American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-02-26
From tie Boston Transcript
RI ITIynn

It's location--koW she .Mormons cGme by It'll,
Dimensions Of Vie MISUNDERSTANDING
tttred piteS,ers, ,Stc.
Nauvoo-the city of the Latter-oay Saints
the place where Mormonism is concentrated,
is beautifully located on the east side of the
Mississippi river below the first rapids, ard
therefore accessible to the largest class of
steamboats, on the "Father of Waters" Its
name is derived from the Hebrew wo.ds, some
what distorted, which mean ''beautitUt rest"
When the MorI2ons were driven from Ms
souri,, after passing through series of hard
ships of very trying character, the present
site of NaGToo was selected by Sydney Rig
don for tswR. Several land claims were
purchased of individuals, and, by unting the
different parcels, constituted Mormon terri
tory. The chartered limits include e flat foIr
miles long by three in breadth-all laid out in
to squares and streets, and on scale of con-
venience that is honorable to the taste of these
who projected the plan. Those who have e.
amined Nauvoo with any degree of care, &C
knowledge that it possesses the elements of
The most excellent city of the West.
When first taken possession of by the new
owners, there were neither inhabitants nor
dwellings, yet in the space of three years, there
were one thousand houses; and row the popu-
laton is not far frcR sixteen thousand-re-
pidiy increasing, too, notwithstanding the uni
versal opinion of their enemies that the spell
is broken and the Mormon community will
soon be dissolved In word, NauRoo is the
largest city in the State of llnos-and re-
.garded in all respects one of the greatest Curl
,ostiee of that part of the continent. Nauvoo
is divided into four wards, and governed by g
mayor, eight aldermen, and sixteen cannon
MISUNDERSTANDING the city government
NJ hal tt,p frnu nnt
ly represented. Many persons holding real es-
tate 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 an acre large, the houses have the
appearance OF being spread over prodigious
extent of surface; all portions, therefore, not
occupied by buildings, are cultivated AS the
population increases, the gardens will be fewer
ia number and smaller in their dimensions.
All the Morn,ons do not reside in the city, if
they did their number would increase the as
constituent which already prevails They ex-
tend both up and down the river for nearly 80
miles, as farmers. Quite town is growing
up on the Missouri side opposite Nauvoo. The
ground plot of Nauvoo is shapen somewhat like
an OK bow. The river embraces two sides of
it, while the back ground rises magnifcently
about mile from the Mississippi, giving the
observer vast field OF vision over the most
lovely rural scenery imaginable. At the sum-
init, overlooking the whole landscape for near
" twenty-five miles in all directions, stands
the Mormon temple--the largest structure in
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 original in architecture.
Each Of its huge pilasters rests upon block of
stone bearing in relief on its face profile of
a new moon, represented with a nose, eye and
mouth, as sometimes seen in almanacs. On
the top, not far from fifty feet HIGH is an ideal
representation of the rising sun, which is mon
strous, prominent stone face, the features of
which are colossal and singularly expressive
Still higher are two enormous large hands,
grasping two trumpets crossed. These all
stand OFT on the stone oo oaJ invif finish is
admirable, and as complete as any of the spec'-
mems of chiseling on the Girard College a.
Philadelphia. The interior is to be one vast
apartment, hundred and twenty-eight feet by
eighty, simply sub-divided by three great wells,
or rich crimson drapery, suspended from the
ceiling overhead. Neither pews, stools, cusll-
ions nor chairs are to cucumber the holy edfice.
In the basement is the font of baptism, which,
when completed according to the design, will
he pretty exact imitation of the braZen laver
in Solomon's Temple. The tank is perhaps
eight feet square, resting on the back of twelve
carved oxen. They are Of noble dimensions with
large spreading horns, represented to be stand
ing in water up to their knees. The execution
ofthe twelve oxen evinces degree of ingenu'