THE HERALD OF PEACE. AUGUST 1821. THE VANITY OF AMBITION AND MILITARY RENOWN. THERE is a feeling of inex- his flight from Muscovy, and impri pressible disappointment and sonment in Turkey, escaped from all concern, excited by the obscure and his enemies-In the face of innuneglected death of a once dignified merable hardships and dangers, reand celebrated individual. No one, turned to his country, and died, as he we think, who has read Shakespeare's had lived, with the sword in his hand. account of the latter days of Cardi. How different a termination has atnal Wolsey, but will at once enter tended the brilliant career of Napoleon into our views. Raised almost to Buonaparte! After a series of mithe summit of his wishes,-invested litary successes, which, considering with a degree of grandeur and state the forces by which he was opposed, which Royalty itself could scarcely will bear comparison with any of the exceed, -wanting one step only (that wonderful conquests of antiquityof the Popedom) to complete his ut- atter wielding the sceptre of sovemost aim,--how great and how rapid reignty, and displaying political talent was his overthrow! in a manner far superior to most of the With age, with cares, with maladies oppressed, successful conquerors who went before He seeks the refuge of monastic rest. Grief aids disease, remembered folly stings, him, he lived to see his great poliAnd bis last sighs reproach the faith of kings. tical skill unavailing, and the utmost The death of Alexander, disgrace- efforts of his military science altogeful as was its cause, was not preceded ther vain and futile ! Not permitted by the loss of all those vast territorial even the poor solace of spending the acquisitions which a thoughtless world remainder of his life in voluntary foolishly, if not wickedly, supposes exile, he has quitted this world as a were obtained by a series of glorious prisoner in a dreary and rocky soliachievements. He died with his mi- tude, with scarcely one friend to cheer renown untarnished, and after his dying pillow, or whisper peace into having subjugated every power which his agonized spirit. And is it thus, attempted to resist his victorious pro- friendless, thus abandoned by all the gress. Charles xII. of Sweden, after world, that the conqueror of Marengo, 2 G litary VOL. 111. O Cromwell! of Jena, and of Austerlitz, closes his anticipated from the great decision, mortal course!-Is it thus that, in active perseverance, and unwearied obscurity and dependence, he dies, energy of his character ? Let it be who once seemed to control the des- the concern of those who have surtinies of Europe, and who dispensed vived him, to emulate his good qualisceptres and crowns according to his ties and his talents, while they detest pleasure! Alas! how vain, how empty and shun his vices. And, above all, are all the schemes and triumphs of let them habitually abominate that ambition, and how appropriate to such taste for War, which led him to meaa character, in the prospect of speedy sures, involving the peace, the hapdissolution, would be the language piness, and the prosperity of millions. put into the mouth of Wolsey : Cromwell, I charge thee, fling away Ambition, The Report of the Committee of the By that sin fell the angels; How can man then (Tho'image of his Maker) hope to win by't ? Plymouth, Plymouth Dock, and Love thyself last, cherish even the hearts that hate Stonehouse Peace Society. Corruption wins not more than honesty. [thee; Plymouth, June 22, 1821. Still in thy right hand carry gentle peace, To silence envious tongues. Be just, and fear not. Sir,—By desire of the Managing Let all the ends thou aim'st at be thy Country's, Committee of the Plymouth, PlyThy God's, and Truth's: -Then if thou fall'st, mouth Dock, and Stonehouse Peace Thou fall'st a blessed martyr .. Society, I transmit, through you, to the Peace Society established at While we reprobate the love of London, a copy of our first Annual głory, and the desire after power in Report ; and I would beg, at the same this child of ambition, let us not refuse time, to observe, that we shall feel to pay to his memory that tribute ourselves obliged by receiving in rewhich it deserves. While we lament turn copies of your past Reports, and which it deserves. While we lament be ever happy to co-operate in the that any human mind should be ren Christian object which both Societies dered so callous, as to regard the have in view. dreadful and bloody conflicts between That object it was never more nefellow men with all the coolness of a cessary to promote than at the present Bad passions are afloat, game of chess; let us not forget that moment. and ambition still exists in certain the late Emperor of France was distinguished as the promoter of litera- an indulgence in its feelings must quarters, reckless of the evils which ture and the arts, as the friend of produce. At such a time, to instil the religious liberty, and a determined balm of peace is the duty of every foe to bigotry and superstition. We Christian, and more especially of cannot indeed but bitterly lament the those institutions which profess the direction in which his talents were doctrines and cultivate the practices directed, though we ought not to re- in extent and influence, like the grain of peace. Though inconsiderable now fuse our admiration to the versatility of mustard seed, Peace will in time of his powers, and the strength of his overshadow the whole earth, and intellect. If such a man had moved and collect together the various races acted under the influence of the of man into one large and harmonious pure principles of Christianity,and been ani- family, beneath its ample branches. I trust that our respective promated with a sincere desire to advance ceedings will always tend to foster the peace and happiness of his fellow the growth of this noble tree, to men, What might not have been encourage which, let us remember, is REPORT. a privilege as well as a duty. Let us as occasion may require. A few of not shrink from responstbility, or an them have been bound in sets, and avowal of our tenets. There is no presented to the public libraries, and want of arguments to uphold us in to some distinguished persons in both, the vicinity, which have been well It will afford me pleasure to hear received. from you frequently; and in the mean Notwithstanding the impediments time, and at all times, before alluded to your Committee Believe me, Sir, have the satisfaction to report, that Yours very truly, the number of subscribers is gradually Wm. Burr, Secretary. increasing. It is now 43; and the T'he Secretary of the Parent amount of subscriptions received for Peace Society at London. the past year, is 181. 9s. of which there has been remitted to the Parent Society, in aid of its funds, 15l. ; inci dental charges, 61, 14s.; leaving a baTwelve months having elapsed since lance against the Treasurer of 31.5s. the establishment of the Society, it Your Committee have also derived becomes the duty of the Committee encouragement from the reports which which you appointed to watch over they have received, of the progress its interests, to render you some ac of societies on similar principles in count of its progress, and of their other places ; among which, the one proceedings. established at Tavistock continues to The good cause in which we are distinguish itself by its zealous and engaged has every where to struggle successful operations. Many others with “ the listlessness of the unen- have been formed in England, Scotquiring—the interests of some, and land, and Ireland. In America, the the prejudices of most ;” but, we have labours of the friends of Peace have peculiar difficulties to encounter, in been attended with extraordinary consequence of our field of labour success ; and among their members being in a neighbourhood which has are an ex-president, several judges, been nursed by War, and educated and other eminent characters. In amidst the pomp and circumstance France, considerable attention has of its preparations ; where the heart been excited to the subject. Copies has been enlisted in its favour, and of the Tracts have been sent, through the imagination dazzled by its splen- the regular channels of communicadours. It requires, therefore, propor- tion, to the Kings of France and tionate zeal and assiduity to contend Spain, and others have been forwith such formidable prepossessions ; warded to various parts of the world ; and your Committee have judged the besides which, Tract No. 2, has been most effectual method to be that translated into the Dutch, and Tract pointed out in one of the original No. 3, into the Spanish language. resolutions of the Society, namely, Thus, the efforts of those Societies adiligent circulation of Tracts tend- to promote good-will among men are ing to demonstrate the evils of War, not confined to our own country. Their its opposition to the benign influence aim is universal, and their objeet the of the Christian religion, and the true good of all mankind. But such a deepinterests of man.” rooted evil as they have to contend Your Committee have accordingly with, namely, War, cannot be extirprecured from the Parent Society, in pated in a day. The just and bene a large number of their pub- ficent spirit of the Gospel must first ; some of which have been predominate more in the minds, both of sold, many gratuitously distributed; rulers and people ; and we have the aud some remain on hand, to be used consolation of believing, that, although London, lications ; use William Burnell. John Saunders. the progress of this good work, “its tering the clouds from the morning of peaceful progress, disturbs not the that day, “when swords shall be superficies of things, and may not, in beaten into plough-shares, and spears consequence, be discerned by the into pruning-hooks; when nation shall careless observer, yet a great change not lift up sword against nation, neiis manifestly going on in the hearts ther shall learn war any more.” of men ; and beneath the frozen surface of seeming indifference, mighty Resolutions passed at the First Anprinciples are at work, and will sooner niversary Meeting of the Society, or later exhibit themselves in their May, 15, 1821. benign influence." Resolved, that the present SubYour Committee have hitherto met scribers to this Society be requested with little avowed hostility, but they to their influence with their have to lament the apathy and neile friends and acquaintances, to induce trality of those who ought to be allies. them to become Members of the They respectfully and earnestly Institution. invite their fellow Christians, of every Resolved, that all Ministers subdenomination, to give the arguments scribing to this Society be Members in the published Tracts an impartial of the Committee, ex officio. examination, and they are persuaded that the result will be an increased Committee for the ensuing Year. number of converts to the cause of Joseph Hingston. Peace. J. Cookworthy, M.D. Joseph Treffry. They more particularly entreat the Walter Prideaux, Treasurer. co-operation of the professed minis William Burt, Secretary. ters of the Christian religion. The subject appears interwoven with their duties, and inseparable from their Fourth Annual Report of the Swanoffice. Their influence in exciting a sea and Neath Auxiliary Society. right feeling among their flocks, would contribute largely to arrest a practice When your Committee entered on so repugnant to the character, the the discharge of the duties which precepts, and the example of their devolved on them through your pardivine Master,--so opposite in its tiality, it was not with any enthunature and fruits to “ the fruits of the siastic expectations of immediately Spirit,” and so fatally subversive of extensive success. The history of the moral improvement, the liberties, the world, as well as the experience and the happiness of man. of former years, had convinced them Your Committee cannot conclude that the deep-rooted prejudices of without expressing their conviction custom and education are not to be that, notwithstanding the obstacles subverted in a moment; and being with which they have to contend, the well aware of the unpopular nature advocates of pacific principles have of the principle of the Peace Society, ample grounds for encouragement and they judged it probable that they perseverance. Their cause is the might have to labour, as heretofore, cause of truth, and must finally pre without that encouragement which vail. They even indulge a hope that you so anxiously desire. the period is not far distant, when Your Committee have continued to the same energies which, under the exert themselves in endeavouring to Divine blessing, have so gloriously expose the evils of war, by the cirachieved the abolition of the British culation of the Society's Tracts, and slave trade, the circulation of the also by occasional insertions of ex. Scriptures, and the education of the tracts in the Provincial Journals; and poor, will be again displayed in scat- it is with pleasure they have to report, war no more. S. Bordell Mr. W. Lewis H. Bath that in some instances, they have wit- gether with the Reports and Tracts nessed the triumph of the pacific published by the Society in former principle: their meetings have in years, will make a total of 207,000 general been well attended; their copies. (The Report concludes with tracts have been well received ; some a further quotation from the Parent new subscribers have come forward Society's Report.] to aid the funds of the Institution ; and your Committee feel no doubt of that At a General Meeting of the Swansea principle being now at work, which, and Neath Auxiliary Society for the like the leaven hid in the meal, shall promotion of permanent and unicontinue to operate until the nations versal Peace," held at Swansea, of the earth, feeling its salutary in- 20th April 1821, fluence, “ shall beat their swords Mr. T. Bigg, in the Chair; into plough-shares, their spears into Resolved,- Ist. That three hunpruning-hooks, and learn the art of dred Copies of the Report which has been presented by the Committee During the last year, your Com. be printed ; and that a Welsh transmittee_have received upwards of lation of the said Report be also in1400 Tracts, Reports, &c. many of serted in the Seren Gomer. which have been distributed, whilst 2d. That the following be a Coma considerable number still remains mittee for the ensuing year, with on hand. The Tract prepared by your Committee for the use of the power to add to their number: Mr. T. Bigg Principality, in the ancient British language, is now in the press, and will soon be in circulation. W, Morgan Rev. W. Kemp But, whilst your Committee feel Mr. S. BORDELL, Treasurer. inclined to pursue their work, from a Mr. T. LUKE, Secretary. conviction that the cause must ulti- 3d. That the Thanks of this Meetmately triumph over every obstacle, ing be given to the Editors of the Camthey receive encouragement from the brian Paper, the Seren Gomer, and increasing attention which the cause the Caermarthen Journal, for the asexcites in distant parts. In Paris, sistance they have afforded the cause measures have been adopted for by the insertion in their respective forming a similar institution, and papers of pieces tending to promote hopes are entertained that ere long the objects of this Society. it will be in active operation. [Re- 4th. That the next Annual Meeting ference is here made to societies in of this Society be held in April 1822, other countries, followed by a quo- at such time and place as the Comtation from the Report of the Parent mittee may appoint. Society, which appears in our Num (Signed) T. BIGG, Chairman. ber for February, p. 52.] And whilst the sacred flame of Christian philanthropy appears to be Some Remarks on the Account of the Quakers, in Pinkerton's “ Modern burning with increasing vigour in America, there is reason to hope that Geography.” it will not be permitted to languish at [From Letters and other Writings of the home. “ New Auxiliaries have been late JOSEPH GURNEY Bevan.] established at Bath, Bristol, South- “I am inclined to offer a few remarks ampton, Plymouth, and Stockton.” on the short notice of the religious The demand for the Tracts of the Society of Friends, commonly called Society has been great; the sales Quakers, in Pinkerton's Modern Geoand distributions of the last year graphy, amount to about 30,000, which, to- It is a circumstance which demands Rev. T. Luke |
