which applies forcibly in a case like the present:"Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ."

CHAPTER VIII.

Farther notes respecting Mr. Pierson-Visit of Mr. Folger with a message to Mr. M. at the Bloomingdale Asylum-Mr. Laisdell pursues his wife to Singsing, New-York, and back to Mount Zion-Proceedings by Habeas Corpus-Obtains a release-High excitement-Conduct of Matthias at Singsing -Folger breaks with him-Is overcome-The people resolve to drive him from the county-Ruse de guerre, and shaving of his beard-Suspicions of murder in the case of Pierson, and of an attempt on the lives of Mr. Folger and familyThe impostor pursued to Albany, arrested, and brought backHis costly array returned and enumerated-Post Mortem examination of Mr. Pierson-Curious conversation with a lawyer -Matthias's jealousy of a rival, and account of Mr. Pierson's death-His examination-Other legal proceedings with the charge of murder-Causes of Pierson's and Folger's losses of property-Combination of swindlers against them-Unfortunate directions of the Spirit in regard to machines and stocks.

In resuming our own connected history of Matthews and his deluded associates, it will be necessary to recur back a few months, to collect a few scattered particulars which have not been mentioned in the preceding narrative from Mr. Folger and his wife. Of Mr. Pierson, little remains to be said. His diary continued to be kept with considerable regularity, after he went to reside at Mount Zion; but the entries were brief, and in general devoid of his former religious unction, or of interest of any kind. Being confined chiefly to the business of the

day, and the movements of the principal members of the household, to and from New-York, and elsewhere. From these entries, it appears that on the 23d of December, Mr. Folger was baptized by Matthews, and on the day following Mr. Pierson was himself baptized. On a subsequent day it is recorded-" Robert Matthias anointed me with oil, and I afterward anointed him and Ann [Folger] with oil." The following is another of his recorded prayers:

"Lord Jesus, I ask thee particularly to give me power over the drunken spirit, to cast it out of whomsoever I will, and forbid it from ever entering again into the same person from whom it is cast out."

In the annexed memorandum we have another reference to one of Matthews's visions:

"Mr. Matthias had his exercises, respecting the sanctuary, as follows. An angel said with a loud voice, the sanctuary must be cleansed; the sanctuary shall be cleansed; the sanctuary must and shall be cleansed. Speedily, speedily, speedily."

On one occasion we find him praying for a miraculous restoration of his decayed teeth, and on another that his eye-sight may be restored as in the days of his youth. To the former request we find no recorded answer; but in regard to his eye-sight, he states, a few days subsequent to the date of his prayer, that, chancing to hold his book at a great distance from his eyes than he had been wont, he could see with much more distinctness; and he records the fact, which is of every-day occurrence with those whose eyes are becoming dim by the advance of years, as a miraculous interposition in answer to his prayer!

The following is a memorandum found among Mr. Pierson's papers, in the handwriting of Mr. Folger. It shows how entirely the delusion had fastened upon his own mind, more strongly even than according to his own relation, if that be possible.

Saturday, January 18, 1834. This morning we left Zion Hill for New-York city, with directions from Father to call upon Mr. M. at the Bloomingdale asylum on the way. In conformity therewith we called, and had an interview with him late in the afternoon. After an exchange of the ordinary salutations, we proceeded to deliver the message we had received from the Father, Robert Matthias, namely: The Father's house has been established upon a permanent foundation, at the place which was called Mr. Folger's near Singsing. We have been directed to say to you, that you are now required to leave this place, and come there, where you will be made welcome and happy : provision having been made for you and your children."

The journey of Mr. Folger to Albany, early in January, 1834, to bring the family of Matthews to Mount Zion, has been detailed by him, and is in entire accordance with the statement of the same transaction by Mrs. Matthews herself. It will be recollected that Mrs. M. declined going with her children, who were accompanied by their sister, Mrs. Laisdell, then recently married. Receiving

son,

no intelligence from his wife, Laisdell, followed her to Singsing, where he arrived on or about the first of February. Applying at the house of Mr. Pierhe was informed that his wife was with her father in New-York. He pursued them to the city, sought out the house in Third-street, and demanded her restoration; but Matthews evaded the requisition, and returned with his daughter to Singsing. Laisdell returned also, and, by the advice of friends,

sued out a writ of Habeas Corpus.

Public indig

nation was raging fiercely at Singsing against the impostor, and on hearing of the treatment his daughter had received at his hands, the manifestations of a popular out-breaking, unless she should be set at liberty, were unequivocal. The citadel was besieged, and by the demonstrations of civil officers, clergymen, lawyers, and resolute yeomen, they succeeded in compelling the arch-fanatic to yield her up in obedience to the writ. Matthews, his daughter, and Mr. Folger were thereupon brought before a magistrate in the village, on the 17th of February. At the commencement of the investigation, the former claimed Mrs. Laisdell as his daughter. Her husband then produced the certificate of their marriage, signed by Frederick G. Mayer, pastor of the Lutheran congregation in Albany. Matthews pronounced the minister to be a devil, protesting that the devil could not marry. as usual when excited, and uttered many other expressions of rudeness and profanity, in the earlier stage of the proceedings; but as a vast multitude of people had collected, a portion of whom began to assume a threatening attitude, he changed his conduct to that of mildness and circumspection. Laisdell said he did not wish his wife to return with him unless agreeable to her own wishes. It was proposed that she should go into a separate room and converse with him, to which she consented; but her resolution was changed instantaneously by a single glance of her father's eye; "there was no use in it," she said, and she did not wish to go with

He was violent and vociferous