The Book of Abraham.

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This formed the subject of an address by N[els] L. Nelson before the last meeting of Section B.

The manner in which the papyrus bearing this ancient record was transferred from a musty catacomb of Egypt to the hands of the Prophet Joseph Smith is no less wonderful than providential. Four mummies, secured by a certain English Minister Plenipotentiary to Egypt, were bequeathed to his nephew, a Mr. Chandler of New York. Lying transversely on the stomach, be neath the folded hands of one of the mummies, was found the relic in question.

Dr. J[ohn] R. Riggs of this city, who personally examined the papers , describes the same as about 6x8 inches in size, and slightly over an inch thick. The leaves were gummed together at the edges, but became readily separable by heat. A few leaves, opened by Mr. Chandler for exhibition were shown to Prof. Anthon of New York and Dr. Mitchell of Philadelphia, each of whom commenced a translation. The characters were written in three colors—red, blue, and black—only two of which were legible, thus rendering the sense incomplete. As these gentlemen were among the highest recognised authorities on the translation of dead languages, Mr. Chandler began to despair of securing a translation, when he was reminded by Dr. Mitchell of Joseph Smith's reputed power as a translator. Sometime in 1835 Mr. Chandler met the Prophet in Kirtland; and the translation of the record was undertaken. Whatever else was found beside that now contained in the Pearl of Great Price has not yet been known. We do know, however, that Joseph Smith was eager to purchase the manuscript, and as the exhibitor would not sell it apart from the mummies, the Prophet bought both, paying for them about $2,000. The mummies were identified as those of a king, a queen, a princess, and a slave. The relics were left after the martyrdom, and the Nauvoo exodus, the hands of Lucy Smith, wife of the Prophet, and Mr. [Arthur] Milliken who after ward married her sold them to a museum in Chicago.