Having established the distinction between the manuscript discovered in Honolulu and the "Manuscript Foimd," I now pass to those evidences which go to identify the latter with the basis of the Book of Mormon. These evidences consist of the testimonies of eleven of the relatives and acquaintances of Solomon Spaulding, who heard him read his celebrated "Manuscript Found." They are met by the Mormons either with silence, with evasion or with a blustering denial.

The opinion of some of those, outside of Mormonism, who have made the matter the subject of special study, is that Solomon Spaulding made three copies, or drafts, of his "Manuscript Found," as follows :

1. The Nephite copy. This copy was written at Conneaut, and is thought to have contained only the outline of Nephite history as given in the Book of Mormon.

2. The Zarahemlaite copy. This copy is thought to have been begun at Conneaut and completed at Pittsburgh. It is supposed to have contained all that was in the former copy, with the account added of the colony which came to America under Mulek at the time of the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar.

3. The Jaredite copy. This copy is supposed to have been written at Pittsburgh, and to have contained all that was in the preceding copies, with the Jaredite portion of the Book of Mormon added.

I must confess that this classification of the writings of Solomon Spaulding is ingenious, but it requires the following of altogether too slender lines of evidence to be very trustworthy. I shall, therefore, make no attempt to discriminate between the different copies, or drafts, of the "Manuscript Found," if such really existed, as some other authors have done, but to settle down to the easier task of showing that this manuscript, whether it originally existed in one or in three drafts, was identical with the Book of Mormon in proper names and general historical outline.*

In order to accomplish this, I shall put before the reader, in this chapter and in the following chapter, the testimonies of the eleven witnesses referred to, who either at Conneaut or Amity heard the "Manuscript Found" read. The testimonies of the eight to be given in this chapter were first published in Howe's "Mormonism Unveiled" of 1834,* and constitute, says A. T. Schroeder, "the most important single collection of original evidence ever made upon the subject."

THE TESTIMONY OF JOHN SPAULDING.

Solomon Spaulding was born in Ashford, Conn., in 1761, and in early life contracted a taste for literary pursuits. After he left school, he entered Plainfield Academy, where he made great proficiency in study, and excelled most of his classmates. He next commenced the study of law, in Windham county, in which he made little progress, having in the meantime turned his attention to religious subjects. He soon after entered Dartmouth College, with the intention of qualifying himself for the ministry, where he obtained the degree of A.M., and was afterwards regularly ordained. After preaching three or four years, he gave it up, removed to Cherry Valley, N. Y., and commenced the mercantile business, in company with his brother Josiah. In a few years he failed in business, and in the year 1809 removed to Conneaut, in Ohio. The year following, I removed to Ohio, and found him engaged in building a forge. I made him a visit in about three years after, and found that he had failed, and was considerably involved in debt. He then told me he had been writing a book, which he intended to have printed, the avails of which he thought would enable him to pay all his debts. The book was entitled the "Manuscript Found," of which he read to me many passages. It was an historical romance of the first settlers of America, endeavoring to show that the American Indians are the descendants of the Jews, or the lost tribes. It gave a detailed account of their journey from Jerusalem, by land and sea, till they arrived in America, under the command of Nephi and Lehi. They afterwards had quarrels and contentions, and separated into two distinct nations, one of which he denominated Nephites, and the other Lamanites. Cruel and bloody wars ensued, in which great multitudes were slain. They buried their dead in large heaps, which caused the mounds so common in this country. Their arts, sciences and civilization were brought into view in order to account for all the curious antiquities found in various parts of North and South America. I have recently read the Book of Mormon, and to my great surprise I find it nearly the same historical matter, names, &c., as they were in my brother's writings. I well remember that he wrote in the old style, and commenced about every sentence with "And it came to pass," or "Now it came to pass," the same as in the Book of Mormon, and according to the best of my recollection and belief, it is the same as my brother Solomon wrote, with the exception of the religious matter. By what means it has fallen into the hands of Joseph Smith, Jr., I am unable to determine.

John Spaulding.

THE TESTIMONY OF MARTHA SPAULDING.

I was personally acquainted with Solomon Spaulding, about twenty years ago. I was at his house a short time before he left Conneaut; he was then writing an historical novel founded upon the first settlers of America. He represented them as an enlightened and warlike people. He had for many years contended that the aborigines of America were the descendants of some of the lost tribes of Israel, and this idea he carried out in the book in question. The lapse of time which has intervened, prevents my recollecting but few of the leading incidents of his writings; but the names of Nephi and Lehi are yet fresh in my memory, as being the principal heroes of his tale. These were officers of the company which first came off from Jerusalem. He gave a particular account of their journey by land and sea, till they arrived in America, after which disputes arose between the chiefs, which caused them to separate into different bands, one of which was called Lamanites, and the other Nephites. Between these were recounted tremendous battles, which frequently covered the ground with the slain; and their being buried in large heaps was the cause of the numerous mounds in the country. Some of these people he represented as being very large. I have read the Book of Mormon, which has brought fresh to my recollection the writings of Solomon Spaulding; and I have no manner of doubt that the historical part of it is the same that I read and heard read more than twenty years ago. The old, obsolete style, and the phrases of "and it came to pass," &c., are the same. Martha Spaulding.

THE TESTIMONY OF HENRY LAKE.

Conneaut, Ashtabula Co., Ohio, Sept, 1833. I left the State of New York, late in the year 1810, and arrived at this place, about the first of January following. Soon after my arrival, I formed a copartnership with Solomon Spaulding, for the purpose of rebuilding a forge which he had commenced a year or two before. He very frequently read to me from a manuscript which he was writing, which he entitled the 'Manuscript Found," and which he represented as being found in this town. I spent many hours in hearing him read said writings, and became well acquainted with its contents. He wished me to assist him in getting his production printed, alleging that a book of that kind would meet with a rapid sale. I designed doing so, but the forge not meeting our anticipations, we failed in business, when I declined having anything to do with the publication of the book. This book represented the American Indians as the descendants of the lost tribes, gave an account of their leaving Jerusalem, their contentions and wars, which were many and great One time, when he was reading to me the tragic account of Laban, I pointed out to him what I considered an inconsistency, which he promised to correct; but by referring to the Book of Mormon, I find, to my surprise, that it stands there just as he read it to me then. Some months ago, I borrowed the Golden Bible, put it into my pocket, carried it home, and thought no more of it. About a week after, my wife found the book in my coat pocket, as it hung up, and commenced reading it aloud as I lay upon the bed. She had not read twenty minutes, till I was astonished to find the same passages in it that Spaulding had read to me more than twenty years before, from his "Manuscript Found." Since that, I have more fully examined the said Golden Bible, and have no hesitation in saying that the historical part of it is principally, if not wholly, taken from the "Manuscript Found.' I well recollect telling Mr. Spaulding that the so frequent use of the words "And it came to pass," "Now it came to pass," rendered it ridiculous. Spaulding left here in 1812, and I furnished him the means to carry him to Pittsburgh, where he said he would get the book printed and pay me. But I never heard any more from him or his writings, till I saw them in the Book of Mormon.

Henry Lake.

THE TESTIMONY OF JOHN N. MILLER.

Springfield, Pa., September, 1833. In the year 1811, I was in the employ of Henry Lake and Solomon Spaulding, at Conneaut, engaged in rebuilding a forge. While there, I boarded and lodged in the family of said Spaulding for several months. I was soon introduced to the manuscripts of Spaulding, and perused them as often as I had leisure. He had written two or three books or pamphlets on different subjects; but that which more particularly drew my attention was one which he called the "Manuscript Found." From this he would frequently read some humorous passages to the company present It purported to be the history of the first settlement of America, before discovered by Columbus. He brought them off from Jerusalem, under their leaders; detailing their travels by land and water, their manners, customs, laws, wars, &c. He said that he designed it as an historical novel, and that in after years it would be believed by many people as much as the history of England. He soon after failed in business, and told me he would retire from the din of his creditors, finish his book and have it published, which would enable him to pay his debts and support his family. He soon after removed to Pittsburgh, as I understood

I have recently examined the Book of Mormon, and find in it the writings of Solomon Spaulding, from beginning to end, but mixed up with Scripture and other religious matter, which I did not meet with in the "Manuscript Found." Many of the passages in the Mormon book are verbatim from Spaulding, and others in part. The names of Nephi, Lehi, Moroni, and in fact all the principal names, are brought fresh to my recollection by the Golden Bible. When Spaulding divested his history of its fabulous names, by a verbal explanation, he landed his people near the Straits of Darien, which I am very confident he called Zarahemla; they were marched about that country for a length of time, in which wars and great bloodshed ensued; he brought them across North America in a northeast direction.

John N. Miller.

THE TESTIMONY OF AARON WRIGHT.

CONNEAUT, August, 1833.

I first became acquainted with Solomon Spaulding in 1808 or '9, when he commenced building a forge on Conneaut Creek. When at his house, one day, he showed and read to me a history he was writing, of the lost tribes of Israel, purporting that they were the first settlers of America, and that the Indians were their descendants. Upon this subject we had frequent conversations. He traced their journey from Jerusalem to America, as it is given in the Book of Mormon, excepting the religious matter. The historical part of the Book of Mormon I know to be the same as I read and heard read from the writings of Spaulding, more than twenty years ago; the names, more especially, are the same without any alteration. He told me his object was to account for all the fortifications, &c., to be formed in this country, and said that in time it would be fully believed by all, except learned men and historians. I once anticipated reading his writings in print, but little expected to see them in a new Bible. Spaulding had many other manuscripts, which I expect to see when Smith translates his other plate. In conclusion, I will observe, that the names of, and most of the historical part of the Book of Mormon, were as familiar to me before I read it, as most modern history. If it is not Spaulding's writing, it is the same as he wrote; and if Smith was inspired, I think it was by the same spirit that Spaulding was, which he confessed to be the love of money. Aaron Wright.

THE TESTIMONY OF OLIVER SMITH.

CONNEAUT, August, I833.

When Solomon Spaulding first came to this place, he purchased a tract of land, surveyed it out, and commenced selling it. While engaged in this business, he boarded at my house, in all nearly six months. All his leisure hours were occupied in writing an historical novel, founded upon the first settlers of this country. He said he intended to trace their journey from Jerusalem, by land and sea, till their arrival in America; give an account of their arts, sciences, civilization, wars, and contentions. In this way, he would give a satisfactory account of all of the old mounds so common to this country. During the time he was at my house, I read and heard read one hundred pages or more. Nephi and Lehi were by him represented as leading characters, when they first started for America. Their main object was to escape the judgments which they supposed were coming upon the old world. But no religious matter was introduced as I now recollect. Just before he left this place, Spaulding sent for me to call on him, which I did. He then said that although he was in my debt, he intended to leave the country, and hoped I would not prevent him. For, says he, you know I have been writing the history of the first settlement of America, and I intend to go to Pittsburgh, and there live a retired life, till I have completed the work, and when it is printed, it will bring me a fine sum of money, which will enable me to return and pay off all my debts. The book, you know, will sell, as every one is anxious to learn something upon that subject This was the last I heard of Spaulding or his book, until the Book of Mormon came into the neighborhood. When I heard the historical part of it related, I at once said it was the writings of old Solomon Spaulding. Soon after, I obtained the book, and on reading it, found much of it the same as Spaulding had written, more than twenty years before.

Oliver Smith.

THE TESTIMONY OF NAHUM HOWARD.

CONNEAUT, August, 1833.

I first became acquainted with Solomon Spaulding, in December, 1810. After that time, I frequently saw him at his house, and also at my house. I once, in conversation with him, expressed a surprise at not having any account of the inhabitants once in this country, who erected the old forts, mounds, &c. He then told me that he was writing a history of that race of people; and afterwards frequently showed me his writings, which I read. I have lately read the Book of Mormon, and believe it to be the same as Spaulding wrote, except the religious part. He told me that he intended to get his writings published in Pittsburgh, and he thought that in one century from that time, it would be believed as much as any other history.

Nahum Howard.

THE TESTIMONY OF ARTEMAS CUNNINGHAM.

In the month of October, 1811, I went from the township of Madison to Conneaut, for the purpose of securing a debt due me from Solomon Spaulding. I tarried with him nearly two days, for the purpose of accomplishing my object, which I was finally unable to do. I found him destitute of the means of paying his debts. "His only hope of ever paying his debts appeared to be upon the sale of a book which he had been writing. He endeavored to convince me from the nature and character of the work, that it would meet with a ready sale. Before showing me his manuscripts, he went into a verbal relation of its outlines, saying that it was a fabulous or romantic history of the first settlement of this country, and as it purported to have been a record found buried in the earth, or in a cave, he had adopted the ancient or Scripture style of writing. He then presented his manuscripts, when we sat down, and spent a good share of the night in reading them, and conversing upon them. I well remember the name of Nephi, which appeared to be the principal hero of the story. The frequent repetition of the phrase, "I Nephi," I recollect as distinctly as though it was but yesterday, although the general features of the story have passed from my memory, through the lapse of twenty-two years. He attempted to account for the numerous antiquities which are found upon this continent, and remarked that, after this generation had passed away, his account of the first inhabitants of America would be considered as authentic as any other history. The Mormon Bible I have partially examined, and am fully of the opinion that Solomon Spaulding had written its outlines before he left Conneaut.

This completes the original testimony on the "Manuscript Found" as given by E. D. Howe in 1834. By it the following points are established :

First, Solomon Spaulding wrote several manuscripts which he was fond of exhibiting to his acquaintances.

Secondly, one of these manuscripts, and the most important of them, bore the title of the "Manuscript Found."

Thirdly, this manuscript agreed with the Book of Mormon in its general historical outline and proper names, it containing such proper names as Lehi, Nephi, Nephites, Lamanites, Laban, Zarahemla and Moroni.

Fourthly, it was also written in Scripture style, and began nearly every paragraph with "And it came to pass" and "Now it came to pass." It could not, therefore, have been identical with the manuscript found in Honolulu, which does not contain these introductory expressions.

Fifthly, the "Manuscript Found" was devoid of the religious matter found in the Book of Mormon, hence this must have been added later, presumably by Rigdon.

Are these coincidences purely accidental?