1816.] Societies for the 



erecting; anil, from its being so much 

 lighter, a saving would also be made in 

 the tower that has to support it, the walls 

 of which need not be so thick as if they 

 had to bear a greater weight : it may be 

 cast after tiic most noble, elegant, or faii- 

 eiful design, in separate pieces; and, 

 from its being so little liable to rust, 

 would be extremely durable ; it may be 

 rendered an attractor and a conductor 

 for lightning, which would ensure safety 

 to itself and its immediate neighbour- 

 hood; if it was painted white it would 

 have the appearance of stone, and pro- 

 duce a beautiful and light etfect. I need 

 say nothing more on the subject, as a 

 mechanic, an aitist, or an architect, will 

 be able from this idea to judge of its 

 applicability, and to shew its advantages, 

 better than lean. 



Abraham Ironside. 

 94, Fleet-street; Nov. 8, 1816. 



To the Editor of the Blmithhj Magazine. 



SIR, 



THE independent and energetic 

 manner in which you have so long 

 and so ably advocated the cause of hu- 

 manity, against the advocates of war, 

 entitles you to the thanks of all the 

 liberal members of Society. Notwith- 

 standing the hostility of party politicians, 

 and tlie malignant invectives of inter- 

 ested writers, your voice, which you un- 

 dauntedly raised against the inhuman 

 practice of war, has been heard. The 

 formation of a Society for the purpose of 

 diffusing the principles of peace and phi- 

 lanthropy, was a judicious and laudable 

 effort; and, I hope, will be the means, in 

 some degree, of correcting that popular 

 approbation of war still prevailing. In 

 this good work I trust you w ill not stand 

 alone; lor, if there was one pcri(jd more 

 eligible than another for putting such an 

 attempt into execution, it is now: wo 

 •re now happily in a state of peace, and 

 it would be more easy to preserve amity 

 than to restore it, when llie hostile feel- 

 ings ftf nations arc roused by the circnm- 

 slanccs of active warfare; and at this 

 time, when all classes are struggling mi- 

 der Iherireetsof thelate war, tlieirminds 

 Would be more ojien to conviction. Lot 

 them whose benevolent inlcniions in- 

 duce them to circulate the Kihic, in order 

 to enlighten tlie minds, and purify the 

 hearts, of the lower orders, rclleci that, 

 by counleiiancing war. they would 

 injure the best interests of man- 

 kind, in a greater proportion than they 

 «buld by any uicaius prumut^ them. 



Abolition of War. 403 



May the discij)les of Bell and of Lan- 

 caster know, that, although, by educa- 

 ting the children of the poor, they may 

 give a higher tone to public morals, and, 

 by increasing knowledge, diminish the 

 prevalence of vice ; hy enrolling them- 

 selves in this society they will tend 

 to rais6 a barrier against a more mis- 

 chievous and pernicious evil than igno- 

 rance. 



The institutors of this society need 

 not expect to meet with the applause 

 and co-operation of the ambitious states- 

 man, or the cringuig sycophants of of- 

 fice, against whose selfisli and depraved 

 views it is calculated to powerfully mili- 

 tate ; but let not its friends relax hi their 

 efforts. Me commend the individuals 

 who form an association to bestow the 

 civic wreatli on them who preserve the 

 life of a fellow-creatnre; but how much 

 more comprehensive is the operation of 

 those principles whicii tend to prevent 

 that melaiiclioly destruction of human 

 life by whicli so many thousands ar6 

 immolated, and tlie happiness and com- 

 fort of as many more sacrificed. "I 

 have often thoiigiit, (says the venerable 

 Dr. Knox,*) it would be a laughable 

 scene, ifUiere were not a iittlctoo much 

 of the melancholy in it, wlicn a circle of 

 eager potiticiaus have met to congratu- 

 late eacli other on a piece of good nCvvis 

 just arrived: every eye sparkles with dc- 

 light; every voice is luiscd in ar.i;nunciiig 

 the happy event. And wiiiu is tiie cause 

 of all this joy? and for what ur'? our wii^ 

 dows iihiminated, bouiires kindled, !)elrs 

 rung, and fea.st celebrated? AVe havv tiad 

 a successful eogage^nent ; we have lert a 

 thousand of the enemy dead on (he field 

 of battle, and only nine hundred of ouf 

 countrymen. Charming news-? it was a 

 glorious battle! Eat, before yon give a 

 loose to your raptures, pause a little, and 

 consider, (hat to every one of those nine- 

 teen hundred, life was miless sweet tliau 

 it is to yon ; that, to the far greater part 

 of them there probably v\ ere w ives, fa- 

 thers, mothers, sons, daughters, sisters, 

 brothers, and friends, all of v\hora are 



• Essay No. lOO, "On the Folly au4 

 Wickedness of War." TJie whole is excel- 

 lent ; and, as it possesses the advantage of 

 brevity, it is admirably calculaed to form 

 one nf the Society's Tracts. A strikinsand 

 pointed condemnation of this odimis prae. 

 tice, finni the elegint pen of Cowper, it 

 contained in the pnPin he has stranscty 

 desii;nated "Table-Talk,' which might 

 also be circulated with advantage. 



ar? 



bcwaiUiif 



