1838 — Poems — by Josiah Canning — [Contains an Early Mention of the Mormons]

1838. Poems: By Josiah D. Canning. Phelps & Ingersoll, Printers. Greenfield: Mass., 1838. 205p. Leather spine; marbled boards; worn corners; boards present but both detached.

Page107 has one of the earliest brief mentions of Joseph Smith, the Book of Mormon, and the Mormons! First of five verses reads: “Now Mormon, with his golden plates, Says he has opened heaven’s gates, And hangs out many tempting baits To Prove the fact; And old Joe Smith, his agent, prates With school-boy tact.”

Footnote at bottom of page states: “Every one, it is presumed, is familiar with the history of this singular sect; and with their formation from the pretended discovery of some golden plates, revealing the book of Mormon. Headed by their principal leader, Joe Smith, they journied to the far west to seek the ‘New Jerusalem,’ as they termed it. Instead thereof, however, they found fighting and bloodshed.” The “far west” referred to is actually Missouri!

Very scarce volume! Title on spine states: Canning’s POEMS.