relatives of the killed and wounded—on the vast amount extorted from the avails of labor to defray the expense of war—on the ruin and desolation which mark the track of hostile armies, and the depravation of morals engendered by the Hcense and temptations connected with the military profession. Nor have we space to exhibit the inefficiency and uncertainty of war, as a means of defence against injury, or as an instrument for enforcing justice. But we ask the attention of the reader to a topic seldom investigated, and yet possessing momentous inte- rest the folly and the cost of military preparation. Of all the false and hoary maxims by which mankind have been deluded, perhaps' none has ever exerted such baneful influence on human happiness as that scrap of counterfeit wisdom, '' In peace, prepare for war." The proposed object of the counsel, is to preserve 2^eace by being prepared to repel, and thereby to prevent aggression. The reasoning is contradicted by the testimony of history and by the character of human nature. No nation was ever better prepared for war than France under Napoleon, and no nation was ever more fiercely and vio- lently attacked ; and seldom has any nation been more humbled, compelled not only to receive a sovereign from the hands of her enemies, but to pay the expenses of a foreign army to whose custody she was consigned. Great mihtary strength has no tendency to foster pacific dispo- sitions in its possessor. While the character of man re- mains unchanged, his cupidity, oppression, and injustice will ordinarily be proportioned to his means of indulging them. Hence, in all ages those nations which have been the best prepared for war, have drank most deeply of its bloody cup. If we examine the history of Europe from IVOO, to the general peace in 1815, we shall lind that during the 115 years, Great Britain was engaged in war . . 69 years.
Russia, 68 France, ... . . 63 Holland, . . ... 43 Portugal, 40 Denmark, ...... 28 Pride, arrogance, and the lust of conquest, are the natural and bitter fruits of military preparation—fruits fatal to national peace and happiness.