Manchester, July 8^th, 1840.

Dear Wife, Seated in the presidential Chair of A General Conference, held in this place, this day, in A Hall which will hold about 3000 persons; with the quarum of the 12 and some 50 officers, and many hundred t members present; and being <having> first opened the business of the day, I received your letter; the first hiss I had herd from you, or from [soyart?] for four months, (that is, since we sailed.) you can judge of my feelings, having to put the letter in my pocket unopened till intermission, when we, (the quarum) were all invited to one place to dine. I took private room, retired from them all and read the letter. You may be sure I did not taste of dinner, but went fasting to the conference at 2 o clock which held till near seven at eve. I then dismissed <and came home 2 miles> and have not yet tasted food or drink since early in the morning. It is now 8 o,clock.

I cannot het taste food. My feelings are such that my stomach will not bear it. I had hired a House consisting of a shop in front, for my office and Book store, and two more rooms below and 3 rooms above, it is in <an> airy, and healthy [page break] pleasant place. I am confined entirely at home as Editor of the “Star” and publisher of the Hymn Book, B of Mormon, and all other Books. I have not been gone from home since 24 hours since I came here 3 months ago. and do not expect to be for months or years to come. I am paying rent for this house. and hiring my Board, which together will amount to as much as would support us all if you were here. and then in addition to all this, supporting a family in N York at as much more. I hire my washing out and employ 3 women in my Back Room as folders (cash every week) this would be employ for my family if they were here, and would I also need you very much to find shop. With all these calculations, and just as I was dayly looking for you. Behold your letter comes with the sad news of your sickness; and that you were not coming. This is more than I can bear. Here I must live alone, my chamber dessolate. And still <confined> at home, where I could assist and comfort you and aid you continually in the care of our little ones, if I only had them here. You say come hom and settle your business next fall; and then I can take my family &c. That is utterly out of the question on the account of my duties and Business,– I do really think if you had [page break] come, the voyage would have resotred you to health and Mary Ann too. Where as, where you now are I fear you will grow worse.

Why must we live sepperate? Why must I be forever deprived of your [unreadable] and my dear little Children? I cannot endure it. Why did you not come with me when I p<r>essed it upon you last winter? Why did you not come now? Reason would teach you that you would do better for health on the passage than at home. But so it is, and my heart Bleeds with a wound which is insupportable. I cannot endure it, and yet I must. But do not for a moment suppose I blame you, for not coming, it is only my feelings which I cannot help expressing in the anguish of my heart. O Lord, in the name of Jesus Christ let thy mercy be manifested speedily to my poor sick family. I can say no more; I have abundance of news which would be interesting but <my> feelings will not suffer me to write it; I cannot do it. I must close by saying that I have enjoyed good health; the Br here are generally well. I again Repeat what I have told you because that I have no prospect of coming to America for years. My love to all inquiring friends.

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Lease accept this from one who would gladly lay down his life for you and the little ones.

I remain your Husband

Miss Mary Ann Pratt.

Parley P. Pratt

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“Parley P. Pratt letter, Manchester, England to Mary Ann Pratt,” MS 2227, folder 1, p. 1-4. (https://dcms.lds.org/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE2156366 : Retrieved 23 September 2015) Church History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.

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