I am the author of a work called “Western Antiquities,” first published 23 years since. It has passed through several editions. I surveyed nearly all our Western ancient works and at the time of its first publication it had a very extensive circulation both in Europe and , it being translated into nearly all the languages of Europe. It is now out of print and the work is scarce and dear. My first edition was sold at 4 doll[ar]s. a copy. It was adorned and illustrated by numerous copper plates and was a splendid work. I have thought of offering it to your prophet and people, greatly improved and enlarged, provided, I can be paid a reasonable sum for my labor and expenses of publication. I have the copper plates and could get it stereotyped at . It might be put on a size to suit your Mormon bible, and stand with it, on the same shelf. Great doubts exist as to the authors of our ancient works, that is whether they came from Asia across at Behring’s straits, and journeying onwards to Western ; then, progressing slowly in a south western direction until they reached and Peru: or, starting from the last [p. [1]]