Off Sandy Hook, 7 p.m. September 5th, 1869.President A. [Albert] Carrington

Dear Brother,--It is with sincere pleasure and a grateful heart unto God, our Eternal Father, that he has spared us thus far on our journey, that I take this opportunity of informing you of our voyage in the good ship Minnesota to the land of promise.

We left Liverpool on the 25th of August, and, after a very pleasant run of 280 miles, we arrived at Queenstown, with little or none of the direful effects of seasickness. Remaining here just long enough to take on board some more passengers, going to seek their fortunes in the "Land of the West," we steamed out again to the bosom of the broad Atlantic. Here we began to feel the "swells," and an almost universal desire to turn into our berths was the consequence; but "duty before pleasure" is ever the motto of the Latter-day Saints, and so we felt it necessary to organize the company into wards, which we did, appointing over each a president, whose duty it was to look after the comfort of the Saints entrusted to his charge, to see that they fulfilled their duties. We then selected the best man and most energetic for the office of captain of the guard, and Brother J. F. Hardie, clerk of the company, and this being accomplished satisfactorily we returned thanks to God and retired to rest.

One of the Swiss sisters, Brother Jacob Huber's wife [Elizabeth], was confined and gave birth to a boy on the 29th, but it died on the 31st. This has been the only mishap we have had on our voyage, and we are now about to land at New York City. We feel grateful to the giver of all good for the general good health which we are enjoying at the present. One little boy had a slight attack of the measles, but he is now entirely well. [p.630]

Ever praying for your continual welfare, we remain, your brethren in the gospel of peace,

M. [Marius] Ensign,Per J. F. Hardie. [p.631]

BIB: Ensign, Marius [Letter] Latter-day Saints Millennial Star. 31:39 (Sept. 25, 1869) pp. 630-31. (CHL)
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