It will be remembered that the plates and letters were in Canada for safe keeping, and must be sent for, and conveyed to the city before the trial of Taylor could proceed.  In the mean time, jealousy and consequent dread on the part of the colonel’s confederates were daily receiving new strength.  Conscious were they of having acted a most dishonorable and deceitful part with one of whom, under ordinary circumstances, they were accustomed to stand in awe; but now they were more especially apprehensive of danger, because there was a provocation for seeking vengeance.  They knew he had every means to involve them in a more signal overthrow than that which awaited himself.  The only alternatives were, either to wrest the weapons of destruction from his hands, or render the possessor incapable of wielding them.  They were driven almost to desperation, when they reflected on their deeds of wickedness reaching through many years, the record of which was in the hands of a powerful and justly provoked enemy, who in a day might spread out for the gaze of the world the portraiture of their former characters, in which were mingled the features of darkest villany and the more glaring expressions of open violence and crime.  Goaded on by an awful apprehension, they were prepared for any thing that might save themselves and families from exposure and disgrace.

Colonel Brown was a Grand Master of the band of Secret Brothers.  The members of the fraternity who sought his ruin were of the same degree, together with those holding the relation of Vice-grand Master.  He had nothing to fear from the common brotherhood, who were kept in perfect ignorance of the transactions of those more advanced.  Indeed, they were his warmest friends, and regarded him with especial reverence, because he commended himself to their confidence and esteem by his naturally good disposition, and, most of all, by his relation of Grand Master, which is always accompanied either with dread or marked respect.  The inferior order was very numerous, but seldom wealthy, generally of a suspicious character, who had no fixed residence, but wandered from place to place, preying upon the community in the character of bar-keepers, pickpockets, thieves, gamblers, horse-racers, and sometimes murderers.  They may be found in all parts of the United States and Canada.  These were controlled by some two hundred Grand Masters, conveniently located, who were generally men of wealth and respectability, and often connected with some learned profession, yet but seldom applying themselves to their profession sufficient to gain a livelihood.  These men, of both orders, would often confer together, especially when one had been detected in any crime—­or some dirty job was to be done, which was likely to bring into the hands of the superior order any considerable wealth.  In fact, these so-called respectable men would lay plans which they dared not execute for fear of detection, but having any number of agents in readiness