KNOW YE, that we, in confidence of your prudence and fidelity, do by these presents authorize you to cause to come before you, to be examined as witnesses in a cause depending in our Circuit Court for the County of St. Louis in the State of , wherein Joseph Smith is plaintiff and is defendant all and every such person, and at such time and place, as shall be named to you for that purpose by the said Joseph Smith, his Attorney or Agent. And we command you to examine all and every such person upon his oath or solemn affirmation first made or taken before you, to testify the whole truth touching his knowledge of any thing relating to the said matter in controversy between the said parties; and that you do take such his examination and reduce the same into writing. When you shall have so taken his examination, you are to cause the witness to sign the same, and to that and each examination, at the foot thereof, you are to append your certificate, setting forth the facts that the examination was subscribed and sworn to or affirmed by the witness, and the day, as well as between what hours of the day, on which it was done, as also the place of residence of the witness, if known to you. Should any paper or exhibit be produced or proven, or be referred to by the witness, you are to describe the same in his examination, or cause it to be so marked by him, as to establish its identity, and attach the same to his examination. The examinations thus taken you will cause to be accompanied by a certificate of your official character, attested by the seal of State; or should it be more convenient, such authentication and proof of your official character may be made by the certificate and seal of the clerk of any court of record of any county of the State, District or Territory in which you reside, stating also in addition to the facts of his being clerk and that the Court is one of record, that at the time when the depositions were taken you were an acting judge, (or other such officer to whom this commission is addressed,) and duly commissioned as such. And you will return the same and all exhibits produced to you, annexed hereto, carefully closed up and under your seal, directed to the clerk of the Circuit Court in and for the County of St. Louis, , with the names of the said parties litigant endorsed thereon, with all convenient speed.

Witness, JOHN RULAND, Clerk of our said Circuit Court at the City of , this Ninth— day of April— in the year of our Lord one thou- eight hundred and forty Two—