y you need not fear any thing under these circumstances. You had
therefore better come on just as soon as possible._"

* * * * *

I need not say, what the reader has already seen, that my life so far had
been one of joy succeeding sorrow, and sorrow following joy; of hope, of
despair; of bright prospects, of gloom; and of as many hues as ever appear
on the varied sky, from the black of midnight, or the deep brown of a
tempest, to the bright warm glow of a clear noon day. On the 11th of
April it was noon with me; I left Boston on my way for Raleigh with high
hopes, intending to pay over the money for my family and return with them
to Boston, which I intended should be my future home; for there I had
found friends and there I would find a grave. The visit I was making to
the South was to be a farewell one; and I did not dream that my old
cradle, hard as it once had jostled me, would refuse to rock me a
pleasant, or even an affectionate good bye. I thought, too, that the
assurances I had received from the Governor, through Mr. Smith, and the
assurances of other friends, were a sufficient guaranty that I might visit
the home of my boyhood, of my youth, of my manhood, in peace, especially
as I was to stay but for a few days and then to return. With these
thoughts, and with the thoughts of my family and freedom, I pursued my way
to Raleigh, and arrived there on the 23d of the month. It was Saturday
about four o'clock, P.M. when I found myself once more in the midst of my
family. With them I remained over the Sabbath, as it was sweet to spend a
little time with them after so long an absence, an absence filled with so
much of interest to us, and as I could not do any business until the
beginning of the week. On Monday morning between eight and nine o'clock,
while I was making ready to leave the house for the first time after my
arrival, to go to the store of Mr. Smith, where I was to transact my
business with him, two constables, Messrs. Murray and Scott, entered,
accompanied by two other men, and summoned me to appear immediately before
the police. I accordingly accompanied them to the City Hall, but as it was
locked and the officers could not at once find the key, we were told that
the court would be held in Mr. Smith's store, a large and commodious room.
This was what is termed in common phrase in Raleigh a "call court." The
Mayor, Mr. Loring, presided, assisted by William Boylan and Jonathan