What must be the feelings of a reflecting Judge, in passing sentence of death on a fellow mortal, reminding him that pardoning mercy is not to be expected on earth, and exhorting him to apply to that God who will not destroy the penilent, however great may have been his crimes! Do not such representations involve a contrast between human government and divine government, which is truly striking, and reproachful to the one or the other? If God is so merciful to the penitent offender, why should not man imitate bis example? And if God, in mercy, waits to be gracious, and is disposed to allow the offender a space for repentance, why should human government arrogate the divine prerogative, and hurry the transgressor to his final reckoning?

In ancient times it was deemed just and honorable to kill captives taken in war; but now such deeds are deemed not only unjust, but barbarous and horrid. A similar change in public sentiment may occur in regard to felons. When taken, they are properly captives, and they are tried as enemies to the state. Why then should they not be confined as captives, instead of being killed. It is believed that the time approaches, when killing felons will be viewed with as much horror as is now generally felt, when captives taken in war are wantonly put to the sword. But as public opinion is not at present thus enlightened, with becoming deference we would propose that, so long as executions shall be deemed necessary, the following change should be made as to the mode: Let the hanging of a criminal be performed in private, and the parade of public executions be wholly set aside: Let the Chief Magistrate of the state, the Chief Justice of the Court, the High Sheriff of the county, and one distinguished Minister of the Gospel, be the only persons to attend an execution. This would render the scene truly solemn and affecting; it would give to the criminal and all present, an opportunity for serious reflections, and would probably lead to favorable results. Should this plan be established by law throughout the country, we suspect that not more than one execution in each state would occur, before a more excellent way than killing would earnestly be sought for the disposal of criminals and the prevention of crimes. To take human life, under such circumstances, would not be found a light thing; and such officers as have been named, if good men, would not be easily persuaded to perform the task a second time. Yet how much to be preferred is such a private, solemn scene, to a public execution, accompanied, as it usually is, with frolic, dissipation, revelling, and

crime.

REMEDY FOR DRUNKENNESS.

It seems to be now, a well established fact, that the inordinate thirst for intoxicating liquors is a real disease brought on by indulgence; and that, like other diseases, it may be cured by medical means. That medical remedies have been discovered which have proved effectual in numeroes instances, has been attested not only by medical men and ministers of the gospel, but by many individuals, who have experienced their salutary effects. Heretofore it was deemed dangerous for men, who had long been in the habit of intemperate drinking, to discontinue at once the use of ardent spirits. It was supposed that safety required that the habit should be overcome by gradually abating the quantity of liquor daily taken. But experience has shown that this hypothesis was a mistake. After taking the newly discovered remedies, the patient feels a loathing of the liquor for which he formerly hankered; he soon recovers his lost appetite for food, suffers no bad effects from a total abstinence of the intoxicating liquid, but finds his health improving.

This is an auspicious discovery, which, in its importance, bears a compar

ison with Dr. Jenner's substitute for the small pox. It should be the aim of all persons of influence to render the application of the remedy popular and reputable. This, it is hoped, would induce a great portion of the intemperate to make the trial. With respect to drunkards who cannot be otherwise induced to apply the remedy, why should not laws be enacted for that purpose, and thus prevent suicide? We have laws to prevent destruction by the small pox. An infected person must be removed to a retired place, or otherwise shut out or shut up from the society of persons who would be exposed to take the contagion; and there he must remain till he shall die, or be cured and cleansed. If necessary, medical aid must be provided at the expense of society. Laws analogous to these might be enacted to prevent untimely death by intemperance. If this be not a contagious disease, in the same sense that the small pox is contagious, it is so by the influence of example.

Besides, a great portion of the pauperism in our country results from intemperance. Each town is obliged to support its own paupers. Why then should not town officers be authorized by law, to attempt the cure of that disease, which is a principal source of pauperism? Why should they not be allowed to employ a physician to administer the medicine to every drunkard who refuses or neglects to apply for it. Town officers have now a right to put the property of the drunkard under guardianship, to prevent its being squandered by dissipation. Is it not equally reasonable that they should have power to put his body under guardianship, for the cure of his loath. some and fatal malady? As our laws provide for taking care of the insane, to prevent injury to themselves and others; on the same principle they should provide for taking seasonable care of those who are frequently insane by hard drinking, and those who are forming habits which tend to self-destruction to the ruin of families, and to the annoyance of all within their reach. But, it may be asked, what connexion can this topic have with the main object of the Friend of Peace? We answer: The war fever is a disease, a species of intemperance and madness; and the two diseases mutually tend to promote each other. Not only do trainings, reviews, and actual hostilities tend to promote drunkenness, and to turn sober men into drunkards; but drunkenness tends to multiply wars. It heightens the war fever, and exposes men to imprudent and rash measures, which tend to produce not only private quarrels, but public hostilities. It is hoped that proper remedies will yet be applied to each species of intemperance. No physical remedy has yet been discovered for the war disease, nor is it likely such a remedy will ever be found. As it is a moral disease, it must be cured by moral means. Christian education, if properly understood and applied, would do much to extirpate both of the diseases we have mentioned, from abodes of rational beings.

FACTS RELATING TO DUELLING IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES.

THE following facts were copied from the London Observer into the New England Galaxy.

ENGLAND. "In the last sixty years we have collected a list of one hundred seventy-two duels-in three duels, neither of the combatants survivedninety-six persons were wounded, forty-eight desperately, and forty-eight slightly-more than one fifth lost their lives-eighteen trials took placesix of the arraigned were acquitted-seven found guilty of man-slaughterthree of murder-two were executed-eight imprisoned."

Speaking of the state of things in England, between 1760 and 1770, the writer says: "Duels were very frequent among clergymen.--In 1764, Rev. Mr. Hill was killed in a duel with Cornet Gardiner. Rev. Mr. Bates

fought two duels and was afterwards created a knight by the king.-Rev. Mr. Allen killed Mr. Delany in a duel, without incurring any ecclesiastical censure."

AMERICA. "We remember, about thirty years ago, there was a Duelling Society in Charleston, S. C., where each gentleman took precedence according to the number he had killed or wounded in duels.-The President and Deputy had killed many. An old weather-beaten Lieutenant arrived at Charleston-a duel was fought between him and the President-the President was mortally wounded-was conscience struck-invoked the aid of several divines-and calling together the Society, lectured them on the atrocity of their conduct, and begged as a dying request that the club might be broken up."

It is a remarkable fact, that in the course of the last year an Anti-duelling Society was formed in the very city where it is said the Duelling Society had previously existed.

Since the memorable battle of the SECRETARY and the SENATOR, a considerable number of duels have been fought in the United States; but we shall not now occupy our pages with many of the disgraceful details. One, however, we must notice. The newspapers have mentioned a battle between two slaves of Georgia, who appear to have had hearts of the same color as their skins. A dispute occurring between them, they assumed the rank of "Gentlemen of Honor," and agreed to decide their quarrel in the gentlemanly way. "Between them they had a rifle and a pistol, and tossed up for the choice. The negro to whom the rifle fell, was wounded by his antagonist; but in spite of his wound, after discharging his rifle, he walked up to the other, and beat his brains out with the butt end."

Our black slaves, it seems, begin to think that it is not beneath their dignity to imitate the murderous example of the white slaves of a gothic custom. But we hope that this mistake will soon be corrected. For we should be very sorry to have it become fashionable for our colored people to degrade themselves by such dishonorable conduct.

ARCHBISHOP SHARPE AND THE ROBBER.

FROM THE HERALD OF PEACE.

"It was his lordship's custom to have a saddle-horse attend his carriage, that, in case of fatigue from sitting, he might take the refreshment of a ride. As he was thus going to his episcopal residence, and was got a mile or two before his carriage, a decent well-looking young man came up with him, and, with a trembling hand and a faltering tongue, presented a pistol to his lordship's breast, and demanded his money. The archbishop, with great composure, turned about, and, looking steadfastly at him, desired he would remove that dangerous weapon, and tell him fairly his condition. Sir! Sir! cried the youth, with great agitation, no words, 'tis not a time-your money instantly. Hear me, young man,' said the archbishop; 'you see I am an old man, and my life is of very little consequence; yours seems far otherwise. I am named Sharpe, and am archbishop of York; my carriage and servants are behind. Tell me what money you want, and who you are, and I will not injure you, but prove a friend. Here, take this, and now ingenuously tell me, how much you want to make you independent of so destructive a business as you are now engaged in.'-'Oh, Sir,' replied the man, 'I detest the business as much as you. I am-but-but-at home there are creditors who will not stay; fifty pounds, my lord, indeed would do what no tongue besides my own can tell.'- Well, Sir, I take it on your word; and, upon my honor, if you will, in a day or two, call on me at — I what I have now given shall be made up that sum. The highwayman looked at him, was silent, and went off; and, at the time appointed, actually waited on the archbishop, and assured his lordship, his words had left impressions which nothing could ever destroy.

"Nothing more transpired for a year and a half, or more; when, one morn. ing, a person knocked at his grace's gate, and, with a peculiar earnestness, desired to see him. The archbishop ordered the stranger to be brought in. He entered the room where his lordship was, but had scarce advanced a few steps before his countenance changed, his knees tottered, and he sank almost breathless on the floor. On recovering, he requested an audience in private. The apartment being cleared, 'My Lord,' said he, you cannot have forgotten the circumstances at such a time and place; gratitude will never suffer them to be obliterated from my mind. In me, my lord, you now behold that once most wretched of mankind; but now, by your inexpressible humanity, rendered equal, perhaps superior, in happiness to millions. Oh, my lord,' (tears for a while preventing his utterance,) 'tis you, 'tis you, that have saved me, body and soul; 'tis you that have saved a dear and much-loved wife, and a little brood of children, whom I tendered dearer than my life. Here are the fifty pounds; but never shall I find language to testify what I feel. Your God is your witness; your deed itself is your glory; and may heaven and all its blessings be your present and everlasting reward. I was the younger son of a wealthy man; your lordship knows him, his name was —. My marriage alienated his affection, and my brother withdrew his love, and left me to sorrow and penury. A month since my brother died, a bachelor and intestate. What was his, is become mine; and, by your astonishing goodness, I am now at once the most penitent, the most grateful, and happiest of my species.'"

AUSPICIOUS OCCURRENCES.

I. A much respected friend has furnished us with the following important , extracts from the Connecticut Observer.

"Minutes of the Consociation of Tolland County, September 26th."

"The Committee appointed on the subject of Peace Societies, presented the following report, viz.

"Resolved, 1. That this Consociation do highly approve of the object of Peace Societies, and of the measures adopted by them.

"2. That, in the opinion of this body, the formation of a CONNECTICUT PEACE SOCIETY would subserve the temporal interests of men, and the cause of Christ.

"3. That the formation of such a Society be respectfully submitted to the consideration of the General Association of Connecticut, at their next meeting.

"Voted, That this report be accepted."

It is gratifying to learn, that the clergy of Connecticut are disposed to exert their influence in favor of peace. Nothing can be more becoming the ministers of the Messiah; and should they generally become duly engaged in the cause, they will not labor in vain.

II. A very good Address was recently delivered before the Peace Society of Andover, by one of its members, a Theological student. We have been kindly favored with a copy of the Address, but too late to give any considerable extracts from it in this number. We have therefore deferred the whole. III. In a report of the late meeting of the American Convention, for the Abolition of Slavery, the "Genius of Universal Emancipation" states, that there are now 130 Anti-slavery Societies in the United States; that the total number of members in these Societies is about 6,625. Besides the 130 Societies which have been reported, there are ten or a dozen Societies in Illinois, from whom no communications had been received, and that of the 130 Societies, 106 are in the slave-holding states.

FRIEND OF PEACE.

APPENDIX, No. I.

ADDRESS TO THE ANDOVER PEACE SOCIETY.

[The following are extracts from an address delivered at Andover in the course of the last year, by a Theological Student.]

War

INNOCENCE and peace have excellencies which the most depraved cannot but respect. Poetry might well represent the Arch Fiend as reluctant to spoi! the loveliness and tranquillity of Paradise. A man of friendly demeanor and without arms, might travel round the globe, and meet with far less opposition and far less danger, than one who is jealous of his rights, and prepared at all times to revenge the least insult. The wildest savages wish not to injure a man who shows himself unwilling and unable to injure them. There is an island in the Pacific, the inhabitants of which have never practised or known the arts of destruction. For ages they have been pursuing their peaceful and happy employments, with none to molest or make them afraid. like engines they have seen only in the hands of strangers who visited them. There are other islands in those latitudes, whose inhabitants fight and destroy one another Ships of war sail round the peaceful isle, and touch at its harbors, and corsairs might go there if they would. But yet this pacific people sit under their own vine and figtree, unalarmed by attacks from abroad, undisturbed by dissensions at home. This people, however, have not the gospel, though they manifest so much of its spirit! Heaven forbid that Christians should ever go there to teach our religion, till they can exhibit and teach it pure and peaceful, as it came from the lips of the Prince of peace. ignorant as those islanders are of the letter of the Bible, I can believe that they are viewed with less disapprobation by the Omniscient Judge, than are those professed Christians, who are loud in the worship of the temple today, and whose arms are clanging louder tomorrow.

For