DEAR SIR:--Yours, notifying me of your application for the benefit of the bankrupt act, is at hand. I regret very much the step you have taken, as I am fearful it will have a most disastrous influence upon your society, both commercially and religiously; you have, however, probably weighed the subject with sufficient care to arrive at a correct decision. You will oblige me by stating, immediately upon the receipt of this letter, your precise meaning, in saying, that "all your creditors would fare alike." It is, as you will see, important for me to know the course taken with my notes, and also the position in which we stand to each other. You have my bond for certain lands, or rather you have my bond that you shall have a deed to certain lands upon the payment of notes specified in said bond. I wish to know exactly how this bond stands in your inventory. Of course, it cannot stand as a title to the property; but I want to know the disposition which is to be made of it. Possibly some arrangement might be made between us at once; still I do not know how Mr. Tuttle and Mr. Gillet will view the subject. Yours, &c., HORACE R. HOTCHKISS. {52} To which I wrote the following answer:-- _Letter of Joseph Smith to H. R. Hotchkiss--Reply to Above_. NAUVOO, June 30, 1842. _H. R. Hotchkiss, Esq.:_ DEAR SIR:--Yours of the 27th May has been received, which I shall now briefly answer. In regard to my application for the benefit of the bankrupt act, there was no other course for me to pursue than the one I have already taken; and, as I have said before, all my creditors will have to fare alike. Your papers are inventoried along with all the other property. The influence this step may have upon our society, either commercially or religiously, is a matter we cannot stop to consult, as we had no alternative left. We have been compelled to pursue this course on account of the extreme pressure of the times, which continued to bear harder upon us, until we took the step we have. A great pressure of business prevents writing more at the present, you will, therefore, excuse a short communication. I remain yours respectfully, JOSEPH SMITH. _Friday, July 1_.--Elder Willard Richards left Nauvoo for New England. _Saturday, 2_.--Rode out in the city with my clerk, Mr. Clayton, to look at some lots; afterwards rode to Hezekiah Peck's, accompanied by Emma and others. In this day's _Wasp_, I find the following:-- _Mr. Editor:_