Utah and the Mormons. By Benjamin G. Ferris.
New York: Harper & Bro. 1854.

Mr. Ferris is a good witness on the subject of the diabolical absurdities of Mormonism, having been secretary of the government of the Utah territory. His work, in plain style -- which is not always plain English -- gives us a summary history of this miserable and filthy superstition, the government of Mormonism, and the doctrines, customs and prospects of the Latter-Day-Saints -- a six months' personal residence among them having not effected the conversion of the author to the faith, while it has cuabled him to provide a very pretty scandalous chronicle for the benefit of outsiders, for their amusement or loathing, as they severally incline. We confess to a sufficient knowledge already of what the Mormons are, and really do not care for any increase of intelligence. To those who know nothing of them, this volume would be amply sufficient.

UTAH AND THE MORMONS.

1. Utah and the Mormons. The History, Government, Doctrines,
Oitstoms, and Prospects of the Latter-Day Saints. From Personal
Observation during a Six Months Residence at Great Salt Lake City.
By BENJAMIN G. FERRIS, late Secretary of Utah Territory. New
York: Harper & Brothers. 1854. 24mo. pp. 347.
2. The Mormons at Home; with some incidents of Travel from Missouri
to CaiIfornia, 1852 53. In a Series of Letters. By MRS. B. G.
FERRIS. New York: Dix & Edwards. 1856. 24mo. pp. 299.


Mr. and Mrs. Ferris occupied a position in which they could not but see, if not all aspects, at least the most favorable aspects, of Mormon institutions, life, and character. They do not confine themselves to generalities, but record with entire freedom names and specific facts; and Mr. Ferris' book has been published long enough to have been proved unworthy of credence, if indeed it be so. We wish that these books could be circulated in a cheap form among the classes of persons most liable to be seduced by Mormon emissaries. They would not only preclude the proselytism of all who retained aught of virtue, self-respect, or decency; we doubt whether even the most vicious would consent to incur the consequences of legalized depravity, which, in penury and wretchedness for all except the few officials, are making a nearer approach than has been often witnessed to an adequate earthly retribution. We question whether there is a single male member of the Mormon community who is possessed of both common sense and common honesty. The leaders are bold, bad men, nursing a leash of vices at a time, and leaving it in doubt whether mendacity, avarice, licentiousness, or profaneness should be deemed the prominent characteristic. Their shrewdness is perhaps overrated; for when they act as missionaries, they have too large sea-room in the ocean of ignorance and falsehood to run the risk of collision with known truth, and when they get their victims into their pandemonium, it is an easy matter to prevent their escape, and to pillage, enslave, and debauch them. The rank and file are many of them no doubt actual dupes of the so-called religion, and find in licensed sensuality their only comfort under poverty, extortion, and oppression. There is probably a still larger amount of fanatical delusion among the women; hut they are miserable beyond description, some of them tortured by a surviving moral nature which makes them aware of the vileness in which they are unwilling accomplices, all of them involved in the interminable strife incident to polygamy. Mr. Ferriss book is a calm, methodical expose of the actual condition of society, drawn up with the precision of an official report, and sustained