such courage. Can't you contrive to make the 22d of next month come sooner than that?-John the Baptist must be in his place before we can move.

"Yours, sincerely.

"The kingdom-the kingdom-the kingdom-and nothing but the kingdom of God."

There is yet another chapter to follow, before the scene changes to Singsing.

CHAPTER VI.

Luxurious Habits of Matthews-Description of his Person and Costume-Efforts to attract Observation-Interesting and Remarkable Interview between a Gentleman and Matthews, Pierson, and M. H. S.-Claims to a Divine Character-Specimen of his Preaching-Close of the Interview-Visit of another Gentleman to the house of M. H. S.-Another of the Prophet's Lectures-Attempt of one of Pierson's Friends to Rescue him from the Delusion-Meets with the ProphetThe Interview-His Preaching-Visit abruptly terminatedThe New Jerusalem-Strange Conduct of a Gentleman in having his Plate crested with Lions-Arrest of the Prophet and one of his Disciples, on the ground of Insanity-The Impostor is shorn of his Beard-Strange Fancies of M. H. S. at Bloomingdale-Pierson takes a house for Matthews-Manner of passing the Winter-The Establishment broken up in the Spring-Suspected Quarrel-Matthews takes Board at a Hotel-His Conduct there-Pierson's Conversations with the Spirit.

IF, as we have seen, Matthews was fond of dress, vain show, and luxury within doors, he was equally pleased with its display, even to ostentation, without. His two chief disciples having ample means, he induced them to set up elegant carriages for his accommodation; and there was seldom a fine day in the summer of 1832, upon which he did not display his beard, his costume, and his carriage in Broadway-accompanied frequently by Mr. Pierson and his two children, or by the other gentleman of whom we have spoken at large in the preceding chapter.

When not rolling in his landau, he was frequently in the streef, particularly during the hours of fashionable promenading-dropping in occasionally at the bookstores, and sometimes venturing into an office of resort in Wall-street, always preaching and exhorting in the same rambling and incoherent manner, already so often described-often with shrewdness and momentary energy-and never better pleased than to find himself the observed of all observers.

On bright afternoons, when the Battery was sure to be thronged by fashionable loungers, seeking to kill an idle hour, and by hundreds of people desirous of inhaling the invigorating breezes from the ocean, Matthews was in the frequent practice of exhibiting himself to the multitude, though not exactly mingling in the throng. Selecting well his hour for attracting the greatest share of attention, he would arrive at the Battery-gate in a superb dark carriage, drawn by a noble pair of horses, and accompanied by Mr. Pierson and his children. Descending from the carriage with dignity and deliberation, he would take the children by the hand at either side, and thus, with stately and measured tread, walk to and fro upon the lawn, Mr. Pierson in constant and reverential attendance, for an hour or more-until, having, as he supposed, made a sufficient exhibition of his person, he would retire with the gravity with which he came-making far less impression, probably, upon the multitude than he fancied or desired.

In person he is tall and well-made, although very thin what is sometimes, and very aptly, called "bony." His height is about five feet ten or eleven

inches, and his frame well-proportioned, although his gait is somewhat awkward, and his movements ungraceful. His walk was always slow, and not wanting in stateliness, or at least that assumption of it which is to be obtained by deliberation, an erect carriage, and a careful avoidance of all hurry or precipitation. His face is sharp-complexion sallow-eyes of a cold light gray-and hair and beard long, thick, coarse, and of a peculiar hue, which is better expressed, perhaps, by the word ashy, than any other. They have originally been of a dark brown, but are now profusely sprinkled with silver-gray-the union forming that singular mixture we have attempted to describe. He always wore his hair long, and parted in waving masses upon each side of his head, leaving a well-defined line of separation running longitudinally along the top of his cranium. His beard, equally coarse with his hair, and still more inclined to curl, was thick and bushy, and covered his breast to the depth of eight or ten inches below the neck. He also wore thick mustaches on the upper lip, and these, being of great length, united so completely with the beard on either side, as almost entirely to conceal his mouth. The coarseness of his hair and beard not being discernible at a short distance, from the great are with which they were kept, and the profusion of nglets clustering over his shoulders, they were esteemed very beautiful. When conversing, or sitting, as he often would, silent and in apparent meditation, he was in the almost constant habit of cherishing his beard and mustaches-smoothing them down with

L

his long slender fingers, and seeming to take great delight in feeling them. The predominant expression of his countenance is a cold severity; but with this there is mingled great shrewdness of aspectand, very often, an air of deep abstraction.

His most usual costume while exhibiting himself in the streets of New-York, or upon the Battery, as we have described, was a black cap of japanned leather, in shape like an inverted cone, with a shade; a frock-coat, generally of fine green cloth, lined with white or pink satin; a vest, commonly of richly figured silk; a sash of crimson silk around his waist; green or black pantaloons, sometimes with sandals, and at others Wellington boots (always highly polished), and worn outside of the pantaloons; with a black stock around his neck. As we have already remarked, he was evidently very fond of rich and showy dresses, and seldom appeared two days in succession in the same apparel. Some of his coats were richly decorated with braid, and frogs, and costly buttons; but in shape they were always the same, at least, so far as the observation of the writer has extended, being the kind indifferently called frock, or Wellington. Altogether, his appearance was striking and calculated to attract notice, but not remarkably imposing.

It was during the same season-the summer of 1832--while residing with Mr. M. H. S., though spending a good portion of his time, as we have seen, with Mr. Pierson, that a remarkable interview took place between Matthias and his two chief disciples and another gentleman, which is not only in