To the Historian of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Dear Brother Richards, I forward to you as you are the Historian of the Church, A file of ^the^ the New
York weekly Herrald, with this communition. I have sent some to you and President Young
by Elder Rockwood & others, & will continue to send as often Ias I have an opportunity. From
the Herrald, you will draw an idea of the signs of the times throughout the word since you left
the States. Elder Appleby has kept a record of affairs as they have transpired during the past
season for the benefit of the Church which He may forward to you soon. I have also watched
the signs, And occasionally made an Extract in my Journal, & on the first day of January 18489
I recorded A summary or synopsis of the same, A portion of which I will forward in this communiac-
ation to you: As it may in some measure be interesting to have A view of things, As they are passing in
Great Babylon, which is separated from you by the sage deserts, And High Mountains of Israel.
"Thus ends the year of eighteen hundred and forty Eight. A Year big with with Events. A year in
which the fig treees tree hath rapidly put forth her leaves and blossomed for the summer. A year
which has laid the foundation for the fulfillment of more prophecy & Revelation than whole
centauries in other ages. Thrones have been cast down, whole kingdoms overturned, And the
Power of the Pope of Rome laid prostrate, and He driven from his kingdom. All the Nations of
the Earth convulsed. Revolutions, wars, Anarchy, & confusion have followed each other in rapid
succession. Cholera, plagues, fire and famine followed in the train. And last of all though not least
in importance is the foundation laid for the disolution of the Amarican Goverment. While
these theings are going on, The Ottoman Empire with many of the Nations of the East have
come to the conclusion that the Jews are human beings, and are now saying to them, you may now
go home, And rebuild Jerrusalem and your Temple and we will help you. These are some of the
leading features of the signs of the times of Eighteen hundred forty Eight.
The revolutions of Europe commenced with France. The people rose in mass, had three days fight
at the end of which they drove Louis Philipi King of the French out of the kingdom with all the
Royal family. The people entered the Turrelles, took the Throne upon their shoulders, carried it into
the streets, and dashed it to peaces upon the ground. The people then undertook to Esstablish a
Republican Goverment. It was said there were ownly 500 killed the first three days fight,
afterwords A reaction took place when it was reported that some 15000 were killed. They have
since organized, And Louis Napoleon Bonaparte is now President of France. The Jerman
states and Prusia next followed in Revolution, which still remians unsettled. Although the King of Prusia has called A constitutional Goverment. Next the Kingdom of Austria
arose in mass, drove the Emperor from his Throne & kingdom. He afterwards returned
raised armies, & bombarded Vienna eight days. Bloodshed continued untill the Emperor
Abdicated his Throne. The Emperor of Russia has also had wars & difficulties in
To the Historian of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Dear Brother Richards, I forward to you as you are the Historian of the Church, A file of the the New
York weekly Herrald, with this communition. I have sent some to you and President Young
by Elder Rockwood & others, & will continue to send as oftenas I have an opportunity. From
the Herrald, you will draw an idea of the signs of the times throughout the word since you left
the States. Elder Appleby has kept a record of affairs as they have transpired during the past
season for the benefit of the Church which He may forward to you soon. I have also watched
the signs, And occasionally made an Extract in my Journal, & on the first day of January 1849
I recorded A summary or synopsis of the same, A portion of which I will forward in this communication to you: As it may in some measure be interesting to have A view of things, As they are passing in
Great Babylon, which is separated from you by the sage deserts, And High Mountains of Israel.
"Thus ends the year of eighteen hundred and forty Eight. A Year big with with Events. A year in
which the fig tree hath rapidly put forth her leaves and blossomed for the summer. A year
which has laid the foundation for the fulfillment of more prophecy & Revelation than whole
centauries in other ages. Thrones have been cast down, whole kingdoms overturned, And the
Power of the Pope of Rome laid prostrate, and He driven from his kingdom. All the Nations of
the Earth convulsed. Revolutions, wars, Anarchy, & confusion have followed each other in rapid
succession. Cholera, plagues, fire and famine followed in the train. And last of all though not least
in importance is the foundation laid for the disolution of the Amarican Goverment. While
these things are going on, The Ottoman Empire with many of the Nations of the East have
come to the conclusion that the Jews are human beings, and are now saying to them, you may now
go home, And rebuild Jerrusalem and your Temple and we will help you. These are some of the
leading features of the signs of the times of Eighteen hundred forty Eight.
The revolutions of Europe commenced with France. The people rose in mass, had three days fight
at the end of which they drove Louis Philipi King of the French out of the kingdom with all the
Royal family. The people entered the Turrelles, took the Throne upon their shoulders, carried it into
the streets, and dashed it to peaces upon the ground. The people then undertook to Esstablish a
Republican Goverment. It was said there were ownly 500 killed the first three days fight,
afterwords A reaction took place when it was reported that some 15000 were killed. They have
since organized, And Louis Napoleon Bonaparte is now President of France. The Jerman
states and Prusia next followed in Revolution, which still remians unsettled. Although the
King of Prusia has called A constitutional Goverment. Next the Kingdom of Austria
arose in mass, drove the Emperor from his Throne & kingdom. He afterwards returned
raised armies, & bombarded Vienna eight days. Bloodshed continued untill the Emperor
Abdicated his Throne. The Emperor of Russia has also had wars & difficulties in