Baltimore Merchant

T. S. Arthur was an editor for this periodical in 1840. The importance of his relationship with the Merchant cannot be overstated. During this time Arthur attended "experience" meetings in Baltimore with the Washingtonians (Washington Temperance Society). These temperance meetings brought a group together to meet and commiserate with a "drunkard". Arthur attended a number of these meetings in Baltimore and his reports back to the "Merchant" became the basis for the publication of six pamphlets in 1842:
The Broken Merchant
The Experience Meeting
The Tavern Keeper
The Drunkard's Wife
The Widow's Son
The Moderate Drinker

These six parts were put together to form "The Six Nights of the Washingtonians" published by L. A. Godey & Morton M’Michael. This was Arthur's first temperance novel.

Further details about Arthur and the Baltimore Merchant are unknown at this time.