| 474 To this letter Mr. Rice added postscript saying that he found the following indorsement [endorsement] on the manuscript:
"The writings of Solomon Spalding proved by Aaron Wright, Oliver Smith, John N. Miller and others. The testimonies of the above gentlemen are now in my possession.
(Signed) D. P. HURLBUT."
The following communications will explain that the manuscript was finally made the property of Oberlin College, and from there a copy was obtained by the church:
HONOLULU, Hawaiian Islands, June 12,1885.
PRESIDENT J. H. FAIRCHILD:
Herewith I send to you the Solomon Spalding Manuscript, to be deposited in the Library of Oberlin College, for reference by any one who may be desirous of seeing or examining it. As a great deal of inquiry has been made about it since it became known that it was in my possession, I deem it proper that it be deposited for safe-keeping, where any one interested in it, whether Mormon or anti-Mormon, may examine it. It has been in my possession forty-six years-from 1839 to 1885-and for forty-four years of that time no one examined it, and I was not aware of the character of its contents. I send it to you inclosed [enclosed] in the same paper wrapper, and tied with the same string that must have inclosed [enclosed] it for near half a century-certainly during the forty-six years since it came into my possession. I have made and retain in my possession a correct literal copy of it, errors of orthography, of grammar, erasures and all. I may allow the Mormons of Utah to print it from this copy, which they are anxious to do; and a delegation is now in the Islands, awaiting my decision on this point. They claim that they are entitled to whatever benefit they may derive from its publication; and it seems to me there is some justice in that claim. Whether it will relieve them in any measure, from the imputation that Solomon Spalding was the author of the Book of Mormon, I do not attempt to decide. It devolves upon their opponents to show that there are or were other writings of Spalding-since it is evident that this writing is not the original of the Mormon bible.
Truly yours, etc.,
L. L. RICE.
P. S.-The words "Solomon Spalding's Writings" in ink on the wrapper were written by me, after I became aware of the contents. The words "Manuscript Story-Conneaut Creek," in faint penciling, were as now when it came into my possession.
Oberlin College, OBERLIN, Ohio, July 23, 1885.
I have this day delivered to Mr. E. L. Kelley a copy of the Manuscript of Solomon Spalding, sent from Honolulu by Mr. L. L. Rice, to the Library of Oberlin College, for safe-keeping, and now in my care. The copy was prepared at Mr. Kelley's request, under my supervision, and is,
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