NOYES ACADEMY.

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very outspoken against the Abolition excitement, but still was a careful and safe adviser. Mr. Bartlett’s opinion did not arrive, however, until it was too late to save the building, but it is said to have been of such a nature that many of those who were engaged in the outrage of moving the building were rather anxious that that act in their lives should be forgotten. He told them, as I heard from the late Caleb Blodgett, Esq., who was high sheriff at the time, and had recently moved into town, that no vote of the town could “legalize” a mob; that the outrage they were about to commit was felony at common law; that each individual engaged in it was personally responsible for all the damage that might accrue, and that each and every man became lawless and criminal whenever he or they deprived others of their property or of the right to live peaceably in the community. But, after all, he thought there was little danger to be feared from prosecutions, because in the then exasperated state of public opinion upon the slavery question, there was no jury in the state who would find them guilty; but all high excitements are reactionary, beware of the “second thought.” For this advice the town paid Mr. Bartlett $5. They had better have paid him thousands and sought his advice sooner.

   The particulars which follow are taken chiefly from letters written at the time, by parties, as may readily be seen, who were not unfriendly to the school. As this is the only record of those eventful days I adopt it as authentic, believing it to be a veracious tale. The first letter is dated August 15, 1835, and commences thus:

The whole world will soon be awake to the transactions here. Since the 31st every cloud has been black with rumors. Upon the wings of every breeze was blown an account of coming events. From the tongue of every tattler escaped a direful foreboding. Emaciated groups of human forms, were to be seen in sheds and secret places, plotting and planning affairs for the 10th. Sometimes a silence not unlike that which precedes the earthquake prevailed. Scandal, “damnable innuendoes,” hell-engendered lies, were eagerly received by the loquacious humor of this public. This is not a vision. It is a fact. But I pass now to the 10th. The day dawned, the sun never rose with more loveliness. Its meridian splendor is not an apt comparison in dog days. In the morn we greet him, at noon we flee from him. The cloud that had so long hung threateningly over us, now assumed a most fearful