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Letter from Willard Richards, 9 August 1842

Source Note

, Letter, , New York Co., NY, to JS, , Hancock Co., IL, 9 Aug. 1842; handwriting of ; four pages; JS Collection, CHL. Includes address and dockets.
Bifolium measuring 9¾ × 7¾ inches (25 × 20 cm). The recto of the first leaf is ruled with twenty-six lines (now faded), and the verso of the first leaf and the recto of the second leaf are ruled with twenty-eight lines (also faded). There is an illegible embossment in the upper left-hand corner of the recto of the first leaf. The letter was written on the recto and verso of both leaves; writing on the verso of the second leaf is interrupted by space reserved for the address block. The document was trifolded twice in letter style, addressed, and sealed with a red adhesive wafer. Much of the wafer remains on both sides of the second leaf. The document was later folded for filing.
, who served as scribe to JS from 1842 to 1844, docketed the document. Another docket was added by , who was a clerk in the Church Historian’s Office from 1853 to 1859. The document was listed in an inventory that was produced by the Church Historian’s Office circa 1904. By 1973, the document had been included in the JS Collection at the Church Historical Department (now CHL). The document’s early dockets, the circa 1904 inventory, and inclusion in the JS Collection by 1973 indicate continuous institutional custody.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    JS, Journal, 29 June 1842; “Clayton, William,” in Jenson, Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia, 1:718.

    Jenson, Andrew. Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia: A Compilation of Biographical Sketches of Prominent Men and Women in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 4 vols. Salt Lake City: Andrew Jenson History Co., 1901–1936.

  2. [2]

    “Obituary of Leo Hawkins,” Millennial Star, 30 July 1859, 21:496–497.

    Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star. Manchester, England, 1840–1842; Liverpool, 1842–1932; London, 1932–1970.

  3. [3]

    “Letters to and from the Prophet,” ca. 1904, 1, Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL.

    Historian’s Office. Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904. CHL. CR 100 130.

  4. [4]

    See the full bibliographic entry for JS Collection, 1827–1844, in the CHL catalog.

Historical Introduction

On 9 August 1842, wrote a letter from to JS in , Illinois, reporting on his visit with . Richards had been assigned to travel to the eastern in July 1842 to collect donated funds for the construction of the Nauvoo and to serve as an on general business. He also planned to reunite with his wife, , and son, who had been staying with Willard’s relatives in , Massachusetts, and bring them to Nauvoo. In addition, JS wanted Richards to visit Bennet, a prominent New Yorker who had shown himself in past months to be a friend to the Latter-day Saints, and explain to him “all the facts relative” to and his conduct in Nauvoo. Richards was also to convey to Bennet information on the , in which Bennet was an officer, and to tell him of “the prog[r]ess of the City, prospects of business, or any other matter.” On 5 August, Richards and his wife arrived at , where Bennet lived on ; on 7 August, the Richardses traveled to New York City with Bennet and his wife, Sophia.
In this letter, shared ’s thoughts about JS’s actions in exposing ’s alleged misconduct. Richards also forwarded Bennet’s advice on how to weather the storm brought on by John C. Bennett’s charges against JS. In addition, Richards provided a description of Bennet’s status in society and his religious beliefs. Finally, Richards discussed Bennet’s April 1842 appointment to an office in the Nauvoo Legion and his willingness to accept that appointment. Richards clarified that his letter was not intended for publication.
According to the letter, sent it to JS using a “Mr Pratt” as courier, although it is unclear whom “Mr Pratt” refers to. It appears that the letter was actually carried to JS by and , who were traveling from to . They delivered it to JS with several other letters on 7 September 1842.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Richards, Journal, 1–6 July 1842; “To the Eastern Churches,” Times and Seasons, 1 June 1842, 3:814.

    Richards, Willard. Journals, 1836–1853. Willard Richards, Papers, 1821–1854. CHL. MS 1490, boxes 1–2.

  2. [2]

    Willard Richards, [Nauvoo, IL], to Jennetta Richards Richards, [Richmond, MA], 26 Feb. 1842, Jennetta Richards Richards, Collection, CHL.

    Richards, Jennetta Richards. Collection, 1842–1845. CHL.

  3. [3]

    Bennet, for example, had defended JS and the Saints in a letter to the New York Herald written under the pseudonym “Cincinnatus.” (James Arlington Bennet [Cincinnatus, pseud.], “The Mormons,” New York Herald, 16 May 1842, [2].)

    Richards, Jennetta Richards. Collection, 1842–1845. CHL.

  4. [4]

    For more information on John C. Bennett’s conduct in Nauvoo, see Letter to the Church and Others, 23 June 1842.

  5. [5]

    Letter to James Arlington Bennet, 30 June 1842.

  6. [6]

    Richards, Journal, 7 Aug. 1842.

    Richards, Willard. Journals, 1836–1853. Willard Richards, Papers, 1821–1854. CHL. MS 1490, boxes 1–2.

  7. [7]

    The most prominent Pratts in the church—Parley, Orson, William, and Addison—seem to have been in either England or Nauvoo at this time.

  8. [8]

    By 15 August 1842, the two were in Pittsburgh, where they met with apostle John E. Page. (Letter from John E. Page, 15 Aug. 1842.)

  9. [9]

    JS, Journal, 7 Sept. 1842.

Page [2]

I found very feeble. & <​I​> brought her away from the bay for a respite. & the benefit of Sea air. her health is gradually improving. & mine is good. Friday last we went to the . , where we were most cordially welcomed by . Lady; & family consisting of one Son & one daugthr. His mansion is of the first order surpassed by none in & few in .— & yet his table Livery. &c are humble, having retrenched his expences to suit the pressure of the times. though worth his hundreds of thousands. , in his ancestry Joins unites the Blood of two Noble families of . but although he may pride himself thereon in some degree, yet he does not rest his greatness, or popularity on such a sandy foundation; he is a gentleman. & stands at the head of the Elite of ;— he is a schollar, & believing that every man should be the creator of himself. or the originater of his own resources, has applied himself with unremitting diligence to all the arts & sciences & subjects within his reach, & those not a few.— His mind is of the highest order & stoops not to notice those Little broils which distract the human family, & when the shafts of envy are aimed at his head he wards them with a grace becoming himself, He rather seemed to regret. that Joseph should have taken notice enough of . to publish any thing about him, but when the cause I explained, he was satisfied,— He was satisfied of true character before I saw him, & holds him in utter detestation. is Says he believes Joseph as great a prophet as Moses. & a better man.— but he does not believe in Special Revelation in any period of time. He belongs to no sect or party, & were he to Join any would as soon Join the mormons [p. [2]]
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Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter from Willard Richards, 9 August 1842
ID #
901
Total Pages
4
Print Volume Location
JSP, D10:366–372
Handwriting on This Page
  • Willard Richards

Footnotes

  1. [7]

    Jennetta Richards Richards had been staying with Willard’s relatives in Massachusetts for several months. (Willard Richards, [Nauvoo, IL], to Jennetta Richards Richards, [Richmond, MA], 26 Feb. 1842, Jennetta Richards Richards, Collection, CHL; Phinehas Richards, Richmond, MA, to Willard Richards, Nauvoo, IL, 15 May 1842, Willard Richards, Journals and Papers, CHL.)

    Richards, Jennetta Richards. Collection, 1842–1845. CHL.

    Richards, Willard. Journals and Papers, 1821–1854. CHL.

  2. [8]

    James Arlington Bennet married Sophia Smith around 1811. The couple had a daughter, Caroline, born in 1828, and a son, James, born in 1830. Another son, Arlington, had died in 1832. (1850 U.S. Census, New Utrecht, Kings Co., NY, 51[B]; “The Washington Cemetery,” Brooklyn [NY] Daily Eagle, 6 Sept. 1867, 2.)

    Census (U.S.) / U.S. Bureau of the Census. Population Schedules. Microfilm. FHL.

  3. [9]

    Bennet’s coat of arms contained symbols claiming to be “for Fitzroy, dukes of Grafton, descended from King Charles the Second, and from Henry Bennet, Earl of Arlington.” The coat of arms also contained “a griffin’s claw” for “Warren, of the earls of Surrey and earls of Warren.” However, these genealogical claims may have been overstated. One later source disparaged Bennet’s coat of arms as an example of people exaggerating their ancestry by providing “pedigrees commencing with a fabulous affiliation to some noble English family.” (Nichols, Herald and Genealogist, 5:358–359, emphasis in original.)

    Nichols, John Gough, ed. Herald and Genealogist. 8 vols. London: J. G. Nichols and R. C. Nichols, 1863–1874.

  4. [10]

    Bennet, who at the time was “a lecturer of note,” had published The American System of Practical Bookkeeping by Double Entry in 1814, which went through numerous editions thereafter. He would later write books on topics as diverse as swimming and religion. (Green, History and Survey of Accountancy, 132; Bennet, Art of Swimming, 3; Bennet, Hell Demolished, v.)

    Green, Wilmer L. History and Survey of Accountancy. Brooklyn, NY: Standard Text Press, 1930.

    Bennet, James Arlington. The Art of Swimming, Exemplified by Diagrams, From Which Both Sexes May Learn to Swin and Float on the Water; and Rules for All Kinds of Bathing, in the Preservation of Health, and Cure of Disease: With the Management of Diet from Infancy to Old Age, and a Valuable Remedy Against Sea-Sickness. New York: Collins, Brother & Co., 1846.

    Bennet, James Arlington. Hell Demolished; Heaven Gained; Science Triumphant; Moses, the Old Jew, on His Back, and the Almighty Vindicated against the Pretentions and Falsehoods of Men. New York: By the Author, 1855.

  5. [11]

    In a letter to JS written just a few weeks later, Bennet expounded on this, stating, “The only thing concerning him [John C. Bennett] that I regard of importance, is, that you found it necessary to expose him.” Bennet regretted this and “wish[ed] most ardently that you had let him depart in peace, because the public generally think no better of either the one party or the other in consequence of the pretended exposures with which the News papers have teamed.” (James Arlington Bennet, New Utrecht, NY, to JS, Nauvoo, IL, 1 Sept. 1842, JS Materials, CCLA.)

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