Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1817-11-04
From ,he Connecticut Coursnt.
REFLEC rIONS ON WAR.

Is
Sermon entitled siRefectsons on Far,
which was preached by the Rev. Robert
Hall, Baptist Minister, at the baptist
meeting in Cambridge Eng on the day
for thanksgiving for general peace. The
sentiments contained in the extracts, are no
less seasonable than Just and weighty. For,
as the madness of war is over for the pres
ent, il is now the proper time to reflect Sc
riousiy upon its dreadful calami'ies, and The
immoraities and denominations that ever FOL
low in it's train.
The Reverend author, in taking view
of the situation ofthe countries which be-
came the scene Of hostlities, observes
How dreadful to hold every thing a.
the mercy OF an enemy, and TO receive lie
itself as boon dependent upon the sword
How boundless The fears which such sit
uation must inspire, where the issues OF lite
and death are determined by no known
laws, principles or Customs, and no conjec-
ture can be formed Of our destiny, except as
far as ii is dimly decyphered in characters
OF blood, in the dictates OF revenge and cap
rice fpower. Conceive but for moment
the CONSERVATION which the approach of an
invading army would impress upon the
peaceful villages in this neighbourhcod
When you have placed yourselves for an
instant in that situalion, you will learn 10
sympathize with those unhappy countries
which have sustained the ravages of arms.
But how is it possible to give you an idea
ofthese horrors ? Here you behold rich
harvests, the bounty OF heaven, and the &C.
ward Of industry, consumed In moment,
or tramplec under foot, while famine and
pestilence follow the s.eps OF desolation.
There the cottases of the peasants given
up 70 the flames, mothers expiring through
fear, not for themselves, but their infants
the inhabitants flying with their helpless
babes 10 all directions, miserable, fugitives
on their native soil In another par: you
witness opulent cities taken by storr1;; the
streets, where no sounds We're heard but
those Of peaceful Industry, Glled on sud-
den with slaughter and blood, resounding
with the cties of the pnsuing and pui sued;
the palaces of mobiles demolished, the hou-
ses of.he rich pillaged, the chastity OF yir-
gins and oil NATIONS violated, and every age
sex and rank, mingled in promiscuous mas
sacre and ruin."
In another part of his discourse, Mr..
Hall has the following remarks on The
dreadful corruption OF morals, which war
occasions:
The injury which the morals OF "a peo,
pie sustain from ID invading army is prodi-
gious. The agitation and suspense uni
versally prevalent, are incompatible with
every thing which requires, calm thought
or serious rt election In such si;netion,
is il any wonder that duties ofpie,y fall into
neglect, the sanctuary Of Con is torsaken,
and the gates of Zion mourn ard are DESC
late Famihaiised 10 the sight OF raTine
and slaughter, TIE people must acquire a
hard and un!seling character The preca-
rious tenure by which every thing is held
during the absence Of laws, must impair
confidence the sudden revolutions of for
tune mus, be infinitely favourable 10 fraud
and injustice. He that r, fleets on these
consequences, will not think it too much 10
affirm, thatihe injury the virtue OF people
sustains from invasion, is greater than that
which effects their property or their live. !.
lie will perceive that by such q calamity,
The seeds oil order, virtue and picty, which
is the frs, care of education 10 implant and
mature, are swept away as by hurricane"
How little is all this regarded by po,cn-
.ates, Statesmen and Legislators, and how
little mindful are they of their awful res
possibility, when, tor light causes, OF TO
CRAFTY their resentments, or TO subserve
their personal interests, they plunge their
countries into war
Something Remarkable. AT dinner Of
the Agricultural Society al Brig hon, were
produced some black morocco leather and
a pair of lady's shoes, which were manu-
fac,ured from The skin al goat which WAS
alive the same day in Charlesiown. The
animal was Killed, stripped Of his skin,
which was curried and tanned, and pair
of shoes made from il in less than twelve
/ hours.--Hsf. Iaf.