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To Christian people, the mothers in India, who consent to the murder of their infants, appear as unnatural, hardhearted monsters. Yet are there not many mothers in Christian countries who glory in having their sons educated for the very business of human slaughter and who think it a great honour to be the mothers of children who have been brave in killing other people! Let it not then be imagined that the mothers in India are sinners above all the women in our world, because they consent to the custom of female infanticide.

Many men, women, and young people, who, in other respects and on other occasions, appear amiable, benevolent and sympathetic, are so deluded by education, habit and custom, that, in regard to the slaughter and miseries of war, they can indulge such insensibility and hardihood as should be expected only from savages trained to blood. They are touched with sympathy in view of individual suffering, but can rejoice in the result of battles, in which thousands have been slain and thousands wounded. They can stretch forth the helping hand for the relief of private misery, and yet exert all their influence in support of wars, which involve millions in deep affliction. They can feel for the poor, the orphan and the widow, and yet support a custom which has filled every country with these objects of pity. They can pray to God for the relief of an individual sufferer, and to the same God' they can pray for the success of armies engaged in the work of havock and destruction! They can weep at the tolling of the death bell, when one has fallen, and yet rejoice in a war manifesto which exposes to untimely death, or to extreme suffering, an innumerable multitude of fellow beings! If it were possible to present to the mind the aggregate suffering occasioned by one war manifesto, no human being perhaps could sustain the shock which it would occasion.

EXTRACTS OF A LETTER FROM A GENTLEMAN IN PENNSYLVANI

FROM a letter recently received the following particulars are extracted :

Pennsylvania contains four Christian societies that profess to bear a testimony against war."

"First. The Friends, or people called Quakers; they are very numerous, respectable and wealthy."

"Second. The German Menounists; they are numerous, and most honest, domestic, industrious characters."

"Third. The German Moravians, or United Brethren, They are a truly pious society."

"Fourth. The German Dunkers, so called. They bear excellent characters among their neighbours."

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"I have estimated that these four persuasions comprize about one third of the inhabitants of this state."

From all that I have learned from many years intimate acquaintance with the Moravian Brethren, I am inclined to believe that if Peace Societies were to be established generally in Europe, they would find many advocates in Germany and the adjoining parts of Prussia-men of real talents and the strictest integrity. I am further confirmed in this opinion by the following circumstance-Sometime after the battle of Plattsburg there came to my house a singular looking young man, who asked me in high German for a little some thing to eat. I answered him in his own language, that he should have it. His innocent and engaging countenance bore every mark of truth and integrity. I enquired the history of his life, and he related to me in substance as follows."

From the narrative given by the writer of the letter I shall state the most interesting facts relating to this young German :-According to the narrative, his father was a wealthy man and an officer in a large church near Hamburgh, which had adopted the principle that war is unlawful. The young man was dragged out of his bed to go in Bonaparte's army to Russia. On refusing, he was severely whipped. His father and mother begged for him in vain, and he was driven on like an ox in a team. He resigned himself to die, and utterly refused to take a gun in his hand; for this he was several times whipped almost to death, and was compelled to carry provisions. He says, as the French passed through Poland, they were like a fire in a dry forest, and swept all before them that they violated every woman which they could lay their hands on. He saw the great battles, and the ground

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covered with dead bodies, at Smolensko, and Borodino, and was at the burning of Moscow. In the retreat from Russia he suffered greatly, and narrowly escaped at Beresina,

The author of the letter says, that "the substance of his account agreed with what has been published by Porter and Labaume-that if they spoke the truth he did."

When the young man returned to France he flattered himself that if he could get to the British army, they would assist him to go home to his parents he therefore deserted to them; but they were but little better than the French. They took him and sent him to Quebec, and from thence to Montreal, and to Plattsburg. He saw the battle but would not fight, nor even take a gun into his hand, although he was cruelly whipped. At Plattsburg he again deserted, in hope of finding his way to Philadelphia-having heard before he left home that there was a society in Philadelphia to relieve distressed Germans.

The writer of the letter assured him that there was such a society, that he was acquainted with some of the members, and would write such letters in his behalf that he might consider his sufferings as over. He also invited the German to tarry with him to rest and recruit. But the young man was' anxious to find a passage home, as he said, "to show himself as a miracle of mercy, that the Lord would preserve them, who did not shed human blood." He said "it was wicked murder to shoot and kill strangers with whom they had no difference, and if acquainted would perhaps be the best of friends. It would, he said, he a comfort to him if he reached home to tell their church that in all his sufferings he never took a weapon of death in his hand."

The writer adds, “aud said much more that I did not correctly understand, and spoke in a manner which seemed to impress those who did not understand him at all. He was a Comely young man, between 20 and 30 years of age. 1 really considered him as a preacher of the true gospel. We parted with my best wishes, and I understood that the Ger man Society procured him a passage homeward."

REFLECTIONS.

First. How unjust and cruel are the martial laws and customs of warring Christians! By conscription or impressment men may be dragged from every thing dear to them, and compelled by violence to join an army, not only against their inelination but against their consciences. Then, if they refuse to fight, they are exposed not only to insult but cruel corporal punishments. If they desert, and are retaken, death is their portion.

No reasonable being can blame the young German for de

serting, either from the French army or the English. Yez in either case, had he been retaken, he would have been liable to be shot. Such laws are a disgrace to human nature, and a reproach to every government by which they are sanetioned. Protestant Christians abhor the laws and usages of the papal inquisition; yet they support martial laws and usages which are in every respect as inhuman, cruel, and inconsistent with the rights of man, and the rights of conscience!

Prior to our revolutionary war, while the British troops were stationed in Boston, our country was filled with indig nation and clamour against the martial laws of Great Britain, and the horrible punishments which were inflicted on the soldiers. Perhaps no other considerations were urged with more effect than these to excite a spirit of hostility against the British government. To entice or impress men into military service by land or sea, to train and habituate them to erime and raischief, to subject them to the caprice and vindietive passions of officers inured to violence and blood-to subject the poor soldiers thus kidnapped, trained and enslaved to the horrid punishment of 500 or 1000 lashes on the naked back-whipping off not only the skin from the flesh but the flesh from the bones-for crimes not half so atrocious as they are often ordered to commit, or to shoot a soldier to death for an attempt to escape from such a state of vassalage and cruelty, are things, which were once regarded by the people of this country with detestation and horror. But such inhuman laws, usages and punishments perhaps exist under every warring government in Christendom, not even excepting our own. Have not the very punishments which we abhorred under the British government, been inflicted in the armies of what we call a free people!

Second. How much more to be admired is the courage, magnanimity and heroism which were displayed by the young German,than the ferocious bravery of his fighting companions! His intrepidity was displayed in exposing himself to derision, abuse, and even death itself, rather than to sin against God, in violating his conscience by using weapons of death for the destruction of his fellow men. While surrounded by perhaps half a million of military fanatics, he stood alone, hearing testimony for God and the religion of his Son, against war and man-slaughter. Theirs was displayed in savage exploits, burning, robbery and murder. He stood alone, except that God was with him, in the path of wisdom, virtue and peace, surrounded by all the crimes and horrors of war; but they went with the current and with the multitude to do evil. He, like Telemachus, exposed his life in bearing testimony against gladiatorial exhibitions :" They, like gladiators,

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exposed their own lives in attempts to destroy their brethren He acted the part of a disciple of the Prince of peace: They acted the part of followers of the prince of war. He "fought the good fight of faith" They fought the desolating battles of ambition and unbelief. Their laurels will fade and wither in the sunshine of Christianity: His will be immortal evergreens.

COWPER'S "PITY FOR POOR AFRICANS" APPLIED TO WAR
For the Friend of Peace

AN amiable poet too cases has nam'd,
Which, justly applied, will make men asham'd :
To state them precisely his words I shall use,
Lest failure should happen in giving his views.

The African trade was the subject in hand,
But this he compares with a pilfering band ;-
So great things by small are brought home to the mind,
In form of a dialogue, as now you may find :—

"I own I am shock'd at the purchase of slaves,
And fear those who buy them and sell them are knaves;
What I hear of their hardships, their tortures and groans
Is almost enough to draw pity from stones.

"I pity them greatly, but I must be mum,
For how could we do without sugar and rum!
Especially sugar, so needful we see?

What! give up our deserts, our coffee and tea!

"Besides, if we do. the French, Dutch and Danes
Will heartily thank us no doubt for our pains;
If we do not bug the poor creatures, they will,
And tortures and groans will be multiplied still.

"If foreigners likewise would give up the trade
Much more in behalf of your wish might be said;
But while they get riches by purchasing blacks
Pray tell me why we may not also go snacks?

"Your scruples and arguments bring to my mind
A story so pat you may think it was coin'd
On purpose to answer you out of my mint;
But, I can assure you, I saw it in print.

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