Monday, March the 6th. Elder Frost arrived in Sydney from Melbourne and on Wednesday, the 8th, I took my leave of Elders Fleming, Eldridge, and also the Saints in Sydney, and being accompanied by Elder Frost, started for New Castle, where we arrived on the morning of the 9th. Here we met with Elder Farnham, also the barque Julia Ann, they having preceded us. Took my trunk on board the vessel and took possession of my stateroom.

The 10th. The company was received on board with their luggage, &c.

The 15th. Two counselors were chosen to assist me, also two teachers were appointed. After the company was organized, President Farnham & I laid our hands on Elder Frost and set him apart to act in unison with Elder Farnham, as his second counselor.

Sunday, 19th. Held meeting on the vessel. Had a good time. We have our prayers night & morning.

Wednesday, the 22nd, at half past 3 p.m. the vessel having completed her landing, and all things being in readiness, we weighed anchor & set to sea. At 4 p.m. took the last shake of the hand with Elder Farnham and he returned in the pilot boat to New Castle.

The 23rd at 12 o'clock were 200 miles from land. Some considerable seasickness on board.

25th. Breeze light. Nothing to be seen in the expanse save the deep blue sea with now and then one of its feathered tribe, the albatross accompanied by the smaller tribe, which are seen only far remote from land.

Sunday, 26th. Held meeting on the quarter-deck, captain & officers present. Spoke on the 1st principles of the gospel, had good liberty. After meeting, The [p. 175] Voice of Warning, Spencers Letters, Book of Mormon, &c., were in good use among the officers & cabin passengers. At night had singing and prayers as usual.

The 27th. Made arrangements for a school for the benefit of the children, to be kept on the deck house, under the care of Richard Allen, Jr.

The 29th. Mrs. [Esther] Allen, wife of Richard Allen, Sr. was delivered of a son.

Tuesday the 4th of Apr. The winds are blowing heavily. Was called out of my berth in the night to administer to Sister Lilly who had been taken with severe cramping, but by the laying on of hands & the prayer of faith, she was instantly healed.

The 5th. Sister [Esther] Allen was very low and was removed into the cabin.

The 6th. The wind is blowing a gale, and the seas are rolling mountains high, and are bursting over the bulwarks so that all is rendered disagreeable. Thursday night the seas are still rolling high, and the weather is rainy & windy, and the elements are being lighted up with lightening, and the aspect with all, is rather lonely. All nature is in commotion, and the elements seem to have waged war, & to be coming in furious contact. But as to our barque, thank the Lord, she rides triumphantly along, as it were, over hills & valleys, and each officer is seen at his post, and appears to understand his business. But while the furious wind is whistling through the rigging, and the lightenings are chaining their way through the heavens, and the seas are rolling to mountain heights, all is calm within my bosom, for there is a measure of the Spirit of the Lord there which seems to say all is well. Fear not, for the lives of all are in my hands, and my people will I preserve.

The 7th. The wind is still high and we are sailing at great speed. [p. 176]

The 8th. Wind has abated and the sea more calm. Sailing 8 knots an hour.

The 15th. Come in sight of Otahete [CURRENTLY TAHITI] Island, also same date came in view of the Huaheina Island (pronounced Uhana, one of the Society group. 30 Leagues from Otahita. Latitude 16.44, longitude 151.5 west.)

The 16th. Come to an anchor in a small harbor on the east side of the Island.

Monday the 18th. Sister Allen died, and on the 19th she was buried on the Island. I delivered a discourse on the occasion. There were many natives and foreigners present. This was a solemn day to all present. After the funeral services were over, I had a headboard erected at the grave with this inscription upon it: In Memory of Ester [Esther] Allen, who died April 18th, 1854, on board the barque Julia Ann, en route for Salt Lake City, aged 41." There has been some little Latter-day Saint preaching on this
Island in times past. Elder Noah Rogers once visited it while on his mission to the Islands. At 4 p.m. of the 19th we again put it to sea, having taken on board much fruit for our comfort on the way.

Sunday, 23rd. The passengers & sailors assembled on the quarter deck under an awning erected for the occasion and I addressed them for one hour. Spoke from the 7 and 8 verses of the 26th chapter of Acts. The assembly was very attentive. The captain & 1st mate are favorably impressed.

The 28th. Crossed the equator. Breeze light, and heat extreme.

The 29th. There came up a sudden squall and carried away our top gallant & main royal sails.

Sunday, 30th. Had preaching as usual.

May 9th. Came in sight of one of the Sandwich Islands, called Hawaii. We stopped at this Island and replenished our stock of provisions, after which the vessel was again put to the breeze, and on Monday, the 12th of June, [p. 177] we were safely landed in San Pedro, California having been upwards of three months on the vessel and near 90 days to sea. I left the Saints in San Pedro and went directly to San Bernardino where I procured teams and sent for them.

I remained in San Bernardino until the 27th of July, then left for Great Salt Lake, in company with Brothers Conger and Hope, mail carriers, also a man by the name of Powell. We had mules, both for riding and packing. The weather was excessively hot, and my health being much impaired, I soon discovered that it would be through much suffering that I should perform the journey. And then on the 5th day of our travels it seemed that I must give over, as my body was racked with the most excruciating pain, accompanied with a scorching fever. We traveled 65 miles this day, and oh, may it never be my lot to experience another such a day. Before we came to our place of encampment I became so exhausted that I fell from my mule, and was hardly sensible that I was falling until I struck the ground. The brethren in company supposed I had completed my journey. . . .

. . . I arrived safely at home [Salt Lake City] on the 19th of August, but in very feeble state of health. . . . [p. 178]

BIB: Hyde, William. Journal (Ms 1549), pp. 175-78. (CHL)
(source abbreviations)