Skip to main content

Letter from Willard Richards, 9 August 1842

  1. Home > 
  2. The Papers > 

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.

Go to previous page 3

Page [4]

such as would be an honor to the indeed I think very few Small fish in this region would be willing to accept a Title from .— From all I now know I would suppose an honorary title for of the Herald would be well enough, But any military command quite useless— would not consider it any honor to have any one attached to his staff whose name did not stand high or who would not stand by him in the field of battle. He knows not fear! He is thoroughly versed in military tactics in all its branches.
The box of books which were in the when I left,— were designed for the — has no controul over them.— This Letter is not for the press. does not wish his name to appear in the papers either here or there.— There is much in the papers here concerning ,— The mormon charater cannot be hurt here,— Many things I would say but have not time or room.— My best wishes & with you. & my prayers constantly for you. please remember me to . & his & enquir[in]g frie[n]ds,—— you[r]s forever— —
Gen. Joseph Smith
Ill.
 
Politeness of Mr Pratt} [p. [4]]
View entire transcript

|

Cite this page

Source Note

Document Transcript

Go to previous page 3

Page [4]

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. [18]

    James Gordon Bennett, editor of the New York Herald, had been appointed aide-de-camp in the Nauvoo Legion with the rank of brigadier general in May 1842. Bennett lampooned the appointment in his newspaper, stating sarcastically, “There’s honor—there’s distinction—there’s salt and greens for a modest, simple, calm, patient, industrious editor.” (“Rising in the World,” New York Herald, 13 Aug. 1842, [2].)

    New York Herald. New York City. 1835–1924.

  2. [19]

    Bennet served as an officer in the United States Artillery during the War of 1812. “Had he remained in the service,” one newspaper article declared in 1842, “he would by this time, most likely, have been a General officer.” (Heitman, Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army, 1:211; “Military and Scientific,” Wasp, 11 June 1842, [3].)

    Heitman, Francis B. Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army, From Its Organization, September 29, 1789, to March 2, 1903. 2 vols. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1903.

    The Wasp. Nauvoo, IL. Apr. 1842–Apr. 1843.

  3. [20]

    Bennet had apparently given books to John C. Bennett “on the presumption that he would in his own name present them for the benefit of the Temple.” According to JS, Bennett had placed the books in JS’s store, telling him that when they were sold, the money was to be given to James Arlington Bennet, not donated for the construction of the temple. In a letter written just a few days after this one, James Arlington Bennet asked JS to retain the books “in you[r] hands for the present.” (Letter from James Arlington Bennet, 16 Aug. 1842; JS, Nauvoo, IL, to James Arlington Bennet, New Utrecht, NY, 8 Sept. 1842, JS Collection, CHL.)

  4. [21]

    Just a few days after this letter was written, Bennet expounded on this idea, stating that JS had already been maligned in the newspapers prior to Bennett’s allegations: “What Gen. J. C Bennett is now saying in the papers is nothi[n]g more than what was common report before throughout this whole community. . . . you therefore have lost not a whit of ground by it.” (Letter from James Arlington Bennet, 16 Aug. 1842.)

Go to page