So* Congress for the Prevention of War. 



To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 



SIR, 



AMONG several frivolous and un- 

 founded charges against tlie poe- 

 tical character of Lord Bjron, jour cor- 

 respondent W, N. accuses him of steal- 

 ing from Burke the idea of the following 

 lines — 



" Had her eye in sorrow wept, 



A thousand warriors forlh had leapt, 



'a thousand swords had sheathlcss shone." 



And adds, " to the meanness of borrow- 

 ing, the poet has added the folly of sup- 

 posing that a generous sympathy could 

 exist for a secluded female in an eastern 

 court, where such chivalrous notions 

 are not only wholly unknown, but 

 would be esteemed highly criminal." 



Now, sir, it unfortunately happens, 

 that this " eastern court," where chival- 

 rous notions were wholly unknown, was 

 the court of Fcrrara, in Italy ; and this 

 " secluded female," Parisina, wile of the 

 Marquis of Este. Y, B. 



jTo tlie Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 

 SIR, 



ACONSTANT reader of the Monthly 

 Magazine, having seen, in the pos- 

 session of a friend, a work of Reinec- 

 cius, entitled " Janua Lingua He- 

 hraiccE," takes this method of enquiring 

 in what estimation it is held as a mean 

 of biblical knowledge ; and would be 

 gratified* by an answer from any of 

 your learned correspondents acquainted 

 with it. 



South Petherton. 



To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 



SIR, 



IT has frequently excited wonder in 

 the minds of the contemplative, that 

 nations can discover no other means of 

 composing their differences except by 

 the murder of innocent men, who sel- 

 dom carc for, or comprehend, the cause 

 of the quarrel. Such kind of reflexions 

 naturally present themselves at the ter- 

 mination of a war, in all respects, unpa- 

 ralleled in the history of tlie world ; for 

 the numbers engaged on both sides, their 

 mutual skill and valour, for the perse- 

 vering obstinacy of the contest, the im- 

 mensity of the slaughter, and, above ail, 

 for its ti'iumphaut and satisfactory issue. 

 One might naturally infer that a remedy 

 for this most dreadful of human calami- 

 ties will not easily be found, when we 

 consider that the late war was waged 

 tjy nations the most celebrated for civili- 

 zation and knowledge; and tliat these 

 qualities, which arc in their ualure the 



[Jan. ly 



most opposite to war, and which ought 

 to have discouraged and repressed it, 

 have been the cause of protracting it, 

 and accumulating its evils. 



My design at present is not to propose 

 a digested plan, but to invite .some dc- 

 g-rcc of attention to the idea of a pcrma- 

 jient nnivcrsai peace. If Europe could 

 unite in an inviolable compact of this 

 kind, it might silence the turbulence of 

 war almost throughout the world. It 

 will be obvious that no engagement to 

 this purpose, however solemnly ratified, 

 would be of any avail, unless there be 

 formed a par.amomit conventionel po^^er 

 to enforce if. Such a power could exist 

 no-w here except in an annual congress, 

 consisting of depulies from every Euro- 

 pean power; there to determine national 

 differences in the council, instead of llie 

 field. To guard the general interests of 

 Europe, by some such systematic plan, 

 would surely be preferable to fho.se par- 

 tial and irregular efforts formerly made 

 to promote mutual safety under thenaine 

 of supporting a balance of power. From 

 an assembly composed of the wisest and 

 mo.st experienced persons in Europe, aU 

 equally interested in its happiness, it is 

 not to be thought that violent change, or 

 rapacious usurpation, would ever origi- 

 nate. Such a proposal, from its novelty 

 and extent, will, I know, by many, be 

 accounted visionary; but those who 

 chusc to bestow upon it a little patient 

 consideration will perhaps find that no 

 formidable objection will occur; if is not 

 complicated in theory, nor docs it ap- 

 pear diffictdt in practice. Extensive 

 combinations have generally been frus- 

 trated by a variety of jarring interests, 

 by antient prejudices, and by passion* 

 generated on the occasion; none of fheso 

 almost invincible obstacles here occur. 

 One object only presents itself to view, 

 founded on the most obvious and simp)* 

 law of our nature, and which, indeed, all 

 beings ardently desire — profit and secui; 

 rify. Erom what (juarter then can disr 

 putes or difficulties possibly ari.sc? Can 

 the equal advantage of all kindle any 

 jealousies? The greater states caimot 

 object to the pernianent possession of 

 their extensive territories; while the 

 lesser ones, no more exposed to the in- 

 sults of their powerful neighbours, will 

 rejoice in the idea of legal aud complete 

 security. 



The superior general court of Europe, 

 which I propose, will, in a few years, ac- 

 quire stability and veneration, not only 

 from the powers witli which it is in- 

 vested; but also from the exjperience of 



