general; his recollection of the prophecies was good. He was particularly fond of quoting from Isaiah, and more than insinuated that the prophecies concerning the Messiah, which he quoted, were Isaid of him and his mission. He seemed vain of his person, and quite charmed with his beard. On my pushing a few questions a little closer on my next visit, he became quite cautious of committing himself, and I found it would be useless for me to spend any more time on him and his creed. thought him to be more of a knave than a fool; but still, I believe, at that time, he was a dupe to his own fraud, as the actor made himself crazy by so often repeating the character of the madman."

I

Thus much, of Matthews himself, must suffice for the present before his further progress can be intelligibly developed, it is necessary to take up a different chain of events, and show how perfectly and strangely withal the way had been prepared for his reception by others, who knew nothing of him, and of whom, at that time, he had never heard.

CHAPTER II.

Antecedent Events in New-York-Mrs. ** the Leader of a Fanatical Sect in that City-Female Dress-Singular Domestic Missionary Scheme of certain Ladies-Effect of Fanaticism upon Parental Affection-Organization of the Holy Club-Claims to Miraculous Gifts-Anointing and healing the Sick-Notice of the early Life and Religious Course of Mr. and Mrs. Folger-The Retrenchment Society-A rich Anchorite.

"BEHOLD how great a matter a little fire kindleth," says the Apostle James, in reference, particularly, to the great strifes often engendered by a little misuse of the tongue. The axiom, however, may be applied in various ways, and it is thought will not be inapplicable to the case immediately in hand.

About the year 1821–22, Mrs. * * *, a lady who had but a short time previous been admitted a member, on profession, of one of the Presbyterian churches in the lower part of the city of New-York, began to manifest a spirit of unwelcome censoriousness towards other members of the same church. She was the daughter of a clergyman, long retired from the pulpit, however, but a devout and holy man-of a most lovely disposition-unostentatious in his manners and pretensions--full of charity and good works--and in all respects one of the most amiable and interesting men with whom it has been

The

the happiness of the writer to be acquainted. daughter was of a gay and cheerful disposition; and, on making a profession of religion, was esteemed as one who would adorn the Christian character by contributing to its loveliness and good report. But she soon became gloomy and ascetic, and assumed a severity of aspect and conversation which occasioned not a little surprise. These indications were presently followed by a spirit of fanaticism, which was manifested in various ways. She first directed her attention to what she considered the gayety and extravagance of female dress, and denounced the plumes upon the hat of a lady who had been a professor before her, and indeed had affectionately invited her attention to religious subjects before she had herself turned her thoughts in that direction. She next visited her pastor, and demanded a reformation in the wardrobes of the ladies of his household. Gaining over two or three other ladies to her views, further efforts were made by them in the same line of reform; and so much began to be said upon the subject, that the clergyman referred to preached a sermon upon female dress--which was published-and being a judicious and very able performance, has ever since been well received by the Christian public.

The lady, with a small coterie of proselytes, then conceived the project of a speedy conversion of the whole city by a system of female visitation; in execution of which, every house and family was to be visited by committees of two, who were to enter houses indiscriminately, and pray for their conver

sion, whether the inmates would hear or not. They were encouraged in this wild scheme of religious knight-errantry by the appearance among us, just at that time, of an itinerant clergyman by the name of T-u-r, a gentleman of great zeal, who maintained no inconsiderable degree of popularity among the ultra religionists of New-York for some eighteen months, or two years. By the exertions of the ladies referred to, and his own, a large meeting of females was collected, and he addressed them at great length urging upon all female professors the duty of immediate organization and action for these visitations-quoting the examples of Tryphena and Tryphosa, with as much confidence as though they were in point-and succeeding in the end, so far as to obtain a number of volunteers to go forth upon this novel system of domestic missions. And here it is proper to state, that it was distinctly understood by these well-intentioned but misguided ladies, that every dwelling-house was to be visited, not excepting even the public hotels, which, like private houses, were indiscriminately to be entered and prayed in and for. The writer well remembers conversing at the time with several ladies who were engaged in the enterprise, and remonstrating with them against so wild and ill-judged a measure. Nevertheless, strange as it may seem, the work was commenced, and the eminent clergyman who had delivered the finished discourse already spoken of, upon female apparel, was among the first to receive a visit from the lady who was at the bottom of the whole enterprise, with an associate; and before he

could recover from his surprise, these missionaries were praying for his own conversion, within his own domicil. The first visit of another of these committees was made to the family of a very pious and devout missionary, then recently returned from his station in the East Indies for his health. This work, we believe, was speedily brought to a close, and the evangelist who took such an active part in its commencement has done so little honour to his profession in subsequent years, as to attract the notice, and receive the discipline, of the church.

In the mean while, and for a considerable time afterward, the lady-principal of the concern not only caused much trouble to her own church by the extravagance of her conduct, but rendered her friends and relatives around her unhappy. Her venerable and excellent father was grieved to the heart at her course, which he could not restrain; and for attempting to do so, was only denounced as having no religion himself. Her husband, moreover, rendered miserable by her course, and supposing that her fanaticism had been induced by her clergyman, became highly exasperated against him.

In the year 1823, or early in 1824, and while these proceedings were yet enacting, the good old gentleman was called to his rest; and the lady whose plumes had given offence to his daughter penned a tribute to his memory in the shape of a biographical obituary notice of some length, which was published. In that notice, she had spoken of the deceased, whom she dearly loved, as a Christian; and, strange as it may appear, by so doing D