At the August election I was returned to the Legislative Council by unanimous vote, and in December following I attended its session till the end of the year. _January, 1854_.--Still in legislative session, which adjourned the latter part of this month. The remainder of the winter was spent in the ministry; in the active duties of a Regent of the University of Deseret (being one of a Committee on the Deseret Alphabet and a New System of Orthography); in teaching a class in the Spanish language; in ministering in the ordinances of the endowments in the house of the Lord; and in studying, writing, etc. At a General Conference, held on the 6th day of April, I was appointed to a second mission to California. Donations were contributed to aid me in said mission. _May 5th_.--I took leave of my family and friends in Salt Lake City and started on my second mission to California. Brother Thurston, a young man who had a mission to the isles, accompanied me. We had a small wagon, drawn by two mules. At Provo we joined Governor Young and train on their trip south, and travelled with them as far as Cedar City. At Parowan we were joined by Elders Silas Smith and Brother West, who had also been selected by the conference as missionaries to the islands. At this place Brother Young gave me the parting hand and blessed me; and also Brother Kimball rose up and blessed me, and, as he gave me the parting hand, promised many good things. He said I should be blest, and my posterity forever. Here we parted--Brother Young and company on their return, while I and my company proceeded on our Pacific Mission. Near Cedar City we were joined by other missionaries, and our company now consisted of twenty-four men and one woman. Nothing of particular note occurred on our journey, and on June 9th we arrived safely and in good health and spirits at San Barnardino, and were kindly entertained by Elders C. C. Rich and A. Lyman. After resting a few days I here left the main company and started with Brother J. W. Stewart in a carriage for the port of San Pedro--distance, eighty-five miles. The road was good, and we camped out two nights and arrived on the 14th, and were kindly received by Messrs. Alexander & Co., who kept the warehouse. Here I unexpectedly met with a company of Saints from Australia, under the direction of Elder William Hyde, and we mutually rejoiced in meeting friends. I set sail on the steamer "Southerner" for San Francisco on June 24th, and had kind treatment and passage free in cabin. We had head winds and were driven back three times, being five days longer than usual on the passage, arriving there on the 2d of July in safety. In a few days I went to San Jose Valley, and at Brother Cheeney's I found my wife Elizabeth, in very poor health--she having come on business a few months previous. We rested a few days at Brother Cheeney's and were kindly entertained.