Elder Parley P. Pratt wrote to Pres. Brigham Young as follows:
San Francisco, Sept. 21, 1854
On the 8th of Sept., nine of the Elders sailed for the Sandwich Islands on the ship “Vaquerez” viz: Silas Smith, Silas G. Smith, Joseph F. Smith, Ward E. Pack, Eli Bell, Sm. Bluff, Simpson M. Molen, Geo. Speirs and John Young.
Henry P. Richards, Edward Partridge, Sextus Johnson, Oreon K. Whitney, John T. Caine, John West, Wm. King, Smith Thurston, Washington G. Rogers, and Joseph A. Peck are yet in this country through want of means.
On the 7th of Sept., Elders Chauncey W. West, and B.F. Dewey arrived here from the East Indies and China; they are well.
On the 11th inst. Elder Amasa Lyman arrived from San Bernardino in good health.
Three new members have been baptized in this city since our arrival, and perhaps as many in San Jose, and a number in Santa Clara.
All are well and we are happy and trusting in the Lord.
The work of the Gospel has commenced in Turkey through some of the British soldiers who have the Priesthood.
[Deseret News, Dec. 7, 1854]
[Journal History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Sept. 21, 1854, 2-3]
[transcribed and proofread by David Grow, Aug. 2006]