We should have taken out a writ of , and escaped the mob in a summary way, but unfortunately for us, the timber of the wall being very hard, our auger handles gave out which hindred us longer than we expected, we applied to a friend for assistance, and a very slight uncautious act gave rise to suspicion, and before we could fully succeed, our plan was discovered. We should have made our escape, and succeeded admirably well, had it not been for a little imprudence, or over anxiety on the part of our friend.

The Sheriff and Jailor did not blame us for our attempt; it was a fine breach, and cost the a round sum; public opinion says, we ought to have been permitted to have made our escape, but then the disgrace would have been on us, but now it must come on the . We know that there connot be any charge sustained against us, and that the conduct of the mob—the murders at —the exterminating order of , and the one sided, rascally proceedings of the Legislature, has damned the state of to all eternity. has proved himself to be as contemptible as any of our enemies. We have tried a long time to get our lawyers to draw us some petitions to the supreme Judges of this , but they have utterly refused; we have examined the laws, and drawn the petitions ourselves, and have obtained abundance of proof to counteract all the testimony that is against us—so that if the Judges do not grant us our liberty they have got to act contrary to honor, evidence, law or justice, merely to please the mob; but we hope better things, and trust that before many days, God will so order our case, that we shall be set at liberty, and again enjoy the society of the saints. We received some letters from our friends, last evening, one from , one from and one from all breathing a kind and consoling spirit; we had been a long time without information from our friends, and when we read those letters they were refreshing to our souls, as the gentle air and refreshing breeze; but our feelings of joy were mingled with feelings of pain and sorrow on account of the sufferings of the poor and much injured saints, and we need not say unto you that the flood gates of our hearts were open, and our eyes were a fountain of tears. Those who have not been inclosed in the walls of a prison, without cause or provocation, can have but little idea, how sweet the voice of a friend or one token of friendship is, from any source whatever, and awakens and calls into action every sympathetic feeling of the human heart, it brings to review every thing that has passed, it seizes the present with the velocity of lightning, and grasps after the future with fond anticipation; It fills the mind with tenderness and love until all enmity, malice, hatred, past differences, misunderstanding and mismanagements are entirely forgotten or are slain victims at the feet of love. When the heart is sufficiently contrite, then the voice of inspiration steals along and whispers, My son, peace be unto thy soul, thine adversity and thy afflictions shall be but for a moment, and then if thou art faithful and endure; God shall exalt thee on high, thou shalt triumph over all thy foes, thy friends do stand by thee, and shall hail thee again with warm hearts: thou art not yet as Job, thy friends do not contend against thee, neither do they charge thee with transgression, and those who do charge thee with transgression their hope shall be blasted, and their prospects melt away, as the hoar frost melteh before the rays of the raising sun. It likewise informs us that God has set his hand to change the times and the seasons and to blind the minds of the wicked, that they may not understand his marvellous workings, that he may take them in their own craftiness, because their hearts are corrupt and the distress and sorrow which they seek to bring upon the saints, shall return upon them double; and not many years hence, they and their posterity, shall be destroyed from under heaven. Cursed are all those that shall lift up the heel against mine anointed, saith the Lord, for they have not sinned before me saith the Lord, but have done [p. 101]