No. 244.] 271 



Christianity commands, and which combine to promote the moral 

 dignity and elevation of the human station in its aspect of labor, 

 for which Christianity contends. In this connection the fact has 

 been very striking to my notice, and has arrested my meditation 

 among the beauties of the gorgeous scene which you have arrayed, 

 not only what peaceful time, and secure and protected hours have 

 been employed, over which the aegis of just and equal laws has been 

 spread by day and night; but how peaceful is the very nature and 

 language of the articles themselves; — one little case of pistols, as 

 far as I could see, is the only preparation for war and death, or even. 

 for human suffering, in your whole collection, and that surrounded, as 

 you have placed it, by confectionary, looked like a scowling stranger 

 there — a tatooed New-Zealander among the smiling children of 

 Christian America. I could not but think as I noticed it, that hu- 

 man skill, after all, was more honorably and profitably employed in 

 making sugar-plums than pistols; and that better, even, are the 

 vainest provisions for individual luxurious indulgence, than the most 

 consummate productions of art for mutual destruction among men. 

 Let us labor, at any rate, to nail up the doors of Janus, for our 

 people, however comparatively trifling may be their employments 

 around. 



The effect of this display of skill in your exhibition, upon every 

 mind is peaceful and happy. No immoral lesson is taught there; no 

 revenge or licentiousness, or appetite for blood, or even covetousness 

 for plunder, is excited by the scene. Humanity, kindness and virtue, 

 and reverence for the propt-rty and rights of men, are cultivated there, 

 and under the influence of the moral dignity and elevation which 

 are there displayed, men feel happier and better, more contented and 

 more encouraged, as they mingle with the throng, and returi^ again 

 to their various homes. In this very influence, you are doing a great 

 work for the moral benefit of your country — uniting in the spirit of 

 brotherhood and affection all your fellow-citizens, by encouraging 

 the arts of peace, and accomplishing much to resist the dominion of 

 lust, and the anarchy of crime. 



But beyond this, the elevating influence of your association is felt 

 in the encouragement of mul1itud:;s of mind to future efforts. You 

 are thus doing much to enlarge the future greatness, and to adorn and 

 substantiate the peaceful glory of your country. How pleasant it is 

 to see our youth interested and engaged in such a scene as this! I 

 have watched them as they have intently examined some beautiful 

 products of skill — striving to understand the operations of some liv- 



