It is a beautiful saying which the duke of \ Orleans used, when he ascended the French throne, under the title of Louis XII. He had many bitter enemies, who had done him great injury; but he quieted their fears by publicly declaring, that "It was not for the king of France to revenge the injuries done to the duke of Orleans." This was the same king who said, "I should rather see my courtiers laugh at my avarice, than my people weep at my extravagance." It was for sentiments like these rather than for his victories, that he was deservedly called the "father of his people," a truly glorious title.

In 1754 the father of our country was sta

tioned at Alexandria, with a regiment of which he was colonel. At an election for members of the Assembly, Washington grew warm, and said something offensive to a Mr. Payne, who was opposed to him, and who, at one blow of his cane, brought our hero to the ground. On hearing of this, the whole regiment was under arms in a moment, and in rapid motion toward the town, burning for vengeance. Washington was so far recovered as to go out and meet his enraged soldiers, and after thanking them for such

evidence of attachment, he begged them, by their love to him and their duty, to return peaceably to their barracks.

Finding himself the aggressor, he resolved to make Mr. Payne the honorable reparation of asking his pardon. Early next morning he wrote a polite note to Mr. Payne, to meet him at the tavern. Payne took it for a challenge, and repaired to the tavern in full expectation of fighting. But what was his surprise, on entering the chamber, to see, in lieu of a brace of pistols, a decanter of wine and a pair of glasses on the table. Washington rose to meet him, and offering him his hand with a smile, began-"Mr. Payne, to err sometimes is nature, to rectify error is always glory. I believe I was wrong in the affair of yesterday; you have had, I think, some satisfaction; and if you deem that sufficient, here is my hand, let us be friends."

An act of such sublime virtue produced its proper effect on Mr. Payne, who, from that moment, became the most enthusiastic friend and admirer of Washington..

When we contemplate the conduct of the illustrious men, whom I have named, how

contemptible and mean appear the manners of the little great men of the present day, who have so little knowledge of true greatness, as to suppose, that to revenge an insult is more honorable than to forgive it, and that honor is gained by the perpetration of crimes, which set the laws of God and their country at defiance. Yet such men set themselves up as candidates for the first office in the gift of an enlightened and christian people, an office which binds them to the execution of those laws, which they are in the habit of violating. How muel th

When we consider the apathy with which we see every command of God violated by those who subsist by the practice of war, we

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have reason to exclaim, Lord, what is man that thou art mindful of him!" The eir

cumstances attending the battle of Waterlo did not manifest greater contempt for the ordinances and commands of God, than what is usual in war, and therefore they have passed unnoticed by most of those who have given us a description of that horrible scene.

It was one o'clock, on Sabbath morning. (usually so calm and still,) when the bugle sounded for the march. Many of the officers were then at a ball, in Brussels; and without having time to change their clothes, hurried, in their ball dresses, to the fatal field, from which many never returned, and were probably thrown into their graves, their livid corses adorned with the an-"Mr. Pay revelry.

"It struck my imagination much, (says an American traveller, while standing on the last field fought by Bonaparte,) that the battle of Waterloo should have been fought on a Sunday. What a different scene for the Scotch Greys and English infantry from that which at that very hour, was exhibited by their relations: when, over England and Scotland, each church bell had drawn together its worshippers. While many a mother's heart was sending upward a prayer for her

son's preservation, perhaps that son was gasping in agony."

"We know that many thousands rushed into this fight, even of those who had been instructed in our own religious principles, without leisure for one serious thought; and that some officers were killed in their ball dresses. They made a leap into the gulph which divides two worlds, the present from the immutable state, without one parting prayer, or one note of preparation."

"As I looked over this field now green with growing corn, I could mark with my eye, by the verdure of the wheat, spots where the most desperate carnage had taken place. The bodies had been heaped together, and scarcely more than covered. And so enriched is the soil, in these spots, that the grain never ripens; it grows rank and green to the end of harvest. This touching memorial, which endures when the thousand groans have expired, and when the stain of human blood has faded from the ground, still seems to cry to Heaven, that there is awful guilt somewhere, and a terrific reckoning for those, who had caused destruction, which the earth would not conceal. These