Received a letter from Grand Master A. Jonas, requesting the loan of cannon, to celebrate the organization of the new county of Marquette, which I granted. Also received a letter from United States Senator Richard M. Young, with a bond for a quarter section of land. I baptized Mr. Mifflin, of Philadelphia. Issued a writ for the arrest of A. Fields, for disorderly conduct. He was brought in drunk about noon, and abused the court. I ordered him to be put in irons till he was sober. [Sidenote: Case of Benj. Hoyt Before High Council.] The High Council, with my brother Hyrum presiding, sat on an appeal of Benjamin Hoyt, from the decision of David Evans, bishop; which was, that Brother Hoyt cease to call certain characters witches or wizards, cease to work with the divining rod, and cease burning a board or boards to heal those {312} whom he said were bewitched. On hearing the case, the council decided to confirm the decision of Bishop Evans. [Sidenote: Destructive Tempests.] The _St. Louis Gazette_ reports "an awful gale" within the last six weeks. 154 vessels were wrecked on the coast of England, and 190 lives lost; on the coast of Ireland 5 vessels and 134 lives; on the coast of Scotland, 17 vessels, 39 lives; and on the coast of France, 4 vessels and 100 lives; value of vessels and cargoes, roughly estimated, $4,125,000. The Thames Tunnel completed and opened for foot passengers, when 30,000 persons passed through the first day. [Sidenote: Opposition to the Work in South Wales.] Elder William Henshaw, who has encountered considerable opposition since he commenced preaching in South Wales, organized the Pen-y-darran branch, and ordained William Rees Davis, priest, who commenced preaching in the Welsh language, which caused opposition to increase and a considerable number to receive the gospel. While he established that branch of the Church, Brother Henshaw supported himself by work in the coal mines. _Sunday 26_.--At home, the weather being too severe for meeting. _Monday, 27_.--I dictated the following letter to Sidney Rigdon:-- _Letter of Joseph Smith to Sidney Rigdon--Expressing Belief in Rigdon's Complicity in Conspiracy, with John C. Bennett et al._ DEAR SIR:--It is with sensations of deep regret and poignant grief that I sit down to dictate a few lines to you this morning, to let you know what my feelings are in relation to yourself, as it is against my principles to act the part of a hypocrite or to dissemble in anywise whatever with any man. I have tried for a long time to smother my feelings and not let you know that I thought that you were secretly and underhandedly doing all you could to take the advantage of and injure me; but whether my feelings are right or wrong remains for eternity to reveal.