On 13 May 1844, signed a letter on behalf of the in , Illinois, to council members and in censuring Hyde for making changes to a memorial he had presented to the Congress. As originally approved by the council, this memorial petitioned Congress to authorize JS to raise one hundred thousand armed volunteers to protect westward migrating settlers and also asked Congress to make JS a “member of the Army of the United States.” Before Hyde left Nauvoo with the memorial, the Council of Fifty specifically instructed him not to make any changes to the document. After arriving in Washington on 23 April, Hyde met with several members of the congressional delegation, including Senator and Representatives and , on 25 April in hopes of garnering their support for the memorial. After conversing with Semple, Hyde determined that the section in the memorial concerning JS’s appointment as a member of the army was likely unconstitutional and that Congress would not pass the memorial if that section remained. Despite the Council of Fifty’s instructions to present the memorial without alteration, Hyde decided to follow Semple’s advice and strike the section on JS’s army appointment. On 25 April, Hyde wrote to the Council of Fifty regarding his decision to edit the memorial. The following day, he wrote another letter to the council emphasizing that should only submit memorials that Congress was likely to pass.

Upon receiving ’s letters, JS called a council meeting on 13 May. Expressing his dismay, JS stated that “it was not the business of a delegate to alter a memorial.” He and the rest of the council unanimously voted on a motion to send Hyde a letter of reprimand. was assigned to write it, but the letter was inscribed by , the council’s secretary. It may be that the letter was drafted by Phelps, after which Richards made a fair copy. Richards also signed the letter on behalf of JS and the council from the “council chamber”—the main room on the second floor of . Although the letter addressed as well as Hyde, its contents pertained to Pratt only insofar as he was part of the “delegation from .”

The sent the letter to and with council members and , who were also their fellow apostles in the . Wight and Kimball delivered the letter to Hyde in on 8 June 1844. The next day, Hyde wrote a contrite response explaining why he made the change.

The original letter, inscribed by , is apparently no longer extant. Before and left with the letter, council clerk copied it into the council’s records. The copy made by Clayton is featured here.