Nebraska palladium. [volume] (Bellevieu City, Neb.) 1854-1855, 1854-10-11

EzT The following extract OF a letter,
is from VIM. Sawyer, formerly member
OF Congress from Ohio.
ST. Mary, o., Aug. il, 1854,
Editors Of Dayton Journal In uc-
cordance with your requcs, and in fulfil
ment OF my promise, ] proceed 70 give
yon a brief sketch of on excursion TO.
Nebraska and Kansas, from which have
Just returned. In connection with my
observations in those territories, now al
tracing SO much attention. / give YOU
some "incideu,s Of travel through Hi
nois and iowa. which / trust will be found
interesting. It is hardly necessary for me
to state all the particulars Of my journey
through Illinois and Iowa; for the country
has been well described by hundreds Of
travellers, but in all the descriptions that
ever have been given, justice has not been
done 10 the greatness and beauty Of the
country. An descriptions fall short Of
the realty. To be properly appreciated
Tie country must be seen. These STATES
or extent and fertility Of soil, cannot be
surpassed. We Buckeys boast and right
July too) OF orr great State Of Ohio, but
we will at no distant day have TO kroel,
under 10 Illinois and Iowa. | was often
reminded Of the exclamation Of the Queen
Of Sheba, when she came TO view the
Temple. She heard Of the wislom Of
King Solomon, but, "ihe half had no.
been told l had also heard much Of
The Great West, including Nebraska and
Kansas, but, ''thc half las not been told. +"
Travelled in company with my shelter
half in our " private conveyance
through the centre Of Illinois, we struck
he Mississippi at the City Of Eauvoo,
where we have a relative living. We
spent two days there aud visited the cur
i~ositics Of the city, and were much disap-
pointed in the appearance and business OF
The once great Mormon city. We expect
ed 10 find it a deserted pile Of ruins, but
instead Of this, we found a very thriving
city, inhabited by about two thousand in
custrious, en'erprising citizens, a large
portion Of whom are Germans. Tbere
IS also, a community OF French people
there, calling themselves the Ic@arians,
they OWN and occupy the Mormon temple
square; they have q community Of inter
esis, and are said 70 be very orderly and
moral, and live up 10 the rules Of The
community; they number three or four
hundred, and have . large Academy built
of the material from the "ruins Of the first
Temple" They have also a newspaper
printed by and belonging to the society
and all its concerns are under the manage
ment of Mr.. Cabbet, o very worthy and
intelligent French gentleman. We were
surprised on our arrival at Nauyoo, TO
learn that Mrs. Smith, the wife Of tie
late celsLrsted Joseph Smith, The Mormon
Prophet, was living in Nauvoo, having
seem in a late paper that she had lately
died at Salt Lake. We paid visit to the
residence Of the lady, whom we found
keeping the same tavern which was kept
by her former husband Joseph Smith,
We were very politely received by her
present husband, who is a very worthy
gentlemen, and by whom we were very
Hospitality enieriainedj we were shown
many curiosiies Of which are the remains
Of the celebrated Temple. It's whole
front IS all that is now standing: it IS Of
solid stone, and magnificent construction
and workmanship, it stands on an cmi-
hence and can be seen for many miles up
and down the river. / could wish thal.
he band Of the ~incendiary had spared that
noble ediice.
HN. SAWYER