New Orleans, Feb. 26, 1855Elder Franklin D. Richards.

Dear Brother— I hasten to inform you that the ship Neva arrived in this port on the 22nd instant, and I forwarded twelve of the brethren that came on here to St. Louis, and one to Cincinnati.

The "James Nesmith" arrived on the 23rd, and the entire company left for St. Louis on the 24th. I shipped fifty of them on the Moses Greenwood, and the remainder on the "Oceana," the same steamer that took the company of the "Clara Wheeler." There were fifteen deaths on board the "Nesmith," from the time of sailing to their arrival in this port. There was some little sickness in the company when they left here, but all appeared to be getting better. The entire company appeared in good spirits, and as though all things had gone well with them. They report a pleasant passage and much accommodation from the captain of the ship. But the brethren that came aboard the Neva say that they were much abused and mistreated by the officers.

You will have learned before this, from brother Snow, of the arrival in St. Louis of the Saints by the "Clara Wheeler," that they are generally well provided for, and mostly all readily found situations and employment.

The weather is very cold here today, and the river remains low, and times hard in this place. But I have used every means within my power to send all the Saints away from here as fast as they have arrived, and through the blessings of God have been able so to do, and I hope still to e able to do so with the rest that may arrive, for this is no place for Saints.

I have no late news from the Valley, but at last all was well.

God bless you and the Saints under your charge, and believe me to be your brother in Christ,

James McGaw. [p.221]

BIB: McGaw, James. [Letter], Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star. 17:14 (April 7, 1855) p. 221. (CHL)
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