Several of the pamphlets which have been circulated by the Massachusetts Peace Society, have gone through five or six editions in different parts of this country ;-all of them have been reprinted, excepting the last Circular Letter and the Tenth Number of the Friend of Peace. To the New-England Tract Society, and to several Editors of Newspapers and Periodical Works, this society is under obligations for friendly and gratuitous aid in the good cause.

The Divine influence in favour of peace has not been confined to the United States. We have friends and coadjutors in the neighbouring British Provinces, and in different parts of Europe. In London a Society has been formed for the Promotion of Permanent and Universal Peace, between which and this society a correspondence has commenced. The letter from the London Society, of June 18th, informs that they had then printed 32,000 Tracts, besides 20,000 copies of an Address to the public; and that they were preparing to translate some of their Tracts into foreign languages, and to introduce the subject among the neighbouring nations. From the character of several of their Committee, whose names are known in this country, we may anticipate persevering exertions and favourable results.

In the enumeration of auspicious occurrences, the letlers from His Majesty the Emperor of Russia, and His Excellency Prince Galitzin are worthy of particular notice, as containing a pledge that their "power and influence shall be employed in striving to secure to the nations the blessings of that peace which they now enjoy." Nor should their condescension and goodness be forgotten in sending their letters in our own language. We can hardly conceive how their letters could have more clearly expressed their approbation of the object of the

society, or have been better adapted to encourage cur hearts.

On receiving these letters, believing it would be agree able to Prince Galitzin, the Trustees elected him an Honorary Member of the Massachusetts Peace Societywhich measure they hope will be approved by this meeting.

Many agreeable letters have been received in the course of the year; from which, as well as from verbal intelligence, it appears that prior to the establishment of Peace Societies, a far greater number of Christians than was generally supposed, had been shocked by the contrast between the spirit and practice of war, and the precepts and example of the Messiah. It has also appeared that the minds of other reflecting men have been remarkably open to receive light on the subject of war, and that but little attention has been necessary to convince them, that war is not a fruit of that wisdom which is from above. Some who have doubted the "practicability of abolishing war, have professed a belief that the exertions of Peace Societies will do much good, that they will cause statesmen more seriously to reflect on the subject and thus prevent so frequent a recurrence of the calamity as would otherwise take place. This, it will be perceived, is admitting enough to justify the greatest exertions.

But if it be correct to infer from what has been done with very limited expense and exertion, what might be done by more ample means and efforts, there will be no room to doubt that a hundredth part of the annual expenditures of Christian nations in preparing for war, if judi ciously employed, would be sufficient, in twenty years, to abolish the custom from every country on which the gospel shines.

It does not require a learned education, nor much reflection, to convince men of common sense, that War is the Enemy and Peace the Friend of mankind. What if some men have been enriched by war; is it not obvious that they must have fattened on the spoils and blood of their brethren of another country, or on the toil and oppression of their fellow citizens? What if others complain that they have been impoverished and ruined by peace; is it not clear that the foundation of their bankruptcy was laid in the preceding war, or in their own improvident thirst for gain?-But to one who is a gainer by war, thousands are sufferers; and to one who suffers by peace, thousands are gainers. Besides, the existence of such a custom as war for the settlement of disputes, subjects every thing to hazard, and renders insecure the most prosperous and flourishing conditions of communities and individuals. This year they may be surrounded with every earthly comfort; the next they may be redused to beggary or butchered by an army of ferocious and licensed robbers, urged on by a Christian government !

Not only is war the greatest scourge and curse of nations the means of despotism, oppression, poverty and wo, but it ever involves the most flagrant injustice, and crimes of the deepest die. The fame of the conqueror, which resounds through the world, results from multiplying ten thousand fold the sin of Cain and the most atrocious crimes of unlicensed robbers and pirates. All that one nation gains by war is so much lost to another, er to suffering individuals; and nineteen out of twenty of the conquering nation are real sufferers by what is called a successful war.

To this catalogue of evils we may add, that war is the grand reservatory and hotbed of vice and crime-from which every country is filled with felons, who live by

depredation, till they find their way to the prison or the

gallows.

To effect the abolition of such a custom, what exertions can be too great! Only to save such a town as Boston from the fate of Moscow, or from the usual calamities of a city taken by assault, would justify the expense of a hundred millions of dollars, and ten years of benevolent exertion throughout the United States. If this be doubted, let fancy for a moment apply to this town the sacking of a city taken by storm -a hundred thousand ferocious troops-let loose from all restraint, inflamed by malignity, avarice and lust-plundering or burning your property according to their pleasure-filling your streets and houses with massacre and blood, violation and death! Say not that such a scene in Boston is impossible, For to such horrors every town and city on earth is now liable, in consequence of the popularity which has been giv en to war as a just and honourable mode of deciding the controversies of Rulers. If no means are in operation to prevent it, better adapted to the purpose than preparations, for war, it may safely be said, that Boston is more likely to be sacked within ten years to come, than Moscow was ten years ago. To save this town, and all the towns and cities of the world from such horrible scenes is the object of Peace Societies. Indeed it embraces the virtue and happiness of the whole human family. If then there be any institution in which all mankind are interested, and which claims the favour and patronage of all, such are societies for the abolition of war and the promotion of peace.

Were there only a probability of such partial success as the doubting friends of the society admit, the object would justify the fervent prayers and vigorous exertions of every christian in every country. But there is some

thing more than a probability of partial success; there is a moral certainty of complete success-provided, that exertions be made corresponding with the importance of the object. And every cent which is given in this cause, may be the means of saving a hundred dollars in war taxes;-and what is still more important, every cent may save a soul from death and hide a multitude of sins. For the cause is the Lord's, and he will give effect to benev. olent exertions.

In this age the eye of benevolence has discovered that preventing evil is entitled to the front rank among the various modes of doing good; and that it is much better to prevent pauperism, beggary and crime, by seasonably providing the means of virtuous education and employ ment, than to support paupers, beggars and criminals in a state of idleness and vice. May we not then reasonably presume that it will soon be discovered, that it is much better and cheaper, as well as more christian, to prevent war by pacific means, than to support such a barbarous, expensive and all-devouring custom? And that "the most noble of all ambitions is that of promoting peace on earth and good will to man."

The dire calamities which have recently been felt on both continents-the progressive illuminations of the word of life, and the conciliating tendency of a thousand benevolent institutions, have all conspired to prepare the minds of Christians to listen to the principles of peace, to desire their dissemination, and to co-operate in one form or another to emancipate the world from the guilt, the tyranny and the desolations of war.

In conclusion, it may be proper to indulge a thought on the auspicious coincidence of Anniversaries. This is not only the Anniversary of the Massachusetts Peace Society, but also of the Annunciation of the Pacific Alliance in