away the hours of the afternoon. I chose to walk to the river, but the clouds grew dark, the rain approached, and I entered the tavern for shelter. A dispute arose about some oats that the farmer had taken to town, and it seemed before I entered the room they had bet each one dollar on the affair, and the money was placed in the landlord's hands for the one who should gain. The farmer was urged to leave the decision to any six men, or to me. I shook my head and replied that I was a religious man, and, as such, was opposed to betting, for I held it to be an iniquitous practice: it was by the winner obtaining property without paying a valuable consideration. "I am opposed to it-it is wickedness, and still it prevails everywhere; for in the city and country men will bet and “lay wagers” about the most trivial things. It is a custom that does immense evil-makes men idle, intemperate, quarrelsome, and vicious. "The landlady called one or two men to dinner. She asked one of them if he wanted a dram at the table? He nodded assent, and she joyfully went to the bar and fetched a bottle, while the betting was again resumed. I said, that if it should be left to me, they would neither gain the bet, for I would give to each man his own money; or, as a punishment, I would award both dollars to some poor widow in Derby, and appoint a committee to carry it to her. The better left the bar-room, uttering the most indecent language. Finding the bar-room talk to be far from edifying, I took a book from my pocket and began to read, but was disturbed, and put it back: walked to the door; before it was a piazza where persons stood talking about the bet. One of them said, "Let us draw.' "Being asked for a pack of cards, I replied that I did not play cards. He perceived that I disapproved of gambling, and turned aside. The man who dined said he would "bet" that I had a pack of cards. Again I repeated my opinion on betting. Again he asserted that I had a pack of cards. I told him I believed it to be a sin to gamble. He then re-affirmed what he before had asserted. I replied, that as he was not sober I would not talk with him. Immediately he said, Take that word sober back again.' "I calmly replied I should take back nothing I had said. me; He then put me out of the door upon the piazza. I made no resistance, nor did I utter a word, nor put myself in a posture of defence, but stood just where his force put then with violence he seized me by the shoulder and hurled me off the piazza. I came near going over the wall, some six or eight feet to the ground. I deliberately returned to the piazza, not speaking a word nor even looking at the man. Again he came up to me, laid violent hands on me, thrust me backwards against the house, and wrung my nose with as much force as his malevolent will desired. I made no resistance save that of escaping from his ruffian attack, and calling on some one to tell me the name of the assailant. I offered a dollar for his name. The landlord would not answer. At length the man came to me and said his name was R. S. Prescott, of NewHaven. He then gave me much reproachful language, and finally asked me for my name. I walked away, and he could not learn my name, residence, nor profession. 46 At four the farmer entered his wagon and we drove off, and reached the farmer's residence late, and it was two o'clock before we retired.* * There are men who would have escaped much of the trouble which fell upon M'Dowall, for sin with him could not pass unrebuked; and the wonder well may be that he escaped a violent death from the hands of some adulterer, thief, or drunkard, to die a more lingering martyrdom by the more plausible but not less effectual bitterness of the church. CHAPTER XXVIII. New-Milford-Journal at Connecticut--Return to New-York-Journey to the West-Journal while on the Canal-Rochester-Doings there. "Saturday, August 15th.-Called on Rev. Mr. Rood, of New-Milford, to engage him to become an Agent for the Seventh Commandment Society. After this interview had a private conveyance to New-Canaan. At nine o'clock at night, fatigued and impeded on our way, we stopped in Pitfordshire. "Sabbath, August 16th.-Early we arrived at Mr. Stephen's to breakfast. I hesitated to travel, though it was but a short distance; but as I could do no apparent good in Pitfordshire, not having an appointment for a meeting there, and being dependent on French for a passage to my destined place, where I might be useful, I concluded to go on. If I erred in this matter, the Lord forgive me, for I would not by my example do evil that good may come. "At eleven o'clock held a meeting at Mr. Finch's, and showed that men ought in religion to act on the same common principles that govern them in their worldly business. It was a precious season to my soul. ་ "At half-past one o'clock went to hear Rev. Mr. Fuller; had given out a psalm. He insisted on my preaching. I selected my text from the psalm he gave out to the choir, and showed that if christians would be faithful and oppose reigning sins, that men, cruel, and bloody, and unrighteous, would persecute them. Illustrated it by the case of R. S. Prescott's assault on me at Derby. Noticed the prevailing practice of betting at elections, horse-races, &c.; also the practice of using drinks that make men drunk; and also the lewdness of the licentious. truth though they die for it. meeting at Mr. Finch's. Urged them to defend the "Monday, August 17th.-Am greatly wearied by the efforts of yesterday. My rest was very poor last night. 'Worked a little in fixing a press to make cider. I worked to gain my health, not because I wish to help my friend to make a drink that has made many drunkards. Cider has made many drunk, and must be given up. “Tuesday, 18th.-Visited Mrs. Bonney's school; talked to the children about forming a Temperance Society among them. 66 On Sabbath, one man who heard me speak against lewdness, said it was too delicate a subject to be named in a promiscuous assembly. I am informed by a credible person that he is a seducer. Doubtless it was too delicate a subject for those possessed of devils in our Savior's time to be reproved, for they too cried out, 64 6 'Let us alone. Why hast thou come to torment us before the time?' "Kindred spirits have kindred feelings which give utterance to the same sentiments. The keepers of brothels in New-York used to tell me to let them alone, and not trouble them with my religion; that such houses were no places for praying and preaching. This man in NewStamford seems to acquiesce with these vile women. Doubtless he is tormented before the time. "Wednesday, 19th.-Worked all day, and was very weary at night. Wrote to Mrs. Barns respecting the rumors in New-Haven circulated by the Benevolent So ciety, as it seems needful explanations should be made. Thursday, 20th.-Was so fatigued by the labor performed yesterday that I could not work long to-day, and devoted the day to writing. “Friday, 21st.-Labored all day. Lying is a peculiar characteristic of our race: "We go astray as soon as we are born, speaking lies." A boy, perhaps fourteen years old, now in this family, is a reputed and most notorious liar, and always has been. His acquisitiveness is large, his conscientiousness is small, and his firmness is full; hence we have in him one who perseveres in asserting the truth of a lie, and also one who is prone to steal. The lad is active and strong. There is a very peculiar government needed over him to keep him in the right way. Day after day should be hear instruction on the nature of stealing. This kind of instruction should fall on his ear in "line upon line, precept upon precept." In this way his conscientiousness, by exercise, would grow; and being habituated to reveal all his private schemes to some confidential friend, would have a tendency to make him an upright and virtuous man. New-York, Sept. 1st.—Arrived yesterday from Connecticut. Intended to have left for Whitesborough this day. Sept. 2d.-Delayed-not yet off. 66 66 Sept. 3d.-Again was disappointed—boat left me: another boat at 7. On board Hudson River. Several ladies from New-Haven, Connecticut, are on the boat. Mrs. Barnes is among them. She introduced me also to a gentleman. He kindly came to me, sitting in a private place on the boat, and begged me to accept a bill, folded up so that I could not see its value while he held it in his hand. Grateful for the unexpected favor, I took the bill, and found it was the exact price of my passage. I did not so soon expect an evidence that God would supply my wants, though I had but a few moments before assured Mrs. Barnes that the Lord would supply my wants, and that I would confide in him. Rev. Dr. Nott, of Union College, was on the boat. He told me that he had, since the Journal was published, instituted a series of investigations respecting the extent of licentiousness in this country, and that he was perfectly convinced that the |