moral, woe unto that man or that government that dare put forth their hands to sin. Now, man-stealing, is so repugnant to every sentiment of equity and humanity in the breast of man, (and pure nature never lies,) so plainly forbidden in the Bible, and so clearly opposed to the meek and heavenly spirit of the Gospel, that he must have a Hottentot's head or a Manstealer's heart, that would even attempt it's justification.

I am aware that some persons will pretend to make a wide difference betwixt Manstealing and Impressing, alledging, that manstealers stole in order to keep or sell, for life, but impressed men are always liberated at the conclusion of war. So far this is true: but impressed men are compelled into a service for which they have a great aversion, are obliged to serve for less than half the wages they could obtain elsewhere, and, very frequently, they lose their limbs or their lives and how much is this better than

being stolen and sold?

"

It were to be wished that governments could be persuaded that "righteousness exalteth a nation, but that sin is a reproach to any people.' Would they but examine the bible, they would find that nothing provoked the Lord to anger and vengeance, against nations, families and: individuals, so much as the oppression of the poor. Idolatry, unrighteous dealings and grinding the faces of the poor, were the principal crimes that drew down the judgments of heaven upon the fallen nations in Bible-History :

and

and the terms of reconciliation which God generally proposed were, to put away lying vanities, that is, Idols; to judge the fatherless, plead for the widow, and let the captive go free." Now, that which pleased the Lord anciently will please him now, for "he changeth not," but is "the same yesterday, to-day and

for ever."

Another of the manifold evils of war, is, the system of robbery and destruction, which the belligerent parties reciprocally practice upon the seas, by privateering and otherwise; for, to say nothing of the murder that is commonly added to the plunder, it must prove extremely ruinous. A ship frequently contains property to a great amount, and therefore, its capture must be severely felt, even where it is not attended with utter ruin. But this iniquitous practice is still more deplorable, on account of its commonly affecting peaceable people, who have neither heart nor hand in warfare, and whose sentiment it is to deprecate all wars. If the losses sustained by sea robberies were always to fall on the authors and abettors of war, it would be matter of joy rather than regret, and we might soon expect a plan to be laid down for a universal and permanent peace! Nor do the mischiefs of sea robbing subside when war terminates; for men, who have been for several years together, living by violence and plunder, and have sometimes earned fifty or an hundred pounds in half an hour, will hardly Submit to work twelve hours for a few shillings!

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Where

Wherefore, some of these disciples who have got their education in time of war, make excellent houfebreakers and highwaymen in time of

peace!

WARRIORS are a nuisance to the world, even in time of peace; for they spend the prime of their lives either in idleness, or in learning mischief and murder, which is much worse; besides consuming the bread that others have earned, and wearing the clothing which themselves never laboured to produce. Let a man of mere common sense, be brought from a country where soldiers are not in being, and let him see a regiment parade all in a row, and face to the right and left; and wheel, and form a straight line again; then learn to prime and load, and fix their bayonets, &c. &c. then let him observe these soldiers spend the rest of the day; some betaking themselves to cleaning of gaiters, and buttons, and muskets; others to combing and tying each other's hair, and daubing their heads with soap or tallow, and then with flour. Others of them to mounting guard and placing centinels to take care, generally, where no care is wanted. Others, again, to playing at cards, or cribbage, or drinking, or talking all manner of profaneness. Then, let him behold Dragoon soldiers spend much of their time in currying and brushing, in combing the manes and clipping the tails of idle horses, which are daily eating the children's bread, and are kept for the fole purpose of destroying mankind and devastating the world.

Would

Would he not exclaim, and is it thus that rational beings are spending their precious time? beings who are to give an account of the deeds done in the body; and who are sent into the world (not to clean muskets and clip horses' tails, but) to learn wisdom and practice holi-,

ness ?"

Celebacy, is another of the pernicious effects resulting from the profession of a-soldier. The situation of a military man renders marriage almost impracticable, at least an imprudent step: wherefore, we find the greatest part of these men are batchelors from necessity. But whatever constraints, political systems and human devices may force upon men, the bent of nature cannot easily be changed; the propensity. remains even when the power is gone: hence, the soldier, who is but too frequently devoid of religion, often adds the enormous sin of debauchery,* to those of murder and plunder. As. to commissioned officers, many of them are in times of peace, through idleness and fulness of bread, a sort of Licensed Gallants, ranging about almost where they please, "flown with insolence and wine," robbing wives of their virtue

A foldier going into a fhop in Manchefter, one evening, to purchafe fome trifling article, was addreffed by the shop owner, with, well, what they are going to fend your Regiment away to-morrow, I hear;' yes,' rea plied the foldier, with much more truth thanmodefty, We are going away, but we fhall leave you three Regiments in our ftead.' What Regiments are they, pray? Why a Regiment of W****s, a Regiment of Cuckolds, and a Regiment of Baftards !'

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and

and bereaving maids of their innocence. Let not this language be thought too severe, for, I have seen more of this description of men than falls to the lot of many to witness. Besides, as a sort of popular proof, of what I have advanced, I advert to the judicial trials that have taken place within the last twenty years, -for Crim. Con., and, it will be seen in a moment, that military men have had more than their proportionate share in the guilt of them.

I have often wondered that those Gentlemen who have money enough to purchase a commission, have not wisdom enough to prefer a domestic and philosophic life. The study of the works and word of God, afford unknown delights, even in this world, and in the world to come life everlasting. What hair-brained madness then must it be, to pay down a large sum of money for a piece of paper called a commission, and which confers no higher a prerogative on the possessor than that of a power to kill or be kilied, or to "feek the bubble reputation even in the cannon's mouth." Very few commissioned officers come to be Generals, for in times of peace there is a general stillness in regard to promotions, and in time of war the many promotions which take place among officers, arise from the slaughter made of them; and it is well known that officers are more the objects of deAtruction in the field of battle, if known, than private soldiers; and, if they do not go to the field of battle when called, they are disgraced and contemned.

Finally;