A Journey up the Mississippi River, from Its Mouth to Nauvoo, the City of the Latter day Saints
Ashton-Under-Lyne, England
John Williamson
1845
62
I have been induced to write the following pages at the solicitations of many friends.
But the most particular reason why I have thus ventured to allow myself to be criticised, and, perhaps, wrong constructions put upon my ideas, is that my country, men and women, who have embraced the new doctrine of Mormonism should know the real condition of their friends in the city of Nauvoo.
Of course, they are at perfect liberty either to believe or disbelieve my opinions on their religion and prophet, and the truths I tell them concerning the city; but those who have any thing like homes here will repent if they ever try the experiment of going to Nauvoo. None can prove that I have either selfish ends in view, or that I wish to forward the interest of any section of religionists, as I belong to none. "To do good is my religion."
The slavery of one portion of society, their complete debasement, and the absence of all education amongst them, is repugnant to every lover of his kind, and I am not unwilling to throw my humble mite into the scale to make it appear in its naked deformity,