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In offering the following work to the public, we think it not improper to make a few observations respecting the author and our connection with him.

We became aware, through the medium of the newspapers, that General Bennett was about to publish a work containing his disclosures respecting Joe Smith and the Mormons. Meeting him in New York, and being satisfied, from our intercourse with him, that he deserved our confidence, we made arrangements with him to publish the book he was preparing. During its preparation and passage through the press, we have been almost constantly in his society, and have seen him for a long time under a variety of circumstances. The result of our observations has been, that we place the most implicit, reliance upon his veracity, and are perfectly convinced that he is a gentleman of strict honor, and of very considerable acquirements and information.

In regard to the statements he has made in the following pages, we cannot, of course, say any thing upon our personal knowledge; but we know, from our own inspection, that the documents, affidavits,