4809.] 
tion of philosophy, but were evidently 
more calculated to gratify their owa 
passions, and propensities, than to pro= 
mote the improvement of mankind. 
‘‘ Variety, and originality, were the ob- - 
jects of their adoration, co which they 
sacrificed, without remorse, reason, and 
common sense. Among these persons 
were Mr, Day, (who, from Miss Seward’s 
own accownt of him, was a capricious 
wild enthusiast), Mr. Edgeworth, and 
Sir, Brooke Boothby. Dr. Darwin pro- 
moted their idle schemes, and gave con- 
sequence to their speculations, by the 
reputation of his genius, and the variety 
of his talents. In this coterie, Miss 
_ Seward’s carly impressions were formed 
3n the daily babit of bearing new and 
invenious hypotheses; she became en- 
amoured of novelty, and sighed for the 
meed.of fame, in which she was en- 
couraged, and flattered, by the gallantry 
ef her admirers.” 
Now, Sir, I directly contradict this 
statement ; and if your anonymous cor- 
respondent will put his name to his as- 
-sertions, I will prove, that they cannot 
be true, and will put my name to the 
proof. Your’s, &c. 
ZL. 
EE 
Te the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
HEN a few benevolent English- 
men met together in London, 
twenty years ago, to: commiserate the 
hard case of Somerset, the negro, and to 
endeavour to do something towards alle- 
viating the miseries of the African slaves, 
it was far beyond their most sanguine 
expectations, that their small efforts 
should have led to the noble issue it has 
done :—That the soft voice of humanity 
should, contrary to the maxims of the 
‘world, and the interests of mankind, 
prevail against all opposition; that the 
influence of the rich and powerful, the 
ambitious views of the statesman and 
warrior, the strong efforts of party 
against party, all should stop their career, 
_@nd join together to put an end to the’ 
horrors of the slave-trade. Wealth, 
Power, and Commerce, sacrificing, as it 
were, at the shrine of Pity and Compas- 
sion! ~ Behold a wonder in heaven! the 
angel of benevolence. coming down, 
having great power, and the earth is 
lightened with his glory! 
_ As the world grows more enlightened, 
and the peaceful and benevolent prin- 
ciple of christianity becomes better un- 
derstood; how js it that men, whg call 
z 
4 
Proposed Society for the Abolition of War, 
tS 
themselves by that name, should have 
done so litle towards ridding the world 
of this other great monster, Bedlam, 
horridum Bellum! The system of wars, 
amongst christian princes, wars of ex- 
termination, wars ad internecionem, lose 
their horrid appearance; from having 
glory mixed with them. Certainly, wars. 
of defence are to be justified; but we see 
the business of war and destruction 
carried on, year after year, without any 
specific object, or for objects which are 
unattainable. ‘The prosecution of alk 
wars,, however, produces these fatal 
effects ;—misery and destruction, im tran- 
sud to the peaceful inhabitants of every 
country; it dratus industry of its wealth, 
domestic lite of its peace and happiness, - 
and every country of its hardy peasantry, 
and industrious labourers; while the a@= 
vantave it yields, is copfined to a very 
small number: Moke 
Quicquid delirant reges'plectuntur Achivi. 
Tt may-be urged, perhaps, that this evil 
is a necessary one; that it always existed : 
and that, from the earliest ages of the 
world, mankind were prone to violence 
and war. This may be admitted; but 
if these things are acknowledged as ex- 
isting evils, are we always to suffer under 
them? Was not the christian dispen- 
sation intended to correct this tendency ? 
That governments may exist without 
war, 1s evident; the experiment was 
tried in Pennsylvania, and it succeeded 
better than any of its neighbours, who 
went on the old system. 
In the tune of the Romans, pity was 
considered as a weakness. They steeled 
their minds from infancy - against it. 
They erected nq statue, no altar-to pity. 
Their wars were cruel and “bloody; par-_ 
ticularly with the Samnites. Inthe second 
Punic war, when the Romans teok the 
city of Agrigentum, in Sicily, they deli- 
berately put to the sword every indi- 
vidual inhabitant, man, woman, and 
child, to the number of 80,000; and yet 
none of their historians make the feast 
reflection on the barbarity of it. And, 
amongst the Greeks, their heroes were 
celebrated for their unrelenting ‘tage; 
and to drag a prostrate enemy at -his 
chariot-wheels, was the glory of Achilles. 
But is this the glory of an Enelishman?, 
Does not the freguent and splendid sub- 
scriptions for the.wives and children of 
our dying soldiers and sailors, and even 
for our enemies, sbew a more noble 
spirit, resident in the breasts: ef En- 
glishmen? 
Let 
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