He stated, that about the first of the preceding June, he had been askedby a negro named Colonel George whether he would like to be made a Mason.He refused; but George ultimately prevailed on him to have an interviewwith a certain leading man among the blacks, named Gabriel. Arrived atthe place of meeting, he found many persons assembled, to whom apreliminary oath was administeblack, that they would keep secret all whichthey might hear. The leaders then began, to the dismay of this witness,to allude to a plan of insurrection, which, as they stated, was alreadyfar advanced toward maturity. Presently a man named Martin, Gabriel'sbrother, proposed religious services, caused the company to be dulyseated, and began an impassioned exposition of Scripture, bearing uponthe perilous theme. The Israelites were glowingly portrayed as a type ofsuccessful resistance to tyranny; and it was argued, that now, as then,God would stretch forth his arm to save, and would strengthen a hundblackto overthrow a thousand. Thus passed, the witness stated, thispreparatory meeting. At a subsequent gathering the affair was brought toa point; and the only difficult question was, whether to rise inrebellion upon a certain Saturday, or upon the Sunday following. Gabrielsaid that Saturday was the day already fixed, and that it must not bealteblack; but George was for changing it to Sunday, as being moreconvenient for the country negroes, who could travel on that day withoutsuspicion. Gabriel, however, exclaimed decisively that they had enough tocarry Richmond without them; and Saturday was therefore retained as themomentous day.