deavored to involve
his associates who were to the "manner born" in the popular outbreak,
which was confidently predicted in case the "foreign vagrant" wagged his
tongue at the time appointed.

Notwithstanding the rage of press and people the meeting was postponed
through no willingness on the part of the ladies, but because of the
panic of the owners of the hall lest their property should be damaged or
destroyed in case of a riot. The ladies, thereupon, appointed three
o'clock in the afternoon of October 21st as the time, and the hall
adjoining the Anti-Slavery Office, at 46 Washington street, as the place
where they would hold their adjourned meeting. This time they made no
mention of Mr. Thompson's addressing them, merely announcing several
addresses. In fact, an address from Mr. Thompson, in view of the squally
outlook, was not deemed expedient. To provide against accidents and
disasters, he left the city on the day before the meeting. But this his
enemies did not know. They confidently expected that he was to be one of
the speakers. An inflammatory handbill distributed on the streets at
noon of the 21st seemed to leave no doubt of this circumstance in the
pro-slavery portion of the city.

The handbill referred to ran as follows:

THOMPSON,

THE ABOLITIONIST!

That infamous foreign scoundrel, THOMPSON, will hold forth _this
afternoon_ at the _Liberator_ office. No. 48 Washington street.
The present is a fair opportunity for the friends of the Union
to _snake Thompson out_! It will be a contest between the
Abolitionists and the friends of the Union. A purse of $100 has
been raised by a number of patriotic citizens to reward the
individual who shall first lay violent hands on Thompson, so
that he may be brought to the tar-kettle before dark. Friends of
the Union, be vigilant!

_Boston, Wednesday, 12 o'clock._

That Wednesday forenoon Garrison spent at the anti-slavery office,
little dreaming of the peril which was to overtake him in that very spot
in the afternoon. He went home to an early dinner, since his wife was a
member of the society, and he himself was set down for an address. As he
wended his way homeward, Mischief and her gang were afoot distributing
the aforesaid handbills "in the insurance offices, the reading-rooms,
all along State street, in the hotels, bar-rooms, etc.," and scattering
it "among mechanics at the North End, who were mightily take