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In the mean time the crowd in the street had aug
mented from a hundred to thousands. The cry was
for "Thompson! Thompson!" But the Mayor had
now arrived, and, addressing the rioters, he assured
them that Mr. Thompson was not in the city, and
besought them to disperse. As well might he have
attempted to propitiate a troop of ravenous wolves.
None went away, but the tumult continued momen
tarily to increase. It was apparent, therefore, that
the hostility of the throng was not concentrated upon
Mr. Thompson, but that it was as deadly against the
cause. The fact is wor
Society and the Antislavery
thy of special note, for it incontestibly proves that
the object of these
"
and
"
influential
respectable
rioters was to put down the cause of Emancipation,
and that the prejudice against Mr. Thompson was
only a mere pretext.
Notwithstanding the presence and frantic behavior
of rioters in the hall, the meeting of the Society
was regularly called to order by the President. She
read a select and appropriate portion of Scripture,
and offered a fervent prayer to God for direction
and succor, and the forgiveness of enemies and
rioters. It was an awful, sublime, and soul-thrilling
scene The clear, untremulous tone of that
Christian heroine in prayer occasionally awed the
ruffians into silence, and was heard distinctly even
in the midst of their hisses, yells, and curses, for
they could not long silently endure the agony of
conviction, and their conduct became furious. They
now attempted to break down the partition, and par
but that little band of women still
tially succeeded ;
5