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CORRESPONDENCE 383

You will allow me to repeat the earnest request that Br. Johnson be appointed, if practicable, to accompany me. My views of the importance of the enterprise are in no way dimin- ished. A company will go to California next spring, 68 among which will be several valuable Baptist families, who will settle with the companies that have gone before them on the Sacramento River near San Francisco Bay. Is it not time that the Baptists had two missionaries west of the mountains to look after the rising interests on the Pacific? Our health is tolerably good, but sickness is becoming more frequent than it has been this season.

I shall forward my quarterly report by the next mail.

Yours truly,

EZRA FISHER.

P. S. Please write me soon and let me know the wishes of the Board respecting the contemplated mission.

Yours, E. F.

Rock Island, 111., Sept. 17th, 1844. Rev. Benj. M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc. Dear Br :

I proceed to make my report for the first quarter under the appointment bearing date May 1st. . ..

I have preached thirty-five sermons, attended sixteen prayer meetings, five conference meetings, seven covenant meetings, and traveled three hundred and twenty-five miles. We have no conversions to record within our congregations. Baptized none. Received three by letter. Have made seventy-five pas- toral visits and attended one funeral, a member of this church. Monthly concert is attended with this church. Visited one common school. Obtained no signatures to the temperance pledge. We have one young brother fitting for college; as

68 The first important overland immigration to California from the United States was in 1841. Bancroft, Hist, of California IV:263.

The overland immigration of 1845, the preparations for which are here men- tioned, numbered about 150. Ibid. IV:57i.