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Letter to Editor, 17 March 1843, Draft

Source Note

[
Willard Richards

24 June 1804–11 Mar. 1854. Teacher, lecturer, doctor, clerk, printer, editor, postmaster. Born at Hopkinton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Joseph Richards and Rhoda Howe. Moved to Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, 1813; to Chatham, Columbia Co...

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, (Viator, pseud.)], Letter,
Nauvoo

Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....

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, Hancock Co., IL, to the Editor of Daily Bee,
Boston

Capital city of Massachusetts, located on eastern seaboard at mouth of Charles River. Founded by Puritans, 1630. Received city charter, 1822. Population in 1820 about 43,000; in 1830 about 61,000; and in 1840 about 93,000. JS’s ancestor Robert Smith emigrated...

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, Suffolk Co., MA, 17 Mar. 1843, draft; handwriting of
Willard Richards

24 June 1804–11 Mar. 1854. Teacher, lecturer, doctor, clerk, printer, editor, postmaster. Born at Hopkinton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Joseph Richards and Rhoda Howe. Moved to Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, 1813; to Chatham, Columbia Co...

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; three pages; “Truthiana No. 1,” Truthiana, 1843, drafts, CHL.

Historical Introduction

See Historical Introduction to Letter to Editor, 22–ca. 27 Apr. 1843.
Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. Letter to Editor, 17 March 1843, Partial Draft Letter to Editor, 17 March 1843, Draft Letter to Editor, 17 March 1843

Page 2

ten horns, and eyes within and without darting fire brands arrows and death at every glance, were as nothing compared with the description of this outlandish host; and in contemplating their deeds of darkness, one might well <​have​> exclaimed, Ne Plus Ultra. The cry of blood & murder was wafted on every breeze; but, as I had never been accustomed to fear the spirits of shadows, I leaped from the Steamer, which had safely borne me on the waters of the Majestic
Missisippi

Principal U.S. river running southward from Itasca Lake, Minnesota, to Gulf of Mexico. Covered 3,160-mile course, 1839 (now about 2,350 miles). Drains about 1,100,000 square miles. Steamboat travel on Mississippi very important in 1830s and 1840s for shipping...

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, and landed saf[e]ly on Terra Firma, in the midst of this wonderful people, just as the f[r]ost was about to suspend navigation; and there I am yet, ice bou[n]d.
Immediately on my arrival, I made my way into the very heart of the
city

Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....

More Info
, & judge of my astonishmet, when, instead of finding myself surrounded by savages; more terrible than the copper race of the forest, with his tomahawk & scalping knife, I discernd that I was in the midst of an inteligent & enlightened people, as peaceable, quiet, sober & industrious, as those of any city I had ever visited.
I have had several interviews with the great prophet, and other big lions of this community, and will do them the justice to say, that I have never found more of the true gentlemen, among any people, entirely freed from that sophistry in deportment, which characterizes many of the fashionables of Civilized Society. The Mormon prophet may well be considered the one hundred & first wonder of the age, and the Caution too, if I may Judge by a few calls at his office, & frequnt exhibititons of himself in public,
The dignity, combined with ease, familiarity, and urbanity of manner, which characterizes his deportemet [deportment]; On the judgme[n]t Seat, as Mayor of the
City

Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....

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; as commander of the
Legion

A contingent of the Illinois state militia provided for in the Nauvoo city charter. The Nauvoo Legion was organized into two cohorts: one infantry and one cavalry. Each cohort could potentially comprise several thousand men and was overseen by a brigadier...

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; as president of a numerous
church

The Book of Mormon related that when Christ set up his church in the Americas, “they which were baptized in the name of Jesus, were called the church of Christ.” The first name used to denote the church JS organized on 6 April 1830 was “the Church of Christ...

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; as head of a noble family; and as a general business calculator, is not surpassed: but this is not sufficient to occupy his mind; his eye appears to glance with the velocity of lightning to the utmost bounds of earth, and he compasses other worlds in his imaginations, or revelations, (true or false, judge ye,) never losing sight of the signs in the heavens, the commotion of Elements, the Contentions of Nations, [p. 2]
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Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter to Editor, 17 March 1843, Draft
ID #
12041
Total Pages
4
Print Volume Location
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  • Willard Richards

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