The formation of the New England Anti-Slavery Society in 1832 was followed by that of the national organization in 1833. From this time the tide of Abolitionism rose rapidly to its flood. So also did the counter tide of Pro-Slavery opposition. The consequence was a season of mobs all over the free states. The most memorable of the lawless attempts to abolish the Abolition movement in the North occurred in Boston, October 21, 1835. It is known in Anti-Slavery annals as the "Broadcloth Mob." The sections of the city associated with the Abolition movement, were more than doubled that day before the sun went down, by the performances of that eminently "respectable and influential" mob of "gentlemen of property and standing" in the community. The immediate occasion of the riot was the annual meeting of the Boston Female Anti-Slavery Society that afternoon, at their hall in the building then numbered 46 Washington Street, situated midway between State

that George Thompson, the famous English orator and Abolitionist, would address it. That noon an inflammatory handbill denouncing "that infamous foreign scoundrel, Thompson" and offering a purse of one hundred dollars "to reward the individual, who shall first lay violent hands" on him, was distributed "in the insurance offices, the reading-rooms, all along State Street, in the hotels, bar-rooms, and among the mechanics at the North End," and so scattered about the town. And from every quarter of the town, men gathered to do the deed or to witness the outrages, insomuch that between three and four o'clock they were, according to various estimates, from two to five thousand in number. Both sides of Washington and State Streets in the neighborhood of the Old State House, then used as the City Hall and Post Office, were filled with the spirit of mischief. The multitude lay extended like a huge irregular cross. The head darkened in front of the Anti-Slavery offices, the foot reached to Joy's Building; one arm embraced the Old State

leaving the building went into the Liberator office adjoining the hall, where the ladies were making heroic efforts to proceed with the business of their society, and there employed himself, with that marvellous serenity which never deserted him, in writing an account of the riotous demonstrations to a distant friend. But he did not finish the letter, for the rioters, rushing into the hall in search

of him, had kicked out the panels of the door leading into the room where he was calmly writing. Escape was not possible, but the presence of mind of Charles C. Burleigh saved him from instant violence. At this crisis, too, the attention

Wendell Phillips's House in Essex Street. FROM AN OLD PRINT.

House, while the other stretched along Court Street to the Court House. The motive which created the riot was hatred of the Abolitionists; its purpose to "smoke out" George Thompson, and treat him to a kettle of tar and feathers. The nonappearance of Mr. Thompson defeated the designs upon himself. Mr. Garrison had also been invited to address the ladies that afternoon; and he was present. Missing Thompson, the mob turned upon him with the fury of madmen. Reading aright the omen of the storm which was gathering about them, the ladies advised Mr. Garrison to retire from the hall. This he prudently did, but instead of

Mr. Phillips's House in Common Street.-From an old Print.

Theodore Parker.

of the mob was directed to the AntiSlavery sign, which hung from the office over the street. This the rioters below demanded to have thrown down to them; and this by order of the mayor was directly done. Garrison could not possibly be got out of the front end of the building. Out of the rear, therefore, he and his friends sought a way. But this, too, was impossible; for the mob with its ten thousand eyes was searching for him within the building and scanning every window from without. He was finally discovered in a carpenter's shop in the rear, and made to descend by a ladder into Wilson's Lane, now a part of Devonshire Street. At the bottom he was seized by his enemies and dragged into State Street, in the rear of the Old State House. The

mob threw a rope around his body, tore the clothes from his back, the hat from his head. Some were for murdering him on the spot; while others stood out for milder measures. This division, undoubtedly, saved his life. Mayor Lyman and his officers came to his rescue. Pulled and hustled, he was at length got into the Old State House through the south door. But the fury of the mob grew so alarming at the escape of their victim, that the officials, as a last desperate resort to save from destruction the old building and Garrison's life, determined hastily to commit him to jail as a disturber of the peace. It was out of the north door that Garrison was now smuggled. He was got

into a hack in waiting, and after a terrific struggle with the maddened multitude, the horses started at break-neck speed through Court Street to Bowdoin Square, through Cambridge into Blossom Street, and thence to Leverett Street jail, the mob pursuing the flying vehicle to the very portals of the old prison. Here the editor of the Liberator was locked into a cell, and there spent the night of October 21, 1835.

The jail, which was situated on the north side of Leverett Street near the corner of Causeway Street, was demolished in 1852. The morning after his incarceration, Garrison made upon the walls of his cell this inscription: "William Lloyd Garrison was put into this cell on Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 21, 1835, to