But when I see the fearful apprehensions of some of our brethren it causes me to mourn, one instance of which I will mention. When I arrived at Far West, I made my mind known to some of the community, and I told them that I wanted that they should send a messenger to the gaol [jail] to communicate with you, but I was denied the privelege. They said that the Presidency was so anxious to be free once more, that they would not consider the danger that the Church was in. They met in council and passed resolutions that I myself, A[lanson] Ripley, A[masa] M. Lyman, [Jonathan] W Barlow should leave Far West for Quincy forthwith: But my spirits have been grieved ever since, So that I can hardly hold my peace. They are so afraid of bears, that they hardly remember that there is a god in Israel, that can blast the hellish desires and base designs of that infernal banditti whose hands have been embrued in the blood of martyrs and Saints: who wish to destroy the Church of God. But their Chain is short, there is but just enough left to bind their own hands with.