[Footnote A: Of course, inefficient proof-reading, and the fact that the publishing firm from whose press issued the first edition of the Book of Mormon was unfriendly to it, and, therefore, careless in its work, and, perhaps, even mischievously disposed towards it, may account for some of the verbal and grammatical errors of the first edition. On the probability of this being the case, the writer of the Manual said in that work: "The fact that the Book of Mormon was published in a country town, on a hand press, and by persons unfamiliar with book making, and the proofs were read by Oliver Cowdery, who was entirely without experience in such work, will account for many errors, verbal and grammatical. The further fact that the employees, at the printing establishment where the book was published, were unfriendly to it, and were more anxious to make it appear ridiculous than to turn out a good job, may account for other errors that crept into the first edition. But after due allowance is made for all these conditions, the errors are so numerous, and of such a constitutional nature, that they cannot be explained away by these unfavorable conditions under which the work was published."--_Manual_, page 494-5.] One correspondent to the _Era,_ after making some objections to the "Manual theory" of the translation of the Book of Mormon, closes his communication with the following _post script:_ "P.S.--We don't think the writer of the Manual should answer this. Give us better authority." It would have pleased the writer of the Manual had the Editor of the _Era_ thought proper to have referred these questions concerning the translation of the Book of Mormon to someone else--to better authority--and there are many better authorities; but the Editors have seen proper to refer the questions to the Manual writer, and they have received such consideration as he is able to give them, within the compass of this article. Since the questions were referred to him, however, the _Deseret News_ editorially has taken up the subject, and I am very pleased with the opportunity of presenting to this _post script_ writer the better authority for which he longs; but he may be disappointed in the fact that the _News_ writer sees this matter of translation substantially in the same light in which it was presented by the Manual: A CURRENT QUESTION. "We have received from one of the wards in Idaho the following question, which we are requested to answer through the columns of the _Deseret News._ As it does not relate to any local matter which would come under the immediate jurisdiction of the ward or stake authorities, and is a subject that is receiving much attention just now, we will respond to the desire of our friend on this matter, as we are able. The question asked is as follows: