Its music like a natural anthem breathed, Was there, rich with the sculptor's graceful art." Pictures" in this little volume are exquisite. They possess a species of indefinable and indescribable charm which seizes us completely, and for which we find it difficult to assign an adequate reason. Another evil which arose from her dependence The varied melody of some of these little poems is on her pen, was the necessity to which it subjected perfect and peculiar, filling the ear, and taking the her of writing, not according to her own genius, but senses by storm. They have the fault of length the demands of the booksellers. A poet who once and diffuseness in common with the rest of her begins to illustrate annual plates, may be regarded poetry, or we should quote one for the benefit of as having entered himself for Lethe by a rapid con- such of our readers as have not had the good forveyance; and it required all the real poetry and tune to meet with them. We will particularize : ready talent of L. E. L. to support her under the "The Supper of Madame De Brinvilliers," "The course of "Drawing Room Scrap-Books," "Fairy Death of Alexander" and "The Dream in the TemAlmanacs," "Forget-me-nots,' Literary Souve-ple of Serapis," as being especially beautiful. Unnirs,""Easter Gifts," &c., &c., into which she fortunately they are equally untractable, and the plunged. The very idea of sitting down to write impossibility of doing them any thing like justice poetry concerning some twenty or thirty engravings, in an extract alone prevents us from laying parts most of them landscapes, is enough to frighten every of them before the reader. We cannot, however, thought out of a poet's brain, and we can but wonder resist quoting a stanza or two from "The Death of how Miss Landon survived it. Of the manner in Camoens," though we feel sensible that we are which these tasks were undertaken and executed, giving a most unfavorable impression of it by thus we may judge by the following extract from a let-mutilating it. We would call attention to its peter written immediately after the completion of a culiar melody. volume of "Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap-Book," a work for which she wrote an immense deal, and in which the engravings were chiefly views in India. "The volume just completed contains one long poem founded on Indian history; a connected story called the Zenana,' and longer than the 'Venetian Bracelet.' How my ingenuity has been taxed to bring in the various places! and pray forgive this little tender effusion of vanity, 1 do pique myself on contriving to get from Dowlutabad to Shusher, and Penawa, and the Tried Figure in the Caves of Elephanta, and thence to Ibrahim Padshah's tomb, &c., &c. But I am too sick of all these hard names to inflict any more upon you.' ." With such inspiration, our only wonder is that the platitude and common-place which distinguish many of these almost numberless fragments of illustra-To tive poetry, are not even more remarkable. "Pale comes the moonlight through the lattice gleaming. Yet on its white wings the fragrant dews are streaming- Let the weary one now die! "Through a weary world path, known to care and sorrow, "Dream not that the love which haunts the poet's spirit Is the common passion that sweetens daily earth: From a world ethereal its nature must inherit All the high imaginings that crowded round its birth: From the pure, pale stars, amid their midnight watches, It asks for inspiration lofty and divine; From the small wild flowers amid the woods it catches In looking comprehensively over her poems, we do not find as much improvement and development of new powers as might be expected from the length of time in which she poured forth the bright creations of her fancy. Still, we have reason to believe, that had she not been cut off at so early an age, she would have produced something far beyond any of her previous efforts. Among the posthumous poems published, are several evincing genius of a higher order than is discoverable in her earlier writings. The short interval of happiness between her marriage with Mr. Maclean and her sudden death, would seem to have been favorable to the ex- In writing these pages, we feel some fear lest ercise of her powers. In these poems she seems we have placed our animadversions on the numerin a great measure to have abandoned the queru- ous faults of L. E. L., in a more conspicuous light lous complaints of the nothingness of life which than our sincere admiration of her still more nuconstitute one of the factitious beauties of her for- merous and important excellences. As a poet, she mer poems, and which we cannot believe to have ranks as high as perhaps a woman can, and in the been natural with her. Some of the "Subjects for permanency of her reputation we feel delighted as Charms round the careless and the usual path to shine. VOL. XI-60 a proof that the atrocious poetical taste of the day has not poisoned all the springs of beauty whereat the weary pilgrim of life has been accustomed to refresh himself. May it long be so! This is scarcely the place in which to speak of her personal character, and yet we cannot refrain from laying our humble tribute of respect on the shrine. Delicate, sensitive, and feminine, yet highspirited, proud, and independent, she presents a rare union of strength and beauty. Her memory is fitly embalmed in the adoration of her family to which she was a guardian angel, and the untiring affection of her friends who clung to her through good and evil report. The best proof of the innate charm of her character is in its retaining its hold on the mind, even after the perusal of her Biography by Laman Blanchard. We make free to assert, that a more inconsistent, ill-digested and disagreeable piece of life-writing has scarcely ever been botched together by a literary drudge. Throughout it we look in vain for a single spark of that seemingly exhaustless fund of wit, humor, and knowledge of life which have so often made our sides ache over the inimitable pages of "Punch." L. Philadelphia, April, 1845. A SIMILE. On the bosom of Ocean Like a pall on the wave Was its mantle of gray, Its dark folds illuming, Sprang from their glooming; As it rose on the breeze Like that dim ocean vapor, With the current of time, And glory impart-- E. H. D. MORMONISM, AND THE MORMONS. The Messenger for September, 1844, contained a very ably written and interesting article, from the pen of E. D. of South Carolina, (who, par parenthesis, is a decided favorite of ours, for his convincing articles upon Native Literature and International Copyright Law.) entitled, "The Rise and Progress of the Mormon Faith and People." Notwithstanding the care with which the paper was written, and the very favorable opportunities that the writer enjoyed to obtain an accurate knowledge of the origin of the Mormon Faith, he has fallen into some slight errors, and has, moreover, treated the alleged discovery of the "Mormon Bible" with a seriousness which, in our opinion, is calculated to work much evil hereafter-and more especially, should his predictions of the ultimate progress of that faith prove true. He has permitted himself to allow the possibility that the assertions, made by the late Joe Smith and his "witnesses," in regard to the discovery of the "plates upon which they pretend that the “Book of Mormon" was written, may be true; and has considered the whole matter in that earnest way which is calculated to create a doubt in the minds of those who, otherwise, would at once condemn the story for a tissue of romantic falsehoods. To all of this we enter a serious protest. The pages of the Messenger will be read in after years, when all the unwritten facts, which are now possessed by a large portion of the public, will have passed ' entirely from the recollections of men-when those, who now know that the whole story of the miracu- | wife of a Mr. Davison, of Mason, Massachusetts. lous origin of that book is a sheer fabrication, shall She says: have been called from the stage of action:-and what impression will the reading of E. D.'s account and argument leave upon the mind of the reader of that day? Could he say at once, as we now can, that, as the name of the book would in timate, the entire matter was a "bug-bear," having its origin, or at least its sadly perverted use, in the minds of some two or three designing and dishonest men? Surely he could not. If we argue now to prove the improbability of this miraculous origin, after years will take our doubts for concessions as to its truth-and history will write it down as an attested fact. Unquestionably many a broad romance, many a poetical fiction, many an "Extravagancy, And crazy ribaldry of fancy," has found its way into the sober pages of history for a fact, solely for the want of a decided denial. while it was in the power of the world to deny with the facts before it. It is our intention, in a very brief article, to give what we believe to be a correct statement of the facts connected with the origin of the " Book of Mormon," and the rise of the "Latter Day Saints." We chanced to be a resident of Ontario County, New York, at the time of the first appearance of the "Seventh Wonder" in the person of Joe Smith-and our recollection of the circumstances, as they transpired then, is yet quite strong. in marriage in early life, was a graduate of Dart"Rev. Solomon Spaulding, to whom I was united mouth College, and was distinguished for a lively imagination and a great fondness for history. At the time of our marriage, he resided in Cherry Valley, N. Y. From this place we removed to New Salem, Ashtabula county, O., sometimes called Coneaut, as it is situated upon the Coneaut creek. Shortly after our removal to this place his health sunk, and he was laid aside from active labors. In the town of New Salem there are numerous mounds and forts, supposed by many to be the dilapidated dwellings and fortifications of a race now extinct. These ancient relics arrested the attention of new settlers, and became objects of research for the curious. Numerous implements were found, and other articles, evincing great skill in the arts. Mr. Spaulding being an educated man, and passionately fond of history, took a lively interest in these developments of antiquity; and in order to beguile the hours of retirement, and furnish employment for his lively imagination, he conceived the idea of giving an historical sketch of this lost race. Their extreme antiquity of course would lead him to write in the most ancient style; and as the Old Testament is the most ancient book in the world, he imitated its style as nearly as possible. His sole object in writing historical romance was to amuse himself and his neighbors. This was about the year 1812. Hull's surrender at Detroit occurred near the same time; and I recollect the date his narrative, the neighbors would come in from well from that circumstance. As he progressed in time to time to hear portions read, and great interest in the work was excited among them. It claimed to have been written by one of the lost Let us first notice the "Golden Bible," as it was nation, and to have been recovered from the earth, then familiarly termed. No one, at that time, who and assumed the title of "Manuscript Found." knew Joe Smith, had the most distant idea that he gressed in decyphering the manuscript? and when The neighbors would often inquire how Mr. S. prowas the author, or was in any way connected with he had a sufficient portion prepared he would inthe "getting up" of the book, or was even enti- form them, and they would assemble to hear it tled to the doubtful honor of having originated the read. He was enabled, from his acquaintance with scheme for humbugging the marvel-loving portion the classics and ancient history, to introduce many of the American people, who never trouble them- the people, and could be easily recognized by them. singular names, which were particularly noticed by selves to look beyond the surface of things. Others Solomon Spaulding had a brother, John Spaulding, had the credit, there, for all this-and among them residing in the place at the time, who was perfectly figured conspicuously Sidney Rigdon, and a gentle- familiar with this work, and repeatedly heard it man of Palmyra, New York, whose name we shall read. From New Salem we removed to Pittsnow withhold, from regard for his connections, but burg, Pa. Here Mr. S. found an acquaintance and friend in the person of Mr. Patterson, an editor of who was willing to sink so far his good name for a newspaper. He exhibited his manuscript to Mr. the sake of making to himself a few dollars by Patterson, who was very much pleased with it, and publishing the "Golden Bible." These two were borrowed it for perusal. He retained it for a long then supposed to be the authors of the work-but time, and informed Mr. S. that if he would make after days divulged the fact, as the reader will learn out a title page and preface he would publish it, and from the following statement, that they had been to do for reasons which I cannot state. Sydney it might be a source of profit. This Mr. S. refused guilty of availing themselves of the work of a Rigdon, (one of the founders or leaders of the sect,) third man, and one, too, who innocently wrote what who has figured so largely in the history of the has since produced not only error, but bloodshed. Mormons, was at that time connected with the The real author of the Mormon Book was the printing office of Mr. Patterson, as is well known Rev. SOLOMON SPAULDING, a minister of the Con- in that region, and as Rigdon himself has frequently stated. Here he had ample opportunity to become gregational Church; and to sustain this statement, acquainted with Mr. Spaulding's manuscript, and we adduce the following extracts from a narrative to copy it if he chose. It was a matter of notopublished by his widow, in 1839, at that time the riety and interest to all who were connected with After the Mormon sect had gained a slight foothold, and had sent abroad through the land preachers for the purpose of making proselytes to the new faith, a woman of that sect held a meeting in New Salem, at which she read numerous passages from the "Book of Mormon," which were immediately recognized by the older inhabitants of the place, and among others, by the brother of Mr. Spaulding, as parts of the "Manuscript Found." Mrs. Davison's narrative proceeds: the printing establishment. At length the manu- having been obtained immediately under her own script was returned to the author; and soon after observation, aroused her from this belief. we removed to Amity, Washington county, Pa., But let us follow the "Manuscript Found." At where Mr. S. died, in 1816. The manuscript then fell into my hands, and was preserved carefully. the time it was left in Mr. Patterson's office, in PittsIt has been frequently examined by my daughter, burg, Sidney Rigdon was employed there as a prinMrs. M'Kinistry, of Mason, Massachusetts, with ter. It remained in the office" for a long time”— whom I now reside, and by other friends." was at all times accessible to Rigdon; and are we not justified in believing that he then made a copy of it without the knowledge of the author? Sometime about the year 1828, Rigdon made his appearance in Palmyra, where he worked at his trade; and near the close of that year, if our recollection serves us, some little talk began to spread abroad plates" which had in regard to some mysterious been found near that place. These "plates," it was said, had been discovered by Joseph Smith, Jr., not, as "O. Pratt, Minister of the Gospel," says, in the “side of a high hill” near “ the railroad as you great, that the inhabitants had a meeting, and de-go from Palmyra to Canandaigua," (where, by the puted Dr. Philastus Hulburt, one of their number, way, there was not then, nor is there now a railto repair to this place, and obtain from me the ori- road,) but in the bank of the Erie Canal, about two ginal manuscript of Mr. Spaulding, for the purpose miles from Palinyra. The peculiar time of the of comparing it with the Mormon Bible, to satisfy" discovery" of these important records, sustains their own minds, and to prevent their friends from the charge that Rigdon took with him to Palmyra embracing an error so delusive. This was in the the copy of the "Manuscript Found," which he year 1834. Dr. Hulburt brought with him an in- had made in Pittsburg some twelve or fourteen troduction and request for the manuscript, signed by "The excitement in New Salem became so 66 66 Messrs. Henry Lake, Aaron Wright, and others, years previous; and finding in Palmyra a congenial with all of whom I was acquainted, as they were spirit for humbugging the world, in a man far bet my old neighbors when I resided in New Salem. ter endowed than himself, to give to the manuscript I am sure nothing could grieve my husband more, the necessary dressing to make it play its part were he yet living, than the use that has been made with success in the scheme of fraud, he there diof his work. The air of antiquity, which was MATILDA DAVISON." thrown about the composition, doubtless suggested vulged the matter, and, under the impression that the idea of converting it to purposes of delusion. a handsome speculation might be realized out of Thus a historical romance, with the addition of a the publication of the work, he, and his associate, few pious expressions and extracts from the sacred addressed themselves seriously to the furtherance Scriptures, has been construed into a new Bible, of the scheme. The first thing necessary was to and palmed upon a company of poor deluded fanatics as divine. I have given the previous brief obtain an accomplice, who should act as the Pronarration, that this work of deep deception and phet-the finder of the "plates"-the founder of wickedness may be searched to the foundation, and the new sect;-and the more ignorant and boorish its author exposed to the contempt and execration he might be, the better, so that he were gifted with he so justly deserves. some degree of shrewdness and low cunning-the actors"behind the scene" would furnish all other The above narrative is accompanied by a state-things necessary. Such a character, Rigdon's acment signed by the Rev. Dr. A. Ely, pastor of the complice knew he would have in Joe Smith, one Congregational Church in Mason, and D. R. of a family of three or four who then lived in FarmAustin, principal of the Mason Academy, who as- ington, near Palinyra, and who all belonged to that sert that Mrs. Davison is a woman of irreproach- lowest class of mankind found everywhere, as hangable character and a humble christian; and her tes-ers-on at groceries, "spunging" for their liquor, timony is worthy of implicit confidence. Should and doing small jobs for the privilege of getting any one be lead to wonder why these facts were drunk. Joe was a drunkard-low in means—and, withheld from the world for the nine years which of course, ready to embrace any opportunity which intervened from the first publication of the Mormon offered him the chance of enlarging the quantity of Bible and their being made public by Mrs. D., we liquor he imbibed. The accomplices did not miscan only surmise, in answer, that she did not look upon the movement as one calculated to have a very long existence; and, giving too much credit to the good sense of the world, did not think such a palpable imposition could draw after it many followers:—and, indeed, as she states in the opening This tool-this "man of straw," who was to be of her narrative, nothing but the fact of converts set up as the leader, but behind whom Rigdon was แ take their man. Joe was really cunning, and possessed one of those peculiar minds which enlarge in cunningness as their field of operation expands, but never increase in any of the higher and nobler faculties. where the Lord intended the Temple to be built; and thitherwards they turned their steps, and "tarried not" until they reached their final place of rest, as the deluded followers supposed. intending to act as the real "Prophet"-being ob- | prime-movers were known; and, consequently, tained and instructed in the part he was to sustain having taken there the first steps towards making in the drama, the next step in the chain of opera- it what it has since become, and having published tions was, to spread abroad more fully the trumped Mr. Spaulding's "Manuscript Found" for their up particulars of the discovery of the " 'plates," "Golden Bible," they removed from Manchester, and to announce to the public the fact that Joe in 1831, to find the spot on which was destined to Smith was engaged in making a translation of the be built the final "city of refuge" for the Chrismysterious characters engraved thereon; which tianity of all the world--which important duty, translation, it was said, would he given to the they claimed, had been devolved upon them by the world as soon as that labor was accomplished. Lord. After wandering "many days," Joe Smith, This was in 1829. The matter was talked of, and by divine revelation, as he asserted, ascertained the principles of the new sect were pretty fully that Kirtland, now in Lake county, Ohio, was explained, during that year-and some few followers were obtained, consisting entirely of two classes of the community :-those who were ignorant and vicious, and had nothing to lose by such a course and those who were dishonest, and Here, at this "Western boundary of the Prothought they saw in the new scheme an opportunity mised Land," as Joe Smith designated it, the memto aggrandize themselves at the expense of the bers of the since notorious Mormon church conless acute of their fellow-men. Among those who gregated, to the number of about two hundred, and had nothing to lose, whether of character or wealth, here was their first settlement. A Temple was stood prominent the "witnesses" who testify to built-a society organized, and one of the first having seen the "plates," viz: Cowdery, the acts of the leaders was the assumption of the bankSmiths, the Whitmers, etc. They were all men of ing privilege and the establishment of a bank. low repute-not one of them, as far as our recol- This privilege they exercised to the utmost extent, lection now serves us, enjoying the respect of his and "Kirtland money" was as plenty in the West neighbors. But, let that pass: we wish to trace at that time as have been the issues of similar the progress of events. In the Spring of 1830-equally well-founded institutions since that period. Rigdon, in the meantime, having found it conve- But there is a day of "breaking up" for all wordly nient to become a convert, as he pretended, to the matters-and the Kirtland bank did not prove an new faith-the church of the "Later Day Saints," exception to the general rule. The public wanted as they, with peculiar modesty, called themselves, money for the bills, and-the bank failed. When was organized in Manchester, under the auspices this catastrophe occurred, Joe Smith fortunately of Joe Smith, and immediately afterward an edi- discovered that he had made a slight mistake in tion of twelve hundred copies, as we were inform- the location of the New Jerusalem-that the ed, of the "Book of Mormon" was printed in Pal-" Western boundary" was still farther West; and, myra-a copy of which original edition is now consequently, a removal was determined upon. laying before us, bearing the following imprint: "Palmyra: printed by E. B. Grandin, for the author: 1830." But we did not intend to furnish, in this article, a history of the movements of the Mormons : our intention was merely to show what was the origin Here, then, the church was under way,-and of the "Golden Bible." Had we not already the peculiar tenets by which the members were wasted too much paper upon the subject, we might bound one to another, and which were expressly possibly be induced to say something about the calculated and intended to operate in such way as "mysterious characters" which Dr. Harris forto draw to one spot all, or nearly all, who became warded to Professor Anthon, (and which mystebelievers in the faith, undoubtedly suggested to the rious characters, we presume, are to be found in minds of many then, that, viewed in a "wordly" repeated instances among the published antiquities light, it might possibly prove a good money-move- of the Mississippi Valley, and entirely within the ment. Under such an influence, some three or reach of Dr. H.,)—and add a word about the plates four men, of Canandaigua and Palmyra, of seem- found at Kinderhook, in Illinois, by-whom? Queering respectability—that is, men who never infringed ly enough, by members of the Mormon sect! We the laws of the land so palpably as to incur their will let all these things go for what they are worth ; penalties, and who were careful never openly to and, returning once more to the point from whence outrage the moral laws, not from any love of mor- we started, we cannot but express our astonishals, but from a fear of the world-some three or ment that this statement in regard to Mr. Spaulfour men, we say, of such characters, joined the ding's work has never attracted the attention of church; and their outward respectability did more Sidney Rigdon, or some other leaders of the Morfor it in that region, than all the mummery of Joe mons. It has been made public for some years, Smith and Sidney Rigdon combined. But even these and notwithstanding it boldly presumes to upset the could not make it succeed where the apparent, very foundation of their creed, they have quietly |