ought himself to be tried and punished, whether in the militia, or in the regular army.

It will perhaps be said, that soldiers cannot be governed without this severity of martial laws and arbitrary punishments. This statement is not admitted; but if it be true, it goes to prove the deleterious influence of the employment and education of soldiers. It is also a proof that such employment and education ought to have no place among men who have souls to save or lose.

We believe that many military officers are of a different character from the major and adjutant, whose conduct has been mentioned. Nor can we doubt that a multitude of officers who have been applauded as brave defenders of the rights of man, were themselves, to the extent of their command, as complete tyrants as the earth ever bore. Like barbarian slaveholders, they can boast of their patriotism and their readiness to fight for liberty, while they daily practise the most cruel despotism.

A SHOCKING PICTURE.

"In the hospitals of Wilna, there were left above 17,000 dead and dying, frozen and freezing; the bodies of the former, broken up, served to stop the cavities in windows, floors, and walls. But in one of the Corridores of the great Convent above 1,500 bodies were piled up transversely, as pigs of lead or iron. When these were finally removed on sledges to be burnt, the most extraordinary figures were presented by the variety of their attitudes, for none seem to have been frozen in a composed state. Each was fixed in the last action of his life, in the last directions given to his limbs-even the eyes retained the last expression either of anger, pain or entreaty. In the roads, men were collected round the burning ruins of the cottages, which a mad spirit of distraction had fired, picking and eating the burnt bodies of fellow men, while thousands of horses were moaning in agony, with their flesh mangled and hacked to satisfy the cravings of a hunger that knew no pity. In many of the sheds, men scarcely alive, had heaped on their frozen bodies human carcases, which festering by the communication of animal heat, had mingled the dying and the dead in one mass of putrefaction."

This picture was extracted from a work supposed to have been written by Sir Robert Wilson, entitled "Sketch of the Military and Political Power of Russia in the year 1817."

SELECT SENTIMENTS.

« WAR appears to us to condense more miseries in a given space than any one of the other evils by which man is visited. Let us not judge of it by the splendor of its caparis on, by its pomp, its music, its parade; by secure contests, the empty reports, the bloodless charges of an annual review. Oh no! its real music is groans, and its real vestments are died and saturated in the blood of friends and enemies."

Christian Observer. "WAR in every case must be deemed the triumph or the harvest of the first great murderer-the devil."

Thomas Scott. "IT would have proved a striking part of a vision presented to Adam the day after the death of Abel, to have brought before his eyes half a million of men crowded together in the space of a square mile When the first father had exhausted his wonder on the multitude of his offspring, he would then naturally inquire of his angelic instructer, for what purpose so vast a multitude had been assembled? What is the common end? Alas! to murder each other-all Cains, and yet no Abels! Southey."

SUPPLEMENTARY LINES TO THE " BATTLE OF BLENHEIM.”
"TELL me, ye troublers of mankind,
Who glory in your trade,

And through the carnage-cover'd field,

In fancied greatness wade:

Have you not felt at times remorse
Attendant on your ruthless course?
Before the bloody strife began,
As host to host ye stood,

Prepar'd, in spite of God's command,
To shed each other's blood:

Say did one creature meet your view
Who ever yet had injur'd you?
But if among the opposing host,
You could not single one,

Whom if you were not thus array'd
You would have cause to shun;
What senseless madness thus to be
The tools of others' policy.

Live and grow wiser; learn in time
That war indeed is guilt;

That God approves not him by whom
A brother's blood is spilt ;-
But inquisition strait win alake
On those who thus his office take."

2

THE FRIEND OF PEACE.

No. XV.

THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MASS. PEACE SOCIETY.

On this joyful anniversary, it will be expected of the officers of the Massachusetts Peace Society, that they should render some account of their exertions and their prospects. This duty they perform with pleasure, and with grateful acknowledgments to the Father of lights, who is the source of every good, and whose agency gives success to the benevolent efforts of his children.

It being already known that the funds of the Society are small when compared with their object, nothing more can reasonably be expected than evidence of fidelity in the use of such means as have been at the disposal of the Executive Committee, and such an exhibition of facts as may be adopted to excite more liberal patronage and more powerful exertions.

Since the tenth of December 1817, eight thousand two hundred and ninety-eight Tracts have been distributed in behalf of the Society; of which 4785 were copies of the various numbers of the Friend of Peace. The remaining 3513 were copies of the smaller Tracts-the Solemn Review, the Sermon on War, the last Annual Address and Reports, and copies of several Tracts from a Peace Society in London.

Besides the distributions which have been made in the United States, a considerable number of Tracts have been sent to four of the British Provinces in America-to London, Liverpool, and Manchester in England-to Glasglow and Dundee in Scotland, and to St. Petersburg in Russia.

In addition to the distributions which have been made at the expense of this Society, many thousands of Peace Tracts have been sold or gratuitously distributed in different sections of the United States; and much evidence has occurred that these Tracts have been favourably received, and have produced considerable effects. They have not only excited attention to the

objects of the Society, but have increased the number of its friends and its members. At the last anniversary this Society consisted of 304 members. It has since been increased to upwards of 550, including six auxiliary or branch societies, which have been formed in the course of the year.* The Society now extends by its members to nine of the United States, and two of the British provinces. Several new Peace Societies have been recently organized in different states. From information received, it appears that there are now in this country at least seventeen organized Peace Societies, including Auxiliaries; and that several others are about forming, if not already formed. To these may be added a conference of the Methodist Reformed Church in the state of New York, which has assumed the character of a Peace Society, and a society of Young Friends in Bucks county, in Pennsylvania, which has been formed for the purpose of distributing Peace Tracts. Respect ful notice should also be taken of an individual mechanic in the state of New York, who has published, at his own expense, fourteen thousand copies of the Friend of Peace, and two thousand five hundred copies of the Solemn Review of the Custom of War. A man of such energy and benevolence may justly have his name enrolled with Peace Societies. What may not be done in this good cause when men of wealth and enterprise shall truly feel its importance!

In London there are two independent Peace Societies. The Society for Promoting Permanent and Universal Peace, has a considerable number of Auxiliaries in different parts of the kingdom; it has published many thousands of Tracts--some of which have been translated into the German language. This will doubtless be followed by an extensive circulation on the continent of Europe. Several of the English periodical works favour the cause of peace-the Philanthropist, the Eclectic Review, the Edinburgh Review, the Evangelical Magazine, and the Christian Observer. In each of these, articles have appeared which must have excited much reflection, and multiplied the advocates for peace.

The Society has been enlarged since the Report was communicated. See the sequel of this No. or list of members.

There are in this country no less than seven distinct denominations of Christians, who are united in sentiment against war, in all its forms; and similar sects exist in Europe,-some of which are respectable for numbers as well as morals. The numerous fraternity of Free Masons are also avowed friends of peace; and it is certainly in their power to do much for the abolition of war. The hope may, therefore, be indulged, that they will soon cooperate with Peace Societies, and give irresistible proof of the benevolent design of their institution.

It is moreover unquestionable that there are many thousands of Christians in this country-not of either of the denominations which have been mentioned-who are in heart and in principle on the side of Peace Societies; great numbers of whom will give their names as soon as a proper opportunity shall occur. Others are restrained by a consideration of the annual expense, and the necessity of economy in providing for their families. Of the latter class, it is supposed, are many worthy ministers, who would be of great service to the Society, if its funds were sufficient to furnish them gratuitously with Tracts to lend among their parishioners.

As every follower of Christ must necessarily be of a pacific temper, it should be admitted that many now appear as advocates for war merely through the influence of education and custom, who would cordially embrace the principles of peace, had they but opportunity to become acquainted with them.

There is still another numerous and respected class of the human family, on whom great reliance may be placed-the CHRISTIAN LADIES. In former ages the influence of the fair sex was abundantly employed for sharpening the swords of ferocious men; and it is but a few centuries since the ladies of England were not ashamed to be seen at the publick tournaments, riding in troops with swords by their sides! But in this age the ladies set a nobler example, by encouraging humane and beneficent institutions. A great accession of strength may therefore be expected from them, as soon as they shall have been duly apprised of the extensive influence which they may exert, for saving the lives of men and giving peace to the world.