I received a long equivocating letter from Francis M. Higbee, charging me with having slandered his character and demanding a public trial before the Church. It contains no denial of the charges which he accuses me of having spoken against him, but is full of bombast. {175} _Thursday 11.--_At home. Rode out, ten a.m., and returned at half-past one p.m. This morning William Jones, who had stayed all night at Wilson's Tavern in Carthage, was arrested without process by Colonel Levi Williams and his company, who kept him in custody until noon without rations. The Twelve Apostles gave an invitation to the Saints in Nauvoo to cut and draw for me seventy-five or one hundred cords of wood on the 15th and 16th instant. _Friday 12.--_Thaw: snow nearly gone. [Sidenote: Conference in Michigan] A conference was held in Brownstown, Main county, Michigan. Elder Mephibosheth Sirrine, president; and Gehiel Savage, clerk. Nine branches were represented, containing 6 elders, 9 priests, 7 teachers, 1 deacon, 136 members, and 45 scattered members; one hundred members having removed from that state to Nauvoo since the conference in July last. _Saturday 13.--_At home in the morning. At ten o'clock, attended City Council, where a bill for an ordinance concerning the recording of deeds in this city was taken under consideration, and read twice. It elicited much discussion. The ten policemen who were not present at the meeting of the City Council on the 5th instant were sworn in the matter of William Law and William Marks, and testified they had received no private instructions whatever from me. A discussion took place on the subject of granting licenses for the sale of spirits. I signed resolutions passed at a court martial held this morning. Stephen M. Farnsworth was chosen president of the priests' quorum, and William Carmichael and William Box his counselors. _Sunday 14.--_At home all day. {176} A prayer-meeting was held at the assembly room. I did not attend. Warm and rainy towards evening. The Twelve Apostles preached at private houses in various parts of the city. A branch of the Church was organized in New Orleans, with 34 members. T. B. Jackaway, president, and E. L. Brown, clerk. _Monday 15.--_At home. Wrote to Sister Maria L. Campbell, Elmira, N. Y. [Sidenote: A Wood Bee] At nine, a.m., teams began to arrive with wood, according to the appointment of the Twelve Apostles, there being about 200 of the brethren chopping in the woods, and from thirty to forty teams engaged in drawing the wood to my house. About 100 loads were drawn, and as many more chopped, and left to be drawn another day. [Sidenote: Threats of Francis M. Higbee.] At ten, a.m., Dr. Richards called, and told me it was reported that Francis M. Higbee was going to put me under $10,000 bonds for speaking against him. At the same time, Constable Eldredge summoned me to attend a court as witness before Esquire Johnson; and I went accordingly, to give my testimony.