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not only from pure motives, but also on correct principles; and I feel the fullest confidence, that I shall never repent of the step that conscience has dictated."

At a time when the great enemy of mankind seems to be making a strong effort to regain his lost power-when every thing is done by the enemies of peace, to inflame a martial spirit-when even the friends of Peace seem to have partaken of the general infatuation-when military pomp and parade, and adoration and worship of a military character, are the order of the daywhile we are celebrating, by military fetes, addresses, and religious ceremonies-not only our victories, but even our defeats-while these things are transacting in this country, it is gratifying to turn our eyes toward Great Britain, and to contemplate very different scenes. It seems as if christians, in that country, were returning to first principles ;-principles, by which the Church of Christ was governed, in the first ages of Christianity, when it was a persecuted and a pure Church" while the light of Christianity burnt bright."

It is true, 66 one swallow does not make a summer;" but this effect was expected to be produced by the efforts of the friends of Peace; and it is therefore a highly gratifying pledge of successful experiment. But this is not all. It is certain, that a great change of opinion has taken place in Europe, concerning the lawfulness of war;-a change, which is steadily and constantly advancing.

In this country, it must be acknowledged, many inauspicious circumstances have lately taken place. The celebration of battles, the erection of military trophies, and adoration of military characters, are certainly not to be reckoned among the harbingers of the Millennium. But there is no reason for despair. These vibrations of public opinion are always to be expected. The friends of Peace have much to hope from a reaction. Though "the nation's guest" has almost universally been received with a display of military pomp, yet it is certain that the civil part of his character, has been a much greater object of respect, with the thinking part of community, than the military. The Bunk

er Hill Monument, it is true, obtrudes itself upon our notice with a most unwelcome aspect; and this famous obelisk seems to be a return to Egyptian darkness. But, on the other hand, it is to be observed, that a very small part of community have been concerned in this stigma of the age-and many of our most valuable citizens have disdained the cheap honour of enrolling their names in this temple of fame, (to be erected by a union of individual with national vanity,) whose refusal never appears before the public. Means of begging, too, have been resorted to, which "beggar description ;" and the aid of convicts in the State prison is resorted to, to bring forward the capstone. In this last measure, there seems to be some sort of congruity. Many of the convicts were probably warriors by profession, taken prisoners in the private war they have waged against community, and, in helping to erect a monument of military glory, are only labouring in their vocation.

These things should put the friends of Peace on the alert. They must remember that they have something to do-that they

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are not to stand with their arms folded, and expect so great an event, as the peace of the world, to take place without exertion. Satan will be busy, whether they are or not. God has committed the work into their hands, and it depends on them, whether the world shall roll backward into ages of war, darkness, Vandalism, and slavery, or forward to peace, knowledge, refinement and liberty.

NO. 8.

ON THE CONDEMNATION OF A BRITISH OFFICER, FOR HESITATING TO COMPLY WITH AN ORDER BY WHICH HE WAS REQUIRED TO ASSIST, AND PARTICIPATE IN THE CEREMONIES OF THE ROMISH CHURCH.

In my last number, I gave a promise, that I would next take a similar, recent event into consideration. Extracts of a review of the trial preceding the above mentioned sentence, have already appeared in the Mirror, but unaccompanied by any remarks. Hav..

ing obtained further information on this subject, from other sources, I think that the singularity and notoriety of the case, require further consideration. By singularity I do not mean, that it is any ways singular, for a soldier to be obliged to put his conscience into the hands of his commanding officer-for this is always the case ;-but it is singular that a soldier should think for himself, and dare to obey God, rather than man.

It seems that Lieut. Dawson, of the Royal Artillery, was tried at Malta, by a court martial, and sentenced to be cashiered, and rendered "incapable of serving his Majesty hereafter, in any military capacity whatever," for the above mentioned crime. An appeal was followed by a new trial, with the same result, except the latter part of the sentence, relating to future incapacity. The president of this court martial was himself a catholic; from which it would appear, that a soldier, if of any religion at all, is obliged to conform to the religion of his officer, when required so to do. Thus war, not only subjects the person of the warrior to a state of vile and abject slavery, but the mind

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