capture, were dismissed from the Rooms after having been cautioned against being taken’ again.  Their appearance as they marched out of the building and up the street, each man with his blanket strapped across his shoulders, some with looks of dignified disgust, and others with a most crestfallen or woebegone expression. was ludicrous in the extreme, and caused hearty laughter and many jokes at their expense.  In addition to the offenders those secured in the Rooms of the Committee, there were many others at liberty for whom a quiet but unremitting search was kept up.  When any one was found, on the street or in any of his usual haunts, he was very sure to surrender at the first summons of the officer, probably for the reason humorously assigned by one of the most bitter opponents of the Committee, who, after an envenomed tirade against it, was asked, “Suppose, while talking on Montgomery Street, some one should tap you on the shoulder, and say, you are wanted at the Vigilance Committee Rooms, should you go?” “Of course I should,” said he, “Indeed,” said the other, “I should not, from your talk, have expected it.”  “Why,” said he, “you don’t think me such a consummate fool as to attempt to buck up against two thousand men.”  Sometimes, however numbers gave confidence to the rowdies, and they ventured, regardless of the lessons of experience, to indulge in their old practices in public.  A public evening meeting was held in front of Montgomery Block to consider what action should be taken in reference to certain Officials believed to have been unfairly elected, and a part of whom at least were charged with maladministration of the affairs of the City.  A Committee had been chosen to request these City officers to resign, and this Committee were directed to report at an adjourned meeting in the same place.  Before the second meeting was held, it was understood that an attempt would be made to break up the meeting.  The intended disturbers stationed themselves opposite the Montgomery Block, and by shouts, groans and noises of all kinds, endeavoured to interrupt the proceedings.  This was borne as long as possible.  At last a party of Vigilantes broke in from the extremity of the crowd, and bore straight down through it, leaving a clear space behind them, until they reached the point of disturbance, when they made a charge upon the rowdies, some of whom drew pistols but were afraid to use them; secured the leaders and principal bullies, and hurried them off to secure lodgings in the Committee Rooms.  The work was done in a wonderfully short time and in the most skillful manner; and no further disturbance occurred.

The punishments prescribed for offenders by the Committee being only two, viz, death and banishment, and neither being applicable to the cases of some of the numerous prisoners now in their hands, these were discharged after being cautioned not again to offend.  The rest, after trial of each one in the mode prescribed, were sentenced to banishment; were quietly embarked at night, and so “left their country for their country’s good.”