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but did not dishearten me. I determined at every hazard to lift up the standard of emancipation in the eyes of the nation, within the sight of Bunker Hill, and in the birth-place of liberty. I am aware that many object to the severity of my language; but is there not cause for severity? I will be as harsh as truth, and as uncompromising as justice. On this subject I do not wish no think, or speak, or write with moderation. No, no! Tell a man whose house is on fire to give a moderate alarm; tell him to moderately rescue his wife from the hands of the ravisher; tell the mother to gradually extricate her babe from the fire into which it has fallen; but urge me not to use moderation in a cause like the present! I am in earnest. I will not equivocate-I will not excuse-I will not retreat a single inch—and I will be heard. The apathy of the people is enough to make every statue leap from its pedestal, and to hasten the resurrection of the dead."

But the most thrilling event perhaps of his life was the occurrence of the mob in Boston, in October, 1835. At that time George Thompson, from England, was in this country, and he, with Mr. Garrison, were engaged to address the Female Anti-Slavery Society, at its annual meeting in that city. Public excitement against the abolitionists was intense, and before the time appointed for the convention, the lessee of Congress Hall, fearing the destruction of his property, decided that the meeting must be held elsewhere. It was subsequently arranged to convene in the Anti-Slavery Hall, in Washington-street, on Wed

nesday, October 21st, at three o'clock, in the afternoon and addresses were expected on the occasion. Fearing lest his presence might be productive of injury to the cause, Mr. Thompson withdrew from the city before the day appointed. On that morning a placard was circulated to the intent that "the infamous foreign scoundrel, Thompson, would hold forth in the Anti-Slavery Hall in the afternoon, and that the present was a fair opportunity to snake him out; that a purse of one hundred dollars had been raised by a number of patriotic individuals, to reward the person who should first lay violent hands upon him, so that he might be brought to the tar kettle before dark." By such measures, and by editorials in influential papers, the worst passions of the inhabitants were aroused to the highest pitch of fury. Early in the afternoon a crowd began to gather around the building, and a little before three Mr. Garrison appeared, got through the crowd, and took his seat, expecting to address the ladies of the society, of which quite a large number had assembled. As the time drew near the crowd increased, and with it increased the intensity of the tumultuous excitement. Mr. Garrison now stepped towards the door of the hall, through which some had entered and commenced making disturbance, and very cautiously requested them to withdraw, stating that it was a ladies' meeting, and no gentlemen were expected to be present

but the speakers. This had no effect, however, and Mr. Garrison then mentioned to the president of the society that since his own presence would evidently increase the tumult, it would be advisable for him to leave, to which she assented. With an intimate friend he now withdrew to the anti-slavery office, which was separated from the hall by a thin partition only, and commenced writing to an acquaintance an account of the riot. The mob soon increased to thousands, filling the hall; the danger became imminent that they would break through into the office. and destroy the publications of the society. The lower panel of the door was now broken through by one of the ringleaders, who, looking in, exclaimed, "There he is-that's Garrison; out with the scoundrel!" Upon this, the person with him walked out, locked the door after him, and put the key in his pocket. The mayor, having at length cleared the hall of the crowd, begged the ladies to desist, and assured them that he could no longer protect them from insult and violence, upon which they adjourned to the house of one of their number to finish their business.

The mayor then addressed the rioters; told them that the anti-slavery meeting was broken up; that Mr. Thompson was not there, and urged them to disperse. But having got rid of these objects they felt the more liberty to give exclusive attention to Mr.

Garrison, and yelled his name, loudly crying, "We must have him! lynch him! lynch him!" The mayor, seeing that he had lost all control over the mob, besought Mr. Garrison to make his escape at the rear of the building, since he could not get through the crowd to the street. Just at this juncture his devotion to his principles were so self-forgetting as to demand special notice. A non-resistant brother near him, seeing the danger, declared his determination to renounce these views upon the spot, and use forcible measures for his preservation. But Mr. Garrison earnestly protested against such a course in the following language: "Hold, my dear brother; you know not what spirit you are of; do you wish to become like one of these violent and bloodthirsty men, who are seeking my life? Shall we give blow for blow, and array sword against sword? God forbid ! I will perish sooner than raise my hand against any man, even in self-defense, and let none of my friends resort to violence for my protection. If my life be taken the cause of emancipation will not suffer," &c. Even in this hour of extremest peril, his devotion to principles which in the hour of quiet he believed right, rose with the danger almost to the sublime. While all around was in an uproar, and his friends were shivering with fear, his faith in an Omnipotent arm was strongest. Preceded by a friend, at the peril of his life, he dropped from the window to the ground,

and attempted to escape through Wilson's Lane, but was circumvented by the mob. Again he retreats up stairs, and was secreted for a few minutes behind a pile of boards, but being discovered by the ruffians, his friends effected an escape. They now dragged Garrison to the window, evidently intending to pitch him that distance to the ground, but upon second thought, concluded not to kill him outright, they placed a rope around his body, apparently designing to drag him through the streets. Reaching the ground by a ladder, he disengaged himself from the rope, and was seized by two or three of the most powerful of the rioters and dragged along bareheaded. Blows were aimed at his head, and at length his clothing was nearly torn from him. Insulted by the jeers of the mob, in a denuded condition, he reached State-street, in front of the city hall, and now there was a tremendous rush to prevent his entering that building. With the help of his posse and friends, the mayor finally succeeded in getting him to his office, where he was reclothed by individuals from the postoffice, immediately below.

The mayor and his advisers there declared that the only safety lay in committing him to jail as a disturber of the public peace! A hack was brought to the door for the purpose, but the scene that ensued defies description. The surging mob rushed upon the carriage with ungovernable fury, and attempted