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out resort to arms." In common with those in England who sympathize with the aim of both the societies, I hailed the appearance of that important volume with great satisfaction, and I have read it with no ordinary interest. I consider that the gentlemen whose zeal and liberality called this book into existence, have established a claim to the thanks of the whole civilized world. servant men will allow that a great step towards commanding the attention of mankind was gained when such characters as the Hon. Joseph Story, W. Wirt, John M'Lean, the Hon. John Q. Adams, Chancellor Kent, T. S. Grimké, and the Hon. Daniel Webster, consented to become the adjudicators. Names so distinguished amongst legislators and literary men, both in Europe and America, serve to dignify the subject, and to rebuke the ignorant flippancy of those who deride the idea that the nations of the earth can dispense with human slaughter. Great good must result from the publication both in America and in England. It was a wise resolve in the American Peace Society, to present copies of it to the President of the United States, to the heads of departments, to the governors of every State in the Union, to every foreign minister at Washington, to the executive of every republic in America, and to every crowned head in Europe. The London Peace Society judiciously followed the example, in taking a very large portion of the edition, and in transmitting a copy to each of the foreign ambassadors in European courts. The possible results of this exalted movement no man can foresee. As a means, it seems admirably adapted to bring the momentous subject before the ruling minds and monarchs of the civilized world. The Six Essays are certain to obtain a careful perusal, and that they can

be perused without effect is utterly impossible. May the Prince of Peace, in whose hand are the hearts of men, give the volume favour in the sight of all the high and mighty whose eyes may light upon its invaluable pages!

I have been not a little gratified by the evangelical turn which the subject has taken in the hands of all the writers of these essays. While the subject is discussed in a manner suited to the taste and habits of educated men, it is in every case pervaded by a vein of pure and scriptural religion which will serve greatly to commend the work to the whole churches of Christ. There is not in the entire volume one expression which can give just offence, either to the scholar, or to the Christian.

Our cause for I have the honour to be a member of the London Society—has received very important assistance from the labours of the South Sea mission, which presents a rich variety of most affecting, most convincing illustration. I now proceed to analyse the "Missionary Enterprises" of Mr. Williams, with a view to exhibit the facts which they disclose, in such a manner as to carry to the heart of every reader the conviction that war is utterly incompatible with true Christianity, and that the uniform tendency of successful missions, is to extinguish the flames of martial conflict, and restore "the waste places of many generations."

The labours of the missionary are not simply an affair of eternity. The changes which he effects on earth are a meet prelude to the felicities of heaven. One of the first and greatest of these changes relates to war and peace. The invariable tendency of his labours is, to extinguish the former, and to establish the latter. In speaking of the happy results of his toil, I give precedence to war, as at once the greatest curse and the greatest

ren;

crime. You may learn from history, that, in all countries, through all time, the path of destruction has been deemed by the million the path of glory; and the most extended havoc has been always identified with the most exalted greatness. The amount of plunder, and the extent of slaughter have been generally taken as the standard by which to measure desert, to bestow rewards, and to regulate renown. The splendours of martial triumph have so dazzled the eyes of mankind, that they have become intoxicated with a delirious admiration of each successive Apollyon who has arisen to desolate the earth, and to devour his species. It has mattered little whether he has led on his legions to fight the battles of liberty, or to subvert her throne, and trample in the dust the dearest rights of her childit has mattered little whether he has conducted wars of defence or of aggression; these points, I say, have mattered little, if his victories have been but rapid and brilliant,-if he has but ravaged the world, and drenched its bosom with the blood of its occupants, his votaries have been counted by millions, and his praises have resounded through many lands. This spirit, which is inherent in human nature, has been cultivated and sustained by a multiplicity of processes, and with uniform success. Historians, orators, poets, sculptors, painters, and musicians have all exerted their separate and combined influence to nurture the savage spirit of human slaughter in the breasts of the more enlightened and refined classes of mankind; while the vulgar herd of ordinary artists have, each in his own way, with corresponding effect, promoted the same object among the million-multitude. All, all have united to celebrate the delights of conflict, the glories of victory and the great

ness of conquering heroes. The fife and drum of the infant boy, the mimic troop, the school battle, the nursery rhyme, the kitchen ditty, the street ballad, the publican's sign-board, the drunkard's toast, and the tavern song, all have respectively and incalculably contributed to foster the taste for shedding blood! So powerful is the hold which this diabolical passion has taken upon the spirit of man, that, even in Europe, during a space of nearly two thousand years, Christianity has but partially succeeded in abating its force. Even England, which comprehends more true piety than all the continental nations united, is yet full of the elements of war. The heroes of England are still the gods of millions of her people; and the fountain of her proudest honours is a fountain of blood!

In no part of our globe was the spirit of war more powerful and rampant than in the islands of the Southern Pacific. The highest ambition of multitudes of mothers was, that their sons might be great warriors. The inhabitants of those isles, unburdened with the cares of agriculture, trade, and commerce, and blessed with the abundance of perpetual fertility, were wholly at leisure for the employments of war. Mutual destruction was the great business of their existence. This spirit was characteristic of every group. The people of Manono, for example, resorted to a method of recording their conflicts through a period of limited duration, which gives us some idea of their frequency. They fastened a basket to the ridge pole of the sacred house, and deposited therein a stone of a peculiar form for each successive fight. The basket was lowered in the presence of Mr. Williams, who counted out one hundred and ninety-seven stones! Polynesian war, in its mildest.

form, was a dreadful proceeding. Even the Samoans, among whom cannibalism is held in detestation and horror, carry on war with the utmost cruelty. The contest which raged during Mr. Williams's first visit, continued with unabated fury for several months, and at its close, many of the vanquished were thrown indiscriminately into large fires! It is fully ascertained

that whole islands have been all but depopulated. Of such desolation, some idea may be formed from the fact, that Mr. Williams sailed along the beautiful coast of Ana, the seat of war, nearly a year after its termination, without observing either a house or a human being for a distance of ten miles! In many islands wars were followed on the part of the victors by a banquet on the bodies of the slain.* Neither age nor sex was spared in those dreadful frays. "Female prisoners were very frequently put to death; and the reason assigned for this cruel practice was, that they might, perchance, give birth, at some future period, to warriors. The poor little children had spears passed through their ears, and were carried in triumph to the marae. Of late years, as soon as an antagonist was overcome in battle, the victor beat in his skull, and taking out a portion of his brains, he placed it upon bread-fruit leaves, and carried it immediately to the gods, as an earnest of the victim he was about to bring.†

The tree of life was occasionally planted in the very midst of conflict. For example: when Mr. Williams paid his memorable visit to Savaii, it was under the following circumstances, as recited by himself:-" As we were expecting Malietoa from Upolu, we could not

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