has been incorporated in the work entire, forms one of the strangest chapters in the history of the human mind, that have ever been written. It also raises the veil which has hitherto concealed from the public eye, the proceedings of Matthews and his disciples in the "Mount Zion" of Singsing, and gives a full account of the internal police of that establishment. The writer has likewise succeeded in obtaining a larger number of facts and anecdotes respecting the impostor, and authentic details of interviews and conversations with him, than he at first expected; so that the work has grown in the process of its preparation, to upward of a hundred pages more than was originally intended. Still, it is believed the reader will not be wearied in the perusal. Much available matter has been omitted, and nothing has been retained which was not deemed essential to the object and design of the work. It is often necessary, for the cause of truth, to expose opinions, which, in themselves, are so monstrous as not to merit a moment's consideration.

Unless the writer is greatly deceived, these pages will be found to comprise a history that is perfectly unique-a delusion sui generis-whether arising from individual fanaticism, or enthusiasm, or madness; or combined, or individual imposture, It has been contended by some mental philoso

phers, that "men do not so much believe in any error as in truth, and, that there is no error in which there is not some share, however small, of truth." But this proposition will not stand for a moment, against the errors disclosed in the following pages, made up as they are of the pure and unmixed elements of falsehood. This fact, then, for such it must be esteemed, overthrows entirely the theory of Victor Cousin, who says, in commenting upon Locke's chapter on the causes of error, that he "shall never cease to repeat, that there is no total error in an intelligent and rational being. Men of genius, and ordinary men, unquestionably give in to many errors, and attach themselves to them; but not that to which makes them errors, but to the part of truth which is in them." And again, "It is the truth, joined to the error, which gives to the error all its force, which gives it birth, sustains it, spreads it, explains and excuses it." The writer apprehends, however, that it would puzzle M. Cousin, and even Leibnitz himself, whom the distinguished Psychologist recognizes as the greatest of modern authorities, to find the slightest admixture of truth, in the system imposed upon his followers by Robert Matthews.

The writer's design was to render the work a simple record, or narrative, of facts, without aiming at the embellishments of learning, or of rhetoric, or

the indulgence of theoretical or philosophical speculation. In the execution of his design, it has been his study to spare the feelings, and avoid giving the names, of individuals, as far as could be done with propriety, or the obligations to truth would allow. And he has throughout endeavoured to act in strict obedience to the law of kindness-exercising, withal, the same measure of charity which he would himself desire to be meted to him in return, under the like circumstances. Indeed, in this latter respect, he may be charged by some, with having gone too far. It may possibly be urged, that in a land like ours, no man can, innocently, receive any thing which grossly contradicts divine revelation. The Scriptures, on leading and fundamental truths, are so plain that he who runs may read and it may therefore be contended, that he who, with his Bible in his hand, receives such a being as Matthews in the character of God the Father, has a heavy account to settle at God's bar. It is readily granted, that to hold up individuals who had blindly embraced such a monstrous heresy, while of sound mind, as subjects of pity and compassion merely, and without awarding to them a very heavy degree of censure, would be reflecting upon God, diminishing the sense of man's responsibility, and dishonouring the blessed revelation of the Most High. But the severity of cen

sure must be visited only in proportion to the soundness of the mind of the victim, and the extent to which reason is dethroned by the delusion. With these preliminary remarks, the work is committed to the public. The writer sincerely hopes it may be of some service to the cause of evangelical truth, if in no other way, by guarding Christian professors against the indulgence of a self-righteous and fanatical spirit, and also against the dangers of enthusiasm. If, through ignorance, or mistaken views of truth or from any other cause, he has said aught amiss, he begs that it may be forgotten and forgiven.

New-York, June 12, 1835.

MATTHIAS

AND

HIS IMPOSTURES.

CHAPTER I.

Preliminary Remarks-Early Life of Matthews-Comes to NewYork, and acquires a Trade-Returns to the Country, and commences Merchant-Marries in New-York-Becomes a Bankrupt-Returns to his old Employment in New-YorkAgain retires to the Country-Removes to Albany-Religious Excitement-Becomes an ultra Temperance AdvocateGrows fanatical-Disturbs Public Worship-Flies from Albany in the Night with three of his Children-Excitement and Alarm-Strange Conduct-Arrest-Street-preaching in Albany-Changes his Name-Mission to the West and SouthAdvent in New-York.

"I HAVE always observed, that when people become better than the Bible, they are very apt to be wrong." Such, recently, was the remark of one of the ablest and wisest of American divines, in reference to the ultraism of the day, in matters of philanthropy and religion, more especially in regard to the professions and practices of those who have been designated as "new-measure men," in the production and conduct of religious revivals. It was an observation full of wisdom. Nothing can be more dan

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