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inferior by nature to the people of the United | who may live to return to their homes will have States. Upon an average they are four or five learned to appreciate the privileges and comforts inches less in stature; and the mental difference of civil life in a civilized land. But many a poor is probably much greater than the physical. In home-sick fellow is destined to enjoy those prithe presence of Americans they appear sensible vileges and taste those comforts no more. Even of this inferiority, submitting moodily to their now, when there is no fighting in the field, and will, however capricious or unreasonable. at the healthiest season of the year, they are dropping like leaves in autumn, and with almost as little attention. There are between eleven and twelve hundred in the hospital at this place, and at nearly every hour of the day the death cart, followed by a file of soldiers, may be seen passing out at the eastern gate of the city. At Jalapa and Perote there is more sickness and mortality than at Vera Cruz; and at every place in this part of Mexico where troops are stationed there are more in the hospitals than can be mustered for duty. Some are slain by guerrillas, some assassinated, and some poisoned by the citizens; but disease, the enemy most dreaded, is mowing them down almost by companies.

Our army exercises full control in the city, occupying the public buildings, and making use of whatever else they have occasion for. The inhabitants pursue their usual avocations, and observe their own laws and civil regulations, subject, however, to military interference at the pleasure of our officers. The citizens are often subjected to military punishment. A few hours after my arrival I saw an American and a Mexican tied up and whipped till they were nearly flayed. Such scenes have been often repeated since, and are of almost daily occurrence. It is a pity this barbarous practice should be retained in our army. War itself, however, being an abrogation of all principles of humanity, in which cities are battered down, and helpless citizens crushed and slaughtered by the thousand because rulers fall out, it would not perhaps be consistent that humanity should characterize any of its

circumstances.

The newspapers of the United States emblazon the pomp and circumstance" of this war, but are almost silent about its miseries. By their loud hurras to the "gallant officers" and laudations of the "brave troops panting for the charge," they would make a man believe it a glorious thing to be a soldier and go to war. The first glance here might possibly only strengthen the delusion; for his eye would be attracted by a host of superior officers, paymasters, and other high functionaries of the army, all glittering in military trappings, whose heavy tread and head erect, fierce moustaches and "terrible aspect," would make him wonder how mere mortals could grow so great! But let him become a private soldier and speak to one of them, and he will perchance learn something of the truth. The dignitary addressed may give him an answer, or he may give him a kick, with a fierce oath whistling through his beard-it depending entirely upon the humor he happens to be in at the time. I have seen privates and inferior officers approaching their superiors, hat in hand, and addressing them with marks of the profoundest respect, treated, on the most capricious and absurd grounds, with such indignity as a dog should not be compelled to bear, and obliged to receive it with dumb submission. Military discipline sinks the common soldier to the grade of brutes in point of rights and consideration; giving to officers the power to insult and abuse him with impunity-a power of which many are unmanly enough to make the most arbitrary use.

The soldiers are heartily tired of the service, and long for the time of their discharge. Those

Ships and steamboats are arriving daily from the United States, crowded with robust recruits, coming like sheep to the slaughter; but are freighted back with a meager company of the disabled and discharged, emaciated and disconsolate, like Charon's ghosts, and carrying home maimed limbs and broken constitutions for life. Such is a glimpse of the reality of war. That I have no part or lot in its concerns, but am permitted to hasten away, as I now do, to the bosom of my family, thanks to the God of peace!

Nat. Intel.

DEFENCE AGAINST DOGS.

Homer informs us, 'Odyssey,' B. 14, that the fury of a dog in attacking an approaching stranger is appeased by the man's sitting down: Soon as Ulysses near the enclosure drew, With open mouths the furions mastiffs flew; Down sat the Sage, and cautious to withstand, Let fall the offensive truncheon from his hand.

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POPE.

That this, even at the present day, is a well-understood mode of defence, appears from a paragraph in Mure's Journal of a Tour in Greece and the Ionian Islands: At Argos, one evening, at the table of General Gordon, then commanding in chief in the Morea, the conversation happened to turn on the number and fierceness of the Greek dogs, when one of the company remarked, that he knew a very simple expedient for appeasing their fury. Happening, on a journey, to miss his road, and being overtaken by darkness, he sought refuge for the night at a pastoral settlement by the way-side. As he approached, the dogs rushed out upon him; and the consequences might have been serious, had he not been rescued by an old shepherd, the Eumæus of the fold, who sallied forth, and finding that the intruder was but a benighted traveller, after pelting

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off his assailants, gave him a hospitable reception in his hut. His guest made some remark on the watchfulness and zeal of his dogs, and on the danger to which he had been exposed in their attack. The old man replied that it was his own fault, for not taking the customary precaution in such an emergency: that he ought to have stopped, and sat down, until some person whom the animals knew came to protect him. As this expedient was new to the traveller, he made some further enquiries; and was assured that if any person in such a predicament will simply seat himself on the ground, laying aside his weapons of defence, the dogs will also squat in a circle round him: that as long as he remains quiet, they will follow his example; but as soon as he rises and moves forward, they will renew the assault.'-Couch's Illustrations · of Instinct.

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Making in this country about 108 miles, while there was not then half that extent in all Europe completed; whereas now there are in this country at least four thousand five hundred miles in constant use, and about six thousand miles completed in Europe-by which the mode of travelling and the transaction of business are nearly revolutionized.

We find also, that coal was selling in New York at that time, for fifteen dollars a ton! and hickory wood at thirteen dollars a cord!! Whereas, at the present time, the first may be got for $5 50 to $6 per ton, and the latter at $7 per cord, delivered. Then the people of New York paid, in winter, 6 to 8 cents a quart for milk, but now they get a better article for 4 to 5 cents. The evidence of the advantage of railroads to the people of New York, may be inferred from the amount of a single article carried on the New York and Erie road, during the past year, viz: ten million quarts of milk-which at the former average price, six cents, would be $600,000, and at the present average price, 4 cents, the saving, on what passes over this road alone, will be $150,000 a year-but, as not more than one-third, if even that proportion of the milk used in the city, comes by this line, the aggregate of economy to the people of New York, on milk alone, one of the smallest items of expense of

housekeeping, is over $450,000 a year!! But New York is not alone. If such are the advantages to New York, from her short lines now in use, how much greater will they be when her roads, now under way, shall be completed.

So with Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Richmond, and other cities, as well as the vast interior of our wide spread country, are just beginning to derive the advantages of the railroad system; and, therefore, we may look for an extension of it, during the ensuing fifteen years, scarcely anticipated now, even by the most sanguine.-Railroad Journal.

MUSINGS OF LIFE AND DEATH.

The life of man may be compared to the life of vegetation in the spring and summer seasons. All seems to be life and animation. The opening bud, the verdant leaf, and beautiful flower, all show forth the wise and wonderful providence of the Lord of nature. So man, in childhood and youth, comes forth fresh and fair as the blossoms of May, with flattering prospects of future life and happiness, though often disappointed in his expectations. Summer comes, when the warmer beams of the sun, and refreshing showers, bring vegetation to a greater degree of perfection, and ripen the golden harvest. So the springtide of life soon passes away with man, and he arrives at a state of maturity, and more fully enters on the labours, cares and business of life, and thus to bear the burden and heat of the day of life. The season of autumn comes. The days shorten, and the beautiful green dress of the forest and orchard turns pale and falls to the ground. But the farmer has much of the fruits of summer to gather and preserve for future use or time of need. He can scarcely accomplish all he wishes till winter comes blustering along, with its fierce north winds, with storms of hail and snow, chilling the streams, and binding the earth as with adamantine chains, and the world of nature looks barren, old, and dead, as if it never could again produce enough to supply the wants of its innumerable family. What then? Must we despair, and famish, and die? Surely not. We will claim the bow of promise, that while the earth remaineth, seed-time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, shall not cease. The earth is not dead, but only asleep. When it has rested awhile, and slept out the cold night of winter, it will wake up refreshed, and produce a resurrection of vegetation, and all will flourish and bloom again. But who will see it we know not. Let every one, then, prepare to meet his God. With men, and women too, autumn may well be compared to the declining years of life when strength fails, and beauty fades. But what fruit have they? Have they been justified through faith, sanctified by grace, and brought forth the fruits of holinessperfect love? Then may they be prepared for

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the winter season of life-old age and death. Then man goeth to his long home; yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he? This is the great question, where is man when he has given up the ghost? We know that the mortal body sleeps in the bosom of its mother earth, but where the immortal mind that never dies is we know not. But let us hear what our Lord said to his disciples: "I go to prepare a place for you. I will come again and receive you to myself, that where I am there ye may be also.' And to the penitent on the cross he said, "Today shalt thou be with me in paradise." And Paul said, "It is far better to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord." Do not these sacred truths plainly say that the immortal spirits of our friends that sleep in Jesus are living in some happy paradise with the Lord, nourished by that bread and water of life whereby it is said believers shall live for ever?

Christian Advocate.

NOVEL SPECULATION.

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A mercantile house at Berlin has proposed to all the railway companies of Germany, to supply all their carriages with silk blinds for nothing. They simply propose to reserve to themselves the right of changing the blinds as often as they please, and they require the companies to engage themselves not to accept, during fifty years, either for money or gratuitously, any blinds but theirs. Their object is to cover the blinds with advertisements.-Railroad Journal.

SCRIPTURAL MUSINGS.

BY A. BEALE, 1831.

Oh! far away from Judah's temple towers,
In hapless exile borne to stranger shores,
By foreign waters, captive Zion wept,
Her lonely harp in silent sorrow slept:
No prophet hand attuned the dulcet chords,
Nor holy seer awakened heavenly words;
No more the temple's tuneful choirs proclaim
The awful honors of Jehovah's name;
The minstrel band no longer dare to raise
The joyful song of Zion's better days:
Their pensive thoughts to Judah's valleys rove,
And mourn the ruin of the land they love;
That land where once luxuriant harvests bow'd,
That blighted gift of an offended God.

No more they roam o'er Palestina's hills,
Through balmy groves, beside refreshing rills;
Or musing o'er the prophet page, recline
Beneath the shady palm, or clustered vine:
No more for them the flowers of Sharon bloom,
Nor Carmel's balmy borders breathe perfume;
The dews of Hermon vainly fall for them,
And idly Jordan rolls his sacred stream:
The Cedar monarch from his lofty throne,
To strangers yields the pride of Lebanon;-
And-deeper grief!-the temple's holy things,
Profaned at banquets of Chaldean kings,
In proud display adorn the festive board,
And grace the revels of their heathen lord.
Mourn-thou afflicted, bruised, forsaken One!
Unhappy outcast of a ruined throne.
The waters strong, and many, are unchained,
And darken all the borders of thy land.

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-But hark!-a sound ascends from other years, The brightening visions of departed seers, Whose illum'd with heaven-descended rays, Dejected Exile! wake a bolder strain, Explored the depth of uncreated days. Thy foot shall bound on Jordan's banks again! Thine eyes behold where once the prophets trod, The Promised-the Anointed One of God! He comes in lowly guise and humble form! And lo! He comes!-but not in flame or storm, Emanuel of nations-living Lord,Eternal Spirit,-uncreated word!

Son of the Highest-with His glory crown'd,
Heir of all worlds-above all powers enthroned!
His gracious voice, His heavenly truth severe,
The hardened heart shall feel, the deaf shall hear !
His works of wondrous love the blind shall see,
The lame shall leap with joy, from bondage free;
The palsied arm with sinewy strength shall swell,
The leprous skin its new-born health reveal;
And e'en where death had seized his pallid prey,
Where clay-cold limbs in earth's dark bosom lay,
The Word of Power shall burst the icy chain;
Reviving pulses lightly throb again:
The kindling orb its visual ray receive,
The bandaged form arise come forth-and live!
Sing, captive Daughter!-widowad Queen, rejoice!
In Salem thou shalt hear Messiah's voice;
Yet, will thy sons His lowly advent own,
Or hail a Saviour, but on David's throne?
Will they receive-and humbly yield belief-
The Lord of Glory in the Man of Grief?
-Ah! he whose right it is to wear the crown,
Whose word can summon angel armies down;
He, at whose throne the nations, bending low,
With reverent homage—or in judgment-bow,
From radiant realms of heavenly joy must come,
A houseless wanderer from his blissful home;
Must bear the impious taunt, the reckless gibe,
Of haughty Pharisee, and scoffing Scribe;
Endure the anguish of the thorn-crowned brow,
The daring mockery of his hour of woe;
The conflict of the body's dying pain,-
A glorious body, soon to rise again,
When,-Nature's ruthless conqueror captive led,-
The grave yields up the first fruits of the dead!'

But in these bright and glorious gospel days,

In Goshen-lands of Truth's meridian blaze,
Are there not those-the Christian's grief and shame,
Who claim a portion in the Saviour's name,
Yet reason, faithless, on the path He trod,
And own the Prophet, but deny the God,
Still in the heart to Israel's folly true,
-Though the pierced side is open to their view,-
They crucify the Lord of Life anew;
Perversely blind, and like the ancient Jew,
Obtuse of heart, they know not what they do.
Yet e'en for these the healing current flowed,
The costly ransom of his precious blood;
Yet e'en for these, compassionate, he pleads,
For these, at God's right hand for ever intercedes.

O Thou, who look'st with tender pity down
On erring man, from thine eternal throne!
Whose mercy more divinely condescends,
The lowlier thine humble creature bends,
As Zionward he turns a prayerful gaze,
Hear! and forgive, in heaven thy dwelling place!
If e'er, elate with reason's opening powers,
In wayward flights of inexperienced hours,
My ardent mind essayed to overreach
The ample knowledge Thou art pleased to teach;
Above the bounds of lawful wisdom shoot,
And dare the dangers of forbidden fruit;
The venturous thought, from false ambition free,
Was purely love of Truth-and love of Thee.

But ah! the dove that leaves her ark of rest,
On feeble wing to roam the boundless waste,
O'er pathless regions of a shoreless sea,
Must turn again-to seek repose in Thee.
Thou High and Holy One! in life and death
Abase the reasoner, purify my faith;
Oh! rend the rock of adamant, impart
A reverent spirit and believing heart,
Down by the cool and silent springs to prove
Refreshing draughts of Thy sustaining love!
For not on mountain tops, in cloudy spheres,
The voice of wisdom strikes aspiring ears;
Far in the bosom's deep recess she dwells,
In lowly valleys and sequestered dells;
Where, gently taught, the filial heart may prove
Thy slain and risen Son, is life, and light, and love.
And when the growing grain of living faith,
Removes the mountain from the pilgrim's path,
He sees the beauty of her pleasant ways,
Her walls Salvation, and her gates of praise!

Corn had still further declined, and cotton had advanced. Finance and trade generally had decidedly improved. The English Government had determined on a large increase of the "national defences"-part of the plan being to double the artillery force, and embody 250,000 militia. Distress and destitution continued to increase in Ireland. The French Government had prohibited the "Reform banquets," and resolved to prevent them from taking place in future. The announcement of this determination in the Chamber of Deputies, is said to have produced a tremendous excitement, forcibly calling to mind the terrible scenes of the Revolutionary Convention. The rebellion in Sicily and Naples had resulted in the success of the insurgents, who had compelled the King to grant them a constitution "to be founded on the same 'principles as the French Charter of 1830, including two chambers, the royal inviolability, the responsibility of ministers, the liberty of the press, and the national guard." The Roman Catholic, howCONGRESS.-The Senate has been chiefly em-rated. Austria continues to pour troops into Italy, ever, remains to be the only religion which is toleployed in Executive session, in the discussion of where she has now an army of 150,000 men. Engthe Treaty with Mexico. It is understood that by land had interfered in behalf of the Pope, and inthe terms of the Treaty, the United States are to pay formed Austria that any armed interference with Mexico $15,000,000 for the territory acquired, and the measures of reform prosecnted in the Papal assume the payment of the claims of our citizens States, will be considered by the former as a deagainst the latter republic, making the price of the claration of war. It is reported that both Etna and acquisition about $20,000,000, beside the enormous Vesuvius were vomiting forth flames, and an erupexpenses of the war. A proposition has been of- tion of lava was daily expected. Frederick VII, fered to lay the Treaty on the table, and appoint the new King of Denmark, has granted a constitu three or more eminent statesmen as Commission- tion to his subjects. It is to be submitted to the ers, to proceed to Mexico and negotiate a new and examination of deputies, who are to be elected by more satisfactory agreement. This proposition the States. seems to meet with considerable favour, and it is probable that the Treaty will either be ratified with considerable amendment, or the latter plan will be adopted.

SUMMARY OF NEWS.

HAVERFORD SCHOOL.

It is proposed to open this School on Fourth day, The House has been engaged on the bill to sup- the 10th of Fifth month next, for the admission of ply deficiencies in the appropriations for the last the sons of Friends, and of others professing with fiscal year. On the 28th ult,, a resolution was of them, who desire their children to be educated in fered for the repeal of all laws authorizing the im-conformity with the principles of our religious prisonment of fugitive slaves in the prisons of the District of Columbia. This resolution was laid over. A resolution embodying the Wilmot Proviso was laid on the table, 105 to 93.

Society.

The Officers of the Institution will beLINDLEY MURRAY MOORE, Principal and Teacher of English Literature.

HUGH D. VAIL, Teacher of Mathematics and
Natural Philosophy.

JOSEPH W. ALDRICH, Teacher of the Latin and
Greek languages and Ancient Literature.

PENNSYLVANIA LEGISLATURE.-On the 29th ult., a series of resolutions in relation to the Mexican War, passed the Senate. An amendment to one of them, sustaining the Wilmot Proviso, was adopted by a vote of 20 to 7. Resolutions approving of The price for Board and Tuition is $200 per anWhitney's proposition for a rail road to the Pacific, num, payable as follows, viz. :-$60 at the openand recommending the subject to the early atten-ing, and $60 at the middle of the Winter term, and tion of Congress, have passed both Houses. $80 at the opening of the Summer term. VENEZUELA.This State is in a fearful condition. Secretary of the Board of Managers, Charles YarApplications for admission must be made to the It seems that the President had become very un-nall, No. 39 High street, Philadelphia. popular, and the Congress had determined to impeach him, but on the opening of that body, they were attacked by a band of soldiers, apparently set on by the President, and a number of the members were massacred. The remainder were after-rangements being made. wards escorted to the hall by the President and his guards, and compelled to pass several acts, among which was one exonerating the Executive from all censure. The distinguished General Paez had pronounced against the Government, both parties were raising troops, and an immediate civil war was expected.

EUROPE. By the arrival of the Britannia at Bos ton, dates to the 12th ult., have been received.

particularly requested to forward their names imParents who propose entering students, are mediately, in order to admit of the necessary ar

MEETING OF THE FREE PRODUCE ASSO

CIATION.

The next general meeting of the Free Produce Association of Friends of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, will be held in Clarkson Hall, on Sixth day, the 17th of Third month next, at half-past seven o'clock, P. M.

GEORGE W. TAYLOR, Secretary.

FRIENDS' REVIEW. .

VOL. I.

A RELIGIOUS, LITERARY AND MISCELLANEOUS JOURNAL.

PHILADELPHIA, THIRD MONTH 18, 1848.

EDITED BY ENOCH LEWIS.

Published Weekly by Josiah Tatum,
No. 50 North Fourth Street,!
PHILADELPHIA.

Price two dollars per annum, payable in advance, or six copies for ten dollars.

This paper is subject to newspaper postage only.

ROBERT BARCLAY AND FRIENDS IN
SCOTLAND.

(Continued from page 387.)

No. 26.

all valued themselves upon their claim to it; and further, that all could not be right, when they so widely differed one from another. To relieve himself by arriving at a determinate choice, he betook himself to the close reading of the New Testament, as the only certain way of knowing the religion of Christ in its primitive purity. By such means was he brought clearly to see, in what this essentially consists, and what was the shape its several professors had put upon it. He saw, that in itself it was " righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost," that it taught to be humble, patient, self-denying,-to endure all things, to suffer all things;-not to place our happiness or comfort on this world, or the things of it.

and simplicity, a remarkable testimony against all the follies and vanities of the world, as well in their practice as in words; and he considered, that if they were really such as even their enemies were forced to acknowledge, there must be somewhat extraordinary about them. These his private thoughts, he afterward communicated on several occasions to his friends.

David Barclay had now passed through many vicissitudes; had tasted of prosperity and adversity, and by his general conduct among men, had obtained the approbation of most with whom he had been concerned. His retirement from Whilst under these considerations, he heard of the world, had given him a sight of his own heart, a people, called in derision Quakers, who under and of the uncertainty of all temporal things; great reproach for their singularity and abstractedeach day giving fresh evidence of their insta-ness from the world, bore, in much plainness bility in every condition, from that of the King upon his throne, to that of the most destitute. He observed too, that neither justice nor innocency could protect, nor good offices done secure a man from malice, envy, and persecution. In this perplexity, he thought it was high time for him, who had spent so much of his day in the service of others, (being then between fifty and sixty years of age,) to bestow the remainder wholly in the service of God, and by so doing more directly answer the great end of his creation. Under these considerations, he looked around him with the greatest anxiety and earnestness, to know, in the midst of so many pretenders, what society of Christians to join with. One observation he had made upon all the different persuasions, that each of them laid claim to be the only true Christians, yet not only differed from, but persecuted one another with the greatest violence, as opportunity came into their hand; and this, for the very reason which had rendered themselves the object of persecution, namely, their differing from others. His intercourse with the world, both abroad and at home, had given him ample occasion to make such remarks on their practice; while the perusal of their several systems of divinity, while in his retirement, had afforded him full insight into their several creden da. Upon the whole, he coneluded, that the Christian religion must in itself be very good, and the only true religion, since

Accordingly, with the greatest earnestness did he set about an examination and inquiry relative to this way, which was indeed" every where spoken against." Being in London about this time, he "had converse with several Friends both there and elsewhere," as the Record preserved at Ury distinctly states, "whereby his mind became convinced" with regard to the tenets held by Friends. Some months after this, being a prisoner in Edinburgh Castle, together with John Swintoune, David Barclay was considerably "strengthened and assisted" instrumentally by this individual, in making an open avowal of his sentiments. It is said of Swintoune, that during his imprisonment he was more concerned to spread the views he had adopted, than to defend his own life; and it appears, that on this occasion, the Governor of the Castle, to prevent the infection of his opinions, shut him up for several weeks close prisoner, debarring him from all sort of intercourse. With much wisdom, however, as well as patience and caution, did David Barclay pursue his inquiry, be

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