to sheathe the sword of the destroyer; all the mines of the Spanish colonies will not compensate for its ravages. If you are allured by them to give up your peace, your happiness, and your principles, the last hope of humanity is extinct forever."

The preceding paragraphs are an abridgement, but they contain the principal things in the "Extract," as it appeared in the Newspapers. The author of the letter is entitled to the thanks of the friends of peace in this country, for his "aid in this good cause." We may hope that so intelligent a writer will do good in his own country as well as in this; and that his efforts will be continued.

According to the estimates given in the letter, Austria has employed in this century a standing army of

Bussia

500,000

650,000

278,000

500,000

2,023,000

How horrible the thought that four Christian nations have employed for a number of years more than two millions of men in the business of manslaughter-in destroying one another, and in spreading ruin and misery among their fellow beings!

The loads of debt entailed upon the nations of Europe by their own wars are indeed enormous. If to these we add the destruction which has been made of private property, and the more awful amount of bloodshed, guilt and wretchedness, which these wars have occasioned, who but madmen, can even indulge a wish to recommence such fatal scenes? The project of Dr. Rush for SOBER HOUSES, to confine and reform drunkards, may well be so extended as to provide for every man who shall hereafter display a thirst for plunging nations into war. Such men are much more dangerous characters to run at large, than most of the maniacs in bedlam, or other hospitals for the insane.

If those who have the war delirium must be maintained by the public, is it not much cheaper to support them in a state of confinement, than to engage in war to gratify their bloody ambition?

Suppose an inhabitant of some other world-well acquainted with the character and religion of the Messiahhad been permitted to witness the battles of Europe in modern times: Would he not much sooner have suspected that these vast armies, had been educated in the infernal regions, than that they were the followers of the PRINCE OF PEACE ?

Christians detest the conduct of cannibals, who kill human beings to satisfy their hunger; but they bestow unbounded praises on the professional and wanton butchers of men, who trample on the rights of their brethren, and wade in blood to conquest, wealth and power. Were it not for the delusive influence of custom, it would appearquite as laudable to butcher men for food, as for fame, and cannibals and conquerors would be equally abhorred.

But if we must "think so badly of mankind as to believe that neither religious nor moral restraints are the most powerful which can operate upon them," let people be properly instructed in what is for their worldly interest. Let them be made to understand how little they get and how much they lose by war-how it entails on them and their posterity the enormous "price of blood," which must be paid in direct taxes, or in the increased price of the various articles of merchandize, which they have occasion to purchase. Let them be fairly informed of the objects of war in general, and who are the men that profit by war— how small their number compared with that of the sufferers, and that those who gain by war fatten on the blood and misery of their brethren. Could these things be clearly unfolded and brought home to the understandings and the feelings of people in general, they would soon cease to regard the destroyers of mankind as saviours and benefactors, and withhold their praises from bloody-minded men.

ABOLITION OF FEMALE INFANTICIDE.

"Ir appears that Col. Walker went, in the year 1801, as political resident to Guzerat, where he found the horrid practice of murdering female children was common.

"The Colonel having obtained accurate information concerning the facts, entered into a correspondence with the chiefs, reasoning with them on the guilt of this horrid practice. They gravely defended it, especially on the score of antiquity, pretending that it had been perpetuated for 5000 years. At length, however, they gave way, and signed an engagement to relinquish the practice forever.

"Much laudable care was taken by Mr. Duncan, the governor of Bombay, to render this engagement effectual; and it is hoped that the abolition not only there but in the other parts of India will become general. The good effects of this humane interference were evident in humanizing the character of the Jarejahs. Much gratitude was excited towards Colonel Walker. Female infants, who had been preserved by his philanthropic exertions, were presented to him at his court by the parents who gloried in their preservation and doated upon them with fondness,—and the female children of some families were taught, as the first articulate sounds, to say Baker Saheb umneh Jee waria ! that is, COLONel Walker saved me.”—Bos. Rec.

REMARKS.

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These poor benighted heathens had been in the habit of killing many of their female children as soon as they were born. This they did through the influence of custom, and probably without either malignity or remorse. Before the infant had become depraved by vice or polluted by crime, it was despatched and sent into the invisible world. How horrid !

The more enlightened people called Christians, do not thus destroy their female infants. The very thought of

doing this would fill them with horror. They have how. ever another custom which is esteemed very honourable. They train up many of their male children in habits of vice that they may become heroic and dexterous man-killers. In this way they form the character of these children and expose them to be sent into eternity polluted with almost every vice which could render them odious in the sight of a holy God!

Christians! will you here pause a moment, and compare the custom of Heathen "infanticide," with your custom of Christian homicide, and then say which is the most heathenish and most inhuman.

The Heathen chiefs defended their custom on the "score of antiquity." Christians, with equal wisdom and propriety, defend theirs on the same ground.

Col. Walker was, however, successful in reasoning with the Heathen chiefs on the immorality of infanticide and in favour of its abolition. If he be still living let him next try his skill with the chiefs of Christendom, "reasoning with them on the guilt of the" more "horrid practice" of training up children to the business of human butchery. I indeed fear that he would find greater difficulty in converting these chiefs than he did in converting those of Guzerat. But should he succeed, thousands of European boys may unite with the girls of India, and say, "Col. Walker saved me." What an honour compared with that of a military conqueror! To save is GODLIKE to destroy is diabolical.

The fact that Col. Walker was successful in persuading the nations of India to relinquish a custom which in their opinion had been "perpetuated for 5000 years"-and which of course was revered for its antiquity, affords ground of hope that all sanguinary customs may be abolished by the force of reasoning and the progress of light. The antiquity of the custom is the resort of Christians in defending war. "It has, say they, been a custom in all ages:" hence they infer its necessity, its lawfulness, and the certain

ty that it will be continued. But such inferences are falla cious and delusive. This may be proved by the abolition of many customs, which were formerly defended on the same ground.

Depraved as mankind are-attached as they are to hereditary customs, they are still capable of reasoning, of reflecting, of receiving light, and of changing their opinions; and it is impossible for good rulers to make war on their fellow men with a full conviction of the enormities and horrors of the custom.

"The good effects of Col. Walker's interference were evident in humanizing the character of the Jarejahs.” If such were the effects on the heathen of abolishing "infanticide," what would be the effects on mankind in general of abolishing homicide and war. It is presumed that there is not another custom which has so extensive an influence in rendering mankind ferocious and inhuman. This custom steels the hearts of millions. It authorizes violence and cruelty. It encourages inhumanity and the most barbarous deeds by the rewards of military glory. Nor is this pernicious influence confined to soldiers in actual service. It is diffused through every community, and, in a greater or less degree, into every heart which approves of war. Hence not only men but even many women and children 'can exult while thousands of fellow beings are sacrificed to the ungodly ambition, avarice, or revenge of war makers. They can shout praises to the most abandoned of our race, if they have only been successful in war; they can justify and extol the most sanguinary and inhuman deeds, if performed by their own countrymen in a day of battle. They can read and narrate with pleasure, the wonderful feats of ferocious valour, which have bereaved helpless children of their fathers, wives of their husbands, and decrepit parents of their sons, which have hurried thousands to their final, account, and covered acres of ground with human blood, and with dead and wounded men.