the Lord," this shall be the beginning of the Journal I have so ardently desired to publish.

resur

The christian females in the United States were aroused to action—yes, well do you remember, when you collected your praying band, when the "rich and the poor met together," and you opened the sacred volume, and read these sweet words, which you shall hear at the " rection of the just"-"I was hungry, and ye fed me; naked, and ye clothed me"-when you knelt together around the cross, and, in the bitterness of your soul, "told Jesus," that one of his faithful disciples was pining for bread-it was then you prepared the "spices and the ointment," You conferred together; the matrons curtailed their costly attire, the maidens laid aside their "tinkling ornaments." You applied your fingers to the needle; the widow "cast in her mite," and the woman forsaken of her husband," protracted her nightly embers, that she too might share in the blessedness of giving.

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You took your little ones upon your lap, and told in their wondering ears, that a good man in New-York could not get bread among all their fine houses, and that in none of their pretty churches would a minister let him go in his pulpit, and tell his people how wicked many of the men, women, and children were; how many were sorry they had been so wicked, but could not get away from their dreadful places, because nobody would take them in; and while the little listeners wondered that any could be so cruel, you asked, what will you do, that he may have something to eat.

Mothers, well do you remember how you folded them to your yearning hearts, when you saw the first dawning of benevolence sparkling in their young eyes, and with childlike simplicity they said, We will have no sugar, we will eat no butter nor cake, and you may send the money to the poor good man.

It was then the "fathers kindled the fire, the children gathered the wood, and the mothers made the cakes," and M'Dowall was fed.

The institutions, too, began to send supplies, and a gleam of hope irradiated the benighted soul of this suffering man, and he said, I shall live to "see the salvation of God."

CHAPTER XXIII.

Commences his Journal-Benevolent Society-Encouragements and difficulties-Moral Reform meeting-Malice and threats-All at stake-New troubles-Strange things-A nameless fact-Sickness of Mrs. M'Dowall-Luxury and style.

He now had abundant evidence that as every other avenue was closed against him, he should be heard through the press. He had sent out his card explaining his object, soon after his letter to the ladies; and in January, 1833, he issued his first number, "without a subscriber or a single pledge to sustain him."

This was an adventurous flight, and it took a M' Dowall to hazard it. He knew his Magdalen Facts had raised a whirlwind in the breasts of many, which had not yet subsided; he knew his funds were uncertain, and he knew the cause was exceedingly unpopular. A poor woman in New-York had found M'Dowall's Magdalen Facts, and sold a number. This had awakened in her heart feelings of the deepest pity for the lost of her sex, and the warmest gratitude towards the man who had suffered so much for their rescue. She went to M' Dowall, and proffered her services, as agent for the Journal, to do "what she could." He offered two shillings on a copy. She accepted but half the sum, and before the next May obtained between four and five hundred subscribers in the city.

Dec. 27th, 1832.-The Female Benevolent Society was formed. This indicated good, for some of the "rich and noble" were there.

Its walls were of hewn stone, each fitted to its place before it was brought from the mountains, so that the discordant sound of a differing sect should not be heard upon it. It was "purely Presbyterian," for one of their vigilant sentinels, who was to stand upon their watch-tower, had whispered in their ears, Let no other sect hold any power; receive their donations, but allow them no office.

Ah! little did M'Dowall divine that in the vault of that temple was coiled an adder that should sting him to death!

He hailed it as the harbinger of great good, though with its sectarianism he could not coincide. The world, he avowed, was his field, and he had shared in the sympathies of Baptists, Quakers, and Methodists, and to all he owed his labors and his gratitude.

Encouragements and Difficulties.

Donations now came in, so that he was enabled to persevere with strong hopes of success. He missionated in the city as usual, pushing his investigations to bring things "new and old" for the Journal; and though donations were multiplying, he still maintained the strictest economy in family expenses. His Journal states: "A gentleman had advanced rent for the house in which I resided. To encourage the Benevolent Society, who had agreed to refund him the rent, and to assume his responsibility for the rent of said house the remainder of the year, I handed to them, on the 8th day of January, 1833, $134 38." Some intimations were given that he lavished too much of the public money in distributing his Journals gratuitously, and that the daughter of Mrs. M' Dowall was not entitled to a home in the family. He therefore thought best to

live in "his own hired house," to which he removed in April.

He had been a friend to the Benevolent Society, and done what he could to promote its interests, though he had never been a "hired or accountable agent," but had acted as a missionary without any salary, and under no legal obligation. They in return had loaned him articles of furniture, provided some of the provisions of his table, though not a competency for the females they had placed in his family. He considered his operations distinct from theirs, as his was to publish a Journal, and theirs to build an Asylum.

He advertised the public again and again to specify particularly what use to be made of their donations: what for the Journal-what for his support-what for an asylum -and what for an agency.

In May a meeting of moral reform was held, at which John Wheelwright was chairman, and Rev. T. T. Waterman, of Providence, secretary. The following resolution was passed:

"Resolved, that we have implicit confidence in the Rev. J. R. M'Dowall, as the recipient of donations in behalf of the cause in which he is engaged, and also his past disbursements of the same."

A large meeting of ministers and other friends of moral reform was held in Chatham-street Chapel, and a deep interest manifested, encouraging Mr. M' Dowall to go on, and he should be sustained. A motion was made to appoint an assistant agent, and $596 subscribed for the support of the same.

It then seemed that the clouds were clearing from the sky of M'Dowall, and a ray of hope beamed in his countenance. Not so. When the tornado held its breath, it was to gather fresh strength to hurl a more terrible blast.

Malice and threats.

He had, in his previous researches, come in contact with gentlemen in high standing, in houses of infamy, who had sworn revenge should he ever expose their character. These feared and trembled lest some random type-setter should spell their names, and they be consigned to lasting infamy. They rallied strong forces and went to the office of M'Dowall with bold threats to take his life, if he published names.

"The Journal elicits the ire of many. Letters sent to this office breathe threats and manifest malice. Organized hate seems to be concentrating her force in different quarters. The black clouds rushing on must burst, or drive by. They are furious. Mercy melts not their rage.

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I know the names of some who utter dire imprecations on my head. They are not considered vagabonds, but men of high character in the world."

"All at stake."

“The man who enters the field in which I labor, and acts upon the principles that govern my course, must hazard the loss of friends, property, liberty, life-yea, all things.

"Shall I advance or retreat? He who putteth his hand to the plough and looketh back, is not fit for the kingdom of heaven.' If I advance, other foes will assail me. I shall have no peace on earth. perty-character-all are at stake.

Life-liberty-proBut the Lord grant

that I may follow him in the path of righteousness; and not in malice, but in love, expose men's sins, though I die in the act, or be immured in prison through life."