The proceedings of the authorities and the public at large, consequent upon this act of incendiarism and outrageous violence, were truly characteristic.  It is supposed that the destruction of the Hall was planned beforehand, and there is some evidence to show that strangers from the South were implicated in the conspiracy; but, as usual, the old drama of the wolf accusing the lamb was enacted over again, and a pretext was laid hold of, that, in the peculiar state of feeling existing in the community, was almost deemed a justification of all that had happened; though, in truth, it was in the last degree ridiculous.  It was asserted that colored men had been seen walking arm in arm with white ladies, and that white men had handed colored females out of their carriages at the door of the Hall, as politely as if they had not belonged to the proscribed class.  In several instances, if not in all, these reports were untrue in point of fact, and originated in the existing paradox, that colored men and women are sometimes white, and that white gentlemen and ladies are not unfrequently of dark complexion.  As an illustration, I quote the following scene from a letter addressed to me by Robert Purvis, an intelligent and educated man of color, and the son-in-law of James Forten, a wealthy and venerable colored citizen of Philadelphia, recently deceased.

“In regard to my examination before the jury in the Pennsylvania Hall case, I have to say, that it was both a painful and ludicrous affair.  At one time the fulness of an almost bursting heart was ready to pour forth in bitter denunciation—­then the miserable absurdity of the thing, rushing into my mind, would excite my risible propensities.  You know the county endeavored to defend itself against the award of damages, by proving that the abolitionists were the cause of the destruction of the building, in promoting promiscuous intermingling, in doors and out, of blacks and whites, thereby exciting public feeling, &c.  A witness, whose name I now forget, in proof of this point, stated, that upon a certain day, hour, &c., a ‘negress’ approached the Hall, in a carriage, when a white man assisted her in getting out, offered his arm, which was instantly accepted, and he escorted her to the saloon of the building!  In this statement he was collected, careful, and solemn—­minutely describing the dress, appearance of the parties, as well as the carriage, the exact time, &c.—­the clerks appointed for the purpose taking down every word, and the venerable jurors looking credulous and horror-stricken.  Upon being called to rebut the testimony I, in truth and simplicity, confirmed his testimony in every particular!!  The attorney, on our behalf, David Paul Brown, Esq., a gentleman, scholar, and philanthropist, in a tone of irony peculiarly severe, demanded, ’whether I had the unblushing impudence, in broad day-light, to offer my arm to my wife?’ I replied, in deep affectation of the criminality involved, that the only palliation I could offer, for conduct so outrageous was, that it was unwittingly done, it seemed so natural.  This, as you might well suppose, produced some merriment at the expense of the witness for the county, and of all others, whose gullibility and prejudice had given credit to what would have been considered, had I been what is called a white man, an awful story.”