others; and although I'do not expect to see revivals of peace, as we now see revivals of religion, yet my children, I believe, will seewhen revivals of religion will more certainly be followed by peace on earth.. Your obliging favor of the 6th, was received last evening. Since you left us, I have turned over the subject of war more than I had ever done before, and am more in- William has finished,. but recently, the clined to regard it as one of the great preju- work left on his hands. We shall have, I' dices by which the world has been always think, a highly respectable Peace Society. both morally and civilly enslaved. I would I will not answer that it will be kept in very not say that war, slavery, intemperance, active operation, unless you will favour us &c. &c. &c., may not have been necessary occasionally with an inspiring visit. as effects of human depravity, but no far- I am, Dear Sir, with very respectful conther necessary than is their cause. They sideration, your obedient servant, grow not out of any physical constitution, or political organization, and promote no useful, public, or individual ends, but are the offspring of forbidden lust, and a out in opposition to all the best interests of man. When the reason of man shall have been corrected by the Gospel, and his heart sanctified by the grace of God, wars will of course cease. It will never be thought necessary for good men to fight. N&. LORD. Dart. Coll. April 14ht, 1831: DEAR UNCLE, Your letter was received this evening, and agreeably to your request, I sit down to write you an account of the Peace movements in Hanover. After you left here, I Still good men, for the present, hold to went round as you desired, and carried the the old prejudice, as if war belonged to paper relating to the congress of nations tothe same class of evils with fevers, or phren- the Faculty, the more respectable citizens, zy. They do not admit the full designed ef- and the Students. I likewise carried round fect of the word and spirit of God upon their the Constitution of the Peace Society. Since minds. Christian nations do not, pacific then the papers have been kept in waiting sentiments do not, keep pace with evangeli--for some opportunity to send them to Bos-ral sentiments. Here the importance of ton. As it was your request that they meeting the case, not only by preaching the should be sent by private conveyance, we gospel, but by efforts to remove from the haye not thought proper to transmit them mind, that which hinders the full effect of by mail. No private opportunity has ofthe gospel. Special effort to correct men fered itself however, nor is one likely to, at on the subject of war, is just as important present, I shall therefore endeavour to get as on the subject of slavery, or intempe- a few more signatures, and to send them on And by the same rule prayer is im- to-morrow as you directed. You may have portant, that God would dispose the minds been surprized at my delaying so long to of men to receive his truth and obey it, on write, I should have written before, but I this subject, as on all others, and that he thought you would not wish to hear, until would so order the circumstances of men every thing was settled, and the papers sent as to favor the practice of evangelical sen on. Since you left, I have heard the subtiments, and principles, and prevent the ject of peace frequently agitated in college; desolations, and miseries, which good men your addresses opened a new field of inquieven, might otherwise ignorantly occasion. ry to the minds of most; and the remark I heartily approve of your views on the has been made by not a few, that they nesabject of prayer, with reference to the ver viewed the subject in the light you precause of peace. I believe that success de- sented it, before; and thus, they thought it pends on the divine blessing, as to this kind a duty to interest themselves in the cause. of benevolent effort, not less than as to The Peace Tracts lic upon the table in the rance. reading rooms, with the Reviews and Peri- The number of those who have become odicals, and are looked over by the students Mr. R. Lang, Mr. W. H. Hoit, Mr. J. C. Webster, Mr. J. C. Bodwell, Mr. J. J. Bradley. members of the Society are, Faculty, 8 Citizens, 6 Students, 83 97 Total Those who have signed the papers for the Faculty, 8 Citizens, 7 Students, 73 88 Total. M. Olcott, Esq. Dr. Oliver, and others on the Plain, with the exception of one, (Judge Farrer) expressed pleasure in putting down their names to the papers, so likewise did, the students. The object was favourably Directors. spoken of, and the cause will, I hope, prosper, and be the means of doing good. The subscription to the Harbinger, has not as yet been attended to, I will immediately interest myself in obtaining names. Your affectionate nephew, WM. H. LADD.. Mr. J. C. Webster, Treasurer. From the Christian Mirror. STRICTURES ON MRS. HEMANS' POEMS. pointed. Shakspeare has given us some: vivid pictures of the calamities of war; but the Christian only, can feel its evil as It is because I feel, and not because it ought to be felt. Shakspeare's spirit I am ignorant of the power of poetry, is of the earth; his eagle genius soared that I deplore the almost universal des- high, but spread its pinions in the rays ecration of it to blazon the crimes, mis- of an earthly sun,-it went not beyond named glories, of war. In those peri- the attraction of time. In not one of ods of the world when the religion em- his dramatic works have I found a charbraced a mythology, which seems to acter to which I could give unhesitating have been permitted to humble the pride and unqualified approbation. They are of that intellect which it certainly bur- said to pourtray the nature of man with Mesques, with a morality corrupted by the utmost precision. I will not quesadhesion to it, I cannot wonder that po- tion the assertion. But if it be true, ets devoted their powers to the celebra- tell me what man is?-Seldom more tion of warlike deeds. In a tomb we than a selfish, proud, vindictive being, look for death, for all which makes the or else a being given to the most degrasoul quail. In the regeneration,-in the ding pleasures; his highest character coming forth of man to a new world distinguished from his meanest, as in over which the spirit of immortality ancient times the votary of Mars from breathes, and its Sun stands in glory, the swinish victim of Circe. Milton we look for life and beauty, and truth. had another spirit. Filling his urn from When we go over the field of English the fountain of truth, he sent out a poetry, we find ourselves sorely disap- purer radiance than any preceding po 1831.] 17 et; nor has one, that I know, yet mani- much. Yet I am unwilling to see them fested a soul more deeply imbued with pass without stricture; especially, as pacific feelings. Yet even he did not they are so commonly admired for their surmount every prejudice of his age. moral sentiments, and have even been He loved liberty, as every good mind exhibited, if I am not mistaken, in con does; but he retained the error, almost trast with Byron's, as a model of Chris universal even now, that war imparts or tian excellence. Those passions which poetry depicts recalls its life,-that it is either the weapon which brings the godlike form out when its subject is war, are the love of of the head of tyranny, or the harp which liberty, of power, of revenge and of glowins it back from captivity. Cowper, ry. The love of liberty is neither more with all the gentleness of his nature nor less than the desire of following our and all his Christian benevolence, failed own choice without restraint, in other to discern the guilt attached to a war-words the desire of self-control. It is like spirit, and speaks, with the genuine a noble or a vicious passion as the choice air of heroism, of the glorious fall of Wolfe upon the lap Of smiling victory that moment won. is directed to a virtuous or criminal course-as in the regulation of our own actions would do good or do evil. The devoted martyr might ask freedom, that Yet this victory was won in a cause he may help the progress of truth. The which Johnson,-who, though more un- imprisoned pirate is agitated far more friendly to war than most of our writers, strongly by the passion of liberty, that was by no means in the habit of oppos- he may gratify propensities which make ing the dominant party,-denounced as him miserable when shut up with himonly the quarrel of two robbers for the self-Liberty is power; but it is power in a form different from what it comspoils of a passenger." As to war with many other subjects, monly assumes-power, not over othIt is time ers, but over ourselves, not tyranny but a new era has commenced. that our poets were aware of it,-that self-direction. When the love of powthey anticipate, and urge forward a er is confined to the latter; when it cause, in which, save in the songs of seeks dominion over ourselves connectprophets and of angels, melody has sel-ed with a beneficent influence over othdom been employed. To see them en-ers, it is a generous feeling, demandgaging in this great work,-and their ed both by direct precepts, and by the art is in debt to the world for deep and general spirit of our religion. When it protracted injuries, nor has it yet pro- mounts higher, a spring to physical domised indemnity,—would give new im- minion over the possessions, the lives, pulse, besides its power to rescue the the relations, the actions, the words and world from error, would impart a mea- the thoughts of men, it is equally ungesureless influence,--to the single-handed nerous and unchristian.--The love of From females glory when exorbitant as it must be to champions of Peace. especially we ought to expect devotion seek its end in the slaughter and subjuto a work so congenial to the best feel-gation of natious, can never be defendings of their nature. That the day ed as consistent with benevolent feelhas dawned, and the light is deepening ings, or with the spirit of Christ.-Reand spreading, by the agency of man, it venge is a passion, of which the very is time that in another part of the hea- name is odious. That thesc passions may be depicted vens we should see an eclipsing lustre, without danger, if they are divested of -woman like "another morn risen,' their splendid appendages, is true, perwould we might add on "mid-noon," at least to help onward the full day- haps though not without room for doubt. Whether they are described in beam. I wish not to disparage the poems of a favourable manner or the reverse, in Mrs. Hemans. I wish to concede to the poems of Mrs. Hemans, is now the them all they can claim; and for delica- enquiry. To this enquiry, however recy of thought, for richness of distinction luctant to admit the conclusions, I must and splendor of imagery they can claim answer in the negative. VOL. I.-3 Now charge once more! God is with Spain and Santiago's sword First, the ultimate effect of her larger poems, the Siege of Valencia, the Vespers of Palermo, and the League of the Alps, is to render military enthusiasm attractive and sublime. This effect is secured by having embodied in her favorite characters, as Gonzalez, Rai- I wish not to withhold from any their mond, and the Swiss peasants, nay, even due. I grant that in this fiction there are in her best females, Ximena and Con- bright gleamings of grandeur. But they stance, all which is fascinating in the are all sullied by a spirit-the spirit spirit of war, separate from its savage- which men have too long extolled-the ness, and in her battles all their mag-reverse of that which Jesus felt and ennificence, the tall plumes, the standards joined. A mind to suffer every thing flung in glory to the wind, the proud rather than surrender a nation's liberty, steeds, The very nature and high soul of man, to yield one's children to the sword, while the heart yearns tenderly over them, rather than brook meanness or treachery, is a noble spectacle. It is while the unutterable agonies and the more. It is an inspiring example. It demoniac rage which form the elements, makes us feel the nobleness of our naare scarcely seen,-if seen, only as dim ture. It raises us as thinking, and feelfigures traced on the distant outline and ing, and active beings. Where then is lost behind brighter images. the defect of this drama? Simply that To be more particular. Some of my with all this nobleness, the spirit of war readers may need to be informed, that is blended throughout,-is, I had almost while Gonzalez, is governor of Valencia, said, identified. The proud heart, the this city is besieged by Abdullah, the fire of ambition, the fury of vengeance, Chief of a Moorish army. Alphonzo mingle with every motion of virtue, and Carlos, two sons of the Spanish nerve every purpose of freedom. It is Governor, are taken by the Moors; the too often forgotten that true heroism-condition of their ransom is the surren- all which ever appears in war to deder of the city; the only alternative is serve our admiration-may exist in a the destruction of the noble captives. higher form and free from the wicked Elmina, the wife of Gonzalez, under the passions which war demands and proinfluence of maternal feelings, swerves duces, in the bosom of the humblest for a time from her loyalty, and, finding Christian. To endure oppression withher way by disguise into the Moorish out servility and without reproach, to camp, engages as the price of her sons' bear injury without revenge, to love an ransom, to open a certain gate to the enemy, and pray for him and do him enemy. Gonzalez remonstrates-pre- good; to resist the temptations to indovents the execution of the design-en- lence, to covetousness and self-indulgages in battle with Abdullah. Mean- gence; to pass unshaken in our piety time, Ximena, his heroic daughter, and our hope of immortality through all having before performed every office which is prosperous and all which is adfor the wounded soldiers, and now ex- verse in life, oh, this is virtue, this is cited a band of citizens to rescue the courage; here is the field on which town, dies from love concealed till the man's bravest battle is fought and his hour of her death, to a youthful war- brightest garlands gathered! Hither rior slain in his country's battles. Her our nature summons its mightiest enermother's spirit is roused anew. Gon-gies! But here is no pride, no towerzalez enters mortally wounded; but ing ambition, no dark and destroying hearing that the city is stormed, he vengeance. goes forth supported by his wife, to see There is pride, there is vaunting amthe issue, and at the moment when the bition, there is lowering vengeance, in Moors are overcome by the Prince and the best scenes of the Siege of Valencia, power of Castile, he expires animating blending with the very elements of its the Spaniards with his last breath: virtues. There is each of these vices in the Vespers of Palermo, connected in rosity, with pride, ambition, and reevery patriot except Raimond with base venge. deception, with the degrading sentiment Nor from this fault are her smaller that those who have violated the rights poems all exempt. No suspicion seems of others, may be treated with uncere- to have reached her that war is a commonious treachery. Even of Raimond, bination, a close-wrought tissue, of evil the noblest of the patriotic band, who passions and evil actions, whose first spurned deceit and could tolerate naught and chief result is misery which passbut open daring and deed, the ruling es description. That she felt the enpassion was intense and inextinguish chantment of war is evident even from able thirst of military renown. Oh my soul from boyhood's morn Hath mus'd such mighty dreams! It was my hope To leave a name, whose echo from the abyss of time Should rise and float upon the winds, A trumpet-sound, a voice from the deep tomb, A warlike spirit pervades also the her Table of Contents. The Sword of the Tomb-The Cavern of the three Tells-Swiss Song on the Anniversary of an ancient Battle-The Bended Bow -Coeur-de-Lion at the bier of his Father-England's Dead-The Sleeper on Marathon-Trumpet- these are some of which the very name announces the character. I make no apology for presenting one of them almost entire : Son of the ocean isle! Where sleep your mighty dead? Go, stranger! track the deep, On Egypt's burning plains Secondly, as an ultimate effect, a grand sentiment excited by the whole plot and conduct of these poems, is military enthusiasm, so a selection of detached passages, however promiscuously made, would aid the same effect. The good tendency of many sublime portions of Paradise Lost has sometimes been doubted on the ground of their attaching to the apostate spirits a moral dignity suf ficient to surround their crimes with splendor. Yet Milton is studiously careful to prevent this effect, to show us that their deeds as well as words, whatever may be their semblance of worth, are devoid of its substance. In this he imitated the arrangements of Divine Providence. As if to exercise our powers of moral discrimination, or to try our attachment to virtue, God often permits in one character manifest imperfection and And far by Ganges' banks at night, great excellence, leaving, however, nothing which is attractive in the imperfection itself. Could this high example be universally followed in the creations of For mind, could war be described by poets precisely as it appears in the campandon the field, I should have no fear as to the moral effect. Such descriptions they do But let the angry sun The hurricane hath might Is heard the tiger's roar. But let the sound roll on those that from their toils are gone, Loud rush the torrent-floods, not furnish. Mrs. Hemans has not fur-And free in green Columbia's woods nished them. Her best passages combine with the course of the action to leave one impression, to jumble together, as Locke might have it, the right and the wrong, the spirit of liberty and of gene-|| The hunter's bow is strung. But let the floods rush on! |