Letter from Horace Hotchkiss, 17 March 1840

Rev

& Joseph Smith Jr.

Gent. I some time since addressed a letter to, Mr. Smith at , to which I have recd. no reply, and was in that City two or three weeks ago, but not being able to hear any thing of Mr. Smith, I suppose he must of course have left; and with the hope of still reaching you I now send to — I should have written you long before, and indeed very often this winter. but my health has been miserable, and since my return from I have been confined to my house.

I beg you to inform me how you are progressing with your petition before Congress and its probable result— Whether you have any friends in the House or in the Senate, who will bring forward your case, and advocate it in cincerity— and persevere in your behalf with skill and ability untill something is accomplished. Milk and water friends in Congress are good for nothing. They must be true. have talents, be zealous, or else they will be detrimental rather than advantageous to you— Should you Gent. & come as far east as this it will afford much gratification to have you take up your quarters at my house— I did intend to see you at , but my health will not now permit