FARTHER DEVELOPMENTS IN RELATION TO THE MORMON IMPOSTURE.
Since preparing the preceding chapters for the press, there have come into
the author's hands several documents, that seem to throw additional light
upon the origin and authorship of the Book of Mormon. These documents
consist of statements made by Mr. John Spalding, now residing in Crawford
county, Pa., the brother of Rev. Mr. Spalding--by Mrs. Martha Spalding, the
wife of Mr. John Spalding--by four gentlemen, residing in Conneaut,
Ashtabula county, Ohio, the very spot where Mr. Spalding's historical
romance was originally written, and by several others acquainted with the
facts in reference to Mr. Spalding's manuscript. From these statements we
make the following extracts:
Mr. John Spalding, having given an account of the education of his brother,
his preparation for the ministry, his subsequent relinquishment of its
duties, and his engagement in mercantile business, says, "In a few years he
failed in business, and, in the year 1809, removed to Conneaut, in Ohio.
The year following, I removed to Ohio, and found him engaged in building a
forge. I made him a visit in about three years after; and found that he had
failed, and become considerably involved in debt. He then told me he had
been writing a book, which he intended to have printed, the avails of which
he thought would enable him to pay all his debts. The book was entitled the
'Manuscript Found,' of which he read to me many passages. It was an
historical romance of the first settlers of America, endeavouring to show
that the American Indians are the descendants of the Jews, or the lost
tribes. It gave a detailed account of their journey from Jerusalem, by land
and sea, till they arrived in America, under the command of Nephi and Lehi.
They afterwards had quarrels and contentions, and separated into two
distinct nations, one of which he denominated Nephites and the other
Lamanites. Cruel and bloody wars ensued, in which great multitudes were
slain. They buried their dead in large heaps, which caused the mounds so
common in this country. Their arts, sciences and civilization were brought
into view, in order to account for all the curious antiquities, found in
various parts of North and South America. I have recently read the Book of
Mormon, and to my great surprise I find nearly the same historical matter,
names, &c. as they were in my brother's writings. I well remember that he
wrote in the old style, and commenced about every sentence with 'and it
came to pass,' or 'now it came to pass,' the same as in the Book of Mormon,
and according to the best of my recollection and belief, it is the same as
my brother Solomon wrote, with the exception of the religious matter. By
what means it has fallen into the hands of Joseph Smith Jr., I am unable to
determine."
Mrs. Martha Spalding's testimony is very similar. She says, "I was
personally acquainted with Solomon Spalding, about twenty years ago. I was
at his house a short time before he left Conneaut; he was then writing a
historical novel founded upon the first settlers of America. He represented
them as an enlightened and warlike people. He had for many years contended
that the aborigines of America were the descendants of some of the lost
tribes of Israel, and this idea he carried out in the book in question. The
lapse of time which has intervened, prevents my recollecting but few of the
leading incidents of his writings; but the names of Nephi and Lehi are yet
fresh in my memory, as being the principal heroes of his tale. They were
officers of the company which first came off from Jerusalem. He gave a
particular account of their journey by land and sea, till they arrived in
America, after which, disputes arose between the chiefs, which caused them
to separate into different lands, one of which was called Lamanites and the
other Nephites. Between these were recounted tremendous battles, which
frequently covered the ground with the slain; and their being buried in
large heaps was the cause of the numerous mounds in the country. Some of
these people he represented as being very large. I have read the Book of
Mormon, which has brought fresh to my recollection the writings of Solomon
Spalding; and I have no manner of doubt that the historical part of it, is
the same that I read and heard read, more than twenty years ago."
Mr. Henry Lake, residing at Conneaut, gives the following statement: "I
left the state of New York, late in the year 1810, and arrived at this
place, about the 1st of January following. Soon after my arrival, I formed
a co-partnership with Solomon Spalding, for the purpose of rebuilding a
forge which he had commenced a year or two before. He very frequently read
to me from a manuscript which he was writing, which he entitled the
'Manuscript Found,' and which he represented as being found in this town. I
spent many hours in hearing him read said writing, and became well
acquainted with its contents. He wished me to assist him in getting his
production printed, alleging that a book of that kind would meet with a
rapid sale. I designed doing so, but the forge not meeting our
anticipations, we failed in business, when I declined having any thing to
do with the publication of the book. This book represented the American
Indians as the descendants of the lost tribes, gave an account of their
leaving Jerusalem, their contentions and wars, which were many and great.
One time, when he was reading to me the tragic account of Laban, I pointed
out to him what I considered an inconsistency, which he promised to
correct; but by referring to the Book of Mormon, I find to my surprise that
it stands there just as he read it to me then. Some months ago I borrowed
the Golden Bible, put it into my pocket, carried it home, and thought no
more of it. About a week after, my wife found the book in my coat pocket,
as it hung up, and commenced reading it aloud as I lay upon the bed. She
had not read twenty minutes till I was astonished to find the same passages
in it that Spalding had read to me more than twenty years before, from his
'Manuscript Found.' Since that, I have more fully examined the said Golden
Bible, and have no hesitation in saying that the historical part of it is
principally, if not wholly taken from the 'Manuscript Found.'"
Mr. John N. Miller, residing in Springfield, Pa., who was then in the
employ of Mr. Lake, and boarded in the family of Mr. Spalding, corroborates
the preceding statement. After having mentioned being introduced to the
manuscript of Mr. Spalding, he says, "It purported to be the history of the
first settlement of America, before discovered by Columbus. He brought them
off from Jerusalem, under their leaders; detailing their travels by land
and water, their manners, customs, laws, wars, &c.
"I have recently examined the Book of Mormon, and find in it the writings
of Solomon Spalding, from beginning to end, but mixed up with Scripture and
other religious matter, which I did not meet with in the 'Manuscript
Found.' Many of the passages in the Mormon Book are verbatim from Spalding,
and others in part. The names of Nephi, Lehi, Moroni, and in fact all the
principal names, are brought fresh to my recollection, by the Golden
Bible."
Mr. Aaron Wright, of Conneaut, remarks, "I first became acquainted with
Solomon Spalding in 1808 or 9, when he commenced building a forge on
Conneaut creek. When at his house, one day, he showed and read to me a
history he was writing, of the lost tribes of Israel, purporting that they
were the first settlers of America, and that the Indians were their
descendants. Upon this subject we had frequent conversations. He traced
their journey from Jerusalem to America, as it is given in the Book of
Mormon, excepting the religious matter. The historical part of the Book of
Mormon, I know to be the same as I read and heard read from the writings of
Spalding, more than twenty years ago; the names more especially are the
same without any alteration. He told me his object was to account for all
the fortifications, &c. to be found in this country."
Mr. Oliver Smith, of Conneaut, gives the following statement: "When Solomon
Spalding first came to this place, he purchased a tract of land, surveyed
it out and commenced selling it. While engaged in this business, he boarded
at my house, in all nearly six months. All his leisure hours were occupied
in writing a historical novel, founded upon the first settlers of this
country. He said he intended to trace their journey from Jerusalem, by land
and sea, till their arrival in America, give an account of their arts,
sciences, civilization, wars and contentions. In this way, he would give a
satisfactory account of all of the old mounds, so common to this country.
During the time he was at my house, I read and heard read one hundred pages
or more. Nephi and Lehi were by him represented as leading characters, when
they first started for America. Their main object was to escape the
judgments which they supposed were coming upon the old world. But no
religious matter was introduced, as I now recollect. When I heard the
historical part of the Book of Mormon related, I at once said it was the
writings of old Solomon Spalding. Soon after, I obtained the book, and on
reading it, found much of it the same as Spalding had written, more than
twenty years before."
Mr. Nahum Howard, of the same place, gives a similar statement. We will
detain the reader only by a single additional statement. Mr. Artemas
Cunningham, of Perry, Geauga county, relates the following facts: "In the
month of October, 1811, I went from the township of Madison to Conneaut,
for the purpose of securing a debt due me from Solomon Spalding. I tarried
with him nearly two days, for the purpose of accomplishing my object, which
I was finally unable to do. I found him destitute of the means of paying
his debts. His only hope of ever paying his debts, appeared to be upon the
sale of a book, which he had been writing. He endeavoured to convince me
from the nature and character of the work, that it would meet with a ready
sale. Before showing me his manuscripts, he went into a verbal relation of
its outlines, saying that it was a fabulous or romantic history of the
first settlement of this country, and as it purported to have been a record
found buried in the earth, or in a cave, he had adopted the ancient or
Scripture style of writing. He then presented his manuscripts, when we sat
down and spent a good share of the night, in reading them, and conversing
upon them. I well remember the name of Nephi, which appeared to be the
principal hero of the story. The frequent repetition of the phrase, 'I
Nephi,' I recollect as distinctly as though it was but yesterday, although
the general features of the story have passed from my memory. The Mormon
Bible I have partially examined, and am fully of the opinion that Solomon
Spalding had written its outlines before he left Conneaut."
With such a cloud of witnesses, commentary seems quite unnecessary.