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Letter to Orville Browning and Nehemiah Bushnell, 7 December 1841

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Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation *Letter to Orville Browning and Nehemiah Bushnell, 7 December 1841 *Letterbook 2 History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842] “History of Joseph Smith”
Page 217
image
Copy of a letter to and of
Decr. 7th 1841
Esqrs. & ,
Gentlemen,
Your letter of 23rd Ultimo, concerning two notes placed in your hands by Messrs, & Co against myself and thirty one others for collection, was duly received.
In reply I must inform you, that I am not in the possession of means, belonging to me individually to liquidate those notes at present. The reason is apparent to every one; I need not relate to you the persecution I have suffered and the loss & confiscation of all my effects at various times, as a reason of my inability; you know it all, and so do the gentlemen whose notes you hold for collection. But I wish you to say to them, that if they will give me my time, (and no more than than I must necessarily have,) they shall have their pay in some way or other; that I have the means at command in the east, which, with a sufficient indulgence, will enable me to pay them every whit, but unless this is granted me it will be impossible for me to do so. All I ask of those gentlemen and of this generation is, that they should not tie up my hands, nor thwart me in my opperations; if this is granted me, I pledge my word, yea my sacred honor that all that can in fairness be demanded at my hands, either now or at any time, shall ultimately be adjusted to the satisfaction of all concerned. This is all that I can say at this time, or do, hoping that you will communicate to Msrs. & Co the contents, or at all events the purport of this letter, together with my sincere regard for their welfare, and as regards you, Gentlemen, I remain
Very Respectfully yr. obt. Servt.
Joseph Smith
pr. Sec’y [p. 217]
Copy of a letter to and of
Decr. 7th 1841
Esqrs. & ,
Gentlemen,
Your letter of 23rd Ultimo, concerning two notes placed in your hands by Messrs, & Co against myself and thirty one others for collection, was duly received.
In reply I must inform you, that I am not in the possession of means, belonging to me individually to liquidate those notes at present. The reason is apparent to every one; I need not relate to you the persecution I have suffered and the loss & confiscation of all my effects at various times, as a reason of my inability; you know it all, and so do the gentlemen whose notes you hold for collection. But I wish you to say to them, that if they will give me my time, (and no more than than I must necessarily have,) they shall have their pay in some way or other; that I have the means at command in the east, which, with a sufficient indulgence, will enable me to pay them every whit, but unless this is granted me it will be impossible for me to do so. All I ask of those gentlemen and of this generation is, that they should not tie up my hands, nor thwart me in my opperations; if this is granted me, I pledge my word, yea my sacred honor that all that can in fairness be demanded at my hands, either now or at any time, shall ultimately be adjusted to the satisfaction of all concerned. This is all that I can say at this time, or do, hoping that you will communicate to Msrs. & Co the contents, or at all events the purport of this letter, together with my sincere regard for their welfare, and as regards you, Gentlemen, I remain
Very Respectfully yr. obt. Servt.
Joseph Smith
pr. Sec’y [p. 217]
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