| 549 building up a 'resting place where none can molest them and none can make them afraid.'
The site is indeed one of snrpassing [surpassing] beauty; probably the most beautiful of any on the river; but as this is allowed on all hands, and the description has so often been presented to the public, I will not weary the patience of your readers by giving them another, although the theme could never be worn out. I can only say, that should any individual visit the place he would be led to exclaim with the Queen of Sheba, 'the half has not been told me.'
But what I was led most particularly to notice, was the neatness, cleanliness, and comfort of their abodes, and the intelligence, industry and good order of the inhabitants. I did not see as in other cities a parcel of fops and dandies, parading round the streets to see and be seen; but everyone seemed to have some business, and to pursue it with all his heart. I did not see any groceries or grog shops, with loafers and rowdies ready to pick a quarrel with anybody and insult every decent man they met; and what is more singular than all, I did not see a single intemperate man on the place, and I was assured by a gentleman who has lived here two years, that he had not seen one in the whole course of that time, although there is no Washingtonian society in the place. They seem to believe, and rightly too, in my estimation, that the religion of Jesus Christ embraces all temperance societies, and every other society in the world for the information of mankind.
I had every opportunity that an individual could desire, and certainly I had the inclination, to discover whether there was any thing concealed, any thing 'behind the curtain,' any thing iniquitous under these specious appearances; in short, whether the many stories reported by J. C. Bennet and others of the same stamp, were true or not, and I found them invariably false. Some perhaps may argue in the words of an old saying that 'where there is so much smoke, there must be some fire.' I can only say in answer, that the facts are as I have stated them, as such I must admit them if no one else does. Gentlemen come and see for yourselves.
But, lest I trespass on your time and limits, I will bring my remarks to a close. I have had no space for many remarks I should like to have made upon your city and its inhabitants, but you should deem this short communication worthy of an insertion in your valuable paper will, before leave, give you my opinions with regard to your prophet-his doctrine-and his views, &c.
With sincere desires for the
welfare, prosperity and
blessings of the Almighty on the
people of this place, permit
me to subscribe myself
respectfully yours, &c.,
HOSPES.
SOME OF THE REMARKS OF JOHN S. REED, ESQ., AS DELIVERED BEFORE THE STATE CONVENTION.
The following is part of the speech of Mr. Reed, esq., as delivered at the State Convention, in Nauvoo. We expected according to a resolution passed, to have had the whole; but as Mr. Reed was in a hurry, he was unable to furnish us with any more than the following, which refers more particularly to Gen. Smith's early history,
Mr. Chairman:-I cannot leave this subject and do justice to my own feelings, and the character of Gen. Smith, without giving a short history of the first persecution that came upon him in the counties of Chenango and Broome, in the State of New York, commenced by that class of people calling themselves Christians.
The first acquaintance I had with Gen. Smith, was about the year 1823. He came into my neighborhood, being then about eighteen years of age, and resided there two years; during which time I became intimately acquainted with him. I do know that his character was irreproachable; that he was well known for truth and uprightness; that he moved in the first circles of community, and he was often spoken of as a young man of intelligence, and good morals, and possessing a mind susceptible of the highest intellectual attainments.
I early discovered that his mind was constantly in search of truth, expressing an anxious desire to know the will of God concerning his children here below, often speaking of those things which professed christians believe in.-I have observed to my best informed friends, (those that were free from superstition and bigotry) that I thought Joseph was predestinated [predestined] by his God from all eternity to be an instrument in the hands of the great dispenser of all good, to do a great work; what it was I knew not. After living in that neighborhood about three years, enjoying the good feelings of his acquaintances, as a worthy youth, he told his particular friends that he had had a revelation from God to go to the west about eighty miles, to his father's, in which neighborhood he should find hid in the earth, an old history written on golden plates, which would
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