TO EDWARD HUNGER
1842 MARCH 9, 11

LS. Joseph Smith, Nauvoo, Illinois, to Edward Hunter, West Nantmeal, Chester County, Pennsylvania, 9, 11 March 1842, 3 pp., in hand of William Law and Willard Richards, Joseph Smith Collection, LDS Church Archives.

On 10 February Edward Hunter responded to Joseph Smith's January letter, informing the Prophet that he would be coming to Nauvoo in the spring. He wrote, "I have sold one of my farms & the other I do not know whether I can sell it, the money matters is in a dreadfull situation Banks are breaking continually. I intend sending out 400. Dollars for the erection of the Temple, & four hundred Dollars for Stock in Nauvoo House. I would like to send drafts on the State Bank of Illinois or St. Louis if you think it the most proper way of conveyance of funds, on this subject I wish to hear from you. I shall receive part of the sale of my property First of Aprile next at that time I would wish to send the Eight hundred Dollars I before mentioned & I wish to hear how the State Bank of Illinois stands & the Banks of St Louis those banks will be a very important subject to the brethren that are going out this spring Myself and family purpose starting out to Nauvoo begining of May, the greater part of this branch are geting ready to go out this summer."640

Joseph answered Edward Hunter's letter on 9 March.

Nauvoo City March 9th 1842,
Bro. Edward Hunter

Dear Sir

I yesterday had the pleasure of Receiving your Letter of Feb.10-am much pleased that you have effected a sale, and are so soon to be with us &c.—

I have purchased the lands you desired, and will use my influence to have the improvements made which you wish. Bro. Weiler rec'd your Letter and says he will do what he can to have all done.

The Power of Attorney I will forward to you with all its due forms

The eight hundred dollars for the Temple & Nauvoo House I wish you to bring in goods, which I will give you stock & credit for, as soon as Received.

I wish you to invest as much money as you possibly can in goods, to bring here, and I will purchase them of you, when you come, if we can agree on terms, or you can have my new brick store to rent. I wish the business kept up by some one, in the building as it is a very fine house, and cost me [p. 1] a handsome amount to build it. Some eight or ten thousand dollars worth of goods would be of great advantage to this place, therefore if you or some of the Brethren would bring them on, I have no doubt but that I can arrange for them in some way to your (or their) advantage.

As to money matters here, the State Bank is down, and we cannot tell you what Bank would be safe a month hence, I would say that Gold and Silver is the only safe money a man can keep these times, you can sell specie [coin] here for more premiums [bank notes] than you have to give, therefore there would be no loss, and it would be safe. The Bank you deposite in might fail before you had time to draw out again—

I am now very busily engaged in Translating, and therefore cannot give as much time to Public matters as I could wish, but will nevertheless do what I can to forward your affairs

I will send you a memorandum of such goods as will suit this market, yours affectionately

Joseph Smith [p. 2]

March 11. After diligent enquiry I have learned that the presiding Judge of this circuit is a great distance from this, & it will not be possible according to present appearances, to get an accknowled[g]ment of the Letter of Attorney until the former part of May. If you Sir & the parties concerned will proceed with the business Just as though you had the Letter, for the purpose of expediting the business, I pledge my honor that a duly authenticated letter of Attorney shall be forth coming at the earliest date possible. & by so doing you will confer a favor on your friend, &c.

Joseph Smith

W. Richards. Scribe641 [p. 3]

Mr. Edwd Hunter

West Nantmeal Chester Co

Pennsylvania