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agonies of those who, though mortally wounded, yet languish for hours in the field of battle; of those who are rendered miserable for life by wounds, which, though insufficient to destroy life, are incurable and destroy its comforts; we should be overwhelmed with horror, and ready to exclaim, "that no cause could justify so costly and horrible a sacrifice." But how minute and inconsiderable a part of the calamities of war are the sufferings of one battle: how many such battles have been fought since the commencement of the present contest; and were we to carry back our retrospect to the last war, of which the present is the consequence and the continuation, we should find the subject almost too vast for the imagination to grapple with. If we could view those innumerable victims of war, whose bodies lie immured in the bosom of the earth, piled into an immense pyramid, whose top would reach almost to heaven; if the blood of these victims was collected to form a moat round this horrible structure; and if we go still further and surround this pile with the myriads of orphans and widows, formed by these innumerable battles, where could we find the advocates of war, who would dare to step forward and say, Yes, I approve of this sacrifice, but it is insufficient; the pile must be raised higher, a deeper and wider moat must be formed for the blood, the number of widows and orphans must be still further augmented, for this is a war for religion and the preservation of social order!' No, not a man could be found, but would be struck dumb at the horrid spectacle-the most infuriate advocate of war would be silent. This, to be sure, is an imaginary scene; those bodies lie concealed from human observation, shrouded by a thin covering of earth, but to the eye of the Deity they are present, they are remembered by him, and must be accounted for when he maketh an inquisition for blood. And it is an awful consideration, that crimes are not lessened, because numbers participate in the perpetration of them; every individual must be answer. able at the bar of the Supreme Judge, for that blood which his incitement and concurrence has contributed to shed. Nay more, every man who does not, as far as his sphere of action and influence extends, endeavour to stop the effusion of human blood-to shorten the duration, and lessen the fury of the pitiless storm of war, must be considered as consenting to the death of his fellow creatures, and as an accomplice in their murder. To those who in reality believe in a righteous judgment to come, these are considerations of weighty import.'

We agree most cordially with these observations, except in one particular, viz. where the writer thinks that no man could be found callous enough to say, "I approve of this sacrifice." We think there are men so lost to every feeling of humanity, who, if it suited their interest, would wish to go on with war till half the human race were exterminated!

Sicily, under British influence, has adopted the English constitution; but we lament to say, that while these people declare themselves not only catholics, but their first article says, "the religion shall be the catholic apostolic Roman alone, to the entire exclusion of every other," yet they are counted worthy of all the blessings said to belong to such a constitution; while our own catholic brethren, merely because they are catholics, are not allowed the same privilege! Strange infatuation! We are fighting also to establish catholicism in Spain, yet treat it as a crime in Ireland and England. Where, where will this folly lead us, and where will this madness end!

The new Parliament has met, and the general opinion is that the ministers will want more money, and that an addition will be made to the inquisitorial and oppressive property tax. Although our manufacturers are starving, our paper depreciated, our gazettes filled with bankrupts, yet we must bear fresh burthens to enable ministers to go on in this unjust and unne cessary war against France, although every year we have found our situation worse than the preceding. What are we fighting for? Surely not for regular government. The French have one, and such a one as ought to satisfy us. This coun try robbed them of the fair fruits of their glorious revolution, because they established a republic. We are not content now they have a military despotism: in truth, it seems nothing but the restoration of a Bourbon would content our present rulers!

But Mr. Canning has said, that " Buonaparte is let loose by Divine Providence, as a scourge to inflict vengeance on mankind!" If this be the fact, the opinion of Gamaliel is highly suited to our situation; "if this work be of God it will stand;' and it would be our business to kiss the rod, and him that hath appointed it, by humbling ourselves before God, acknowledging the righteousness of his judgments by deep and sincere repentance; not by a political fast, but by a scriptural one. Isaiah viii. 6" Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, aud to let the oppressed go free, that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out of thy house when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him, and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh. Then shall thy light break forth," &c. This is the best way to avert the threatened danger, if what Mr. C. says be true; for if Buonaparte is the scourge let loose by God, then God himself must be the scourger, and Buonaparte only the scourge in his hands-then indeed we are fighting against God. If this be the fact, how can we expect to succeed! the longer we persevere, the greater must be our di-asters.

Let every Christian then use his best endeavours to obtain petitions for peace. If the people are unanimous, the government

cannot refuse to seek it for this bleeding country. But peace alone would be of no value; they must also obtain a compleat and radical reform in Parliament, or they will soon be involved in another war. It is there the evil lies; and till that is remedied, no peace can be secure or lasting. If this be not obtained, we may expect consequences the most dreadful, which are every day approaching with accelerated force.

In our domestic affairs, we have to thank heaven for an abundant harvest; but the wickedness of man, and desolating war, keeps the price of bread where it was before. Among mercantile men, bankruptcies and distress are the order of the day. At our court-profusion, luxury, and indifference to morals; where we ought to see an example of conjugal felicity, we behold an innocent woman banished from her husband; for innocent we must suppose her till she is accused and convicted of guilt.

In the court of King's Bench, Mr. Lovell, proprietor of the Statesman, has been sentenced to eighteen months imprisonment, and a fine of five hundred pounds, for slandering the Transport Board. The sentence may be just: we dare not dispute it; yet we cannot help pitying him, after a long previous imprisonment, especially as he pleaded for mercy"Blessed are the merciful, they shall obtain mercy." This is a Christian precept, and our judges profess to be Christian judges; besides, we cannot think it quite so great a crime to doubt the integrity of public boards, after the many reports made to the House of Commons of public peculators, many of whom have experienced a kinder fate than Mr. Lovell! Such things are!

One paper, the Independent Whig, has been stating some strong facts, to show that Sellis, who was accused of attempting the life of the Duke of Cumberland, was not his own murderer. If the suggestion is false, it ought not to be allowed, as it will set conjecture to work to find out who was, and the innocent may suffer. If there is any ground for the suggestion, it ought to be enquired into, not by an ex officio information, which proves nothing, but by an enquiry, in which truth should have fair play. For our parts, if the jury did their duty (and who can doubt but they did?) we think there can be no ground for suspicion; and we should like to be informed who selected the jury-whether the foreman interrogated Mrs. Sellis and the Duke of Cumberland; or whether he acted upon the testimony, as given before the privy council; if he had the body stripped and examined all over, &c. If these things were done (and how can we suppose they were neglected?), what cause can there be for reviving the subject? If they were not, and if the evidence taken before the privy council was their only guide, then if this could be proved, we should ourselves demur, because we know that privy councils are not always immaculate.

VOL. II.

A F

These are the principal events, foreign and domestic, that have engaged our attention the last month, and a most gloomy prospect they afford; and much do we fear, that as it was with Israel according to our motto, so it is too much the case with this blinded, deceived, and infatuated country. May God.in his mercy avert the dangers that seem to threaten ! may the people be awakened from their apathy before it is too late, and call with a voice not to be misunderstood or disregarded, for peace and reform. Let those words be the burthen of every Christian's discourse, till he awaken his countrymen to a sense of their danger; then shall the king be delivered from the thraldom of the borough faction, the people be restored to peace and plenty, and make this country once more sing for joy! But whatever may be the event, the Christian has this consolation -his interest is in "the master of the storm." Only let him take care that he add not to the sins of this guilty nation by partaking in its crimes.

ORIGINAL POETRY.

ODE TO MORNING.

Hail, op'ning dawn! whose tinted sky
And gilded clouds, delight the eye,
And usher in the day;
All Nature greets thy glad return
The watchful shepherd leaves his home,
And pipes his chearful lay.

The joyful skylark swells his throat;
To heav'n he pours his tuneful note,
And elevates his wing.
With carols to the God of day,
The warblers gratitude display,
And make the valleys ring.

Swift bounding o'er the flow'ry lawn,
The playful lambs and wanton fawn
In sportive pranks delight;
And lowing herds in pastures graze,
Rejoicing, as thy radiant blaze
Dispels the shades of night.

Recall'd by Nature's magic wand,
With thee, the op'ning flow'rs expand,
Diffusing fragrance round;
With thee, the dew-bespangled groves
(Where swains rehearse their plighted loves,)
Are with new beauties crown'd.

At thy return all life revives,

T' enjoy what gen'rous Nature gives,

With renovated pow'rs;

Hail, then, thou beauteous blushing morn

What time so grateful as the dawn,

Of all the circling hours!

PHINEAS

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