enemies, especially those who were wealthy.  The poorer members were true to a man, and I am confident will remain so; and if I am spared, I will make the wealth of the others dance for their vile treatment.  I have a thousand men who but wait my call.  When I say the word, though they are of the same brotherhood, yet having also experienced the treachery and oppression of the higher class in common with myself, they will make war upon them whenever the signal is given.”

Here he stopped for a few minutes, and then began to state the little trouble it would have given his friends to have aided him if they had felt disposed.

“But I am an invalid, and God knows I do not deserve such treatment.”  (The reader may think it strange that such a man should call upon his Maker, especially when he reads the constitution of the secret conclave, of which he was a member.  The phrase “God knows,” was used often in his private conversation.) “These persons I have always considered my friends, and have never given them occasion to be any thing else.  Finding, however, that I had no hope from them, and that I must stand my trial, I was willing to make use of other means.  I therefore agreed to proposals made by the most wealthy of my friends, and yielded to their arrangements, in order, if possible, to escape punishment.  There was a man by the name of Taylor, the same whose trial is now pending, whom they feared, and who was known to community as an accomplished villain.  He was the person selected upon whom it was designed to heap the burden of the guilt.  By that means, the attention of our prosecutors would be diverted.  The plan was set in operation, and soon the infamy of Taylor was sounded from Maine to the confines of Texas.  They had their agents in almost every city to help on the work.  From the first, I had but little hope of success in this manoeuvre, but consented reluctantly to the trial.  I was confident he had many enemies, and not without cause.  Having been foiled in all my former plans, I now experienced the deepest anxiety.  I was especially solicitous that as long a time should elapse as possible before he was arrested.  Some time after the report of his guilt he was arrested, and my brother promised to secure evidence to prove him guilty, and likewise to establish my innocence.  It was also agreed by the committee of arrangements at that time, that I should take medicine upon a feigned sickness, in order to secure a change in my situation.  In this way I could be removed to the Marine Hospital, when reported by the committee of health as being in danger.  I was to appear ignorant of my brother’s design, of which in truth I was.  I took medicine, which had the desired effect.  It made me desperately sick, producing excessive prostration.  Application was made for my removal to the place where you now see me.  Being conveyed hither, arrangements were made for my bail by my supposed friends.  I was persuaded that I should continue in this state of