But spring has now returned; the wintry blasts Have ceased to howl through prison crevices The soft and gentle breezes of the South Are whistling gaily past, and incense sweet, On zephyr's wing, with fragrance fills the air, Wafted from blooming flowerets of the spring; While round my lonely dungeon oft is heard Melodious strains, as if the birds of spring, In anthems sweet, conspired to pity and Console the drooping spirits there confined. All things around me show that days, and weeks, And months have fled, although to me not mark'd By Sabbaths, and but faintly marked by dim And sombre rays of light, alternate 'mid The gloom of overhanging night, which still Pervades my drear and solitary cell. Where now those helpless ones I left to mourn? Have they perished? No. What then! Has some Elijah call'd and found them in the last Extreme, and multiplied their meal and oil? Yes, verily; the Lord has filled the hearts Of his poor saints with everlasting love, Which, in proportion to their poverty, Increased with each increasing want, till all Reduced unto the widow's mite, and then, Like her, their living they put in; and thus O'erflowed the treasury of the Lord with more Abundant stores than all the wealth of kings. And thus supported, fed and clothed, and moved From scenes of sorrow to a land of peace, They live! and living still, they do rejoice In tribulation deep-- Well knowing their redemption draweth nigh. CHAPTER XXX. ------------------------ LETTER TO JUDGE AUSTIN A. KING. "RICHMOND PRISON, May 13th, 1839, "_Hon. Sir_--Having been confined in prison near seven months, and the time having arrived when a change of venue can be taken in order for the further prosecution of our trials, and the time when I can speak my mind freely, without endangering the lives or liberties of any but myself, I now take the liberty of seriously objecting to a trial anywhere within the bounds of this State, and of earnestly praying to your honor and to all the authorities, civil and military, that my case may come within the law of BANISHMENT! enacted by Governor Boggs, and so vigorously enforced upon from ten to fifteen thousand of our society, including my wife and little ones, together with all my witnesses and friends. "My reasons are obvious, and founded upon notorious facts which known to you, sir, and to the people in general of this republic, and, therefore, need no proof; some of them are as follows: "First: I have never received any protection by law, either of my person, property or family, while residing in this State, to which I first emigrated in 1831.