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Morse, Rev. Jedediah D.D. Medford.-3.

Bartlett, Abner Esq. Osgood, Rev, David D.D. Swan, Dr. Daniel

Weymouth.-3.

Harding, Capt. J.

Lovell, Dr. J.

Norton, Rev. Jacob

Andover.-2.

Farrar, Samuel Esq.
Pearson, Rev. E. LL. D.

Billerica.-3.

Cummings, Rev. H. D.D.
Whitman, Rev. N.
Mansfield, Isaac, Esq.
Medway.-2.

Lovell, Joseph, Esq.
Richardson, Dr. Abijah
Northampton.-2.
Strong, Hon. Caleb
Tappan, Benjamin Esq.
Plymouth.-2.

Bramhall, B. Esq.
Spooner, Nathaniel Esq.

Waltham.-2.

Gore, Hon. Christopher
Ripley, Rev. Samuel
Braintree -1.

Storrs, Rev. R S.

Bolton-1.

Allen, Rev. Isaac

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The whole number of members is 349. If any names or titles have been omitted, or incorrectly given, it has been unintentional.

DR. FRANKLIN'S VIEWS OF WAR.

"We make daily great improvements in natural— there is one I wish to see in moral philosophy;-the dis covery of a plan that would induce and oblige nations to settle their disputes without first cutting one another's throats. When will human reason be sufficiently improved to see the advantage of this? When will men be convinced that even successful wars at length become misfortunes to those who unjustly commenced them, and who triumphed blindly in their success, not seeing all its consequences? Your great comfort and mine in this war is that we honestly and faithfully did every thing in our power to prevent it." Letter to Dr. Price, Feb. 1780.

Erratum. p 31, 1. 11. read-“ enclosed in your letter. With," &c.

N. B. The part of Mr. Jay's letter which has not been given contained an acknowledgement of a letter and pamphlets from Mr. Lord, some extracts from the letter, and the reasons for Mr. Jay's not writing then, except to Mr. Lord. The extracts expressed Mr. Lord's views of the Editor of the Friend of Peace, which could not with propriety be published in this work.

THE

FRIEND OF PEACE.

No. XII.

EXAMPLE OF A JUST AND NECESSARY WAR.

THE King of Prussia, Frederic II. in describing the state of Europe when he commenced his military career, observes-"The intestine troubles of England prevented the nation taking part in the war of 1733. War soon after broke out with Spain contrary to the wishes of the court." The city merchants produced the ears of the English smuggler, which had been cut off by the Spaniards, before the House of Commons. The bloody robe of Cesar displayed by Anthony before the Roman people, caused not sensations more strong at Rome than these ears excited in London; the minds of men were agitated, war was tumultuously determined on, and the ministry were obliged to consent." Vol. 1, p. 23.

In speaking of the same event, page 20, the King says, "The cutting off an English sailor's ears kindled the fire, and the armaments of the two nations cost immense sums; trade suffered, and according to custom merchants and private persons expiated the follies of the great."

This is an example of a war which was doubtless regarded as just and necessary on both sides-in which each nation accused the other of being the aggressor, and claim

ed to itself the honour of fighting in self-defence; a war too in which many lives were sacrificed and "immense sums" of money expended.

On that awful occasion, we may presume, there was, on each side, the most solemn appeals to God in regard to the justice of the cause; each party protesting its innocency, its disposition for peace, and at the same time uttering the most unfounded calumnies against the other. The presses were employed in publishing libels and inflamma tory harangues to rouse the passions of the multitude, and excite to vengeance. The ministers of religion, in each nation were called upon to employ their influence both with their respective countrymen and their God-to excite in men the spirit of revenge and war, and to beseech the God of mercy to aid the armies and fleets in their attempts to murder and destroy.

To revenge the wrong of cutting off a smuggler's ears the people of England could bring on themselves the curse of a bloody and expensive war, expose thousands of their citizens to a hundred fold greater sufferings than the smuggler endured; and that too without the least prospect of any advantage to him, or any thing of the nature of redress for the wrong sustained. But such is the madness which usually accompanies the war fever. A great portion of the wars between christian nations have had no better foundation than the one reported by Frederic.

Now what can be thought of the understanding, the disposition and the morals of a people, who could thus offer hecatombs of human sacrifices on the altar of revenge; boldly make God, a party in their quarrels; pray for his aid in the work of murder; call the field of manslaughter "the field of glory," hold out the honours of martyrdom to induce deluded mortals wantonly to expose their lives to retaliate injuries; and still hope for salvation through the blood of him who was meek and forgiving, who never rendered evil for evil, and who made the spirit.

of forgiveness in men one towards another a condition of their obtaining forgiveness of God!

Let it not, however, be imagined that such madness and inconsistency has been peculiar to the people of England; the distemper has been prevalent in every country in Christendom, not excepting our own. The same delusive and revengeful principles have been openly avowed in the United States, not only as just and honourable but as essential to the preservation of our liberty and independence; and the spirit, which these principles are adapted to cherish, is what has obtained with many the name of patriotism. The instigators of public war, to revenge the loss of a smuggler's ears, were the renowned patriots of England; and the name of patriot is readily assumed in any country by revengeful men, who are disposed to involve nations in war. But such patriotism is as unreflecting as it is inhuman; it occasions destruction at home as well as abroad; it is the spirit of the Goths and Vandals, and is both a curse and a reproach to any people. That must be a barbarous "love of one's own country" which will voluntarily expose it to be filled with slaughter and wretchedness, to revenge the petty injuries done by another people. It is no better than that love of family which induces a man to cut the throats of his wife and children to save them from the evils of poverty or reproach, or the love of self which disposes a man to blow out his own brains to avoid the infamy of another's rising above him.

REVIEW OF DR. FRANKLIN'S ACCOUNT OF WAR.

THE views which Dr. Franklin entertained of war may be collected from the following extracts :

"I join with you most cordially in rejoicing at the return of peace. I hope it will be lasting, and that mankind will at length, as they call themselves reasonable creatures,

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