Vexatious Law Suits at Painesville.
Thursday, 27.—I started from Kirtland in company with Elders Rigdon and Marsh for the purpose of visiting the Saints in Canada. Brother Rockwood on his return home, Elder Brigham Young on a mission to the eastern cities, started with us. When we arrived at Painsville we were detained all day by malicious and vexatious law suits. About sun-set I got into my carriage to return home to Kirtland; at this moment the sheriff sprang into the carriage, seized my lines, and served another writ on me, which was sworn out by a man who had a few weeks previously brought a new fashioned cooking stove to Kirtland, and prevailed on me to put it up in my kitchen, saying it would give credit to his stove, wishing to have it tested by our people; and now he thought would be a good time to get pay for it. I gave my watch to the officer for security and we all returned home.
Second Start for Canada.
The following day I remained at home until evening, when we set out again in Brother S. B. Stoddard's wagon to Ashtabula, a distance of thirty miles and arrived there a little after daybreak and stayed till afternoon and enjoyed ourselves very much in walking on the beach and bathing in the beautiful, clear water of the lake. At four p. m. we took a deck passage on board the steamer for Buffalo. At night we all lay down to rest on the upper deck of the boat, and for pillows some took their boots, others their valises, and had a comfortable night's repose. We arrived at Buffalo the next morning in safety. Here we separated from Brothers Brigham Young and Albert P. Rockwood, they going to the Eastern States; and myself, Brothers Sidney Rigdon and Thomas B. Marsh started for Toronto, Upper Canada.
The British Mission—Attacked by Evil Spirits.
About daybreak Sunday, July 30th, Elder Isaac Russell, who had been appointed to preach on the Obelisk in Preston market-place that day, and who slept in the second story of their lodgings in Wilford street, went up to the third loft where Elders Hyde and Kimball were sleeping, and called upon them to pray for him, that he might be delivered from the evil spirits that were tormenting him to such a degree that he felt he could not live long unless he obtained relief. They immediately arose and laid hands on him and prayed that the Lord would have mercy on His servant and rebuke the devil. While thus engaged Elder Kimball was struck with great force by some invisible power and fell senseless on the floor; and the first thing Elder Kimball recollected was being supported by Elders Hyde and Russell beseeching the throne of grace in his behalf. They then laid him on the bed but his agony was so great he could not endure it, and arose, fell on his knees and prayed; then he arose and sat upon the bed while the brethren distinctly saw the evil spirits, who foamed and gnashed upon them with their teeth, by legions for the space of some minutes; Elder Richards was present the latter part of the time. About ten o'clock in the morning the brethren repaired to the river Ribble, according to previous appointment, and, in the midst of a large collection of people, baptized nine individuals, one of whom was George D. Watt, the first man baptized in England in this dispensation.
Spread of the Work in England.
On Monday, the 31st of July, the Elders held a council and appointed Elders Goodson and Richards a mission to Bedford, and Elders Russell and Snyder to Alton, Cumberland county, continuing in prayer until morning, August 1st, when they took their departure for their several stations.
Affairs at Far West.
The same day (August 1st) a general meeting of the Presidency, High Council, Bishop, and counselors and the Saints assembled at Far West. The High Council elected Thomas Grover a High Councilor in place of Jesse Hitchcock; and George Morey in place of Peter Whitmer, Jun., deceased; and Titus Billings was elected Bishop's counselor in place of John Corrill. Voted unanimously by the whole assembly that in the absence of the Presidency, Councilors, Bishop and counselors at Kirtland, the Elders in Missouri had no authority [to act as a Council for the Church], consequently their acts in that capacity during that space of time are considered null and void; and that every president of High Priests and Elders be ordained by some higher authority; and the president of any quorum having counselors may ordain them himself.