John Taylor — Delivered from the High Police in Paris (1850)

While preaching in Paris in 1850, John Taylor had dealings with some of the leading government men of the city, obtaining official permission to teach the gospel. After he left Paris for England, he received a letter from Curtis E. Bolton, who presided over the mission in France: the haut (high) police had come to Taylor's lodgings inquiring for him, but the gentleman of the house had kept the officer talking for two hours, defending Taylor's character. The police had arrived just ten minutes after Taylor had left in a cab for the railroad. 'But I had then finished my work,' Taylor said, 'and when they would have put their fingers on me, I was not there' — recounting the timing as providential deliverance that let him complete the mission in France unharmed.

Fuller account of this event (in the witness’s own words):

After I had left Paris, on my arrival in England, I found a letter from brother Bolton, who is president in France; he informed me that the haut (high) police had been inquiring for me at my lodgings, but that the gentleman of the house had kept him talking for two hours, defending my character, &c. They came to the house ten minutes after I had left in a cab for the railroad, but I had then finished my work, and when they would have put their fingers on me, I was not there.