Footnotes

1. [1]

   “Death of Another Old Resident,” New-York Commercial Advertiser (New York City), 22 June 1850, [2]; “The Late Matthew L. Davis,” New-York Commercial Advertiser, 27 June 1850, [1]. Davis wrote under the pseudonym “Spy in Washington” for the New York Courier and Enquirer and the pseudonym “A Genevese Traveller” for the London Times.

   Commercial Advertiser. New York City. 1820–1863.

2. [2]

   Matthew L. Davis, Washington DC, to Mary Davis, New York City, NY, 6 Feb. 1840, CHL.

   Davis, Matthew L. Letter, Washington DC, to Mary Davis, New York City, NY, 6 Feb. 1840. CHL. MS 522.

3. [3]

   According to Representative John Reynolds of Illinois, JS “stood at the time fair and honorable, as far as we knew at the City of Washington, except his fanaticism on religion. The sympathies of the people were in his favor,” and he “preached often in the city.” Robert D. Foster recalled organizing around the end of January 1840 a large meeting “in the open air on Pennsylvania Avenue” and another in “Carusi’s Saloon” (on the corner of 11th and C streets), which he called “one of the largest and most suitable rooms in the city, outside the capitol building.” JS, having just arrived by train from Philadelphia, addressed an audience that, according to Foster, included “a great many of the members of Congress and heads of departments,” including Henry Clay, John Quincy Adams, and President Martin Van Buren. (Reynolds, My Own Times, 575; Robert D. Foster, “A Testimony of the Past,” True Latter Day Saints’ Herald, 15 Apr. 1875, 228–229; Watterson, New Guide to Washington, 85, 145.)

   Reynolds, John. My Own Times: Embracing Also, the History of My Life. Belleville, IL: B. H. Perryman and H. L. Davison, 1855.

   Saints’ Herald. Independence, MO. 1860–.

   Watterson, George. A New Guide to Washington. Washington DC: Robert Farnham, 1842.

4. [4]

   Cookman was a chaplain in the United States Senate and a well-known preacher in the national capital. On 29 December 1839, Cookman reportedly preached against JS and the church, claiming falsely that he had interviewed JS the week before. (Ridgaway, Life of the Rev. Alfred Cookman, 76–80; Robert D. Foster, “A Testimony of the Past,” True Latter Day Saints’ Herald, 15 Apr. 1875, 227–228; Letter from Robert D. Foster, 24 Dec. 1839.)

   Ridgaway, Henry B. The Life of the Rev. Alfred Cookman; with Some Account of His Father, the Rev. George Grimston Cookman. London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1873.

   Saints’ Herald. Independence, MO. 1860–.

5. [5]

   Four days after this discourse, Parley P. Pratt and Elias Higbee also wrote an address to the people of Washington DC attempting to explain the church’s beliefs to the public and win support for the church’s appeal to Congress. (Letter from James Adams, 4 Jan. 1840; Letter to Editor, 22 Jan. 1840; Elias Higbee and Parley P. Pratt, “An Address,” Times and Seasons, Mar. 1840, 1:68–70.)

   Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

6. [6]

   M. L. Davis to M. Davis, 6 Feb. 1840, underlining in original.

   Davis, Matthew L. Letter, Washington DC, to Mary Davis, New York City, NY, 6 Feb. 1840. CHL. MS 522.

7. [7]

   M. L. Davis to M. Davis, 6 Feb. 1840, underlining in original.

   Davis, Matthew L. Letter, Washington DC, to Mary Davis, New York City, NY, 6 Feb. 1840. CHL. MS 522.

8. [8]

   M. L. Davis to M. Davis, 6 Feb. 1840, underlining in original.

   Davis, Matthew L. Letter, Washington DC, to Mary Davis, New York City, NY, 6 Feb. 1840. CHL. MS 522.

9. [9]

   Missionaries passing through New York City between 1840 and 1845 included several members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles who were returning from England in May 1841 and Parley P. Pratt, who traveled to New York City when campaigning for JS in the presidential election of 1844. (Woodruff, Journal, 23 May 1841; “Jeffersonian Meeting,” Prophet, 15 June 1844, [3].)

   Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.

   The Prophet. New York City, NY. May 1844–Dec. 1845.