Letter from David S. Hollister, 9 May 1844

From the time of my departure <​to​> that of my arival here on Saturday last I was blessed with prosperity The feelings manifested by the passenge[rs] on the Boat to were quite favourable. at I embarked on bord the Steamer Vally Forge with about 125 cabin passengers I gradually introduced myself to those whose faces gave indication of honest hearts and inteligent minds: on Sunday I was invited to give in a publick discourse <​the​> points of difference betwen the faith of the Latter day Saints and other proffissors [professors] of the Christian religion. There was a methodist preacher on board with whome arangements was made to follow me and blow Mormonism to the four winds. well I led off in a discourse of an hour and a half, after dinner the Methodist tride [tried] to rally their preacher but he could not be induced to under take the fulfilment of <​his​> engagemint I spent <​the time​> in convirsing with groop of enquirers and giving further information to those who saught it. after tea the Methodist Priest was by mutch pursuation [persuasion] induced to preach but to the astonishment of all he never once mentioned Mormonism by the by we had a beautiful Specimen of treatment on <​to​> the Saints on bord: whil[e] I was speaking I refered to the many false Statements which found thier way to the public th[r]ough the papers, a case in point was that of Joseph Smith having just discarded his [p. [1]]