Vote to Suspend the Millennial Star.

Monday, 21.—A Council of the Twelve, namely, Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Wilford Woodruff, John Taylor, George A. Smith, Amasa Lyman, and Willard Richards, assembled at the house of Elder Heber C. Kimball, in Nauvoo, and decided by unanimous acclamation that the printing of the Millennial Star and all other publications in England relating to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints be suspended, on the return of Elder Parley P. Pratt from that country, until further instruction from the quorum; and that the foregoing minutes be forwarded to Elder Pratt or to the editor of the Star, which was done by letter from the president and clerk of the council.

Tuesday, 22.—I arrived at home, after a pleasant outing, in good health and spirits.

Wednesday, 23.—At home all day.

Disaster on the Island of Madeira.

Thursday, 24.—By report of the papers, the island of Madeira was visited by a dreadful storm. The summer was hot and weather fine till the 15th, when the rain commenced falling heavily and continued to the 24th. At one o'clock in the afternoon the water fell in torrents, the sky became dark, the streets in the capital became inundated, and the affrighted inhabitants in town and country fled to the mountains. Upwards of two hundred houses were destroyed at Funchal, and much corn and wine. The damage to lives, houses, and crops on the island, and boats in the harbors was incalculable.

Saturday, 26.—At home in the morning. At ten, met in city council, which resolved that the inscription for the seal to be procured for the municipal court of this city shall consist of a circle, including the words "Municipal Court, City of Nauvoo," within which is to be a book circled with rays, on which is to be inscribed the words "Constitution and Charter."

Wrote as follow:—

Letter of the Prophet to H. R. Hotchkiss—Land Purchase Contract Considered.

NAUVOO, November 26, 1842.

Horace R. Hotchkiss, Esq.

DEAR SIR:—Yours of the 8th instant to Sidney Rigdon has been received; and, in consequence of his not knowing anything concerning the matters therein mentioned, or being in any way connected or interested in my affairs, he of course, has handed the letter to me, which I shall proceed to answer.

And, sir, permit me to say, on the subject of the deal between myself, as Trustee-in-Trust for the Church of Latter-day Saints, and you, that I am as anxious as ever to have the contract continue good between us, and to meet the obligations specified in the contract. I am not, neither have I ever been, wishful to shrink from it in any manner whatever, but intend to make payments as fast as my circumstances will admit.

But, sir, you are not unacquainted with the extreme hardness of the times and the great scarcity of money, which put it out of my power to meet all the payments as they fell due, and which has been the only cause of any failure on my part; and should you feel disposed not to press the payments, but offer a lenity equivalent to the state of the times, then, sir, I shall yet endeavor to make up the payments as fast as possible, and consider the contract as still good between us.

I would here say that when I found it necessary to avail myself of the benefits of the bankrupt law, I knew not but that the law required of me to include you amongst the list of my creditors, notwithstanding the nature of the contract between us. This explains the reason of my doing so.

I have since learned, from a decision of the judge of the supreme court, that it was not necessary, and that the [bankrupt] law has no jurisdiction over such a contract. Consequently, as I have before stated, I am disposed to hold it, provided you will not press the payments. Under these circumstances, I consider it necessary to give you the information required in your letter, in regard to the number and kind of houses on the land, &c.

I shall expect to hear from you again soon. In regard to your having written to me some few weeks ago, I will observe that I have received no communication from you for some months back. If you wrote to me, the letter has been broken open and detained, no doubt, as has been the case with a great number of letters from my friends of late, and especially within the last three months.

Few if any letters for me can get through the post office in this place, and more particularly letters containing money, and matters of much importance. I am satisfied that Sidney Rigdon and others connected with him have been the means of doing incalculable injury, not only to myself, but to the citizens in general; and, sir, under such a state of things, you will have some idea of the difficulties I have to encounter, and the censure I have to bear through the unjust conduct of that man and others, whom he permits to interfere with the post office business. Having said so much, I must close for the present.

You will hereby understand my feelings upon the subject and the reasons of the course I have hitherto pursued.

With sentiments of due respect, I remain, as ever, yours respectfully,

JOSEPH SMITH.

P.S.—Should it suit you better, I am ready on my part to renew the contract, and would prefer it.

J. S.