ing the war taxes which have been paid, the loans made to carry on the war, and the moneys which must be raised to pay off principal and interest,) no less a sum than 2040 millions of pounds whether, under the most unfavourable supposition, such an appeal is not preferable to an appeal to arms. By an unjust sentence, a nation may be deprived of the possession of a small islaud, or other territory, amount-sterling. We look at figures when ing to a few thousands annually: they are millions, without estibut let us consider the sacrifices mating the vast amount. Let us which are necessarily made by an try to reduce this sum into some appeal to the sword. To say shape more within the limits of nothing of the waste of human our knowledge. Now, suppose blood, and the large portion of an ounce of gold to be worth misery which is occasioned by about five pounds sterling, and a war, let us take a view of the pe- waggon to be loaded with about cuniary expenditure with which three tons of this metal, and then it is necessarily attended. This the above sum would load about will be such a drain upon the re- 3800 of such waggons. Or, if sources of the community as, in silver, at five shillings an ounce, a mere commercial point of view, be substituted, it will be suffivastly exceeds the loss of a small cient to load about 76,000 such portion of territory. waggons. Now, if each of these waggons and horses occupy about 20 yards, the whole would take up no less than 864 miles. What an idea! Waggons loaded with three tons of silver each, close to one another in a line, extending more than the whole length of the island of Great Britain! Is it not much better to submit to a few hardships than run the hazard of such prodigious expenses as these; expenses which endanger our very existence as a nation? Look at Europe, at the present moment. It is emerging out of a war which has lasted upwards of twenty years; and though, while the war was raging, it had power to exert itself with wonderful effect; yet, now the stimulus is withdrawn, it is sinking into a state of exhaustion and poverty, which fills every observer with anxiety and alarm. Trade and commerce are vanished; bankruptcies are multiplying on every hand: thousands of industrious mechanics are destitute of employment, and it is to be feared, notwithstanding all that private and public charity can do, are sinking into an untimely grave, through the mere want of the necessaries of life. Nor is this state of things to be wondered at: when such immense demands have been made upon the public property, it is quite natural to expect that poverty and wretchedness should be the result. An able writer, in a celebrated journal, has stated, that the late war cost Great Britain, (includ N. You astonish me by the sums you have stated. Is it possible that we should ever be able to bear up under the burdens which lie upon us? When this war was commenced, it was hoped that it would soon be closed, and, of course, the expense be but comparatively trifling; and, it is hoped, that now peace is restored, all nations will be anxious to preserve it uninterrupted for many years. But I have often heard it asserted, that war, though it be an evil, is a necessary evil, particularly because it takes away the scum of society, which are fit for nothing else, on account of their idleness and vices, and we may look with much greater confidence of success, than to war?-war, which, whatever be its boasts, corrupts the state of society where it prevails more and more? Yes: the true means of improving the moral state of the community is, the instruction of the mind in moral and religious truth. Let the ignorant be taught. Let them learn to read for themselves in the sacred volume of revelation: let them there see the duties they owe to God, and to their fellow-crea tures, and a few years of such instruction will do more to purify the morals of the community, than all the wars which have been since the creation. Yes, neighbour, let our School Societies, and our Bible Societies, continue to operate, and they will, under the Divine Blessing, renovate the face of the moral world, and introduce that new heaven and new earth wherein dwelleth righteousBut you were going to 垂 P.-Stay for a moment, my good neighbour ;- -excuse me for interrupting you-let us consider the merits of this objection. Necessary to get rid of the worthless members of the community!! The idea is too shocking to be entertained for a moment in any virtuous mind. It is to be lamented, that there are many idle and vicious members of society, who corrupt others by their example, and are a burden upon the industrious and orderly members of the body politic: but is this the way of reforming the community? It may be very properly asked, in the first place, What authority have any individuals to march out the idle and the vicious into the field of battle, to be shot at? If they have been guilty of any crime which deserves death, let them be tried and executed; but do not treatness. them so grossly unjust as to ex-state another reason for the nepose them to death for crimes cessity of war. which do not deserve it. Besides, is it not an awful thing to hurry the vicious and criminal, without attempting to reform them, into the presence of their Judge? Moreover, thousands of innocent persons suffer with the guilty; for in war no respect is paid to personal character. The ballot or conscription calls into the ranks thousands of the most sober and industrious of our youths, and being refused substitutes, or not having the means of providing them, they are forced against their wills into the field. Thus the innocent and vicious perish together. In addition to this, allow me to add, are there not means for the reformation of society, to which VOL. X. N.-Yes; I mentioned reasons which I had heard, not which I urged myself; the other was this, War has a tendency to prevent the too rapid increase of population. It is a remark, founded on the most correct principles, that the population of a country will very rapidly increase where it does not meet with any powerful checks; and as the nations of Europe are pretty well stocked, it is necessary that some means should be employed to dispose of the superfluous population, and prevent its too great increase. War does this effectually: thousands are slain in the prime of life, their places are left for others to occupy, and their probable progeny wholly cut off, H P.-I am distressed to hear such an objection stated: how affecting that it should ever have been entertained by any intelligent creature; but, such as it is, it must be considered. It may be asserted, without much danger of contradiction, that war destroys a portion of human sustenance equal to the waste which it makes of human life. If it destroys the mouths that eat, it destroys also the food that would be eaten by them. What incalculable waste of all the productions of the earth is made by an invading army! It has been asserted, that one man in the navy takes as much to support him as five who dwell in their own little cottages. So that it is but a poor remedy which wastes our provisions, lest they should become too scanty for us. enough to talk about going to war to dispose of our superfluous population; but it is probable, that before that takes place, that day, for which all other days were made, will arrive, and relieve us from our embarrassment. Do you think that he, who made man, will be pleased with those persons who have devised war as the means of destroying human life? N. No! I am persuaded he will not; but you will find it difficult, amounting, I fear, to an impossibility to alter the taste and feeling of society on this subject. There are certain notions of dignity and glory associated with a military life, even from our childhood, which few persons entirely get rid of; and which others cherish most tenaciously through the whole of life. And this is precisely what might be expected; for Genius has used all her powers to encircle the great warrior with honour and renown: so that it is the same thing in public feeling to be a great warrior, and to be supremely Whom has the poet adorned in all the pomp and majesty of his most dignified numbers? The But let us consider this objection a little more closely. Is it really necessary that millions of men should be killed, to keep mankind from starving? First, let men make the best use of the means which Providence has put into their hands. The most ob-honourable. vious step is, the cultivation of waste lands. Were this done, Great Britain might find food for a prodigiously increased popula-military hero. On whom have tion. When the people become the artists bestowed the most too many, let them seek for other exquisite touches of their pencils settlements: the woods of Ame- and their chisels? The military rica will repay the labours of hero. Whom has the historian, millions for ages to come. And in his grave and lofty style, been then, the sea, that exhaustless careful to snatch from that oblisource of supplies, what stores vion in which the millions of might be drawn from thence! peaceable and industrious subThere are immense shoals of fish, jects are involved? The military which seem to invite man to par-hero. Who has expensive statues, take of them. Let every hill and to commemorate his achievevale be cultivated; let the trea- ments, erected in our cities, and sures hid in the sea be sought towns, and halls? The military after; and when all the means hero, Whose praises form the which human industry can devise theme of our public orators, in are exhausted, it will be time the midst of the listening senate, "Oh Winter, WINTER. I crown thee king of intimate delights, Cowper. "IT is truly a most Christian exercise," says the eloquent Chalmers," to extract a sentiment of piety from the works and the appearances of nature : it has the authority of the sacred writers on its side, and even our Saviour himself gives it the weight and the solemnity of his example. Behold the lilies of the field; they toil not, neither do they spin, yet your heavenly Father careth for them!' He expatiates on the beauty of a single flower, and draws from it the de which are copied into the public prints, and circulated to the ends of the earth? The military hero's. Whose exploits are celebrated in song, set to the sweetest strains of harmony, to captivate the heart of even the tender female, amidst the retirement and privacy of the domestic circle? The military hero's. It is not to be wondered at, that our youths should form a partiality for a character which Genius has done every thing in her power to encircle with glory. Therefore you possess but little probability of expelling this evil from the world. P.-I am perfectly aware of the justness of your observation. The Demon of War seldom ap. pears in his true colours, as a blood-thirsty monster, laden with crimes, and followed by the exe-lightful argument of confidence crations of bereaved mothers, in God." widows, and orphans, else men would hate and expel it from the world. This circumstance, however, so far from discouraging, ought to stimulate us to exertion.sion of the seasons, I shall not be Societies should be formed for the purpose of enlightening the minds of men, and counteracting the efforts of the wicked one to perpetuate this destructive plague. At one time it appeared almost impossible to exterminate the slave-trade, but persevering efforts have accomplished it. And we have the most positive assurance that war also shall be abolished. The sword shall be beaten into a plough-share, and the spear into a pruning-hook; there shall be abundance of peace so long as the moon endures; for the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord. And it will be our honour and happiness to work together with God in the great work of improving and regenerating the state of the world. Having already directed the attention of your readers to the Spring, and to the Harvest, the first and the third in the succes thought presumptuous, if I solicit them to accompany me in meditating a little on the closing scene. Winter is a season of the year which naturally reminds us of several very interesting and important truths. In common with the other seasons, it is an evident display of the Divine faithfulness. "While the earth remaineth," said the blessed God to Noah, "seed-time and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night, shall not cease." The God of nature is the God of grace. He, who with infinite faithfulness, bids the seasons revolve, has spoken all the promises, and, in his own good time, will assuredly accomplish them. Winter is a display also of the unspeakable majesty of the divine "Thou shalt wash me, and I Being. Often awakened by the shall be whiter than snow;" I sublimity of its tempests, my have been guilty of the most comspirit is solemnized, rises to hea-, plicated and horrid crimes; yet ven, and exclaims, “O Lord, my washed in the fountain opened God, thou art very great; thou for sin and for uncleanness, I art clothed with honour and ma- | shall be,—I say, not pure only; jesty; thou coverest thyself with this were a disparagement to the light as a garment; thou stretch-efficacy of my Saviour's death, est out the heavens like a curtain; thou layest the beams of thy chambers in the waters; thou makest the clouds thy chariot, thou walkest upon the wings of the wind. Who would not fear thee, O King of nations?" Ah! what madness distinguishes the man who contemns God. Now Winter reminds me of a solemn period yet to come, when "the thrones shall be set up, and the Ancient of days shall sit, whose garment is white as snow; whose throne is like the fiery" that his countenance was like flame, and whose wheels as burning fire." Does not Winter also intimate, that the present world is a scene of perpetual change! It would be folly to expect perpetual spring or summer; and shall we look for it in the events of life? Incessant fluctuation marks the histories of individuals, of families, and of nations. Unchanging felicity on this side eternity! As reasonably might you hope to erect an impregnable and imperishable edifice on the momentary waves of the tempestuous ocean. As the snows of Winter descend around me, I am reminded of that infinitely gracious and condescending invitation, and inestimable promise, of the God of love, "Come, and let us reason together, though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." Of the holy confidence of the Psalmist in the divine. mercy; and white as the snow: but cleansed by this sovereign and sanctifying stream, I shall be whiter than the new-fallen snows! Of the resurrection of my beloved Lord and Master; a truth of the first importance, and of the highest interest; for, if Christ be not risen, we are yet in our sins; our preaching is vain, and your faith also is vain; for, of the angelic messenger, who rolled away the stone from the door of his sepulchre, and sat upon it, it is said, lightning, and his raiment white as snow. Of the absolute certainty of the general extension of the gospel of our divine Redeemer: "for as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth, and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater; so (it is his language whose words are works) shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper whereunto I have sent it." How ridiculous would be a conspiracy, however powerful, to prevent the snow and the rain descending from heaven? And, in the eyes of the great Being, who said, "Let there be light: and there was light!" and whose arm is omnipotent; how unspeakably contemptible must be the efforts of wicked men to prevent the progress of that sal |