The New York Herald Newspaper, September 6, 1846, Page 1

Vol, XII, No, 238—Whole No. 4451. AFFAIRS OF THE MORMONS. WNWews from Nauvoo. We have received an extra from the St. John’s New Era, containing a letter from Nauvoo dated the 28th ult. ‘The following extracts may be found inter- esting :— . . . . . greater sensation has not been felt during your, nor one that has augwred more deter. ive, and perhaps to many good citizens, fa- * Certainly, the present mined, d tal results. ‘The excitement among the Mormons is intense, and man to man seems urged on to desperation. The new end old citizens of Nauvoo seem united in their purpose of defence, or, rather the new citizens constitute the di- recting, and the old Mormon citizens the effecting pow- er. eusurpers, it will be seen, seem determined to make the usurped the defenders of the vay snes They have about 500 well disci; r portion of whom can fire twenty I ‘noticed some six or eight camps in Iowa, opposite the city, and numbers of Mormons lingering around, as if watching the forthco- ming destiny of their friends and only hopes. ‘The Mormons and have The anti dred men in Carthage—have five pieces of artillery—ob- serve minute military order—and appear determined to enter Nauvoo on Saturday next. . * * * The destruction and defence of the temple seem to be, toa great extent, the watchwords of the parties. There is also given a letter from Gov. Ford, directing Major Parker of the 32d regiment to repair to Nauvoo, and assist in defending the city. Upon the receipt of this, Major P. publishes his proclamation, to whichYohn Carlin replies, refusing to acknowledge his authority, and decla- ring himself as acting legally. Major Parker, on receipt of this, writes to Carlin, requesting him) to disperse his posse, and trust to him to enforce the laws. These facts indicate that it is more than pro- bable that Nauvoo will yet be the scene of battle and murder. Sr. Louis, Aug. 20, 1845. The Mormons in a Paragraph. The strange history of the Mormons, the mar- vellous accounts of their great temple, and the singular fact of a people distinct in religion, cus- toms and social institutions, living and flourishing in the midst of overwhelming masses bitterly op- posed to them, had long aroused in me a desire of visiting a community yet in existence, which ere long might only be traced in the records of the past. With no superfluous amount of funds, therefore, and the single, but of late unaccustom- ed luxury of a change of linen and spotless galli- gaskins, I awaited the arrival of a boat from the lower regions—ef the Mississippi,! mean. The opportunity was not long wanting. The deep asthmatic thunder of one of these fresh wa- ter monsters was soon heard laboring away afar in the horizon, and the lapse of a brief hour or so, beheld her surging naantall up the stream and fastening to the floating wharf on shore. To de- scribe a eigeres i beat in detail, would be to give you a brief but jglowing picture of Noah’s ark, with all its beasts, birds, and creeping things, and to give you any adequate idea of ;the hurly burly, topsy turvy pro- cess of unloading, more particularly with a heavy wind and rapid current, would be to transport ou at once to the very confines of Babel, or a po- itical meeting in the ‘k. Suffice it then to say, that with each eye looking indifferent ways, after dodging several arm-fulls of cord wood—bundles of tobacco, pigs of lead and whisky barrels ; after numereus skilful evolutions over slippery planks, and divers exhibitions of posturing among empty hogsheads and rolling kegs, that would not have disgraced a professor of the tight mil I at length found m; ‘ that is firmly, I ineant to say, ensconced on the upper deck. ‘time was pre- “pia 4 and helter skelter was the order of the day. Commands and countermands rapidly followed, and with a grand flourish of hallowing, squabbling and shuffling, at the expense of divers tender shins, and a man’s hat overboard, we at last swung off,and gallantly pushed up the stream, ‘The banks of the Mississij Ra this point,with the exception of the bluffs arsaw are elevated but slightly above its current, exposing a deep black and rich stratum of mould seven or eight feet in thickness, and sonnei os fact a divi- sion of the famous ‘ Mississippi Bottoms.” Here the dense primeval forests crowd down to the very water’s edge, and fling their broad arms faz over its bosom, drooping with the tendrils of the ivy or cucumber vine, and festooned with the purple clusters of the wild grape,*er the scarlet blossoms of the trumpet creeper. Between their gigantic stems dim and distant vistas may be seen wind- ing to obscurity, and rare scenes of sylvan beaut stretch away in endless succession—here shroud- ed in a rank growth of grassy vegetation and wild flowers—there carpeted by a bright level and vel- vet-like sward, over which the deer still gambols as of yore, and the panther and | yet find re- treat and subsistence. This neglected region still sleeps in the tranquillity of by-gone centuries, and the silence of nature’s world will yet linger long among its solemn arches, unbroken save by the report of the hunter’s rifle, or the deep reverbera- tions of some laboring steamer. jut all this beauty of scene is but the deceptive coloring of danger. The fatal malaria arising from numerous stagnant ponds and vast inland bodies of water, whose depths never know a current, and surface is thickly coated over with an accumulation of deep green, heavy slime, through which the trails of the otter and rattle-snake may be seen winding for hours after their passage, ther with the rank exhalations from shore, marsh and lake, ren- dered an hundred fold more malignant by the in- tense and unremitting heat cf the sun, hangs like apall over the earth; and scenes where Eden might be pictured, now enly give pro- tection to the wild denizen of the forest, and to all others harbor disease and death in every breeze. A few miles farther brought us in sight of the town of Keokuk; but here my reflection on the ultimate destiny ofthese fertile regions, when the hand of man, and the united etlors of a dense population ehall have re- moved many of the prevailing causes of unheal- thiness, were brought toan untimely end by a certain indefinable craving not easily described. Alas! a weakness toocommon to steamboat tra- vellers, after a hearty dinner. In plain English, I was rampant after a cigar, and forthwith pro- ceeded to make the acquaintance of that high po- tentate, and arch functionary on the Mississippi, the bar-keeper. This character, generally the prince of good fellows, I found in the present in- stance, to be a crabbed old Frenchman, whose sourness of vi: was only equalled by his own cider, and whieh, no doubt, to put the most cha- ritable construction on the matter, had turned his brandy into water, and his wines into vinegar.— Him I found in that state, certain somniterous poets describe as an pe Tce the celes- tial, namely, a gentle doze. pent of obtain- ing his aid in that condition, I proceeded to ad- dress this snirit of spirits, in a potent adjuration, ing chiefly of divers guttural hems an intermingled occasionally with an ominous rattling of wall change; but alas he was lon; deaf to ali my spells, until a stentorian voice roare out over my shoulder, “Hallo, stranger, aint you doing a putty quiet business, I reckon ?”’ | looked, round, and ,behelda gigantic, bread shouldered long-armed, open-mottied good-natured looking character,who, in every lineament of his frank ,fro- licksome countenance bore the stamp of ‘told Ken- tuck.” “That are chap,” continued he, in an under tone, ‘‘has got a complaint in one eye,and don’t cee well out of the other. Oh, stranger! your likely to make some pretty smart trades, 1 say foing along.” ‘I wont do nosing else,” grumb ingly replied the half awakened object of these re- marks, rubbing and blinking his eyes with a va- riety of contortions, ‘What you want, eh !’— «Wall, | want one of them ymuriated, orna- mental, petrified cow-tails, you stuck up thar as ‘ regalias,’ that look as if they’d twitch an os- ¢rich ge the grascutous the cholic.” ‘Weill den das de very reason you’d better not toshe ’em,” replied the other. ‘Hurrah, that’s rght into me hke a cat hook, barb and all, ’ll confess ; but come now,” (leaning over and whispering eonfidentially,) “1 want to know—how do you contrive to bring the breed of musketers and bed bugs to such a state of perfection on this ’ere boat, vin that arr awful stock of animal pisens (point- ing to the decanters) worse nor any drug shop, and enough to give any living critters dogmetrical catalepsy just to look at, astarrin’ them in the face like's row of doctors in a hospital.” ‘I only wish sare, dat dey was strong enough to kill all de NEW YO RK, SUNDAY ———— THE SCENE OF THE PRESENTATION OF BIBLES TO THE NEW YORK MORNING The above cut represents the appearance of the scene on Governor’s Island at the time of the presentation of the Bibles to the California regiment, by Dr. McVickar, in behalf of the American Bible Society. The regiment is seen drawn up ir hollow square, thé spectators gather- ed around, kept at a respectful distance by a chain of sentinels, and the Colonel and staff, with in- vited guests, in the midst. The Colonel is receiv- ing the good book, and Dr. McVickar, the chap- lain of the island, is beseeching him to hold it as his guide and leader in whatever part of the , SEPTEMBER 6, 1846. LEGION, OR CALIFORNIA REGIMENT. world he may be with his troops ; that they should go not only with the sword, but with the olive branch of peace, and with that Bible, upon which liberty has its foundation. = vermin that come on board of dis boat, sare,” re- plied the enraged little bar keeper, looking his tormenter full in the face. Oh, now I don’t wonder, when we see them Sarrring on the busi- ness themselves. I reekon you all got innoculated together. Oh, blazes! (lighting the cigar) what on the face of this univarsal art's do you call this ? I'd as soon light the furnace and smoke out of the pipe efa five hundred horse steamboat.” ‘ Dat sare, is because you don’t know what is good fer yourself, sare ; you are one ognoramus, sare, dat don’t know de B from de bull’s foot.” ‘Wall, if Iden’t know that, I reckon I know C froma caif’s ad, and can tell that letter from your head any day, though they are both round with rere in- side.” ‘Sacre ! go way out of dis—so clear yourself, or I’ll throw dis jug of waterre in your eye—I’ll break ay bar in twenty, siventy-six hun- ed pieces, with your head of watermelon !— hutt mille diables, 1 will.” Here the noise the little Frenchman’s voice, with his furious ejaculations, attracted the attention of the by-standers, who, crowding around the spot,succeeded with the aid of his friends, in laggi guns gigantic Kentuckian off the field, with which, however, he reluctantly complied, leaving the enraged barkeeper hopping andedancing around his cage like a maniac, an swearing himself by all that was solemn, that “the’d take the starch out of him ; he’d jump into him with ten claws and a long tail; fe’d shoot him out ofa crooked barrel ; he’d tote him up against alime rock ; he’d throw him to the ends of the airth and pitch him over the other side ; he’d come down upon him like a methodist ser- mon, whip, skin, curry, stretch and wy his hide, and make ‘a bullet pouch out of him afore he knowed whar he was,” with a score of ether ex- travaganzas enough to throw a stranger into fiis. The arrival of the boat at Keokuk, put a final con- clusion to the me/ée, when I stepped out on the deck to view the place. This town or village 1s situated on high rugged bluffs, sloping abruptly down to the nver’sedge. Over the summit and sides ofthese, scattered at various intervals, are perched seme few half painted houses, exhibitin; but slender proofs of comfort or convenience, an: only obtained by broken precipitous thorough- fares, rather resembling bad roads than streets, whose rocky foundation offers but little promise of speedy amelioration. The lower part of the town consisting, in fact, of one street stretching directly under the steep face of the bluff, is chiet- ly composed of a potent array of grog shops, sur- rounded by their customary attendance of bil- lious, cadaverous looking loafers, a few stores, and one or two large flaming hotels of sufficient magnitude to accommodate the whole town and county, but still, as I afterwards found, Se ing, notwithstanding neatly and well kept. They exnibii sad monuments, however, of the days of speculation, which here raged with a fervor never surpassed in the most eligible marshes of New Jersey. Thisis the spot where the majority ofgthose beautiful geodes and crystalization of quartz are obtained, which the traveller so frequently meets with in the Mississippi. They may continually be observed on its banks. must inform you there exisists on the banks of the “Father of Waters,” during the warmer months ofthe year, a race of abstract theorists and speculative peripatetics, who would put to the blush the whole tribe uf cynics ; and the venerated worthies of Communipaw never at anytime dreamed of the perfection of dozing with open eyes, which has long been attaine and practised here. Any village in these districts might furnish me with a sample compared to upon, and their locality, the Hoogerbooms would be mere Merry Andrews, and egy, A Hol- low a place of frivolous. gaiety Imagine some smail country inn, with sufficient breadth of porch to furnish a shady spot through out the day. Here, shortly after breakfast, our junto of philesophers begun to congregate and seat themselves around. From this, time nor tide moves them not after. The bright beams of the morning sun find them in one place, and his de- parting light beholds them scarce a yard from the same. Just toddling their chairs along after the shadow, og form a sort of locometive dial, by which the busy matrons of the vicinity may at any time form a shrewd guess at the hour. He e they may be observed all the long summer’s day, lazily pufling away at their half-lighted pipes, sip- ping mint juleps, or demolishing the luscious con- tents of some gigantic ruddy-hearted water-melon; sometimes preserving a grave taciturnity ; some- times keeping up a drowsy humdrum conversa- tion, interspersed with long-worded [stories and sage reflections on the vanity of work and vexa- tion of labor. The shuffling of a pack of cards, or rattling of the dice box, may now and then be heard breaking on the sleepy stillness of the place, but this is only on particular occasions of vivaci- ty, infallably denoting the presence of a cool day, oran unwonted flow of animal spirits. To be sure, I have known exceptions to these rules. I have witnessed a degree of excitement arise among them scarce to be credited, either from their habits or principles. I have known the re- cital of some extraordinary piece of national or | Siem intelligence produce a patriotic grunt m every op goo and have heard that the declarations of President Polk on the Oregon question,caused a simultaneous rising of the, whole assembly. Nay, I’ll even go so far as {to say that upon the arrival of the news of Texas annexation, one stout pursy old philosopher started up to his feet, upset his chair, climbed with his hands and knees on a large wooden box, and actually whirl- ing his hat three times round his head, made a frightful attempt to shout out aloud; but the effort was premature and unnatural, his voice died away in an asthmatic wheeze, and the only result visi- ble to the company wasa series of dreadful con- tortions and a dangerous flow of blood to the face —like the spasmodic struggles of a victim of the nightmare. ese instances, however, as I mentioned betore, are only solitary exceptions to the neral rule, followed im- mediately, as might be expected, by a cor- responding depression, and more than an or- dinary fit of somnembulism. An occasional Yan- kee, full of noise, bustle, and bargaining, will now and then find his way into on@ vi these seques- tered haunts, arousing the frighted echoes with the din of his voice and wares, and pouring over the whole country a flood ef tetotums and patent gimeracks; but he talks too loud—sets people’s brains to work —is voted a bore, and in the end, is either compel- led to make off with himself, or else catching the contagion of listlessn with a heavy heart and ed wings, like a fly in a cream jug, gradual- yk izzes himself to silence, and seitles down to time with them. The affairs of the great world general state of torpor around. Thus passes trouble them not; the of Emperors and kingdoms, and the fate of battlgs’and sieges, give them no care; the rise and fall of states, cities, and great men, and the thousand events that for. ever flash and fade on the horizon of Time, pass to them like the memory of a dream. Ease, Rest, and Plenty, are their mottoes, and only give them a fe summer’s day, a boon companion or two, aquid or box of genuine Tennessee, with a cob pipe and a mint julep, where the stem is long ‘enough—the weed strong enough—the mint green —the liquor good, and the ice pounded to perfec- tion, and they, t* with this fair store will ask no more, but rest with life contented,” scout the world, and laugh at the revolutions of Time and Fortune. Bless their somniferous souls! Long may they live to enjoy life and Monongahela, prose over the past, and speculate on the fature. After leaving behind the landing of Keokvek, we soon shot into the rapids, and , Bee this time began our tribulations. The current of the Mis- sissippi, Which had hitherto rolled along with @ smooth gurgling creaniy surface, here exhibited va- rious signs of the turmoil and_ struggles going on beneath its waters; sometimes where som@ treacherous sand-bar lay far down in ambush, merely playing its gentle ripplesin the sunlight— then yas where some steady rock and danger ous ridge raised its sturdy head nearly to the sur- face, wheeling and chafing around it, and shoot- ing away in a tempest of fierce eddies. Through these alternate terrors our sturdy Palenurus, with a keen eye and steady hand, by dint of a frequent application of the lead for a long time, steered his lumbering bark with impunity. Rocks, shoals and sand-bars had been rapidly left behind us, and already we flattered ourselves that we should behold the setting sun that evening gleaming from the Mormon temple, and the dusk of twilight that night guide us through the broad streets of Nau- voo. But it was not to be—relentless fate was against us. Suddenly we felt the boat tremble—a succession of violent shocks passed rapidly through her frame, and a sensation of being raised from the bottom wus distinctly perceived, as if some enormous power funderneath her keel, were en- deavoring by repeated throws to raise her bodily fromthe water. The engine was quickly rever- sed to check her progress, but all in vain—with a few more vibrations she remained perfectly quiet, as fixed and as motionless as the rocks, around which the rapid current rushed by, and whirled impetuously past us. Every expedient was re- sorted to, for a long time in Vain, to get again un- derway. The engine was first made to back water, then reversed to drive us over thebar. Its utmost eflorts, however, were ineffectual, and al- though applied to the task until its iron joints seemed fairly to crack, and every puff of steam shot forth with a discharge like distant artillery, not an inch could we gain from the spot. Finally the anchor was earried out in the yawl and drop- ped some hundred yards ahead, and a connect- Ing rope applied to the eapstain; but even this produced no perceptible effect. In the meantime, as if to add to our vexation, down came a fine boat with the fullecurrent in her favor surging proudly over the stream, and in pure impudence running her wheel directly over our solitary buoy. With a rapid headway, and a full load of passen- gers, she swept triumphantly past us, while a crowd of some dozen graceless {ans ‘ing charac- ters, in huge Panama hats and gingham jackets, with cigars stuck in their mouths, and their heels thrown on the railing, sat regarding us with a contemptucus amused sort of expression ; and even the ladies, of whom there were numbers on board, well dressed and very pretty—more’s the pity—instead of commiserating our forlorn condi- tion, exhibited some very unequivocal symptoms {I shall pray for them,] of a smile at our expense. Jn downnght chagrin, I went over to the other side of the boat. Here I was considerably amused by the progress of a very sententious, but somewhat hyperbolical species of argument.— Two men, seated opposite each other, bearing every appearance, from a certainglassiness of the eye, and very rubicund countenance, of being “anco glorious,” were contending some disputed point, with all the gravity of a chancellor, while an occasional maudlin droop of the head or a falsetto intonation of voice, threatened to brin; them ‘o the close of their argument and the dec! together—“o’er all the ills of life victorious.”— “Sir, allow me to state that your ideas—are— er—roneous--sir, on that identical subject under consideration. There is, sir, a met—metaphysi- cal connection allowed between the spirits of the * saints.’ I am bound to acknowledge—in the abstract—that is on the principles of magneti- cal—magnetical —polariy, sir—and’—*t Oh, now come over me, wont you? I tell you the only spirits they connect is whisky and Jamaica, as for the rest I say the doctrine of spiritual wives is unwarsally dalnowiedaed among them, from deacon down todevil. I’ve heard them are Mor- mons preach it from the pulpit, and knowed ’em to practise it at Nauvoo, and every where else.— Now, you see [’! prove to you how the case stands asclearasasiue. Inthe first place, if that are doctrine is right, why then—then—in the natur of things—to any man of common princip! —it can’tbe wrong. You’il admit that?,’ tainly—that ‘s from the premises—to a cer- tain degree, sir, perfectlyiicorrect ” ‘Well, if it can’t be wrong, them that differs about it ust be wrong, and them that agrees about it must be right; you admit that?” ‘ Certainly, sir—pro- ceed, sir.” “ Well, then you differ with me about it, don’t you? and [agree about that it’s all a pack of infernal devilury, so you believing in st, all wrong, and I who don’t believe in it, am right; 80 we'lt move them are Mormon villains any way.” The party addressed was for a moment complet-ly nonplussed by his antagonist’s logic, but presently started up to his feet in a furious passion, at being, as he expressed it, so devilishly diddied. Ripping out a set of oaths that made my hair stand on end, he swore it was all a pack of popalorum, and toddled off indiguantly to the other side of the boat. I was aroused by the re- newed motion of the engine. By the united assis.- ance of the anchor and capsiain, the power of am and the large heavy spars, which by acting levers, served to raise the boat off the bottom, We at length got underway and passed over the bar. Our progress from this time was compura- tively unimpeded ; bur, alas! fortune eame too late, and the wonders of Nauvoo were not to glad- den our eyes that night. We, therefore, as the channel was intricate aad Uncertain, requiring the full beame of daylight for its navigation, run a mile or two further and fastened al cre. Here we landed on the stony beach just as the moon was heaving her broad yellow margin over the woes bluffs. The merry sounds of the fiddle rung blithely to the ear from a low Dutch built comfortable looking house near by, and the forms of the dancers could be frequently seen flitting itech iia across the lighted windows. As I drew near, the measured tramp of the party could be distinctly heard springing blithely away to the stentorian shouts and enlivening notes of Master Rosinabow. I listened a moment, and then leisurely strolled towards a pany of emigrants who had just land- ed from a keel boat, and were seated’ around a blazing fire cooking their suppers. The strange medley of Dutch, German, Irish, English, Yan- kee and Kentuckian, and the wild jargon of half as many different languages, with their uncouth postures, and blazing camp fire, afforded a fair Specimen ofa scene inthe ‘* West.” [loitered a few minutes around the spot, and then slowly retraced my steps and sought my berth. But the idea of sleep seemed perfectly out of the question. The shouting, shuflling, singing, dan- cing, and crowing below, together ‘with the whizzing of steam, and the rumbling of the engine, whose power was still ebbing away in the dying plays of the piston; the rattling of blocks and cordage, and the thumping of heavy luggage, with all the other ten thousand indescribable noises on board of an Upper Mississippi boat, would rouse a man from a trance and laugh at an ounce of opium. This, joined with the intense feat, the stifling air ot the state room, and the occasional pounce of “ lean musquitoes with their sharps and flats,” fora long time kept me in a state of restless excitement; and it was not until nature sunk at last, fairly overcome, that I drop- ped into a feverish doze, in which strange figures and uncouth forms rioted before me, and all the tinkers in creation seemed hammering about my ears. The signs of departure awoke me with the first light of morning, and by the time I was dressed, we were already under way. A few miles of the same slow cautious navigation as of late, brought us in sight of Nauvoo and the tem- ple—the great temple as it was described, with its gigantic proportions, elaborate carving, and mys- terious dedication. To the northward of us, some three or four miles, stretched a long low promon- tory extending directly across our course, and ap- parently barring all further progress up the river. This, thickly studded with ses, trees and gar- dens over an almost immeasurable extent, appa- rently denoting the locality of a large town, was the site of Nauvoo. The clouds which had hith- erto hung darkly over the whole landscape, here slowly parted towards this spot, letting a flood of ruddy light pour on its glittering roofs and wide avenues. The sight was unique and beautifal in the extreme, for while all the surrounding country yet slept in the shadowy mists of a cloudy morn- ing, this spot alone slione out from the scene, bathed in the brightness’ of fairy land, with its dwellings of gold, its diamond windows, and gi- gantic temple, like a monument of ebony heaving up in bold relief against the glowing horizon. An- other mile or two beheld us touching at the flour- ishing village of Nashville, which I shall compli- ment in the most exalted degree, by saying not one word about it. From this spot the Mississip- pi began to expand in width, gradually assumin, the appearance of a miniature lake—here aoe and still, leaving the base of some woody pro- montory—there glittering with the ripples of some hidden” shoal—now curling round the edge of some willow-fringed island—now whispering on the sands of some pure bright arrowy bar. Through these various features of landscape our boat slowly pushed her way, until we arrived at the small town of Monticello, a place chiefly under Mormon influence. Here a fair view of Nauvoo presented itself, with its farms, gardens and scat- tered houses; but, alas! most of its beauty had fa- ded with the distance ; the full glare of the mid- day sun but poorly supplied the magic veil of Aurora, and the creations of a lively fancy were but faintly realized in the unpainted houses, heaps of fubbish and lumber, and the smoking naanu- factories on the shore before us A few minutes’ passage across the river sufliced to bring us to the opposite bank, and effect a landing on the beach, the erection of wharves being a luxury not yet indulged in on the Mississippi. A crowd of saffron colored loafers, as is usual on this river, with countenances redolent of bilious fevers and agues, were lounging about or leaning up against a very State’s prison-looking edifice near by, while a number of fine houses and good carriages were stationed on the bank above, awaiting our arrival, strongly reminding me in this respect of an East- erntown. There being no other passenger to land than myself, I soon jumped on shore and as- cended to the road. From a number of vehicles around I selected one, and soon found myself rancing viaily. a the streets towards the Nauvoo Mansion. jo not imagine, however, that the sound of this mighty and euphoneous name at all conspired to raise my anticipations too highly. I had already experienced too many tra- vesties on the sublime in travelling through the West, to be atfall surprised by log cabin Astor’s, and Tremont’s in shingles. During the drive T addressed several questions tothe driver and a companion of his, both of whom I found very civil and intelligent, and be dea pleased to give any infermation in their power. Among © number of other subjects, enquired how it was that being a people who lived not for this world, nor the praises of men, they should devote so much more than ordinary pains to the appear- ance of their houses and public buildings. They replied that there object was to collect thither, by any reasorable means, the members of every tribe, people and nation of the earth, that the: might all see with their own eyes, and hear with their own ears; thence to beget for them final and irrecoverable judgment; and “you,” sui! he, delivering himself something in this strain ; while his eyes lighted up with fanatic fire, ** you have come tothe bar, you have passed the boun- dary line, you have reached the promised land. Egypt is behind yon, and from this time you will be judged aecording’to the light you have received. I was so much astonished at this powerful, but somewhat personal appeal, that for a few seconds I scarcely knew what reply to make,/ shen, as all my lucky stars would have it, the sig « post of the Nauvoo Mansion arose directly before us, and the next moment we had reined up before the house. {t appeared to be a neatly built, well painted, comfortable looking house, with everything about it in good order, and possessing a pure air and pleasant location After reaching the bar room and entering my name on the books, [ requested to be shown # room. This was immediately granted, and I was conducted up stairs to a large airy and commodious chamber, furnished in a convenience and even elegance of style, I may say, compared to anything 1 had encountered for along time previous, Anexcelient carpet, clean beds, mahogany drawers, wash stand, and even centre table, with a fresh breeze and fine prospect of the principal streets, with divers savory smells from the culinary regions, soon made me feel per- fectly comfortable, and exemplified the truth of that old proverb, ‘‘ Bide with saints and eat their dinners,” &c. After dinner I took a stroll alon the banks of the river, and was here very muc! surprised by the spirit of enterprise and manufac- turing advancement that is displyed on every side. In fact, the Mormons would seem to act as if they expected to hold their present location for all time to come, and lay out, improve, and build incessantly on a spot which, in another month, may be Ad fred of ashes. Mills, potteries, brick yards, and foundaries meet your steps in frequent succession, and the mechanical arts are here car- ried on with a perfection difficult to surpass. Among a number of other objects, I was struck by the singular construction of a current mili, which, although rough in execution, evinced an ingenuity in design worthy of inspection, exhibi- ting the application of a mechanical agent J had hitherto supposed neglected in this part of the West, namely, the rapid and powerful current of the Mississippi. Upon request, I was civilly shown through the Poiiaing and hadexplained ever vi ate of importance I thought fit toinspect. In the eve- ning rode out to view the town. The streets are generally level, laid out at right angles and of great width. “This, joined to the custom of alotting to each house an acre of land, which is either culti- vated asa kitchen garden, teeming with vegeta- bles and fruits, or an ornamental one,studded with flowers, gives to many localities an interesting and beautiful appearance. In fact the principle pursued by the Mormons in laying out their town in four acre lots, to each of which is assigned one dwelling, I consider one of the most admirable de- signs in forming a beautiful and healthy place residence in existence. For although of necessity its dimensions will be greatly expanded, and pos- sbly extend over so large a district as to prove in some” points of view disadvantageous, still, if the town should ever become of such mag- nitude as to require greater condensation, (which in the majority of our country towns would noi, if ever, occur in half a century,) a separate quar- ter might be allotted for that purpose, and the re- mainder of the inhabitants, whose time and pur- suits were not of such vital importance, enjoy the facilities of congregation with the health and 5 Price Two Cents. at enormous expense, there was something want- ing in grandeur of expression. The effect of some vast dome heaving its huge sphere far over the surrounding habitations and scenery, with its simple accompaniment of neg 8 cornice and y Doric pillar, was but ill supplied the spindle | tower, high walls, flat pilasters, and gro- tesque ornaments of the edifice before me, reminding me more of some gigantic, half mo- dern-builtchureh, with its circular lights and bow | windows, than a building I had supposed of pure- | ly original design, or even constructed in the trne Gothic, Gree Egyptian styles. ‘Lhe effect, g 'y modified on further e: amination, The magnitude of the pile—the curacy, beauty and finish of its parts, and the sin- gules mode of its erection, which has hitherto en effected entirely by the voluntary and prof- fered efforts of the inhabitants, all conspired to overcome my scruples and alter my first impres- sions. The whole edifice is erected of a sort of white granulated limestone, resembling marble, and admirably adapted to the purposes of build ing. While in the act of examining the premises a person stepped out and politely offered to show me through the interior of the building. . [gladly accepted the invitation, and followed him to the entrance. My attention here was perfectly rivet- ed by the stupendous height of the ceiling, the massiveness and quantity of the timber, and the number of workmen, who, althoughin the hottest partof the season, were laboring away with an alacrity and perseverance that would have asto- nished the majority o} w York carpente s.— Everything seemed to be done jn the most tho- rough manner. The materials were of the first ace ity, and even the tools of the best possible jescription, and assistesl by every process of mo- dern ingenuity and labor-saving invention. My first excursion was to the basement. This part of the edifice extended principally in one immense apartment, some hundred and forty feet in length and seventy in breadth. The floor was not yet paved, which I was informed however would be shortly done, and heaps of half-finished work and building materials were scattered promiscuous: around. One object, however, in an advance state of completion, attracted my attention ; this was the baptismal font, as it was termed—a hy elliptical shaped mass of stone placed in the mid- dle of the room, and intended, 1 supposed, from the cavity in the middle, to receive the holy wa- ter. The employment of this structure is intimate- ly connected with some of their religious obser- vances ; what they were I did not enquire, but its effect, when finished, with. its beautiful cornice and massive horns, and surrounded by the figures of eight oxen, cut out of stone and placed in the attitudes of guarding its approach, will, in the gloom and silence of the apartment, be highly imposing. The builder of the edifice, a man of nna skill and intelligence, here offered him- selfto conduct{me through and explain the con- struction of the building. This I promptly and gladly accepted ; but 1 will not im| on your patience by any minute detail of.the many ob- jects I here beheld worthy of observation. Suffice it to eg thatin the basement, where the great part of the wood-work, finished and ready for putting up, was carefully stored, I was continually mataelinneel at the quantity of material, and the accuracy and perfection exhibited in the eomple- tion of every part. This was particularly ob- servable in the execution of some pillar caps which were to surround the tower. - These were carved in a somewhat grotesque imitation of the human countenance, on which, whatever opinion might be entertained regarding the nature of the sentiment they inspired, there could be no differ- ence concerning the accuracy and finish exhibited in their completion. I cannot forbear noticing several fine images’ of oxen I observed thrown carelessly aside in one corner of the apartment. Upon examination, I found they were executed of wood, formed by joinin, ye pieces of plank, but with a fidelity and perfection of detail difficult to surpass. In the earlier stages of the building, they had been placed around the fort, but now, owing to their mutilation by visiters, being about to be substituted by those of stone, had been laid aside as useless, and were i cin & going to destruction. At the intimation of my cicerone, | now proceeded to ascend the building. Thad always, from a child, ssed a certain perverse.and premature desire for scrambling up to the very top of matters and things, sorry am { to say, though not sufficiently extended beyond mere temporal affairs ; but now, with a “ saint” for a guide, and a holy edifice to mount by, | felt a laudable conviction of turning my Aah pro- pensities to a better account; but, alas! in the present instance, asI soon discovered, by such an ordeal of tilung planks, shifting beams, and Jacob ladders, that 1 more than half anticipated amusements of a rural life. {It is a pertectly well- established fact, that the pursuits of agriculture, though followed in soevera limited degree, will always act as an antidote to the ennui, reckless- ness and depravity, incident to the dense associa- tion of masses; and the physical vigor, integrity, independence and resporsiblity of character in- separable to the calling of a farmer, woulda thousand fold counterbalance any disadvantages arising from too wide an extension of locality. The houses on the outskirts of the town are prin- cipally small, one story in height, and built of brick, offering in their appearance nothing wor- thy of note ; but many of the edifices on the main streets exhibit decided pretentions to style and beauty, being commodious, well built, and of handsome exterior. In fact, the frequent occur- rence of new buildings, and the progress of ma- nufactures, would seem to argue well for the temporal advancement of the * saints.” What the real condition of their soeiety may be, how far a speciousness of appearance may be resorted to, in order to deceive strangers, or how the laws and ozdinances, necessary for the jurisdiction of fifteen or twenty thousand people, can be carried outinacity without a charter, or (with the ex- ception of the influence of the twelve elders,) without any ordinary or ostensible means of sel{- government, | am unable to determine. Itis my physical material would fall a sacrifice to my spiritual aspirations. Through the space of four or five stories, we mounted in this way before we came toa halt on the roof. Here we paused a moment to catch a view of the fine poe be- neath, and then proceeded to ascend the tower. Here, indeed, the splendor of the scene amply re- warded us for the trouble of its attaining. The survey of Nauvoo, with its broad, rectangular streets, and its innumerable gardens and houses, scattered over an interminable extent—the glassy bosom of the Mississippi, stretching far to the north and south, studded with rafts, keels, and steamboats—the steep woody bluffs and rich corn fields of Illinois, undulating to the very horizon— and, last of all, the wild lands of Missouri, sweep- ing away in plain after plain and hig gs ridge, until mingling forest and prairie faded in dis ll conspired to enhance the scene.— Even eur own situation, perched as we were on a single beam, with no other su than a bare foothold could afford, had its effect ; for from its dizzy height we could behold range upon range of massive timber, diminishing, dwin- dling and darkening in the distance belew true, that the streets of Nauvoo are every night vigilantly guarded by several hundred police; but their eflorts seem rather directed to the detection of spies, and repulsion of the neighboring peo- ple, whom they designate by the title of “mobs,” than for any purpose of internal regulation. There is one point in the social organization of the Mor- mons that offers a bold contrast to all modern associations, and for which, at least, they deserve the palm of originality; they are a people who profess to live without the aid of law er physic, and as such, deserve to be buried under a wooden pyramid. ‘They exultingly informed me that there was neta lawyer or physician in the whole city. When I questioned them how they suc- ceeded in quelling difficulties, and set ling disputes, and how they cured the “ills that flesh is heir to,” forthe first, they stoutly denied the existence of any dissensions in their community ; and for the last, they acknowledged no remedy but divine inspiration. To this, how- ever, I decidedly objected, urging the utter impos- sibility of any body of men, of so great « magni. tude, living together without some collision of person or interest, and, at the same time, also strongly demurring as to the potency of inspiration in setting a broken leg or curing a lumbago in the back. Their reply was, that if at any time there might exist a difference of opinion strong enough to approach even the shadow of a dispute, it was immediately and without further appeal settled by the elders; and, as regarded the frac- ture of a limb, there were many among them, who, by the assistancs of grace and a knowledge of surgery, always possessed the power of healing it, The first part of their answer appeared rea- sonable enough, but as to the latter, | was a little dubious ; not being perfectly satisfied of the fact why “grace” and surgery should not agree as well as “grace” and singing, and why a doctor in practice was not a physician in prolession, unless, to be sure, the one was compensated in money and the other in presents. After a ride of nearly two miles through one street, in which the houses were still as contiguously placed as in ether parts of the town, we turned, and came back by an- other route. The appearance of the inhabitants as we passed along, most of whom were of the poorer classes, seated at their meals or quietly en joying the evening air, did not seem to justify the extentof poverty and wretchedness I had been led to expect amorg them ; and as for the females, they were dressed with a neatness, simplicity and taste I bad rarely seen equalled. The shades of evening had fallen darkly around when my cice- rone pointed out the temple, a short distance from the spot; but all that could be seen with distinctness were the outlines of its dark form heaving up sombrely against the evening sky, while its base appeared surrounded and cum- bered with huge blocks of stone, and heaps of | building materials, of every form and description. Lreturned, therefore, without stopping, and re- tired for the night, but was long kept awake by ths strains of a wild and peculiar, but sweet hymn, proceeding from a house op)osite, whose coqvettish occupants I had observed playing at a peep the whole afternoon. The next morning visited the temple. At the first view | was some- what disappointed in my Le eed toms Although of immense magnitude, and evidently constructed —supporting, abutting, meeting, divergii crossing an opposing, in all the varieties of ar- ee com! ny on “: fa- ded in the mazy depth; throug! the pigmy workmen could be seen, far down, bu- sily engaged in their Lilliputian tasks, from which continually arose the confused but resounding din. ofthe plane, hammer and saw. It would be use- less here to enter into a detail of the skill, inge- nuity or immense labor expended on the upper, part of the building—the perfect adjustment of timber in the tower, or the admirable system ot joing and joint covering on the roof—these are ‘subjects interesting alone to the architect or build- er, and even to others would require a far ter space than we present to illustrate. Suifice to say, allowing for me, obstructions, poverty, pau- city of mechanics, and the daily anticipation ef danger, I consider the temple an extraordinary building. After half an hour’s chat with my in- telligent guide, whose manners were the rfec- tion of the old school, I cordially thanked him for his politeness and took my leave. In conclusion of the temple then let me add, the expense of construction is stated at two hundred thousand dollars; its dimensions are 158 feetlong by 88 broad, and 155 feet high, with the tower. Its or- der of architecture is partly original, partly com- poynded of Grecian and Egyptan, and its object 18 ¢ .iefly ecclesiastical, though built undoubtedly ina great measure to attract visiters and thence converts. It will probably be completed in some twelve or fourteen months. With some three or four drives around town, and twice that number of pedestrian excursions, which, however, offered nothing particularly worthy of notice, I took my leave of Nauvoo. A few words, however, before I conciude, concerning the position and cha rac- ter of the Mormons, may not prove unacceptable. Their whole history, and even present existence, offers a strange contrast to all precedents. They profess to a perfectly and purel organized sys tem of the Christian religion, and yet talk of despe- rate resistance in case of attack ; they do not de- ny the use of;the sword, and yet suffer themselves to be driven from place to place. If the half of what their accusers bring against them be true, they live in direct and palpable contradiction of every civilized custom Rs de ak lation of every precept of christianity, ro petual infrestion of very. law of the land. We continually hear, both frem the natives of the surrounding country and strangers, whose tem- porary residence in the vicimty would seem | to give them greater claims for an imy ity of decision, of a thousand offences and misdemeanors committed by them without de- tection, of the most flagrant crimes perpetrated | by and among them with impunity, We are continually reminded of the destitution and recklessness of the poorer classes, and the ex- tortion, duplicity, and oppression of their leaders. | And yet the stranger visiting Nauvoo beholds a town flourishing apparently in every respect— its inhabitants actively engaged in business, | trade; or the cultivation of their lande— | the houses neatly kept and well built, and an order, harmony, and unanimity previane, among | them, toall appearance, rarely equalled. Of course the residence of a few days amon; eng not- withstanding the opinions of certain Bi tour- ists, give but an indifferent opportunity of ascer- taining their real character. But appearances wotat Bo admirably kept up to prevent a stranger in a number of promiscuous rambles through a