As early as 1829, I published in the Evening Post a letter to the Rev. Ethan Smith, against the singular but absurd opinion that the American tribes descend from the Hebrews or the ten lost tribes. This opinion based upon some religious prejudices and slight acquaintance with philology and antiquities, has been entertained by Penn, Adair, Boudinot, and several other superficial writers, among which Ira Hill, author of a late work, Antiquities of America Explained. Hagerstown, Maryland, 1831. It is to me astonishing how in this enlightened age, any such unfounded belief can be sustained; if greater absurdities still did not prevail as yet among a few.

Two recent instances of egregious folly based upon this singular tenet, have induced me to republish my letter of 1829, which if read by those laboring under this delusion cannot fail to shake their belief.

A new Religion or sect has been founded upon this belief! the Mormonites, thus called after a new Alcoran, or Book of Mormon, (which is not a Jewish name.) Supposed to be written in gold letters more than 2000 years ago by Mormon leader of the American Jews. This Book which no one has seen nor read but the founder of the sect, the probable writer thereof, has been made the Bible of a new sect. I have tried in vain to procure a copy of the translation, wherein I, could certainly detect a crowd of absurdities and incongruities. Meantime a Sect of Fanatics has arisen therefrom, and wandered from New-York to Ohio and Missouri: an evident proof how false beliefs can be spread and made subservient crafty purposes.