dispose him to assert his own rights and the rights of others. I cannot doubt that Lafayettes will come to our aid; and should there be need of it, we can take the pirates into our service, as the white men did at New Orleans in the late war. It is said that Jackson's pirates were of great use in his famous battle. For the employment of pirates and highwaymen in war, we should have the example of Christian governments. But we must now adjourn.

Meeting II-CESAR, HENRY, and ALFRED.

CESAR. As we cannot be long together without exciting suspicions, I will introduce the object of our meeting without ceremony. Last evening I had a conversation with Henry on a project for our emancipation. For sometime my mind has been impressed with the idea that our duty requires an effort for freedom. The praises annually bestowed by the white people on their fathers for hazarding their lives in a war for such a purpose, and particularly the unbounded eulogies of General Lafayette for fighting in their battles, have fired my soul with a thirst for FREEDOM and GLORY. Besides, the recent abuse I have received from my master, has made me adopt the popular motto, "Freedom or death." Henry has mentioned but one objection of much weight. He is unwilling his kind master and mistress should be involved in the general calamity. To obviate this, I have promised to do all I can to save them from harm. Now if you will consent to become our CHIEF, I think something may be done which will immortalize your name, and free all the slaves from bondage.

ALFRED. I have a strong desire for liberty, and to see the country freed from slavery; but if I understand you, a general insurrection is what you propose. To this I should object on more accounts than one. Henry's objection is of weight; and he is not the only slave who has a kind master to be endangered by your project. There are doubtless many such masters not known to us, and for whose safety it might be impossible for us to provide, in the event of a general insurrection.

CESAR. In all wars the innocent suffer with the guilty. It was so in the white men's Revolution, and this was doubtless anticipated; yet the thought did not deter them from engaging in the glorious work.

ALFRED. If it be true that in all wars the innocent suffer with the guilty, this consideration should of itself be regarded as an objection." It is better that hundreds of criminals should escape, than that one innocent person should suffer death." This is a maxim of the philanthropists of this age. On the plan you propose, it is probable that the greater number of the sufferers would be innocent in respect to the wrongs of which we com

plain. Thousands of innocent men, women, and even children, would probably fall victims to revengeful passions.

CESAR. The philanthropic maxim which you repeated, has, I believe, reference to proceedings in courts of justice, without any regard to wars. Do you believe, Alfred, that the white people in making war have any respect to such sentiments?

ALFRED. I fear they have not; but we should imitate nothing in them, except that which is good. Many of them think, or pretend to think, that they do right in perpetuating their system of slavery, so they always justify their conduct in waging war. It is therefore unsafe to follow them, without first examining the nature of their conduct. In regard to the revolution which you propose, it is very doubtful whether we should succeed; but whether successful or not, it is very certain that we should sacrifice the lives of many thousands of slaves, and bring great calamity on the Negroes, as well as on the white people.

CESAR. I expect that many of our party will be slain; but they will die in what the white men call "the field of glory," or "the bed of honor." If ever there was a just war for liberty, ours will surely add one to the number; and if successful, it will be glorious indeed. As to the evils which will be brought on the white people, I do not see that these should be of much consideration. It is now more than fifty years since they began to fight for liberty-more than forty years since that war ended,--all this time the slaves have been increasing, and still their oppressors are not disposed to lift a finger towards our emancipation. I should indeed be sorry to bring evil on such kind people as Henry's master and your master; but such people are scarce; and some such sufferings as I should regret, are a matter of course in a just and necessary war.

HENRY. Cesar talks like what the white men call a patriotone who is willing to hazard his own life and plunge a nation into the calamities of war, rather than to overlook an insult, or endure any abridgment of just rights. Had he lived in the time of the Revolution, with a white skin, he might have been a general. I think too that what ALFRED has said against the proposed plan is worthy of serious attention; but I suspect that he has other objections yet to state. I wish to hear all that may be said on both sides, that I may be able to judge for myself.

CESAR. A patriot I mean to be at the hazard of life and all on earth that is dear to me; but if Alfred has other objections, I am willing to hear them. Prudence, however requires that we should now disperse, lest suspicions arise on account of our meeting. As Alfred was called here without being informed of the object, he may wish for an opportunity to arrange his thoughts; and an adjournment will give us all time for reflection.*

* An account of the other two meetings may be expected in the next Number.

THOUGHTS ADDRESSED TO FEMALES.

THE following are the concluding paragraphs of an Address, delivered before the East Haddam Peace Society, by N. L. Foster, Esq.

It

"Ye venerable matrons! Ye mothers in Israel! Ye wives, ye daughters, ye sisters! it is you who control the stronger sex. is you who sanctify and form man's dearest ties. is universally felt and acknowledged; you can make man a murderer, or a christian-an angel or a demon.

Your influence

"Thou bereaved mother! Thou didst nurse thy infant son with a mother's tenderest affection; but he heard thee, like the mother of Alfred the Great, speak of the warrior's renown. Like Alfred he panted for similar glory, he left thee while yet a youth for the tented field.

"Thou disconsolate widow! thou didst cherish thy bosom friend with connubial fondness; and he was blessed in the bosom of his family by thy fidelity and love; but unfortunately he heard thee mention the recent success of a military conqueror, and the imperishable honor it would confer on him and his house. His soul took fire; for to win thy approbation was his highest aim. He hastened to the work of death.

A's

"Thou forlorn and drooping FAIR ONE! Thy lover was kind and faithful. Thy own joy was doubled by his presence, and you anxiously beheld in prospect the day that was to consummate your earthly felicity. But, in an evil hour, he heard thee read a poem which recounted in tuneful numbers the chivalrous deeds. of youthful prowess. He saw in thy glowing cheek, thy kindling eye, and animated voice, the fatal truth, that the female heart is too often won by the bloody sword and the gilded epaulette. he lived but on thy approbation, and having his task thus marked, he too repaired to the field of blood. And, alas' in that Aceldama, they all found an untimely grave! A grave, did I say? No; war affords no sepulture to its victims. They were left on the field of battle, transfixed with bayonets, to groan out the remnant of a miserable existence. The war-horse pranced over their expiring, but yet sensitive bodies. Their gore was lapped by the dogs. The ravens were glutted with their flesh. Their bones, with those of thousands of others, lie "bleaching in the northern blast!"

"Some kindred soul pays a sad visit to this scene of death. Vestiges enough of human depravity and individual suffering are here still to be seen. A bereaved mother, a disconsolate widow, a forlorn maniac fair one, point him to the ashes of their conflagrated dwellings, the work of an infuriated soldiery. Their stay and support are gone. Their property destroyed; their parents, friends, and companions are immolated on the altar of ambition.

They, wretched outcasts,-begging a precarious subsistence-are alone left to tell the tale of wo! They hear no voice of pity; they see no hand stretched out for their consolation. The painful reminiscence of what they once possessed is their only solace. They point to the passing traveller the scene where were sacrificed all their earthly hopes; and mingle their sighs with the evening breeze which howls over the dreary waste."

EXTRACT FROM THE REPORT OF WARWICK BRANCH.

OUR limits will permit only a part of this good Report. "That peace may become permanent and universal, must be the ardent desire of every one, who reflects a moment upon the crimes and miseries inseparably connected with a state of war. These with many other important considerations, have generated a philanthropic spirit, which has gone abroad in the world, performing its secret operations, wherever christianity is acknowledged, and its principles rightly understood; but we have reason to fear that there are yet many, even in our own land," who know not the things that belong to their peace." It therefore becomes the duty of every individual (who is convinced of the utility of human means, to effect important objects) to implore the direction of unerring wisdom, and use his utmost endeavor to promote and diffuse those principles which ultimately tend to meliorate the condition of suffering humanity, and to accomplish so desirable an object, as " Peace on earth and good will among men."

"On reviewing the subject, although your committee cannot announce to you that very great progress has been made in this society during the last year, in the important cause in which we have embarked; yet, on the whole, considering the great and persevering exertions which other societies in our own country, and also in Europe, are making in the same cause, aided, as we trust, by the smiles of Heaven; and the gradual advances of pacific principles at the present day, which they have the satisfaction to recognise, they confidently believe that their Report will be encouraging to the friends of peace.

This society consists of twenty-six members and the subscriptions for the last year amount to seventeen dollars. Fifteen dollars have been transmitted to the parent society, and we have received in return one hundred and twelve copies of the Friend of Peace, twenty copies of Dr. Ware's Address, and ten copies of their Ninth Annual Report, amounting in all to twelve dollars, sixty cents. Seventy-one copies of the Friend of Peace have been delivered to the subscribing members of this society. One copy of each number, Address, &c. has been reserved, and one

of each added to the circulating library; fifty-two copies have been distributed into various parts of the country, and about fifty more remain to be distributed, wherever it may best promote the object of the society.

All which is respectfully submitted."

JUSTUS RUSSELL,

JOSIAH PROCTOR,

Executive Com.

WM. COBB,

HENRY BARNARD,

Officers for 1826.

Rev. P. Smith, President.
Capt. J. Stevens, Vice Pres.
Wm. Cobb, Esq. Treasurer.
Capt. L. Wheelock, Secretary.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM THE REV. C. WELLINGTON.

Templeton, December 30th. 1825. Reverend and dDEAR SIR,-A Society has recently been formed in this place, the objects of which you may know from the two following articles of the constitution.

"Art. 2. The society shall co-operate with the M. P. S. by the purchase, perusal, and occasional distribution of their periodical publications and tracts.

"Art. 3. The society shall annually appropriate a part of their subscriptions for the establishment and gradual increase of a library for the use more particularly of the younger members; also a suitable sum for the purchase of juvenile books for general circulation among children."

As we have several objects to meet and our funds are small, you must expect that our co-operation with the M. P. S. will at present be slight. At the same time, however, it will be a pleasure to you to learn that a peace society is now organized in the town of Barre, from which you may receive the greater aid, as the promotion of peace, I am told, is the sole object of its formation.

With great respect, and with the sincerest wishes and prayers for the success of your active and persevering labors in the cause of peace,

Rev. Dr. Worcester.

Yours,

CHARLES WEllington.