wonderful place, with the history of which I had become acquainted. I had, however, determined within myself to sell my liberty and life as dearly as I could, in case the reports I had heard should prove `true; but the fact was, I did not place much confidence in their Jackthe-Giant-Killer's tales, looking upon them as being too marvellous to be true.

"I landed at Nauvoo on a beautiful morning in the summer season. I felt a degree of superstitious dread creep over me as I set my foot upon the shore. Presently I discovered some armed men advancing towards where I was, but immediately perceived that they were peaceable citizens of the place, engaged in a pleasure party. As I walked onward, I felt myself comparatively at home, as I now and again met with an Englishman that I once had gazed upon in my native land. I directed my course towards the Temple, and after having gazed upon and thoroughly examined every part of it, I was soon led to the conclusion that there was not much danger to be apprehended from being confined in its subterranean vaults or dungeons; I took up my abode as convenient to the edifice as I could, in order that I might be the better enabled to take cognizance of every circumstance which might come under my observation ; I had resolved to keep upon a strict look-out, and to keep my head and understanding from being confused, in order that I might be enabled to judge correctly, and have a true and correct report to send to my native land, should I be permitted to reach its shores in safety.

"The city is of great dimensions, laid out in beautiful order; the streets are wide, and cross each other at right angles, which will add greatly to its order and magnificence when finished. The city rises on a gentle incline from the rolling Mississippi, and as you stand near the Temple, you may gaze on the picturesque scenery around; at your side is the Temple, the wonder of the world; round about, and beneath, you may behold handsome stores, large mansions, and fine cottages, interspersed with varied scenery; at the foot of the town rolls the noble Mississippi, bearing upon its bosom the numerous steam-ships which are conveying the Mormons from all parts of the world to their home. I have seen them landed, and I have beheld them welcomed to their homes with the tear of joy and the gladdening smile, to share the embrace of all around. I have heard them exclaim, How happy to live here! how happy to die here ! and then how happy to rise here in the resurrection! It is their happiness; then why disturb the Mormons, so long as they are happy and peaceable, and are willing to live so with all men? I would say, Let them live.'

"The inhabitants seem to be a wonderfully enterprising people. The walls of the temple have been raised considerably this summer; it is calculated, when finished, to be the glory of Illinois. They are endeavouring to establish manufactories in the city. They have enclosed large farms on the prairie ground, on which they have raised corn, wheat, hemp, &c.; and all this they have accomplished within the short space of four years. I do not believe that there is another people in existence who could have made such improvements in the same length of time, under the same circumstances. And here allow me to remark, that there are some here who have lately emigrated to this place, who have built themselves large and convenient houses in the town; others on their farms on the prairie, who, if they had remained at home, might have continued to live in rented houses all their days, and never once have entertained the idea of building one for themselves at their own expense.

"Joseph Smith, the Mormon prophet, is a singular character; he lives at the Nauvoo Mansion House,' which is, I understand, intended to become a home for the stranger and traveller; and I think, from my own personal observation, that it will be deserving of the name. The Prophet is a kind, cheerful, sociable companion. I believe that he has the good-will of the community at large, and that he is ever ready to stand by and defend them in any extremity; and as I saw the Prophet and his brother Hyrum conversing together one day, I thought I beheld two of the greatest men of the nineteenth century. I have witnessed the Mormons in their assemblies on a Sunday, and I know not where a similar scene could be effected or produced. With respect to the teachings of the Prophet, I must say that there are some things hard to be understood; but he invariably supports himself from our good old Bible. Peace and harmony reigus in the city. The drunkard is scarcely ever seen, as in other cities, neither does the awful imprecation or profane oath strike upon your ear; but, while all is storm and tempest, and confusion abroad respecting the Mormons, all is peace and harmony at home."

GROWTH OF NAUVOO-JOSEPH SMITH A CANDIDATE FOR THE PRESIDENCY OF THE UNITED STATES-ADDRESS TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE-CORRESPONDENCE WITH MESSRS. CLAY AND CALHOUN-NEW TROUBLES AND PERSECUTIONS OF THE SECT-THE "SPIRITUAL WIFE" DOCTRINE-A SCHISM AMONG THE MORMONS THE NAUVOO EXPOSITOR-DISTURBANCES IN THE CITY-"ABATEMENT" OF THE NUISANCE OF AN UNFRIENDLY NEWSPAPER-LEGAL PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THE PROPHET-HIS SURRENDER TO TAKE HIS TRIAL-MURDER OF JOSEPH AND HYRUM SMITH BY THE MOB IN CARTHAGE GAOL.

66

FOR a time after the establishment of the Mormons at Nauvoo, the Prophet' and his followers were warned by sad experience, and were less haughty, less overbearing, and less presumptuous, in their intercourse with the "Gentiles." But the prosperity which attended

them in Illinois, and the rapid growth of Nauvoo, soon filled them again with insolence and spiritual pride. The dissensions, which had subsided in adversity, were renewed in prosperity. The power and influence of Joseph were too great not to excite envy, and Sidney Rigdon did great mischief by introducing a novelty called the "spiritual wife" doctrine. This caused great scandal, both among the Mormons and among their enemies. Joseph himself appears, unless he has been grievously maligned, and unless the affidavits published by his opponents were forgeries, to have had as great a penchant for a plurality of wives as Mahomet himself. Sidney Rigdon, according to the same authority, outdid him in this respect, and had “revelations of his own, which he made subservient to the gratification of his passions. There was possibly some exaggeration in these stories, but they do not appear to have been wholly unfounded, as far as Rigdon, and some others, were concerned.

Joseph was now at the climax of his earthly glory, and might have been comparatively happy even amid the persecutions of his neighbours the "Gentiles," had it not been for secessions from his church, and the annoyances springing out of the " spiritual wife" doctrine of his indiscreet friend Rigdon. The population of Nauvoo was almost wholly composed of Mormons. The corporation over which he presided as mayor, assumed a jurisdiction independent of, and sometimes hostile to, that of the State of Illinois. They denied validity to the legal documents of the State, unless countersigned by Joseph, as mayor of Nauvoo, and they passed a law to punish any stranger in the city who should use disrespectful language in speaking of the Prophet. As time wore on, hostility against the sect increased. They waged a constant warfare with the nine counties that adjoin Handcock county, in which Nauvoo is situated, and their old feud with Missouri was kept up by legal proceedings, which, in a somewhat vexatious manner, were instituted against Smith. Lieutenant-Governor Boggs, of Missouri, was fired at through a window and narrowly escaped assassination. He swore that, to the best of his belief, Joseph Smith was a party to this attempt to murder him. The legal proceedings consequent upon this charge, tended to excite and maintain the bitterest animosity between the " Saints" and the " Gentiles." But the "spiritual wife" doctrine of Sidney Rigdon was the cause of the greatest scandal, and ultimately produced an unlooked-for catastrophe.

Nevertheless, the wealth and power of the sect continued to increase, their numbers being augmented from time to time by the English immigration from Liverpool. The Times and Seasons of the 15th of May in that year, announced to the Saints "that Nauvoo was becoming a large city, that a number of splendid houses were erected,

and that three ships' companies had arrived in the spring from England, and the Prophet was in good health and spirits." In 1844, they carried their heads so high that they put Joseph forward as a candidate for the Presidentship of the United States, and his still faithful Sidney Rigdon as a candidate for the Vice-Presidentship.

The Times and Seasons declared for Joseph Smith as President in the following address :

:

"The question arises, whom shall the Mormons support?-GENERAL JOSEPH SMITH. A man of sterling worth and integrity, and of enlarged views; a man who has raised himself from the humblest walks in life to stand at the head of a large, intelligent, respectable, and increasing society, that has spread not only in this land, but in distant nations; a man whose talents and genius are of an exalted nature, and whose experience has rendered him every way adequate to the onerous duty. Honourable, fearless, and energetic, he would administer justice with an impartial hand, and magnify and dignify the office of chief magistrate of this land; and we feel assured that there is not a man in the United States more competent for the task.

"One great reason that we have for pursuing our present course is, that at every election we have been made a political target for the filthy demagogues in the country to shoot their loathsome arrows at. And every story has been put into requisition to blast our fame, from the old fabrication of 'walk on the water,' down to the murder of ex-Governor Boggs.' The journals have teemed with this filthy trash, and even men who ought to have more respect for themselves, men contending for the gubernatorial chair, have made use of terms so degrading, so mean, so humiliating, that a Billingsgate fisherwoman would have considered herself disgraced with. We refuse any longer to be thus bedaubed for either party; we tell all such, to let their filth flow in its own legitimate channel, for we are sick of the loathsome smell.

"Gentlemen, we are not going either to 'murder ex-Governor Boggs,' nor a Mormon in this State for not giving us his money;' nor are we going to walk on the water;' nor 'drown a woman;' nor 'defraud the poor of their property;' nor send destroying angels after General Bennett to kill him; nor marry spiritual wives;' nor commit any other outrageous act this election, to help any party with; you must get some other persons to perform these kind offices for you for the future. We withdraw.

"Under existing circumstances we have no other alternative, and if we can accomplish our object, well; if not, we shall have the satisfaction of knowing that we have acted conscientiously, and have used our best judgment; and if we have to throw away our votes, we had better do so upon a worthy rather than upon an unworthy individual, who might make use of the weapon we put in his hand to destroy us with.

"Whatever may be the opinions of men in general in regard to Mr. Smith, we know that he need only to be known to be admired; and that it is the principles of honour, integrity, patriotism, and philanthropy, that has elevated him in the minds of his friends, and the same principles, if seen and known,