History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

60 THE STORY OF MORMOXISM.
traduction to the New York edition of the Book of Mormon, essentially the
same as that advanced previously by E. D. Howe, and subsequently elaborated
by others: 'About the year 1809, the Rev. Solomon Spaulding, a clergyman
who had graduated from Dartmouth college, and settled in the town of
Cherry Valley, in the State of New York, removed from that place to New
Salem (Conneaut), Ashtabula county, Ohio. Mr Spaulding was an enthusiastic
archaeologist. The region to which he removed was rich in American
antiquities. The mounds and fortifications which have puzzled the brains of
many patient explorers attracted his attention, and he accepted the theory
that the American continent was peopled by a colony of the ancient Israelites.
The ample material by which he was surrounded, full of mythical interest and
legendary suggestiveness, led him to the conception of a curious literary project.
He set himself the task of writing a fictitious history of the race which
had built the mounds. The work was commenced and progressed slowly for
some time. Portions of it were read by Mr Spaulding's friends, as its different
sections were completed, and after three years' labor, the volume was
sent to the press, bearing the title of Tlie Manuscript Found. Mr Spaulding
had removed to Pittsburgh, Pa., before his book received the final revision,
and it was in the hands of a printer named Patterson, in that city, that the
manuscript was placed with a view to publication. This was in the year
1S12. The printing, however, was delayed in consequence of a difficulty
about the contract, until Mr Spaulding left Pittsburgh, and went to Amity,
Washington county, New York, where in 1S16 he died. The manuscript
seems to have lain unused during this interval. But in the employ of the
printer Patterson was a versatile genius, one Sidney Rigdon, to whom no
trade came amiss, and who happened at the time to be a journeyman at work
with Patterson. Disputations on tmestions of theology were the peculiar delight
of Rigdon, and the probable solution of the mystery of the book of Mormon
is found in the fact that, by this man's agency, information of the existence
of the fictitious record was first communicated to Joseph Smith.
Smith's family settled in Palmyra, New York, about the year 1S15, and removed
subsequently to Ontario county, where Joseph became noted for supreme
cunning and general shiftlessness. Chance threw him in the company of
Rigdon soon after Spaulding's manuscript fell under the eye of the erratic
journeyman, and it is probable that the plan of founding a new system of religious
imposture was concocted by these two shrewd and unscrupulous parties.
The fact that the style of the book of Mormon so closely imitates that
of the received version of the bible—a point which seems to have been constantly
kept in view by Mr Spaulding, probably in order to invest the fiction
with a stronger character of reality—answered admirably for the purposes
of Rigdon and Smith.' Mr Howe testifies that 'an opinion has prevailed to
a considerable extent that Rigdon has been the Iago, the prime mover of
the whole conspiracy. Of this, however, we have no positive proof.' Mormonism
Unveiled, 100.
To prove the foregoing, witnesses are brought forward. John Spaulding,
brother of Solomon, testifies: 'He then told me that 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,' etc. He goes on to speak of Nephi and Lehi
as names familiar, as does also Martha Spaulding, John's wife. Henry Lake,
formerly Solomon's partner, testifies to the same effect; also John N. Miller,
who worked for Lake and Spaulding in building their forge; also Aaron
Wright, Oliver Smith, and Nahum Howard, neighbors; also Artemas Cunningham,
to whom Spaulding owed money. To these men Solomon Spaulding
used to talk about and read from his Manuscript Found, which was an account
of the ten lost tribes in America, which he wanted to publish and with
the profits pay his debts. After the book of Mormon was printed, and they
saw it, or heard it read, they were sure it was the same as Spaulding's Manuscript
Found, /c/., 278-87.