| 189 Portsmouth, at that time held the command over this district, and to whose gentlemanly attention we were under many obligations. . . .
"Provisions in the country are very high, owing to the arrival of so many emigrants, and provisioning the army and navy; and without doubt will be very scarce next season, from the unsettled state of affairs in the country, politically, which has a very bad influence upon the agriculturist. Good mechanics are very much needed in the country, and in great demand. None need go idle for the want of employment, and being well paid. Merchandise and groceries demand a heavy price, and emigrants coming to the country should come well supplied, which can be done only by coming by water. Wheat is now selling for one dollar per bushel, and flour for twelve dollars per hundred, owing to the scarcity of mills.
"We have received no intelligence from our brethren at the Society Islands, and conclude that they have not yet learned of the warfare and pilgrimage of the saints, or they would be wending their way to California. We are every day anxiously looking for the arrival of another ship load of emigrants. Two have been reported here to have sailed; one from New York and the other from Boston.
"We will now bring our epistle to a close by a few words of kindly advice to those wishing to emigrate to this El Dorado of the West, and that is, by all means to come by water in preference to land, the advantage you will appreciate for years to come.
"Yours truly, in the bonds of the everlasting covenant,
"S. BRANNAN, President."
-Millennial Star, vol. 9, pp. 306, 307.
The spring of 1847 Brannan set out to meet the company coming by land and to escort them to the new "El Dorado."
On June 18, 1847, he wrote a letter, from which the following is an extract, which reveals his purpose and intentions:-
"FORT HALL" June 18, 1847.
"Brother Newell.-Once more I take my pen to drop a few lines and let you know of my whereabouts. I left Captain
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