him since. Such is a plain statement of all that I know respecting the Mormons. My impression now is, that the plain looking countryman was none other than the prophet Smith himself, who assumed an appearance of great simplicity in order to entrap me, if possible, into some recommendation of his book. That the prophet aided me by his inspiration, in interpreting the volume, is only one of the many amusing falsehoods which the Mormonites utter relative to my participation in their doctrines. Of these doctrines I know nothing whatever, nor have I ever heard a single discourse from any one of their preachers, although I have often felt a strong curiosity to become an auditor, since my friends tell me that they frequently name me in their sermons, and even go so far as to say that I am alluded to in the prophecies of Scripture! If what I have here written shall prove of any service in opening the eyes of some of their deluded followers to the real designs of those who profess to be the apostles of Mormonism, it will afford me a satisfaction, equalled, I have no doubt only by that which you yourself will feel on this subject. I remain very respectfully and truly, your friend, CHAS. ANTHON. _Rev. Dr. Coit_, New Rochelle, N. Y. It will be seen that in the main this tallies exceedingly well with what Harris told the author, in relation to the fact of his interview with Professor Anthon. He kept back in his account of the interview all allusion to the discouragements which the Professor threw upon his enterprise. There can be no doubt but that the person who waited upon Professor Anthon in the manner above stated, was Martin Harris. CHAPTER XXIV. THE MORMON, OR GOLDEN BIBLE. The origin of the Book of Mormon--The statement of Mr. Isaac Hall, father in law of the Mormon Prophet--Rev. Mr. Spaulding's Historical Romance--Mrs. Davison's statement--The blindness of Martin Harris--Testimony of the three witnesses--The eight witnesses. The communication which follows is the second in the series of letters referred to in a former chapter. _Fairfield, August 31, 1840._ According to the intimation given in my last, I proceed to furnish you with some further facts in relation to the origin and history of Mormonism. In developing the history of this imposture, and showing the several steps by which it has won its way to the regard, and gained the confidence of thousands, it may seem desirable to furnish some account of what is denominated THE BOOK OF MORMON--a volume containing 588 duodecimo pages, consisting of fifteen different books, purporting to be written at different times, and by different authors, whose names they respectively bear. The period of time which these historical records profess to cover, is about a thousand years--commencing with the time of Zedekiah, king of Judah, and terminating with the year of our Lord 420.