The opinion of Judge Pope as recorded in this history, was copied from the _Sangamon Journal_, and believed to be Judge Pope's opinion, as corrected and altered by him from the report furnished him by my secretary. {245} In the judge's opinion on the bench, he remarked like this:--"Were it my prerogative to impeach Congress for any one thing, it would be for granting power for the transportation of fugitives on affidavit, and not on indictment alone." He also passed several severe strictures on the actions of different governors and others concerned in my case, but which I suppose he thought proper to omit in his printed copy. I received many invitations to visit distinguished gentlemen in Springfield, which time would not permit me to comply with; also a ticket from the manager to attend the theatre this evening; but the play was prevented by the rain. {246} CHAPTER XIII. THE PROPHET AGAIN IN NAUVOO--CELEBRATION OF HIS RELEASE FROM OPPRESSION--"VADE MECUM"--REINSTATEMENT OF ORSON PRATT--DISCOURSES OF THE PROPHET, "THE KINGDOM OF GOD;" "THE MISSION AND GREATNESS OF JOHN THE BAPTIST;" "INTERPRETATION OF SCRIPTURES." [Sidenote: The Start for Nauvoo.] _Saturday, January 7, 1843_.--At half-past eight in the morning, we left Judge Adams' to return to Nauvoo, and arrived at Captain Dutch's at four in the evening. Traveling very bad, with snow and mud, and yet so cold as to whiten the horses with frost. While riding this day, General Law and Dr. Richards composed a _Jubilee Song_, which they wrote and sang in the evening, and "dedicated to all lovers of Illinois' liberties," as printed on the first page of 37th Number of _The Wasp_. Recent accounts from Alexandria, in Egypt, state the mortality (murrain) among the cattle still continues; and it was estimated that upwards of 200,000 oxen had already died. _Sunday, 8_.--At eight in the morning we left Captain Dutch's, and, passing through Geneva and Beardstown, and crossing the Illinois river on the ice, arrived at Rushville at four in the evening. After supper, I went to Mr. Uriah Brown's, with several of the brethren and spent the evening very agreeably, partly in examining drafts of improvements he had made in some operative and defensive machinery. [Sidenote: An Accident by the Way.]