AFFAIRS IN UTAH.
Capt. Gibson Gone on a Mission to the East Indies—Deaths in the Territory—The New Superintendent of Indian Affairs—The Weather, &c.
Correspondence of the New-York Times.
GREAT SALT LAKE CITY, Friday, Nov. 23, 1860. Since Capt. GIBSON'S return to this city from the States, he has addressed the Tabernacle congrega-tion several times. He seems to have considerable faith in Mormonism, for the present week sees him starting on a mission to the Orient He travels by the southern route, to San Francisco, I suppose, and thence for Singapore. It would appear from the tenor of his talk on Sunday in the Tabernacle, that his pres-ent mission will be rather an extensive one. He claimed acquaintance with the reigning King of Siam, also thought a good deal of the Japs and their country, not forgetting the various other people in the far off Eastern Archipelago. The Captain appears to have great faith in his destiny in that region. What a thing if he should meet with and convert "Tommy," and bring him to Salt Lake! In that case there would be a ray of hope for "Tommy's" bevy of Yankee sweethearts, who are now, of course, without "Tom-my" and without hope in the world. The precise na-ture of the Captain's mission, the uninitiated will scarcely be expected to know, and perhaps but a very few of the initiated are much wiser. It may be that BRIGHAM has some important designs in view in re-gard to the East, and takes advantage of the Cap-tain's faith, and zeal and enthusiasm, and his knowl-edge of Eastern people, countries, languages, man-ners, customs and affairs in general, to accomplish those designs. Or, it may be, that the Captain feels a strong call to go and preach the Mormon Gospel to the Archipelagian heathen, and BRIGHAM says, "Go and prosper." At all events, BRIGHAM, on Sunday, told the people that "Elder GIBSON was going forth fully authorized to negotiate with all the nations of this world who would obey the Gospel of Christ; if brother GIBSON would magnify his calling, he would do more good than he ever anticipated doing." A pretty liberal commission, certainly.
Death seems to have been tolerably busy the past Summer and the present Fall. Though correct figures are hard to get at, it is generally considered that the departures for that bourne whence no traveler e'er returns, have been considerably above the average number at the same or any other time of year. Ex-cepting accidents and diseases of long standing, the most common causes of death are cold, canker, di-arrhoea, and kindred complaints. Perhaps the dispro-portionate number of deaths in childhood arises from the fact that many of the people are unable to obtain those little comforts or remedies which are so accessi-ble in older communities, a ready circulating medium being very scarce here, except at particular times, as during the passage of the California emigration some ten or twelve years ago, and more recently on the ad-vent and location of the army in this Territory. And sick children naturally need more comtorts than do adults.
Our new Superintendent of Indian Affairs, Col. DA-VIS, is setting about his duties most industriously. On Saturday he, accompanied by several Federal officers, visited the camp of LITTLE SOLDIER, chief of a small band of Indians, who roam most in the Salt Lake and Weber Valleys. The Superintendent distributed a large quantity of presents, informed the Indians of the duties of the several Federal officers, and that if they (the Indians) stole or shed blood, or committed any violence, he should have them brought before the Judges and punished. Among the presents distributed, perhaps too profusely all at once, were flour, beef, osnaberg, blankets, linsey calico, hatchets, spades, paint, beads, and ammunition. The Indians of Ruby Valley and vicinity are next to receive, from the Su-perintendent's liberal hand, a goodly supply of the necessaries and comforts of even civilized life. It is to be hoped that the red men will appreciate the pres-ents and prove sufficiently grateful therefor to spare human life and the property of the white man.
It may not be generally known in the States that there are live Psalmists now-a-days—sweet singers in the Mormon Israel, even as there are prophets, apos-tles, patriarchs, seers and revelators. Miss. E. R. Snow prints a lengthy "Psalm for 1860," in two parts. The burden of the effort appears to be the travels and persecutions of the Mormon Church, spiced with a taste of the prophetic.
HOWARD SPENCER, who attained some notoriety in connection with the late Sergeant PIKE, who was shot in the main street of this City, in open day, by some, as yet, judicially unproved hand—this HOWARD SPENCER, on Wednesday, met with a serious accident by being run over with a wagon in one of the cañons, and severely injured.
The weather, during the past week, has been of va-rious sorts—cloudy, windy, snowy, frosty, and several days as fine and warm as could be desired at this sea-son. Although the Winter, as yet, seems to hold off, and many predicate a very favorable, that is, a very fine and warm one, perhaps the more so as the last two or three have been pretty severe for man, beast and tree.
During the last two or three days of the last week a cold and powerful wind storm, principally from the east, visited this valley, driving the snow clouds and the fallen snow clean away, and drying up the roads from a state of mire almost impassable in places to an excellent condition for traveling. In this city and vi-cinity very little harm was done, but in the country immediately north considerable damage was sustain-ed. At Farmington, where the wind is accustomed to play certain wild freaks, houses, barns, sheds, cor-rals, fences and stacks suffered greatly. On Saturday the corral and stack-yard of Mr. FREEMAN LEONARD took fire; several tons of hay and straw were con-sumed, and one mule and one hundred and sixteen sheep were burned to death. The log dwelling house of Mr. N. QUIGLY, across the street, was also destroy- ed, the family only escaping. At Centreville the barn of JUD. STODDARD was blown over, some roofs were blown off and other damage done—hay flying about like Autumnal leaves. At Freedom three houses, including the Bishop's, were despoiled of their roofs, besides other destruction. At Ogden City a new "Tabernacle" has recently been erected—this was considerably damaged by the storm, and some forty dwellings were more or less injured. At Wil-lard City a fire also occurred, destroying some eighty tons of hay. There and at North Ogden and other places the storm made havoc of stacks, houses, barns, &c. Of hay and grain destroyed by the storm, a con-siderable amount is reported in all. A few persons were more or less injured, but it is believed none were killed.
The prevalence of frequent high winds, combined with the unsubstantial nature of adobes, is probably a great cause of most of the houses of Utah being con-fined to one story in height, though in many instances in the chief cities, especially this, exceptions to the general rule exist. But the predilections of the people are mainly for one story.
It has been a matter of discussion and conjecture among the learned, as to the precise locality of the Garden of Eden. BRIGHAM cleared up this matter on Sunday, for which no doubt all biblical students will be thankful. The Garden of Eden, then, according to BRIGHAM, was "right where the Prophet Joseph laid the foundation of the Temple, in the centre Stake of Zion." This means, I suppose, at Independence, Jackson County, Mo, where every faithful Mormon expects to go, before or after the resurrection—or I should rather say before or in the Millennium.
A few days ago a bucket machine and appurtenances arrived in this city from Tarowan, Iron County, some three hundred miles south. They were sent there in the Spring of 1858. Perhaps this arrival is the last ex-hibition of the return from the famous "move South."
As elsewhere, there is here considerable discussion as to whether the Union will be dissolved in conse-quence of the election of LINCOLN. Various are the opinions uttered. Certainly every Mormon is dead sure the Union will go to pieces ere many years more have pa-ssed. But the prevailing impression seems to be that the time is not yet, however near at hand it may be. Though LINCOLN'S election is considered the entering wedge.
