retail dealers, manufacturers, and importers in New-York; and these from the same classes in Boston, Philadelphia, &c. &c; and these from such a town, village, &c. almost all present started with horror, as the conviction fastened upon the mind that M'Dowall was correct in his assertions, and that no man's sons or daughters could be safe from pollution of mind, even under the most vigilant inspection of their parents; so long as many of the venders of these articles enter our dwellings as pedlars of books, dry-goods, &c. and when opportunity offers, produce from the false bottoms of their packages, or some other secret place, these works of pollution, and urge them upon the youth of our land.

"They felt the force of M'Dowall's remarks as these articles were spread out before them. He then presented a catalogue from ONE HOUSE ONLY, of more than forty obscene books. Such developements could not but fill the hearts of parents with the deepest intensity of feeling, at the awful responsibility laid upon them, when they saw the shrewdness of the adversary in preparing his machinery for the destruction of all classes. Here were prints made expressly for children-others of a better workmanship, at a little higher price; and others again, in which were displayed the skill of the best artists in our country at engraving, printing, and coloring. Here were boxes of a variety of prices, from the commonest tobacco-box to the superb music-box. Here were an assortment of obscene playing-cards; also a variety of books, here and there ornamented with plates; some as common as possible, and purchased for a few cents each, others prepared for such as cared not for expense. In short, the variety presented to view, with the actual responsibility of parents and guardians of youth, seemed to impress almost every mind with the imperious duty of the most energetic operations in moral reform; and many, who before felt or thought little on the subject, now resolved never to cease from their labor in these operations till death closed their career.

"This meeting had the effect of eliciting many horrible accounts of the depravity of our youth in various parts of the country. Here was revealed what was not known to many present the fact that most of our colleges and large schools are abundantly supplied with all these things.

"Mr. M'Dowall had in contemplation, when he called this meeting, the purchasing a few of these articles from the various dealers in every city and town throughout the country; and on some specified day to have some persons in each place to take hold of, by law, these fiends in human shape, and stop their iniquitous practices. But on the return of these ministers to their homes, some felt that no time should be lost, and at once proceeded in breaking up

the traffic.

"This haste, together with the want of funds, prevented the farther prosecution of this affair out of New-York. But although Mr. M'Dowall's hands were tied in this respect, he was not idle, but was furthering the cause through our mayer, some of the common council, and the police department; many of whom were showing great attention to him, properly appreciating his worth to mankind, while a large majority of his ministerial brothers were casting him out as too vile to be classed among decent men.

His last act in moral reform operations was to hand over to the police department, at their request, a variety of the works of iniquity just mentioned. And in consequence of his exertions, now while he is enjoying his reward in heaven, our constituted authorities are striving to obtain an Act entitling them to the power of searching for such articles. Mr. M' Dowall knew of very many thousand dollars' worth of those articles for sale in New-York, and of several places in our city where they were manufactured; but nothing effectual could be done without adequate laws. This power we shall now have, through his instrumentality; and then the dealers in them may expect to meet with a portion of what they deserve from their fellowcitizens.

These dealers are to be found, not among the low and vulgar only, but among all classes, from the pedlars of books in our markets to the wholesale merchants and importers, a catalogue of whose names, occupation, street, and number, is now among his papers. These comprise, principally, the dealers in our cities, such as New-York, Boston, &c. &c."

After this general meeting Mr. M' Dowall made the most diligent researches from city to city. He had offices established in different places-New-York, Boston, and Cincinnati.

He visited Philadelphia, May 17th, and writes, “Fatigued-sick. On Sabbath attended colored Methodist preaching."

Wednesday, 21st.-Meeting in the session-room in Cherry-street-found fifty-three places where lewd prints are for sale five hundred prints-fifty snuff-boxes-three musical boxes.

66

Thursday.-Met again by adjournment. "Friday, 23d.-Met again.

"Saturday.-Met by adjournment-resolutions passed,

and were to be forwarded to me at 31 Cornhill, Boston. 'A. M.—Took the rail-road boat for Boston, arrived at New-York near sun-set.

46

Monday, 26th.-Took a boat for Boston, Rev. Mr. Mattheson and Mr. Reed, of England, on board; had an agreeable interview. Rev. Dr. Peters on board-opposed to the Journal; says it pours the light of corruption through the land.

"Retired about two o'clock in the morning, much op pressed by pain in the head.

"Wednesday, 28th.-Boston, arrived about nine P. M. exhausted by excessive labor, anxiety, and sleepless hours. I was unable to prosecute my business, and retired to rest in bed. Several gentlemen called on me.

"Deacon Grant and Deacon W. G. Lambert, from the Boston Committee on prints, called on me; I was in bed. They feel unpleasantly about their situation. I informed them that Burrows told me that the meeting that appointed the committee wished to have nothing to do with me in any shape, and therefore I did not consult with the committee by letter; I had intended to call on them, but ill-health and business had prevented. I sent Mr. Burrows to this city; paid him a dollar a day and his traveling expenses, and intended on the following week to have superintended all his operations in person, but was necessarily prevented. The articles he had purchased for them were in my office, and should be returned to them.

"My investigations in New-England have cost several hundred dollars, and means are now in active operation to carry them through. Boston is, as it has been, the immediate theatre of my researches.

"I regret that expediency renders it impossible for your committee to have any connection with me. It shall not be my business purposely to thwart your designs.

"I have a plan embracing every city and considerable town in America, and, to my might, even unto death, am resolved to put it into execution.

"Probably a better knowledge of my plan might influence the committee to aid me. My health is still very feeble, or I should personally call on you. In view of my business and engagements, I considered it my solemn duty to go forward.

"W's clerk said he sold one hundred dollars' worth of pictures to one man last week. He had two books, price eighty dollars-fifty for one and thirty for the other. They are in his bed-room in the tavern, and prints hang around the bed-room. He has a large quantity of them. -house, Milk-street, Boston; have four hundred to five hundred dollars' worth on hand.

"J—— said he sold about one hundred prints this week,

principally to young men citizens, some to sailors,-hung up around his room.

66

A sailor, in a cellar in Ann-street, eighteen or twenty years old, said that he brought from China and gave away a long roll of one or two dozen of obscene prints."

To Messrs. Grant and Lambert,

"I expect to return from New-York to your city in a few weeks, and hope to have an interview with you, and other friends of moral reform in Boston.

"I expect to engage in investigations, and shall be pleased to render aid to you and others, so far as my ability will enable me, and will thankfully receive any proffered pecuniary assistance, and such suggestions as discreet individuals or societies shall feel it to be their duty to make. "J. R. M'DOWALL."

CHAPTER XXV.

Third Presbytery-Kindness--Mobs-Letter to Oneida-InstituteLeaves the house in Mott-street-Address to the Ladies of the Moral Reform Society.

Verily the sound has gone out into all the earth, as far as the name of M' Dowall is known, that a third Presbytery exists in the city of New-York, of which he was a member, and that this Presbytery saw fit to arraign Mr. M'Dowall before them, in June, 1834, to hear certain charges made against his Journal.

"Mr. Roe Lockwood, a member in Dr. Cox's church in New-York, called at my office, and told me that he intended to prefer against the Journal certain charges before the Third Presbytery of New-York, on the 2d of June. following; and that he wished me to attend and hear his