Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1845-02-06
NJ 7 s. O d u u a " z o
N A U v O o .

Its location hotc the Mormons came by it The dimcn-
SONS Of the city houses all residents not of the
Church /; Temple scuiptrcd pilasters interior fin
ish trasen lavcr tie city ,rin nev.r be abandon.
ed by its builders.
Nauvoo-lbe city Of the Latter Day Saints
the place where Mormonism is concentra-
ted, is beautifully located on the East side OF
the mississippi river, below the first rapids,
and therefore accessible TO the largest class of
steamboats, on the Father of Waters" lis
name is derived from two Hebrew words,
somewhat distorted, which mean "beamtifuI
rest"
When the Mormons were driven from
Missouri, after passing through series of
hardshlps OF very trying character, the pre-
sent site OF Nauvoo was selected by Sydney
Rigdon, for town. Several land claims were
purchased of individuals, and by uniting the
different parcels, constituted Mormon terri
tory.-l'he chartered limits include plat four
miles long, by three in breadih--all laid out
into squares and streets, at right angles, and OH
scale of convenience that is honorable TO
the taste OF those who projected the plan.
Those who have examined Nauvoo with any
degree OF care, acknowledge that il possesses
the elements of the most elegant city of the
West
When first taken possession Of by the new
owners, there were neither inhabitants nor
dwellings; yet in a short period of three
years, there were one thousand houses and
now the population is not far from sixteen
thoHsand-rapidly increasing too, notwith-
standing the universal opinion of their enc
mics, that the spell is broken and the Nor
mon cOmmnnitU will Sonu no divcoIy,rI r.,
a word, Nauvoo is the largest city in the
State of Illinois-and regarded in all respects,
one Of the greatest curiosities of that part of
the Continent. Nauvoo is divided into four
wards, and governed by Mayor, eight Al
dermen, and sixteen Common Councilmen-
constituting the city government.
Property is not held in common, as fire.
quently represented; many persons holding
real estate in the city, are not Mormons, yet
their rights and interests are protected with as
much care as they would be in Boston or
New York.-There is not square in the
whole city that has not building upon it.
The squares being about ali acre large, the
houses have the appearance of being spread
over prodigious extent of surlace-all por-
TONS, therefore, not occupied by buildings,
are cultivated. As the population increases,
the gardens will be fewer in number and
smaller in their dimensions
All the Mormons do not reside in the city
IT they did, their number would increase the
astonlshmen: which already prevails. They
extend both up and down the river for nearly
thirty miles as farmers. Quite town is also
growing up OH the Missouri side opposite
Nauvoo. The ground plot Of Nauvoo is
shaped somewhat like all oxbow The river
embraces two sides Of it-while the back
ground rises magnifcenily about a mile from
the Mississippi, giving the observer vas
field OF vision over the most lovely rural seem
cry imaginable.
At the summit, overlooking the whole
landscape for nearly twenty-five miles in all
directions, stands the Mormon temple, the
largest structure III any of the Western States
When completed, it is assumed that the entire
cost will not vary much from four hundred
thousand dollars. Nothing can be more orr
glnal IN architecture-each of its huge pilas-
ters rests upon block of stone, bearing in
relief on It's face, the profile Of a new moon
represented with nose, eyes and mouth, as
sometimes seen in almanacs. On the top, not
lar from fifty feet high, is an ideal represen-
tatIon OF the rising sun, which is monstrous
prominent stone face, the features of which
are colossal and singuarly expressive. Still
higher, are two enormously large hands
grasPing two trumpets, crossed. These all
stand out on the stone boldly. Their finish
is admirable and as complete as any Of the
best specimens of chiselling on the Girard
College, at Philadelphia. The interior is to
be one vast basement about l2S feet by so
SIMPLY subdivided by the great wells, or rich
crimson drapery, suspended from the ceiling
overhead. Neither 2ews, stools, cushions MOI
chairs are TO cucumber the holy edilice. In
tne basement is the fouut OF baptism-which
when completed according 10 the design, will
oe pretty exact imitation Of the brazen iaeer
III ooiomon's temple. The tank is perhaps
elShtcen iect square, resting on the backs o
twelve carved oxen. They are Of noble d.