Now, it will here be observed that the translators of the Book of Mormon, by their own showing, were not under inspiration at the time of writing the translations. How, then, in the name of common sense, would a set of unlettered men, who could scarcely write their own language, and who were totally innocent of a knowledge of any other, proceed to make a translation of Egyptian hieroglyphics? We are told thar [that] they must "study it out in their own minds," without assistance from God; and after they have imagined what the characters meant, then the inspiration should come. Here, then, is direct evidence from Smith, himself, of what the Book of Mormon really is—namely, a mere fiction, conjured up from the brains of Smith, or his coadjutors, and designed for nothing else than to gull mankind, and to aggrandize themselves.

One remark, further. We are asked, if Smith was an unlettered youth, is not the fact of his producing a work, such as the Book of Mormon, a proof of inspiration. I answer, that the style and matter of the book is nothing superior; but admitting that it was more than a youth like Smith could produce, is it not well known that he had coadjutors of acknowledged talents—fully ample to produce such a work! more especially, as in style and matter, it is written in imitation of the scriptures. Some have intimated, however, that the Book was obtained by Smith surreptitiously, from the executors of a man who had written it as a religious romance [Solomon Spaulding], and altered it to suit his own purposes.