Leonard to John Davis, August 30, 1884
Mr. Leonard to Mr. Davis.
No. 18.]
Sir: I have the honor to report that three Mormon missionaries, Messrs. Willis, McCann, and Pratt, have recently arrived and are now in Calcutta.
Their object is to make converts, and it is to be expected that they will take them to Utah.
It is likely to be several weeks, and may be months, before these missionaries will have enough converts to make a shipment from this port. I expect to keep advised as to their movements, but from the length of time necessarily required to communicate between this country and England, it is very doubtful whether a report sent from here to the minister at London, after the facts shall have been ascertained, pursuant to section 381 of the Consular Regulations, would reach there and could be acted upon before the missionaries and their converts will have left for the United States.
I would respectfully ask whether any means of prevention exist or whether any action on my part to prevent the sailing of such converts is called for.
I am, &c.,