Sir.—

Far West Mo. Jany. 21st. 1838.

Sir.— I should have written you long since but for ill health, I have anxiously waited to recover, that I might give you a full history of my excursion to <​the​> north according to my promise; and were it not for the recent intelligence from Kirtland, which gives me so much surprise, should still defer— you will be able to judge from the formation of my letter how week and infirm are my nerves. I have been sick six weeks, and a large part of the time confined to my room and bed.

I was absent, when north. some twenty days, and should not have returned then but for the failure of Col. [Lyman] Wight to forward provisions as he agreed. I labored incessantly every day except one,—rain, snow or frost. I lay on the cold damp earth; had but little to eat, and that indifferent; but explored a great any and precious country. I ran many lines with compass and chain, found a great many of the finest mill-Sites I have seen in the western country <​or world,​> and made between forty and fifty choice locations.

Notwithstanding the feeble sta[t]e of my health, I had previously made preparations, and yet expect to start to morrow morning (Monday) to view still

east of where I previously went. I learn from Kirtland, by the last letters, that you have publickly said, that when you were here I confessed to you that I had willfully lied about you— this compels me to ask you to correct that statement, and give me an explanation—until which you and myself are two.

Oliver Cowdery

Mr. Joseph Smith Jr