Letter to John C. Bennett, 8 August 1840
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Source Note
JS, Letter, , Hancock Co., IL, to , [, Wayne Co., IL], 8 Aug. 1840. Featured version copied [probably ca. 8 Aug. 1840] in JS Letterbook 2, pp. 176–178; handwriting of ; JS Collection, CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for JS Letterbook 2.
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Historical Introduction
On 8 August 1840, JS wrote from , Illinois, to in , Illinois. JS was responding to three letters Bennett had sent reminding JS and that he had offered to assist the during their difficulties and declaring that he intended to join with them in Nauvoo. This 8 August letter states it was in response to a 25 July 1840 letter from Bennett, but JS’s lengthy paragraph on the environment, location, and population of Nauvoo as well as the postscript indicate that JS was also responding to Bennett’s letters of 27 and 30 July. Bennett did not receive this response from JS before writing another letter on 15 August.The original letter is apparently not extant. copied it into JS Letterbook 2, probably around the time the letter was written.
Footnotes
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3
Coray, Autobiographical Sketch, 2, 4–5, 17, 19. The letter immediately preceding this one in JS Letterbook 2 is dated 28 August 1840. (Letter from Thomas Burdick, 28 Aug. 1840.)
Coray, Howard. Autobiographical Sketch, after 1883. Howard Coray, Papers, ca. 1840–1941. Photocopy. CHL. MS 2043, fd. 1.

Hancock Co Ill
Aug 8th. 1840
Dear Sir
Yours of the 25th. Ultimo addressed to & myself is received for which you have our thanks and to which I shall feel great pleasure in replying. Although I have not the pleasure of your acquaintance, yet from the kindness manifested towards our people when in bondage and oppression, and from the frank and noble mindedness breathed in your letter, I am brot, to the conclusion that you are a friend to suffering humanity & Truth.
To those who have suffered so much abuse and borne the cruelties and insults of wicked men so long on account of those principles which we have been instructed to teach to the world a feeling of sympathy and kindness is something like the refreshing breese and cooling stream at the present season of the year and are I assure you duly appreciated by us
It would afford me much pleasure to see you at this place, and from the desire you express in your letter to move to this place I hope I shall soon have that satisfaction.
I have no doubt but you would be of great service to this community in practicing your profession as well as those other abilities of which you are in possession. Since to devote your time and abilities in the cause of truth and a suffering people may not be the means of exalting you in the eyes [p. 176]
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