I bethought me now of marriage, having what might be termed good prospects in the world.  Visiting the town of Fulton, County of Oswego, State of New York, about forty miles from New York Central College, on an occasion of public interest, I was made the guest of the Rev. L. K——­, a highly esteemed minister of the gospel, and greatly distinguished for his earnest and zealous advocacy of the principles of abolition.  He was a white man.  This gentleman had a large family of sons and daughters.  A feeling of friendship sprung up between one of his daughters and myself on the occasion of this visit, which feeling eventually ripened into emotions of a higher and more interesting character.  The father welcomed me:  the mother was long since deceased.  The parties immediately concerned were satisfied—­why should others demur?  I knew something of prejudice against color, but I supposed that a sense of dignity, not to say decency, would deter the most bitterly opposed from interference with a matter wholly domestic and private, and which, in its relation to the public, was also wholly insignificant.  I reckoned without my host however.  The inhabitants of Fulton had received the impression that there was an union in contemplation between the lady and myself; and they determined that it should not take place, certainly not in their town, nor elsewhere if they could prevent it.  They stirred the town in every direction, evoking all the elements of hostility, and organizing the same into a deadly mob, to act at convenient opportunity.  I was ignorant of the great length to which this feeling had attained; so also were the parties immediately interested in my personal safety.  I was therefore greatly surprised when, on the occasion of my last visit to Fulton, and while in company with the lady, both of us visiting at the house of a mutual friend, residing about two miles out of town, a party rushed into our presence in hot haste, bidding me, if I wished to escape with my life, to “fly with all possible speed!” The party who performed this kindly office had scarcely gone, when, on looking out of the window, I beheld a maddened multitude approaching—­about six hundred white men, armed with tar, feathers, poles and an empty barrel spiked with shingle nails!  In this barrel I was to be put, and rolled from the top to the bottom of a hill near by.  They also brought a sleigh, in which the lady was to be taken back to her father’s house.  They intended no harm to her.

Knowing the character of an American mob, and also knowing how little they value the life of a man of color, I expected, as I saw the multitude surrounding the house, to die—­in fact, prepared for death.