"We reached the Winnebago encampment a little after dark, and were kindly received. It was more comfortable than any we had seen; and we slept sounder and better than before. We rose early next morning. The Indians, however, had been up some time; ate breakfast before sunrise, and started in canoes up the river. There were, I believe, eight in company. We continued on our course until nearly sundown, when we landed and encamped on the bank of the river. There were present about a hundred Winnebago warriors. During the next day, four Sac Indians arrived in camp, dressed in white men's clothes,' and desired to talk with us. We were told, however, by the Winnebago chiefs, that we must shut our ears and turn away from them, which we did. The Blind' and his son, left our encampment during the night, and returned early in the morning. Immediately afterward, they came to us, and the Blind' asked if we thought the whites would hang them if they took us to the fort. We gave them to understand that they would not. They next inquired, if we thought the white people would give them anything for taking us to them. We gave them to understand that they would. The Blind' then collected his horses, and with the Whirling Thunder,' and about twenty of the Winnebagoes, we crossed the river and pursued our journey-my sister and myself, each on a separate horse. We encamped about dark; rose early next morning, and after a hasty meal of pork and potatoes, (the first we had seen since our captivity,) of which we ate heartily, we travelled on until we reached the fort, the Blue Mounds, (Wisconsin Territory.) Before our arrival thither, we had become satisfied that our protectors were taking us to our friends, and that we had formerly done them injustice. About three miles from the fort, we stopped, and the Indians cooked some venison; after which they took a white handkerchief which I had, and tying it to a long pole, three Indians proceeded with it to the fort. About a quarter of a mile from thence, we were met by a Frenchman. The Indians formed a ring, and the Frenchman rode into it, and held a talk with our protectors. The latter expressed an unwillingness to give us up until they could see Mr. Gratiot, the agent. Being informed by the Frenchman that we should be well treated, and that they should see us daily, until Mr. Gratiot's arrival, they delivered us into the Frenchman's care; we repaired immediately to the fort, where the ladies of the garrison, (who in the meantime had assembled,) received us with the utmost tenderness. We were thereupon attired once more in the costume of our own country; and next day started for Galena. On reaching a little fort at White-Oak Springs, we were met by our eldest brother, who, together with a younger one, was at work in a field near the house, when we were captured-and when the massacre began fled, and arrived in safety at Dixon's ferry. On leaving Galena, we went on board the steamboat Winnebago, for St. Louis, which place we reached in five days; and were kindly received by its citizens, and hospitably entertained by Governor Clark. Previous to our leaving Galena, we had received an affectionate letter from the Rev. Mr. Horn, of Morgan county, inviting us to make his house our future home. We accepted the invitation, and left St. Louis in the steamboat Caroline for Beardstown, on the Illinois river, whither we arrived on the third day thereafter. On landing, we were kindly received by its citizens; and in a few hours reached the residence of Mr. Horn, five miles distant, in the latter part of July, 1832, when our troubles ended."

The Miss Halls' brother having married and settled in Putnam county, Illinois, about this time, he invited his sisters to come and reside with him; they did so in the fore part of August, 1832. The elder Miss Hall afterward, in March, 1833, married Mr. William Munson, and settled in La Salle county, about twelve miles north of Ottaway. The younger sister, in May, 1833, married Mr. William Horn, a son of the reverend clergyman, who had so kindly offered them a home in his family, and removed to Morgan county, in this State."

The Legislature of Illinois, in 1833, donated a quarter section of land (one hundred and sixty acres,) to the Miss Halls, lying in the village of Juliet, Will county. It was sold, we believe, several years since by them, for a small consideration. The land thus donated, was granted by the United States to the State of Illinois, for the completion

of the Illinois and Michigan canal. Had the Legislature given them thrice its value in money, and raised that amount by taxation, it would have done the Legislature some credit, and the people would have cheerfully paid it. By giving, however, what did not belong to them, and thus violating their trust, a different question is presented to the people of this State for their reflection. Congress also gave them a considerable donation in

money.

NOTE III.

The author acknowledges his obligations to Doctor Levi D. Boone, of Chicago, for the account herein given of General Whitesides's, and General Henry's expeditions. Doctor Boone commanded a company in General Whitesides's brigade; and was surgeon of one of the regiments attached to General Henry's. He remained with both till they were respectively discharged. He is a kinsman of Colonel Daniel Boone, of Kentucky, con spicuous in border warfare. He is familiar with all the incidents he relates, and a gentleman of high respectability.

CHAPTER XX.

Mormons settle in Illinois, April, 1840-Found the city of Nauvoo-Joseph Smith-His Biography-Is directed by an Angel to the spot where the sacred record, "the Book of Mormon," was afterward found-Oliver Cowdrey, his friend, describes the place, in Palmyra, Wayne county, New-York-Records contained in a stone box had been deposited there fourteen hundred years-Records delivered into the hands of the Prophet, (Joseph Smith,) September 22nd, 1827—Gold plates described-Urim and Thummim, etc.-The Prophet ridiculed Afterward persecuted-Goes to Pennsylvania -Translates the Book of Mormon-Certificates, etc.-The Prophet baptized, in 1829-An edition of the Book of Mormon printed in 1830--Church of the Latter Day Saints organized at Manchester, Ontario county, New-York, April 6th, 1830 -Mormon Creed-Not even a plausible imposition-Mormons, in 1833, remove to Jackson county, Missouri-Difficulty with their neighbors-Remove to Clay county, Missouri-And from thence to Kirtland, Ohio, in 1835-Kirtland Bank-Joseph Smith President-Bank fails-Mormons remove to Caldwell county, Missouri, and build the city of the Far West-Difficulty with their neighbors-Expelled from Missouri, 1838-Remove to Illinois in the spring of 1840-City of Nauvoo incorporated, December 16th, 1840-Provisions in its charter-Nauvoo Tavern incorporatedNauvoo Legion-Nauvoo University-Joseph Smith appointed Lieutenant-generalOrdinance of Nauvoo, for repealing acts of the Legislature-Mr. Caswell's description of Nauvoo, and its Prophet-Religious toleration.

IN April, 1840, a large number of "the Latter Day Saints," or Mormons, came hither and located themselves on the east bank of the Mississippi, at a place known and distinguished upon the map, by the name of Commerce, in Hancock county, Illinois. They had been driven from Missouri, and sought refuge here, with "their little ones and their cattle." They purchased a considerable tract of land in the vicinity, and commenced building a city, which they called Nauvoo-signifying, as we have been told, by a Mormon preacher, "peaceable, or pleasant."

As the Mormons, and more especially their leader, Joseph Smith, (known generally as Jo Smith,) who unites in his own proper person the "prophet, the seer, the merchant, the revelator, the president, the elder, the editor, the general of the Nauvoo legion, and last, though not least, the tavern-keeper," (See note 1.) are destined "to cut a considerable figure in the world ;" an account of the origin and progress of this singular sect, and a brief notice of "the Mormon prophet," we have no doubt, will be acceptable to our readers.

Joseph Smith was born at Sharon, in Windsor county, Vermont, on the 23rd of December, 1805, and of course was thirty-eight years old in December last, (1843.) His parents were in humble circumstances, and

the prophet's opportunities of acquiring knowledge in early life were limited. He read indifferently, wrote and spelt badly, and made but little progress in arithmetic. Other, and higher branches of learning, to him were as a sealed book, of which he was totally, and is now exceedingly, ignorant. When he was about ten years of age his parents removed from Vermont, and settled upon a small farm near Palmyra, Wayne county, New-York, where Joseph, the subject of this memoir, aided and assisted his father in the cultivation of his farm, until the year 1826.

Some time in the year 1820, when "the prophet" was about fifteen years of age, "he began," as he says, "to reflect upon the necessity of being prepared for a future state of existence; but how, or in what way to prepare himself, was a question as yet undetermined in his mind. He perceived that it was a question of infinite importance, and that the salvation of his soul depended upon a correct understanding of the same. He saw that if he understood not the way, it would be impossible to walk in it, except by chance; and the thought of resting his hopes of eternal life upon chance, or uncertainty, was more than he could endure. If he went to the religious denominations to seek information, each one pointed to its own particular tenets- this is the way, walk ye in it'-while, at the same time, the doctrines of each were, in many respects, in direct opposition to each other. It also occurred to his mind that God was the author of but one doctrine, and, therefore, could acknowledge but one denomination as his church; and that such denomination must be a people who believe and teach that one doctrine, (whatever it may be,) and build upon the same. He then reflected upon the immense number of doctrines now in the world, which had given rise to many hundreds of different denominations. The great question to be decided in his mind was, if any one of these denominations be the church of Christ, which one is it? Until he could become satisfied in relation to this question, he could not rest contented. To trust to the decisions of fallible men, and build his hopes on the same, without any certainty and knowledge of his own, would not satisfy the anxious desires that pervaded his breast; to decide without any positive and definite evidence on which he could rely, upon a subject involving the future welfare of his soul, was revolting to his feelings. The only alternative that seemed to be left him was to read the Scriptures, and endeavor to follow their doctrines. He accordingly commenced perusing the sacred pages of the Bible, believing the things that he read." Whether the above reflections passed through the mind of a lad of fifteen, uneducated, and exhibiting,' as yet, no evidence of precocious genius; or whether they are the reflections of maturer life, or the emanations of other and brighter intellects than his own, our readers will judge for themselves ;-of this we give no opinion. We follow "the prophet's" own narrative, being desirous of giving him a fair and impartial hearing. "He now saw, that if he inquired of God there was not only a possibility, but a probability-yea, more, a certainty that he should obtain a knowledge-which, of all the doctrines, was the doctrine of

ence.

Christ. He therefore retired to a secret place, in a grove but a short distance from his father's house, and knelt down and began to call upon the Lord. At first he was severely tempted by the powers of darkness, which endeavored to overcome him; but he continued to seek for deliverance, until darkness gave way from his mind, and he was enabled to pray in fervency of the spirit, and in faith; and while thus pouring out his soul, anxiously desiring an answer from God, he at length saw a very bright and glorious light in the heavens above, which, at first, seemed to be at a considerable distance. He continued praying, while the light appeared to be gradually descending toward him; and as it drew nearer, it increased in brightness and magnitude; so that by the time it reached the tops of the trees, the whole wilderness, for some distance around, was illuminated in a most glorious and brilliant manner. He expected to have seen the leaves and boughs of the trees consumed, as soon as the light came in contact with them; but perceiving that it did not produce that effect, he was encouraged with the hopes of being able to endure its presIt continued descending slowly, until it rested upon the earth, and he was enveloped in the midst of it. When it first came upon him, it produced a peculiar sensation throughout his whole system; and immediately his mind was caught away from the natural objects with which he was surrounded, and he was enveloped in a heavenly vision, and saw two glorious personages, who exactly resembled each other in their features, or likeness. He was informed that his sins were forgiven. He was also informed upon the subjects which had for some time previously agitated his mind, viz that all the religious denominations were believing in incorrect doctrines, and, consequently, that none of them was acknowledged by God, as his church and kingdom; and he was expressly commanded to go not after them. And he received a promise that the true doctrine, the fulness of the gospel, should, at some future time, be made known to him; after which the vision withdrew, leaving his mind in a state of calmness and peace indescribable. Some time after having received this glorious manifestation, being young, he was again entangled in the vanities of the world, of which he afterward sincerely and truly repented.

"Afterward, on the 21st of September, A. D. 1823, it pleased God again to hear his prayers. He had retired to rest, as usual; his mind was drawn out in fervent prayer, and his soul was filled with a desire to commune with some kind messenger, who could communicate to him the desired information of his acceptance with God; and also unfold the principles of the doctrines of Christ, according to the promise which he had received in the former vision. While he was thus pouring out his desires to the Father of all good, endeavoring to exercise faith in his former promises; on a sudden, a light like that of day, only of a purer and far more glorious appearance and brightness, burst into the room-indeed, the first sight was as though the house was filled with consuming fire. This sudden appearance of a light so bright, as must naturally be expected, occasioned a shock, or sensation, visible to the extremities of the body. It