JS, History, 1838–1856, vol. C-1, created 24 Feb. 1845–3 July 1845; handwriting of , , Jonathan Grimshaw, and ; 512 pages, plus 24 pages of addenda; CHL. This is the third volume of a six-volume manuscript history of the church. This third volume covers the period from 2 Nov. 1838 to 31 July 1842; the remaining five volumes, labeled A-1, B-1, D-1, E-1 and F-1, continue through 8 Aug. 1844.
Historical Introduction
This document, “History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842],” is the third of six volumes of the “Manuscript History of the Church” (in The Joseph Smith Papers the “Manuscript History” bears the editorial title “History, 1838–1856”). The completed six-volume collection covers the period from 23 December 1805 to 8 August 1844. The narrative in this volume commences on 2 November 1838 with JS and other church leaders being held prisoner by the “’s forces” at , Missouri, and concludes with the death of Bishop at , Illinois, on 31 July 1842. For a more complete discussion of the entire six-volume work, see the general introduction to this history.
Volume C-1 was created beginning on or just after 24 February 1845 and its narrative was completed by 3 May 1845, although some additional work continued on the volume through 3 July of that year (Richards, Journal, 24 and 28 Feb. 1845; Historian’s Office, Journal, 3 May 1845; 3 and 4 July 1845). It is in the handwriting of and contains 512 pages of primary text, plus 24 pages of addenda. Additional addenda for this volume were created at a later date as a supplementary document and appear in this collection as “History, 1838-1856, volume C-1 Addenda.” Compilers and Thomas Bullock drew heavily from JS’s letters, discourses, and diary entries; meeting minutes; church and other periodicals and journals; and reminiscences, recollections, and letters of church members and other contacts. At JS’s behest, Richards maintained the first-person, chronological-narrative format established in previous volumes, as if JS were the author. , , , and others reviewed and modified the manuscript prior to its eventual publication in the Salt Lake City newspaper Deseret News.
The historical narrative recorded in volume C-1 continued the account of JS’s life as prophet and president of the church. Critical events occurring within the forty-five-month period covered by this text include the Mormon War; subsequent legal trials of church leaders; expulsion of the Saints from Missouri; missionary efforts in by the and others; attempts by JS to obtain federal redress for the Missouri depredations; publication of the LDS Millennial Star in England; the migration of English converts to ; missionary efforts in other nations; the death of church patriarch ; the establishment of the city charter; the commencement of construction of the Nauvoo ; the expedition that facilitated temple construction; the introduction of the doctrine of proxy baptism for deceased persons; the dedicatory prayer by on the Mount of Olives in Palestine; publication of the “Book of Abraham” in the Nauvoo Times and Seasons; publication of the JS history often referred to as the “Wentworth letter;” the organization of the Female Relief Society of Nauvoo; and the inception of Nauvoo-era temple endowment ceremonies.
<July 17> I told him that I had written an address to the Hebrews, and was about procuring its publication in his own language; (Dutch) and when completed I would leave him a copy. He thanked [HC 4:384] me for this token of respect, and I bade him adieu. I soon obtained the publication of five hundred copies of the address, and left one at the house of the Rabbi— he being absent from home, I did not see him. After remaining here about one week, I took the coach for Amsterdam, distance 7 hours, or about 30 English miles. Rotterdam is a fine town of about <eighty> thousand inhabitants. The cleanliness of its Streets, the antique order of its architecture, the extreme height of its buildings. the numerous shade trees with which it is beautified, and the great number of canals through almost every part of the Town filled with ships of various sizes from different parts of the world; all these, with many other things not mentioned, contributed to give this place a peculiarity resembled no where else in the course of my travels, except in Amsterdam. Most of the business men here speak a little English— some speak it very well. In ascending the waters of the Rhine from the Sea to Rotterdam, the numerous Wind mills which I beheld in constant operation, led me to think, almost that all Europe came here for their grinding. But I ascertained that they were grinding for distilleries, where the floods of Gin are made, which not only deluge our beloved country with fatal consequencies. but many others. Gin is one of the principle articles of exportation from this Country. In going to Amsterdam, I passed through a very beautiful town called “The Hague,” the residence of the King of Holland. I saw his palace which was guarded by soldiers, both horse and foot. For grandeur it bore but a faint resemblance to Buckingham Palace in . But the beautiful parks and picturesque scenery in and about the Hague, I have never seen equalled in any Country. I remained in Amsterdam only one night and a part of two days— I called on the President Rabbi here, but he was gone from home. I left at his house a large number of the addresses for himself and his people, and took coach for Arnheim on the Rhine. Took boat the same evening for Mazenty. Travelling by coach and steam is rather cheaper in this Country than in the . We were three days in going up the River to Mazenty. Holland and the lower part of Prussia are very low flat countries. The French and German languages are spoken all along the Rhine; but little or no English. The Rhine is about like the Ohio for size, near its mouth where it empties into the . Its waters resemble the waters, dark and Muddy. The scenery and landscapes along this river have been endowed with art and nature’s choisest gifts. I have been made acquainted with Europe, in , by books, to a certain extent; yet now my eyes behold!! It is impossible for a written [HC 4:385] description of a stranger’s beauty, to leave the same impression upon the mind, as is made by an occular view of the lovely object. This is the difference between reading of, and seeing the countries of Europe. From Mazenty I came to Frankfort on the Main, by railroad— distance 7 hours. From Frankfort I came to this place— distance about 30 hours, where Napoleon gained a celebrated victory over the Prussians and Austrians. The very ground on which I now write this letter, was covered by about Sixty thousand slain in that battle. It is called the battle of Ackynaeal. It was my intention to have [p. 1216]