bat,) he rushes into the presence of his offended God. And it possible that reasonable beings can place themselves in situations so disgraceful? be guilty of such inhumanity to their families ?— and heap such an awful load of iniquity upon their consciences, for any consideration whatever? And what are the causes which generally give rise to duels? Do they not usually spring from very trivial circumstances, such as principles of false honour, the sudden dictate of passion, a hasty expression, a false rumour, temporary feelings of vexation, emotions of vanity and pride? Alas! too many facts are upon record that men will so act, in defiance of the obligations of morality, the laws of the land, the requirements of social duty, and the sacred commands of God. By the practice of this disgraceful crime, what valuable lives have been lost to the community! And how many widows and fatherless children have wept tears of bitterness over the bodies of their self-immolated and murdered husbands and parents! And what keeps it still in existence, but the ridiculous idea that there is no other way to avoid disgrace? What, but the example of such men as the Dukes of Bedford and Buckingham? If it be right for men of rank to call each other out, as the only method for settling their little differences, why should not other classes of the community enjoy the same privilege? If it be tolerated in one instance, why not in twenty, or two hundred? Let then its summary process supersede the dull and intricate procedure of a court of justice. Yes! if it be right, let it have its full course, let this land of light and literature, and noble Christian institutions, be distinguished by the universal prevalence of this remnant of vandalism, this appendage of the bloody feudal system! But after all, let it be remembered that Duels not only tend to annihilate the kindly affections of the human breast, and destroy the happiness of families, but that it cherishes and gives scope to the vilest passions; it makes men bloody and ferocious upon principle. Such are the tendencies of every duel, and such the language which is uttered by the conduct of the duellist. Let, then, all those who are liable to be called out to engage in such contests, pause, ere it be too late. Let them seriously call to mind the solemn considerations which have been stated, and, finally, let them remember, that besides the immediate consequences of so rash an act, to their example the murders of many subsequent duellists, with all the wretchedness attendant upon their deaths, will be attributed by the righteous Judge of the quick and the dead! CORRESPONDENCE OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE LONDON PEACE SOCIETY. SIR, you, that I had a good opportunity of forwarding nearly the whole in Spanish, by two friends, through the Provinces of Murcia, Grenada and Catalonia, which I shall continue doing as favourable opportunities offer. I sent thirty Tracts by an Englishman, an old resident of thirtythree years in Malaga, who, I am sure, will do his utmost to give them circulation. I would have sent more, but my stock is low. I have also sent a few into Africa: let us hope that good will result from them. I have an old acquaintance, a Catholic Priest, busily employed in selling and distributing the Scriptures in that benighted land to Jews, Mussulmen, and Europeans, to rather a considerable extent. A number of Bibles and Testaments are daily sold to Spaniards in that language at this place, and I have reason to expect, ere long, a much greater demand for them. If, when you send me another supply, which I hope will be soon, you will add about a dozen copies of the Tracts handsomely bound, it would be desirable, as I could then present a set to persons high in power, several persons being here whose public character and consequence are well known in England. DEAR SIR, London, 18th July, 1822. I AM Commissioned to answer your very welcome letter to my colleague, Mr. Bell, of the 4th of June last. We see with great interest your kind exertions in the South of Spain. I have had, myself, an opportunity of visiting the same provinces in the course of the last six or eight months, and regret exceedingly that, when I was at Gibraltar in February last, I had not known that you were in correspondence with the Peace Society. I am sure that the novelty of the subject will excite a very general interest in the Peninsula, and most gratifying it is to us to be favoured with co-operation so valuable as your's. We are greatly pleased to notice that you have been able to do something on the Northern Coast of Africa. With the Tripolitan Minister here, Cherif Hassana d'Ghies, an enlightened and amiable man, I have had a good deal of friendly intercourse, and he seems to have the most favourable dispositions in connexion with different plans of benevolence. At your suggestion, the Committee send 12 sets of the Tracts bound; also 75 copies of No. 3 in Spanish, 20 copies each of Nos. 1 to 6 in French, and 20 each of Nos. 1 to 6 in English, 15 of No. 1 in German, 15 of No. 2 in Dutch, 1 copy of Nos. I and 2 of the Herald of Peace, new series, 20 Spanish and 10 English circulars. We hope frequently to be favoured with your communications, and I beg you to accept the assurances of esteem and regard. To*** Yours very truly, JOHN BOWRING, **** Esq. Gibraltar. DEAR SIR, Foreign Secretary. Gibraltar, 15th June, 1822. Since writing to you under date the 4th inst. the following circumstances which occurred at Almeria will, I think, be worthy of insertion in the Herald of Peace. Mr. Wollicot, master of the Two Brothers schooner, who sailed from hence for Malaga and Almeria about the middle of May, received from me a number of the circulars, with the Tract in Spanish, of the Peace Society, for distribution at those places. At the latter place, he was one day unexpectedly summoned to the Cathedral Church, where he found all the clergy assembled with the bishop. He was then asked if he had given any of these papers to the Spanish people he replied Yes.-"Is it customary to distribute the same amongst the people of England?"—he said it was, and to a considerable extent, not only in England, but throughout Europe, besides other parts of the world. The bishop then looked at the Circular and Tract, and after a short time observed" I see nothing improper in them, and if Spain were filled with the same, and all would read them attentively and reflect on the subject, we should not be in such a state as we now are." After this he retired, and my friend returned to his ship. This is another proof that liberality of opinion is extending itself in this country. I remain, dear Sir, Your very faithful Servant, &c. &c. &c. Rawdon, Nova Scotia, April 23d, 1822. SIR,-I beg leave to inform you that a Society for the promotion of Peace has been established in this place, under the designation of the Hants Peace Society. As Secretary, I have to announce this event to the London Peace Society, and to state to you the circumstances which contributed to it. The Massachusetts Peace Society having sent several of their Tracts to this country, we obtained a few of them. They produced conviction on almost every person who read them. The Clergyman of the Church of England of this parish (a man of ardent piety) declared his determination to form a Peace Society. In this benevolent attempt he was joined by the Presbyterian and Baptist Ministers. pur Our funds, as yet, are small; we propose devoting them to the chase of Tracts published by your society, and by that of Massachusetts. We wish to be recognized as fellow workers with the London Peace Society, and will cheerfully promote the cause in which we are mutually engaged, by a distribution of the Society's Tracts in this new world. I remain, &c. &c. GEORGE G. GOULD. John Bowring, Esq. London Fields, Hackney. [Reply to the foregoing Letter.] 2, Star Court, Bread-street London, 18th July, 1822. DEAR SIR.-I have received, with of the 23d April last, and am charged uncommon satisfaction, your favour by our Committee to express the sincere pleasure which they feel in the new Auxiliary which your letter inhand of fellowship, and of cordial cotroduces, and to offer you the right operation and sympathy. We hope that we shall be often favoured with intelligence from you, of the progress of that benevolent spirit which, we trust, will ultimately bind mankind in the bonds of brotherhood; and every circumstance like that which your letter announces gives encouragement to our hopes and animation to our exertions. We rejoice especially at seeing ministers of different religious persuasions united in this good work. The interests of Peace are indeed universal, and, rightly understood, break down the barriers between rival sects as between rival nations. Whatever else divides, here there is something to unite us, and from the union and association of the wise and good, we promise ourselves the recompense of ultimate triumph. By the present opportunity we send you, for that distribution which you shall deem most advantageous, 20 copies of each of our Tracts, (English) 1 to 6; 20 copies of each of ditto (French) 1 to 6; 2 of the new series of the Herald of Peace; 20 copies of our circulars in English; and 20 ditto in French. On hearing of the receipt of these, we shall be happy to send you a farther supply; and with the assurance of our best wishes, and a request that you will send us particulars of the organization and influence of your Society, I am, dear Sir, Your's very sincerely, t ་ 134. PEACE SOCIETIES. To the Inhabitants of Huddersfield and its vicinity. [We are happy to announce the formation peal of the laws of morality and of of an Auxiliary Peace Society at Huddersfield. God. The precepts of the Bible are The following Address, which was circulated as a hand bill, and which led to the subsequent directly opposed to the maxims of Meeting, is inserted under the hope that in War. The fundamental rule of the other places a few friends of peace, or even soli- first is, to do good; of the latter, to tary individuals, may be induced in this way to inflict injuries. The former comascertain the practicability of instituting simi- mands us, to succour the oppressed; lar associations, and of thus materially promoting the latter, to overwhelm the defencethe cause of Universal Peace.] less. The former teaches men to love their enemies; the latter, to make themselves terrible even to strangers. The Bible says, "Thou shalt not kill;" war enjoins, "kill-the greater the number the more glorious." The Bible commands, "Thou shalt not steal;"-plunder is of war the indissoluble companion. The gospel says, "overcome evil with good;" but war exhorts, subdue evil by greater evil." The one says, "bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you" and the other, " carry outrage, misery, and murder, amongst those who have excited no anger, inflicted no injury." Who shall make these principles coalesce? A few of your neighbours have long viewed War, in its origin, conduct, and consequences, as altogether antichristian-and, therefore, as opposed to the well-being of society, by the misery it inflicts, the criminality it implies, and the mischief it produces. To men of Christian principles, laboured proof is unnecessary; as nothing more is required than attention to the subject. Trace it in the field of battle! that dreadful scene of indiscriminate slaughter-There perish the mighty and renowned-there, the young, the healthy, the vigorous-the dupes of folly, and frequently, alas! the virtuous, but hapless, offspring of poverty. What rational being would voluntarily thus step into the unseen world!-What Christian would wish the fierce passions, or unmitigated agonies of that scene, to be his last earthly feeling, his preparation for standing at the bar of his God! All protracted warfare is the prolongation of misery in a thousand forms, more agonizing than what is 'suffered in the bloodiest field of battle: -for not to conflicting armies are confined the evils of war: They are the centre of mischief, but it spreads widely around them;-they are the nucleus of crime and misery, but large is its pestilental atmosphere: Wherever they go, they carry desolation,-devour like locusts,-blast like lightning, destroy like the volcano, or overwhelm like the earthquake. Turn to its moral character.-War is not so much a violation, as a re 6.6 The hope, that nations may ever have sufficient wisdom to decide their differences by a more rational mode than War, is so commonly scouted as visionary, that it is expedient to inquire what improvement has already taken place on this very subject. -Private war, once so general and destructive, is abolished. In England, baron warred upon baron, and castle against castle hoisted the flag of defiance: those combats have for ever ceased, and humanity rejoices in the triumph of civilization over murder. A Peace Society was established in London in 1816, which has many auxiliaries in the different large towns in England; and you are respectfully solicited to add one to their number, at Huddersfield. In America, the Peace Societies greatly flourish; and in France, Spain, Germany, Prussia, and Russia, the principles of peace are taking deep root, under the approving smile of that gracious Being who is "the author of peace and lover of concord," and the fostering care of several of the pious, the learned, the opulent, and the illustrious. In becoming a member, the only qualification is a love of Peace, and a desire to witness its universal prevalence. These Societies propose to diffuse the spirit of Peace in the most inoffensive and honorable manner. They recommend the perusal of short Tracts, which expatiate upon the good effects of peace, and paint, in strong and lively colours, (but not more so than true) the hor rors of war. They advise frequent, but always candid and temperate, conversations upon those points; and are desirous to induce all men to shew the happy consequences of their own peaceable dispositions, in all the relations of domestic, social, and civil life. The expence attending the establishment and support of Peace Societies is trifling; the subscription of ten shillings and sixpence annually, entitles the subscriber to half the value in Tracts, and a "Herald of Peace" quarterly. The Huddersfield Auxiliary Peace Society. At a Meeting held at the Roseand Crown Inn, Huddersfield, July 5, 1822, of the Committee of Friends to the plan and objects of the Society established in London, in 1816, for the promotion of Permanent and Universal Peace; Mr. John Oldfield, in the chair; It was resolved, 1. That the plan and objects of the Society for the Promotion of Permanent and Universal Peace, have the cordial approbation of this meeting. 2. That a Society be now formed upon the same principle, unmixed with political considerations, to be called the Huddersfield Auxiliary Peace Society, whose object shall be to co-operate and correspond with the Society established for that purpose in London. 3. That this Society shall circulate tracts and other publications tending to promote the pacific spirit and prin-ciples of the Gospel; giving a just view of the evils and enormities of war, its inconsistency with the doctrines and precepts of Christianity, and its consequent opposition to the true interest of mankind. No tract, &c. shall be published which does not strictly accord with the views of the London Society. 4. That all subscriptions and donations, after deducting incidental expences, shall be remitted to the treasurer of the Society in London, for the promotion of the great objects of the: institution. 5. That every annual subscriber of five shillings and upwards, and every donor of two pounds and upwards, shall be a member of this Society, and entitled to receive, within the year, tracts to the amount of onehalf of his subscription. 6. That the Society shall embrace persons of every religious denomination, who are favourable to the general design; and as there exists a diversity of opinion, whether War, in every possible circumstance, be unlawful, they not only admit as mem bers of the committee, but solicit the co-operation of all who are averse to war, in any of its forms, and who are desirous of promoting Peace on earth, and good-will among men." 7. That the affairs of this Society be under the direction of a committee, consisting of a treasurer, two secre taries, and sixteen members, to be annually chosen, three of whom shall be a quorum; their meetings to be quar terly, at such time and place as they shall appoint, with power of adjourn ment. 8. That all meetings of the committee shall be open to subscribers; but none, except members of the committee, shall be allowed to vote.. The secretaries, when it is found requisite, shall convene ialmeet ings of the committee sp 9. That the follow mgpersons be a committee for the present year, with |
