during the calling of the list, as if they half misdoubted some
other family to have been smuggled into their own. Among all the
fine handsome children, I observed but two with marks upon their
necks that were probably scrofulous. Out of the whole number of
emigrants, but one old woman was temporarily set aside by the
doctor, on suspicion of fever; but even she afterwards obtained a
clean bill of health.
When all had ‘passed,’ and the afternoon began to wear on, a black
box became visible on deck, which box was in charge of certain
personages also in black, of whom only one had the conventional air
of an itinerant preacher. This box contained a supply of hymnbooks,
neatly printed and got up, published at Liverpool, and also
in London at the ‘Latter-Day Saints’ Book Depot, 30, Florencestreet.’
Some copies were handsomely bound; the plainer were the
more in request, and many were bought. The title ran: ‘Sacred
Hymns and Spiritual Songs for the Church of Jesus Church of Latter-
Day Saints.’ The Preface, dated Manchester, 1840, ran thus:- ‘The
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Dickens, Charles – The Uncommercial Traveller
Saints in this country have been very desirous for a Hymn Book
adapted to their faith and worship, that they might sing the truth
with an understanding heart, and express their praise, joy, and
gratitude in songs adapted to the New and Everlasting Covenant. In
accordance with their wishes, we have selected the following
volume, which we hope will prove acceptable until a greater variety
can be added. With sentiments of high consideration and esteem, we
subscribe ourselves your brethren in the New and Everlasting
Covenant, BRIGHAM YOUNG, PARLEY P. PRATT, JOHN TAYLOR.’ From this
book – by no means explanatory to myself of the New and Everlasting
Covenant, and not at all making my heart an understanding one on
the subject of that mystery – a hymn was sung, which did not
attract any great amount of attention, and was supported by a
rather select circle. But the choir in the boat was very popular
and pleasant; and there was to have been a Band, only the Cornet
was late in coming on board. In the course of the afternoon, a
mother appeared from shore, in search of her daughter, ‘who had run
away with the Mormons.’ She received every assistance from the
Inspector, but her daughter was not found to be on board. The
saints did not seem to me, particularly interested in finding her.
Towards five o’clock, the galley became full of tea-kettles, and an
agreeable fragrance of tea pervaded the ship. There was no
scrambling or jostling for the hot water, no ill humour, no
quarrelling. As the Amazon was to sail with the next tide, and as
it would not be high water before two o’clock in the morning, I
left her with her tea in full action, and her idle Steam Tug lying
by, deputing steam and smoke for the time being to the Tea-kettles.
I afterwards learned that a Despatch was sent home by the captain
before he struck out into the wide Atlantic, highly extolling the
behaviour of these Emigrants, and the perfect order and propriety
of all their social arrangements. What is in store for the poor
people on the shores of the Great Salt Lake, what happy delusions
they are labouring under now, on what miserable blindness their
eyes may be opened then, I do not pretend to say. But I went on
board their ship to bear testimony against them if they deserved
it, as I fully believed they would; to my great astonishment they
did not deserve it; and my predispositions and tendencies must not
affect me as an honest witness. I went over the Amazon’s side,
feeling it impossible to deny that, so far, some remarkable
influence had produced a remarkable result, which better known
influences have often missed. *
* After this Uncommercial Journey was printed, I happened to
mention the experience it describes to Lord Houghton. That
gentleman then showed me an article of his writing, in THE
EDINBURGH REVIEW for January, 1862, which is highly remarkable for
its philosophical and literary research concerning these Latter-Day