Two bifolia measuring 10 × 7¾ inches (25 × 20 cm). A rectangular and mostly illegible embossment is present in the top left corner of the recto of the first leaf, and faint impressions of the embossment appear on other leaves. Pages 1–3 are ruled with twenty-seven horizontal lines printed in blue ink, pages 4–6 are similarly ruled with approximately twenty-eight lines per page, and page 7 is partially ruled on its right margin. The document was inscribed by first filling one bifolium, paginated 1–3 (with the verso of the second leaf left blank for addressing) and then continuing on to the second bifolium, paginated 4–7. The bifolia were gathered, with the second inside of the first, and then trifolded twice in letter style. The letter also contained a newspaper clipping, which is not extant, from the National Intelligencer. The verso of the second leaf of the outer bifolium, when folded, was addressed, sealed with a red adhesive wafer (which remains on that page), and postmarked. When the letter was opened, a hole was torn in the second leaf of the outer bifolium, resulting in the loss of text on page 3. At one point in time, the document was trifolded for storage; at another, the leaves were fastened together with staples or possibly pins and separated multiple times. The letter also underwent some conservation.

The letter was docketed by , who served as JS’s scribe from 1843 to 1844 and as clerk to the church historian and recorder from 1845 to 1865. This may be one of two 1844 documents from listed in an inventory that was produced by the Church Historian’s Office (later Church Historical Department) circa 1904. By 1973 it had been included in the JS Collection at the Church Historical Department (now CHL). The document’s early docket, its possible listing in the circa 1904 inventory, and its later inclusion in the JS Collection suggest continuous institutional custody.