No. 299.
Mr. Hoppin
to Mr. Evarts.
Legation of
the United States,
London, October 29, 1879.
(Received November 11.)
No. 89.]Sir: Referring to my dispatch No. 66, of the 8th
instant, in relation to Mormon emigration to the United States, I have the
honor to acquaint
[Page 466]
you that I have
received communications on this subject from the consulate general of the
United States and from the consuls at Bradford and Liverpool and the
commercial agent at Nottingham. The only information of importance in these
letters is that given by Mr. Smith of Nottingham and Mr. Packard of
Liverpool, copies of whose letters I herewith inclose.
Immediately upon the receipt of Mr. Packard’s communication, I addressed a
letter to Lord Salisbury informing him of the contemplated departure of a
party of Mormons on the 18th instant, from Liverpool. I have had no reply to
this until this morning, when I received a note from his lordship, stating
the action which was taken by the home secretary in relation to this matter,
and inclosing a notice signed by Sir E. Y. W. Henderson, the commissioner of
metropolitan police, I herewith transmit copies of all these papers.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure 1 in No. 89.]
Mr. Smith to Mr.
Hoppin.
United
States Commercial Agency,
Nottingham, September, 16,
1879.
Sir: A few days ago I received a circular from
the Secretary of State at Washington, on the subject of Mormon
emigration to the United States, with instructions to report to the
legation at London any facts in relation to that subject which might
come to my notice. In compliance with that instruction, I have the honor
to report that there has been for some years past a Mormon congregation
in this place. Mr. William Bramall is the head elder of the Nottingham
branch, which numbers about 200 members. Their meeting place is in the
assembly room, Low Pavement. Services are held on Sundays at 2.30 and 6
p.m., and on Wednesday at 8 p.m.
Money is sent from Utah to the Mormon emigration office at Islington,
Liverpool, for the benefit of the poor who have not the means to pay
their passage. Each person who receives money from this fund is expected
to repay it in work when settled in Utah. No money has been sent to the
Nottingham branch this year. Each emigrant who has the means with which
to pay his passage, is required to pay the necessary amount to the elder
of the district. The names of the emigrants, with the money paid, are
sent to the office at Liverpool, and when all is complete, and the
number of emigrants is known, a contract is made to take them to New
York.
When landed they are taken in charge by the elder and forwarded by rail
to their destination. Emigration commences in May and ends in October.
Three or four parties usually go out each year. The last party for this
year is expected to leave Liverpool on the 18th of October. It is
expected that a company of from 200 to 300 will leave Liverpool at that
time, composed of English, Germans, Scandinavians, and others.
The above are all the facts I have been able to collect with regard to
the Mormons in this town.
I am, &c.,
JASPER SMITH,
United States Commercial
Agent.
[Inclosure 2 in No. 89.]
Mr. Packard to Mr.
Hoppin.
Consulate United States of America,
Liverpool, October 15, 1879.
Sir: In compliance with a circular from the
State Department dated August 26, 1879, which instructs me to report to
the legation without loss of time any facts relative to the emigration
of Mormons to the United States, I have the honor to inform you that a
large number, probably about 70 persons, known as Mormons, have engaged
[Page 467]
passage and are expected
to emigrate from this port on Saturday next, the 18th instant, destined
for the Territory of Utah, in the steamship Arizona of the Guion line of
steamers bonnd for New York.
Also, in compliance to Department instruction, I have called the
attention of his worship the mayor of the borough of Liverpool to the
proposed departure of Mormon emigrants. A copy of my letter to him is
inclosed.
I am, &c.,
[Inclosure in Mr. Packard’s
letter.]
Mr. Packard to the
Mayor of Liverpool.
Consulate United States of America,
Liverpool, October 15, 1879.
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that the
United States Government has communicated to its diplomatic
representative in Great Britain a circular letter, dated at the State
Department August 9, 1879, on the subject of Mormon emigration (a
printed copy attached) and, under date of August 26, the State
Department, in a communication to this consulate, instructs me with
reference to the departure of Mormon emigrants, and adds: “discreet and
opportune suggestions on your part to the local authorities concerning
such movements would doubtless aid the general representations which the
legation is instructed to make.”
I have the honor to state that I am credibly informed that a large
number, say seventy persons, Mormons, intend to sail per steamship
Arizona next Saturday, October 18, destined for the Territory of Utah,
there to join a Mormon community at Salt Lake, Utah, with intent there
to violate the laws of the United States.
I am, sir, &c.,
His worship the Mayor
for the Borough of Liverpool.
[Inclosure 3 in No. 89.]
Mr. Hoppin to the
Marquis of Salisbury.
Legation of the United States,
London, October 16,
1879.
My Lord: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your note of the 6th instant in reply to mine of the 25th of
August upon the subject of Mormon emigration from this country to the
United States, and to state that I did not fail to transmit a copy of it
by the earliest opportunity to Mr. Evarts.
Referring to your lordship’s statement that Mr. Cross will cause a notice
to be inserted in the newspapers cautioning persons against being
deceived by Mormon emissaries, and making generally known the law of the
United States affecting polygamy, and the penalties attaching to
infringements thereof, I have the honor to acquaint your lordship that I
have received to-day a letter from S. B. Packard, esq., the consul of
the United States at Liverpool, informing me that a large number,
probably about seventy persons, known as Mormons have engaged passage
and are expected to emigrate from that port on Saturday next, the 18th
instant, destined for the Territory of Utah, in the steamship Arizona,
of the Guion line of steamers, bound for New York.
I have to add that the consul also informs me that he sent yesterday a
written communication to his worship the mayor of the borough of
Liverpool, calling his attention to the proposed departure of these
people with intent to violate the laws of the United States in the
Territory of Utah.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure 4 in No. 89.]
The Marquis of Salisbury
to Mr. Hoppin.
Foreign
Office, October 29,
1879.
Sir: I have the honor to acquaint you, with
reference to my note of the 6th instant, on the subject of the Mormon
emigration from this Country to the United States, that
[Page 468]
I have been informed by Her Majesty’s
secretary of state for the home department that a notice, * * * was
about to be inserted in the newspapers, with a view to check the
emigration of persons from this country for the purpose of joining the
Mormon community in the United States.
I have further the honor to acquaint you that I have been informed by Her
Majesty’s secretary of state for the home department, to whom I referred
a copy of your note of the 16th instant, calling attention to the
intention of certain persons to leave this country on the 18th instant
with a view, as it would appear, to join the Mormon community in the
United States, that a communication was at once addressed to the mayor
of Liverpool, requesting that steps might be taken to publish at that
port a notice similar to the one to be published in London, warning
persons desirous of joining the Mormon community of the illegal nature
of the practice of polygamy existing at Salt Lake City.
I have, &c.,
