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Dear friends:—

It is a long time since I have written you, & I should now much desire to see you, but I leave to night for to meet the messenger charged with the arrest of Joseph Smith, , , & others, for murder, burglary, treason, &c. &c., who will be demanded in a few days on new indictments, found by the grand Jury of a called court, on the original evidence, &, in relation to which a was entered by the district attorney. New proceedings have been gotten up on the old charges— & no can then save them.— We shall try Smith on the charge case when we get him into . The war goes bravely on, & altho’ Smith thinks he is now safe— the enemy is near, even at the door. He has awoke the wrong passenger. The will relinquish Joe up at once on the new requisition— there is but one opinion in the case, & that is nothing can save Joe on a new requisition and demand predicated on the old charges, on the institution of new suits. He must go to , but he shall not be harmed if he is not guilty: but he is a murderer & must suffer the penalty of the law. Enough on this subject.

I hope that both of your Kind & amiable families are well, & you will please to give them all my best respects. I hope to see you all soon. When the officer arrives I shall be near at hand—I shall see you all again. Please to write me at on , immediately,

P. S. Will please to hand this letter to after reading?

[For the editorial remarks on page 2, see Unpublished Editorial, ca. late Jan.–early Feb. 1843, George Q. Cannon Copy.] [p. 1]