coast of Ireland. Many of the passengers are [p.11] now suffering from seasickness, but with this exception all the others are happy and enjoying themselves. Our captain appears to be a good man. He is vigilant, careful, sympathetic with the sick and kind to all. He has already killed three pigs and a number of chickens for the benefit of the sick. Thus we continue our voyage some days with a fair breeze, at other times becalmed, but at no time is there any grumbling or complaint. We have a good violinist and accordion player on board, and also a number of good singers, and every night before or after prayers, we have a very enjoyable time. The evening after we had passed the equinoctial line. The captain in order to keep the ship upright on an even keel, to have a good dance, ran her about fifty miles off her course. The enjoyment derived there from being well worth the time. Sailors and passengers having a most enjoyable time. During the voyage there were only three causes for sorrow, or fear. Two of which were caused by the death of two babies who were sick when they came on board, and the third case was a storm in the Gulf of
Mexico, by which we lost our mizzen top mast. On the evening of Oct. 20th we discover a long distance away what appears to be smoke, and everyone is looking out to find the cause. It is not long however before we discover. She is a tugboat, coming towards us and soon our tow line is out and made fast to her, and we are towed over the Bar of the southwest pass, and cast anchor in the Mississippi River. How pleasant it is to be where we can see land, surrounding us, especially where we have the prospect of again being soon privileged to kick up our heels on terra firma. Our tugboat which brought us over the bar to this place, has gone out to sea again for another ship, as we have about a hundred miles to go up the river to New Orleans. It is the [p
.12] intention of taking both ships together. It is now midnight very few persons have gone to bed. The tugboat has just arrived with the other ship, we are then made fast to one on each side of the tug and away we start up the river. As soon as daylight appears, the passengers may most of them be found on the quarter deck or along the sides of the ship, their countenance beaming with joy, as they look over the bulwarks at the beautiful plantations and orange groves, which are situated on each side of the river. Early on the morning of the 22nd we arrived and are made fast to the levee of the 3rd district of New Orleans. [p.13]

. . . We can see the city two or three miles away, at first sight, it seemed to me like a graveyard, the houses being all small and of a light color, they are built of unburnt brick called adobes. As we at first come into the city, I feel somewhat disappointed. This was probably because I had not considered the fact, that only four years ago, this was a desolate [p.53] late wilderness. And a thousand miles from any civilization. This is the 29th day of September 1851 a very memorable one for me. . . . [p.54]

BIB: Gardner, Frederic, A Mormon Rebel: The Life and Travels of
Frederick Gardiner, ed. And introduced by Hugh Garner (Salt Lake City: University of Utah Library, 1993) pp. 10-13,53-54. (CHL)
(source abbreviations)