_Friday, 17.--_Deeded lot 4, block 135, to Sally Phelps, wife of W. W. Phelps. About ten, a.m., called in the office with Esquire Southwick, of Dixon. Thunder, lightning and rain last night. Warm and foggy morning. _Saturday, 18.--_Rode out on horseback to the prairie, accompanied by Mr. Southwick. Conference of the church held at Halifax, Nova Scotia. Robert Dixon, president; Edward Cook, secretary. Two branches were represented, containing 2 Elders, 1 Teacher, 2 Deacons, and 34 members. _Sunday, 19.--_Eleven a.m. to two p.m., prayer-meeting at the old house, and fasting. In the evening, prayer-meeting and breaking of bread, &c. [Sidenote: Meeting at the Prophet's Home.] _Monday, 20.--_Two gentlemen from Vermont put up at the Mansion. I rode round with them in the afternoon to show them the improvements in the city. In the evening, several of the Twelve and others called to visit me. My family sang hymns, {80} and Elder John Taylor prayed and gave an address, to which they paid great attention, and seemed very much interested. _Tuesday, 21.--_Council of the Twelve and others at my old house all day. Dictated to my clerk an appeal to the Green Mountain boys of Vermont, my native State. Also instructed Elders Richards, Hyde, Taylor and Phelps to write a "Proclamation to the Kings of the Earth." _Wednesday, 22.--_Rode out to the prairie with W. Clayton and Lorenzo D. Wasson, and found Arthur Smith cutting timber on my land without my consent, which I objected to. Prayer-meeting in the evening at the old house. Five deaths in the city during the past week. [Sidenote: Canal Around the Rapids.] _Thursday, 23.--_Met in council in the old house; then walked down to the river to look at the stream, rocks, &c., about half-past eleven, a.m. Suggested the idea of petitioning Congress for a grant to make a canal over the falls, or a dam to turn the water to the city, so that we might erect mills and other machinery. [3] Issued a writ of habeas corpus, on application of John M. Finch. _Friday, 24.--_Attended Municipal Court "on habeas corpus, John M. Finch at suit of Amos Davis." Finch discharged, Davis to pay costs, it being a vexatious and malicious suit. The young men have established a debating society in Nauvoo, to discuss topics of various descriptions. {81} [Sidenote: The Prophet's Stand on Chastity and General Morality.]