the Genevese Sentinel ........ 290 .... Sailor, Life of, extract from........ 439 War .. 24 ... Scott, Rev. John, on Duelling and ... 506 159, 212, Extracts from the Fourteenth Report of the Massachusetts Peace Society. IN presenting the Annual Report of the Massachusetts Peace Society, the Executive Committee feel the embarrassments which the novelty of their situation creates. With a new organization, under an enchanted name, a body of new individuals address you; and we are brought immediately by this circumstance, to call to your recollection and regret, the absence of that guiding spirit, which has hitherto dictated this periodical document; and to which, under the direction of the Supreme Being, the origin and incipient direction of all our pacific efforts must be ascribed. During the past year, this Society has experienced important changes. By the new constitution, adopted the 2d of June, its organization has been simplified, and its annual cele bration postponed to a more convenient day. By your vote passed also on that day, it has resigned the character of an independent Society, and assumed the humbler-but we trust more useful one, of Auxiliary to the American Peace Society. The establishment of this more extended institution, we regard as a new era in the history of our cause. The VOL. VIII. NEW SERIES. production of a state of universal peace is an object of vast magnitude, and demands a correspondent extent and unity of operation; and it is therefore obviously more beneficial to this cause, that we should concentrate our efforts in this comprehensive organization, than, from any feelings of pride, remain in the comparative imbecility of distinct existence. The first consequence of this measure, was a necessary dissolution of our relations with the Auxiliaries of this Society. It was manifestly improper, that they should remain Auxiliaries to an Auxiliary; and by the direction of this Committee, your Corresponding Secretary addressed them severally, proposing that they should either abolish their organizations, and that their individuals should become members of this Society; or that they should annex themselves as Auxiliaries to the American Peace Society. By the replies received, it appears that the Franklin Auxiliary has become extinct, one member only remaining, who has joined this Society; the Hingham and East Haddam branches have become Auxiliaries to the American Society; and the Warwick members have formed an independent association, in which they have united their efforts for the promotion of peace, with the attainment of other B 2 Extracts from the Fourteenth Report of the Massachusetts Peace Society. useful knowledge. From the other Auxiliaries no replies have been received, and the courses they have taken are unknown to your Committee. As the numbers of "The Harbinger of Peace now furnished to the members of this Society, supersede the former Friend of Peace," no tracts are now published by us, excepting the annual Address and Reports to this Society. Of the last Address, 1,000 copies were printed; the greater part of which have been distributed. Of the former tracts emaining on hand, there have been disposed of during the past year :Copies of The Friend of Peace, sold Other tracts gratuitously 780 450 The formation of new Peace Societies in this country, and of the Auxiliaries to the American Society, being announced in the report of the Minot Peace Society, published in The Harbinger of Peace for the present month, which will be in the hands of all the members of this Society, we think it unnecessary to enumerate them. We have received The Herald of Peace to No. 30; and perceive no diminution in the interest and rich information of that work, and of the internal evidence it presents, of a deep-rooted zeal for the peace of the world. It will be recollected, that the Society has, on the past summer, been called to consider a proposal of a very interesting nature, from a highly respected friend of peace. A simple sentence, expressive merely of a desire, that all national differences might be referred to a court of nations; and a recommendation that such an expression should be presented by Peace Societies to their respective governments, was offered for signatures to many individuals of various classes in society, with very encouraging results. It was subscribed with a generality and readiness, which gave reason to believe, that such a proposition would be universally acceptable, if unaccompanied by any request to join a Society, or other considerations; and it was accordingly proposed to this Society with that view. Agreeably to the vote of the Society, passed October 7, the subject has been referred to the American Peace Society, with an offer of our cooperation. It has also been communicated to the Windham County Society, and to the London Peace Society; but of the manner in which it has been received in either of these institutions, your Committee are yet uninformed. The readers of The Harbinger of Peace will have noticed, that the number for May, 1829, contains an advertisement of the American Peace Society, offering a premium of thirty dollars for the best dissertation on the subject of a Congress of Nations for the prevention of war, which, we trust, will call the attention of some intelligent minds, and the action of some able pens, to this interesting and important subject. We have noticed the two last mentioned circumstances together, because, although distinct in their origin, they relate to a common object, to which they powerfully attract our attention. If independently of the religious principles, on which we found our desire and hope of universal peace, there exists among the people of this, and other countries, a disposition to establish some better arbiter of national differences than the sword, on political and humane grounds merely, it seems advisable to avail ourselves of this sentiment, to acquire a cooperation, which could not be obtained by insisting on the recognition of higher principles. We indulge then in the antici |