Kishkumen wrote:Bennett's article on Mitchill and Harris shows that Mitchill was, by 1816, promulgating a theory about climactic, ancient battles in New York that brought about the destruction of a great people. That is very interesting.
As for the connection between Harris and Mitchill, it would seem that another individual, perhaps Luther Bradish of Albany, NY, referred Harris to him, not that Joseph Smith sent him directly to Mitchill. Mitchill then referred Harris to Anthon.
Thanks. I did not know that. Either way, the story makes more sense to me if Harris went in search of endorsements rather than to resolve doubt. Quite a coincidence with Mitchill, though.
Nevo wrote:If you're looking for stylistic similarities between the Book of Mormon and other pseudo-biblical writings in Joseph Smith's cultural milieu you shouldn't confine yourself to Hunt's book. Take a look also at Richard Snowden's The American Revolution; Written in the Style of Ancient History [...]
here's an interesting article about Snowden's book that appeared in the Oct 1, 1903 issue of the New York Sun (my bolding):
FREAK BOOKS ABOUT OLD TIMES. Startling Information About the Period of the War for Independence. From the Washington Post. If one had the time it would be well worth the trouble to spend a month at the Library of Congress, looking over what the librarians call "freak books." Now and then, in all countries and climates, some one is seized with a desire to write a book in some manner other than the way usually followed, and such productions are oftentimes grotesque and ridiculous. This is not only the case at present, but it has always been so, and nearly every age can show the work of some person who had nothing better to do than to busy himself with the production of a work that was chiefly remarkable for its utterly nonsensical and outlandish character. Of these, one of the most remarkable Is a book entitled "The American Revolution," written in "Scriptural or ancient historical style, by Richard Snowden, Baltimore. Printed by W. Pechin, 10 Second street." No date is given, nor is there any preface or foreword as to who or what the author was but it is evident from the name of the publisher and several other things that it appeared some time about the year 1798. The book is just what its title announces, a very blundering and poor attempt at writing a history of the Revolution in the English of the Stuart period, which ignorant people imagine was the spoken tongue of Moses, St. Paul and all the other Bible characters. In fact, the work is somewhat on the style of the Mormon Bible, that is to say, written in nineteenth century English with "And it came to pass," or an "exceeding sore" ladelled in here and there to give it a somewhat Biblical twang. [...] How any one could have the patience to wade through this mess of nonsense it would be hard to imagine, but doubtless in those days when everything in America turned on Bible and religion, this remarkable book was thumbed over and eagerly read as a very clever and witty effusion.
Zadok: I did not have a faith crisis. I discovered that the Church was having a truth crisis. Maksutov: That's the problem with this supernatural stuff, it doesn't really solve anything. It's a placeholder for ignorance.
a little information about David Longworth, the publisher of Gilbert's Late War.
from Nov. 26 1904 issue of the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: An ealier art dealer, however, had made an impression, this being David Longworth, a book seller, who had boldly moved uptown and opened a store in Park Row. To attract attention he ornamented the latter with framed prints from Boydell's illustrations of Shakespeare which enabled him to dignify his store with the title of "The Shakespeare Gallery." Longworth was the publisher of [Washington] Irving's Salmagundi and this combination of art and literature seemed to have been highly auspicious, for the Shakespeare Gallery was the inception of artistic taste, while Irving's humble beginnings led to that grand success which rendered him the patriarch of American literature.
and from a 2008 biography of Washington Irving, we learn that Longworth was an "ambitious printer-bookseller-attorney" and "compiler of the annual City Directory." and in additional to his work on Irving's satirical periodic Salmagundi, he was notable for having published a "sensational pamphlet" on the Levi Weeks trial.
palerobber wrote:a little information about David Longworth, the publisher of Gilbert's Late War.
from Nov. 26 1904 issue of the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: An ealier art dealer, however, had made an impression, this being David Longworth, a book seller, who had boldly moved uptown and opened a store in Park Row. To attract attention he ornamented the latter with framed prints from Boydell's illustrations of Shakespeare which enabled him to dignify his store with the title of "The Shakespeare Gallery." Longworth was the publisher of [Washington] Irving's Salmagundi and this combination of art and literature seemed to have been highly auspicious, for the Shakespeare Gallery was the inception of artistic taste, while Irving's humble beginnings led to that grand success which rendered him the patriarch of American literature.
and from a 2008 biography of Washington Irving, we learn that Longworth was an "ambitious printer-bookseller-attorney" and "compiler of the annual City Directory." and in additional to his work on Irving's satirical periodic Salmagundi, he was notable for having published a "sensational pamphlet" on the Levi Weeks trial.
You mean Hoffman was forging stuff way back in 1904?
This in and of itself is an amazing "coincidence" that would cause many whom I know to panic:
Alma 53:
19 And now behold, as they never had hitherto been a disadvantage to the Nephites, they became now at this period of time also a great support; for they took their weapons of war, and they would that Helaman should be their leader.
20 And they were all young men, and they were exceedingly valiant for courage, and also for strength and activity; but behold, this was not all—they were men who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted.
21 Yea, they were men of truth and soberness, for they had been taught to keep the commandments of God and to walk uprightly before him.
22 And now it came to pass that Helaman did march at the head of his two thousand stripling soldiers, to the support of the people in the borders of the land on the south by the west sea.
From Hunt book:
Chapter XIX, verse 32 32. About this time, a stripling from the south, with his weapon of war in his hand.
Ch VI, 2 2. And to a certain chief captain called Wlliam, whose sir-name was Hull, was given in trust a band of more than two thousand chosen men, to go forth to battle in the north.
mms wrote:This in and of itself is an amazing "coincidence" that would cause many whom I know to panic:
Alma 53:
19 And now behold, as they never had hitherto been a disadvantage to the Nephites, they became now at this period of time also a great support; for they took their weapons of war, and they would that Helaman should be their leader.
20 And they were all young men, and they were exceedingly valiant for courage, and also for strength and activity; but behold, this was not all—they were men who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted.
21 Yea, they were men of truth and soberness, for they had been taught to keep the commandments of God and to walk uprightly before him.
22 And now it came to pass that Helaman did march at the head of his two thousand stripling soldiers, to the support of the people in the borders of the land on the south by the west sea.
From Hunt book:
Chapter XIX, verse 32 32. About this time, a stripling from the south, with his weapon of war in his hand.
Ch VI, 2 2. And to a certain chief captain called Wlliam, whose sir-name was Hull, was given in trust a band of more than two thousand chosen men, to go forth to battle in the north.
I fail to see the similarities.
Kidding, these similarities you have quoted are what really got my attention.
Wow. Just finished reading this thread. I don't have much hope for the intellectually dishonest apologists out there but this will certainly be the catalyst for many who are questioning to make their exit.
palerobber wrote:a little information about David Longworth, the publisher of Gilbert's Late War.
from Nov. 26 1904 issue of the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: An ealier art dealer, however, had made an impression, this being David Longworth, a book seller, who had boldly moved uptown and opened a store in Park Row. To attract attention he ornamented the latter with framed prints from Boydell's illustrations of Shakespeare which enabled him to dignify his store with the title of "The Shakespeare Gallery." Longworth was the publisher of [Washington] Irving's Salmagundi and this combination of art and literature seemed to have been highly auspicious, for the Shakespeare Gallery was the inception of artistic taste, while Irving's humble beginnings led to that grand success which rendered him the patriarch of American literature.
and from a 2008 biography of Washington Irving, we learn that Longworth was an "ambitious printer-bookseller-attorney" and "compiler of the annual City Directory." and in additional to his work on Irving's satirical periodic Salmagundi, he was notable for having published a "sensational pamphlet" on the Levi Weeks trial.
You mean Hoffman was forging stuff way back in 1904?
Joseph had a number of reasons to be interested in getting Mitchell's support. there are also links through Stephen Mack, his uncle. this discusses further possible influence on the nature of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon:
I got this information from Mormonleaks.com originally, Craig Criddle's very interesting site. if you have not followed the recent iteration of the Gold Bible Conspiracy, it incorporates a lot of incriminating historical information and textual analysis.
