hould come into disrepute. Two of them are
merchants in Dearborn county, Indiana. Some five of the most wealthy men
of that county were driven almost to desperation when they learned that
my wife had it in her power to use their names in connection with deeply
dishonourable acts. I, however, satisfied them that she would not expose
them, and they in turn promised to assist me, writing several letters of
commendation in my behalf, giving me an untarnished character as a
merchant of high respectability in Lawrenceburgh. From time to time they
promised to secure me bail, and yet they as often failed to make good
their word. In this they violated the most solemn obligations. We were
pledged to sustain each other to the last farthing, in case either
became involved in difficulty. That pledge I had never broken, and I
looked for the same fidelity on the part of my associates. I never
before had occasion to test their sincerity, but found all their solemn
promises a mere 'rope of sand.' I found I was gone, as far as they were
concerned, and turned my efforts in another direction."

"I now had recourse to my friends in Chillicothe, Cleaveland, Buffalo,
Detroit, Zanesville, Beaver, Lexington, Nashville, Philadelphia, New
York city, Boston, and Cincinnati. As usual, they gave me the most
liberal promises, but in no case fulfilled their engagements. I was now
driven to new measures. I found those in whom I reposed the utmost
confidence hollow-hearted and treacherous. I next entered upon the plan
of making a certain villain share in my wretchedness and disgrace. In
this I was joined by my brother, who, in perfecting the scheme, acted
somewhat imprudently. I advised him to take a different course, but he
listened to others who professed to befriends to us, and were, indeed,
members of the same fraternity,[1] but turned out the worst kind of
enemies, especially those who were wealthy. The poorer members were true
to a man, and I am confident will remain so; and if I am spared, I will
make the wealth of the others dance for their vile treatment. I have a
thousand men who but wait my call. When I say the word, though they are
of the same brotherhood, yet having also experienced the treachery and
oppression of the higher class in common with myself, they will make war
upon them whenever the signal is given."

Here he stopped for a few minutes, and then began to state the little
trouble it would have given his friends to have aided him i