had committed againgt them, enumerating some | jibe and jest of folly-the hard sententiousness little offences long since forgotten; his father told of business-the sneer of envy-the groan of him, he never remembered his being disobedient, misery-are strangely mingled in London. and hoped he would not allow any thing to trouble him now; "No," he replied, "there is nothing troubles me now. I humbly believe all my sins are forgiven; but I wish you to know these things-I wish to tell you ;" and then exhorted all to be prepared, let the summons come when it might, to join that company to which he anticipated so shortly to be gathered. Looking around, he said, "What a comfort to see you all here, all but dear Thomas; give my very dear love to him; tell him to prepare for heaven, that holy and happy place."

We have lived for some years in London, and in our daily peregrinations through the streets, many objects have struck us as noteworthy, which may possess a general interest. Our residence is over the water,' which means on the Surrey side of the Thames, about threequarters of an hour's walk from Blackfriars Bridge, away in what is at present debateable ground between smoke and sunshine. We are just out of one of the main thoroughfares, down a short lane, on one side of which is a real hedge, such as you see miles away in the country, and About five o'clock, he requested a few lines a goodly sprinkling of trees; and at night, all is might be sent to his brother, and with earnest- as quiet as in a country village. We start in the ness not to be forgotten, gave his last farewell to morning at nine, and walk fast or leisurely one he so tenderly loved. "Give my very dear according to the season; and if we have a few love to him; tell him not to mourn for me, when minutes to spare, can always dispose of them he hears of my decease; not to shed one tear, profitably at some book-stall on the way: many for I am happy, and shall, I humbly believe, be stray facts and valued volumes have we picked received into the arms of the blessed Saviour, up by this means at little cost. In the winter, who died for the worst of sinners. Oh! bid when the weather is fine, we step at once from him prepare to meet me in heaven; bid him fly our door on to a hard frozen path, that rings to the Saviour, ere he be laid on a bed of sick-beneath our feet; the hedge and trees are white ness-dear Thomas!" He seemed exhausted with a frosty incrustation; and on reaching the high by the effort, and lay still for some minutes; but road, we find its clean surface striped by countless soon those hands which had so long lain motion-wheel-tracks. But after the first furlong or two, less, were raised in supplication. He smiled on the brightness and naturalness of surrounding obthe little company around him, and then seemed jects deteriorate with every step of progress cityto wait his change in humble joy and expecta- wards, in a gradually increasing uproar, gloom tion, at intervals uttering words, which, as far as and dinginess. Half a mile behind, all was clean they could be heard, were, "Blessed Jesus! and crisp; now the pavement begins to look as come, but wait thy time!" Afterwards the though it had been coated with damp ashes, words "warfare," "prospect," and "whole which, a little farther on, are transformed into world," fell indistinctly on the ears of his sur- black slippery mud, trying to the pedestrian's rounding relatives, conveying the impression that patience, and provocative of ire in omnibus conthe warfare was nearly accomplished, and that ductors and cab drivers. When you started, the he would not exchange his prospect for the sun was shining in a clear sky; but as you whole world. went on, he began to look a little tawny, then brown, and now he looms in lurid redness through the smoky atmosphere, which deposits itself in New Zealand tattoo lines round your eyes, nose, and mouth, makes your breath look as though it came from a coke-furnace, and half stifles you into the bargain. The white rime still clinging to the tilt-cover of wagons coming in from the country, is looked at with astonishment by people in the streets, nine out of ten of whom would hardly believe that the atmosphere is clear and exhilarating at a distance of two or three miles. The gloom deepens, and you are past all doubts as to its being one of the annuallyrecurring genuine London fogs. Gaslights are burning in the shops, flinging bewildering shadows across the streets, and making everything look strange and spectral. On crossing the bridge, the fog seems denser than ever-not a glimpse of the river is to be seen. Steamboats, however, are feeling their way along, and the murky fumes from their funnels remind you of smoke-vomiting monsters in some Dantean in

About a quarter before seven, in the evening, his redeemed spirit gently passed from the body, we humbly rely, to be added to the number of those who have "washed their robes and made then white in the blood of the Lamb; therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them." He died on the 13th of Twelfth month, 1846, aged nineteen years.-Annual Monitor.

WALKS IN LONDON.

We know an old lady who shed tears as she stood and watched the multitudinous life of a busy thoroughfare: and truly is it impressive, presenting as it does every variety of human character. There are things to be seen and heard among the crowds that throng the streets of London, which can be seen and heard nowhere else, and which are as much a part of London as its parks and public buildings. The

must now be taken instead of units. You need no other warrant that Christmas is nigh than the grocers' shops. What a profusion of plums and currants, spices and candied fruits! In fact, you have only to look at a grocer's or linen draper's window, at any time of the year, to know what month you are in. Cheap and bright sugar is displayed as a leading article;' go in and buy a pound-it is kept ready weighed and paperedand on opening the packet at home, you will find the contents marvellously darker in colour than the sample exposed in the window. Call for a pound of butter at a provision shop, you will always see a weight left in one of the brightlypolished scales. If it be necessary to change it, the one required is always thrown in before the first is removed. This is so invariably the case,

ferno. Sometimes the dismal pall lifts and floats away about the middle of the day, and the glad sun comes out for it is mostly in clear weather that the real metropolitan fog makes its visitation, and man and beast can breathe again. At other times, it clings all day, and creates a scene, on the approach of night, scarcely possible to describe. The gas lamps are of no more use than farthing rushlights; omnibus drivers lose their way in Fieet street and the strand, or mistake Temple-Bar for the Horse Guards, and shout to one another as mariners navigating an unknown sea. The habitual frequenter of the streets is as much at a loss as the veriest stranger: to walk is almost as adventurous an undertaking as travelling in the desert without a compass: and when, on nearing home, you emerge from the smoke, you draw a long breath with a feel-as to excite a suspicion of unequal balance. It ing of having escaped some horrid calamity, and lost a day.

The great human tide begins to flow citywards as early as six in the morning. A few scattered mechanics and porters are then hastening to their work. At seven, the number is 'augmented, with here and there an assistant,' or a bookseller's collector.' At eight, troops of merchants' and lawyers' clerks make their appearance; and from the hour at which their daily employment begins, are called the Nineo'clock-men.' A few stragglers from this division fill up the next hour, when the Ten-o'clockmen' may be seen all going in one direction along the now busy thoroughfare. They are generally more advanced in life, and more staid in appearance, than those who preceded. Many are picked up by the omnibuses, which now come speeding on, crowded with passengers who must be in the city by ten. ever, prefer to walk. They fall in with acquaintances, by whose side they have paced the same route for years, and their conversation, as you may hear in passing, is mostly of a hearty, cheerful tone-the inspiring effect of a good breakfast. With what generous pity is their hand often thrust into their coat pocket for stray half-pence to be dropped into the outstretched palm of some shivering beggar; and they seem to have a friendly word or nod for almost every one they meet. There is a contagious cheeriness in all this, but it is liable to fluctuation. We have watched those same individuals on their return from office, at four in the afternoon; their manner is then reserved, not unfrequently abrupt and somewhat snappish, which effectually keeps beggars at bay, and intimidates crossingsweepers. We were long at a loss to account for this transformation of character, until a friend, well experienced in the phenomena of urban life, whispered that a Londoner going home to his dinner is always impatient and out of temper.

is, however, regarded as one of the legitimate advantages of trade, arising out of the keenness of competition. Widely ramified, it descends to the lowest. Cast an eye into the measures of the venders of nuts and gooseberries in the streets, you will see a false bottom placed so as to diminish the interior capacity by one-fourth. We once asked an old woman, whose stand has been for years on the approaches to Blackfriars Bridge, whether she felt no compunction for her daily frauds on the public. Sure,' was the retort, doesn't everybody do it, and could I get a living if I didn't do the same?'

On passing the cab-stands, you may obsérve that the drivers seem more than usually alert during the hours that business men are making their way into town. If you chance to turn your head, a dozen fingers are held up to answer what is considered a call, and as many voices Not a few, how-cry out, Keb, sir?' It is puzzling at times to know how these men get a living, paying as they do fourteen shillings a day to the owner of the vehicle. They like to see the day begin fine, and come on rainy at ten or eleven in the forenoon, after people have been drawn from their homes. On the approach of a shower, every cab is off the stand in an instant, as if by magic; and the waterman' runs hither and thither hastily to collect from each driver his lawful fee of one half-penny for every fare that leaves the stand. A shower clears the pavement rapidly: people who have no umbrellas shelter themselves forthwith under awnings, covered passages, or gateways, and watch the falling drops with manifest impatience, or quiz any unfortunate wight forced to abide the storm. The Londoners astonish their country friends who venture to town, by recommending an observance of a rule of town life, Always take your umbrella when it is fine; when it is wet, do as you like.'

When the suburban roads converge, and pour their traffic into one line of street, it is no longer easy to detect individual characteristics; groups

But all this while the season is getting on: the lamps are no longer lighted at four in the afternoon; the smoke seems less dense, and patches of blue sky are occasionally visible. By and by, the lilac and laburnum are in full bloom,

and you may almost cheat yourself with the fancy that the first mile of road is a country walk. But it is singular to note the change on nearing the more densely-populated districts. It was a fine day when you started-casual acquaintances said so. A mile farther on, where everything is deadened by a damp haze, it is also a fine day;' and as you go on, and find mud and murkiness, people still say a 'fine day.' Anything short of downright rain is a fine day in London.-Chambers's Journal.

WAR ON CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES.

One of the conditions of the treaty with Mexico, it is said, is that any future war which may break out between the two countries shall be conducted on Christian principles. Now we all know that this is an age of progress, and that all sorts of improvements are constantly taking place in all sorts of matters; but war on Christian principles is certainly the latest, and, if it be car-, ried out, we think it will prove the greatest them all.

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Nothing, unless you send over and ask Santa Anna if he needs anything in the way of medicines, or provisions, or clothing. I rather think the treaty requires this of us. And I don't know but we ought to send them a few schoolmasters, for I understand that they are shockingly ignorant people.'

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But how do you ever know which party conquers in this fighting on Christian principles?" "That is the great beauty of it. Both sides conquer, and there are never any killed and wounded."

Just imagine it; we think we can see the two armies drawn out in battle array. A fair field is before them; the ranks are formed, the positions are taken, the great guns are unlimbered. Gen. Scott is just about to give the order to fire, when an aid comes up and respectfully reminds him that "the war is to be conducted on Christian principles," and that it will not do to fire. Very true, very true," says the CommanderNow this is all the way that we know of conin-Chief, "but what are they? I have read ducting war on Christian principles. In any Vauban, and Scheiter, and Turenne, and Coe-demand which may be made upon this State horn. I have read the lives of the old conquerors, and have studied the campaigns of the greatest soldiers, but I never happened to come across these principles in any work upon the military art. Do you know anything about it, Colonel ?"

"No."

"Nor you, Major?" "Nor I neither."

"I really don't know how to begin; I suppose it would not do to shoot. Suppose we send for the Chaplain."

The Chaplain arrives-"Do you know anything about this fighting on Christian principles ?"

"Oh, yes; it is the easiest thing in the world."

"Where are the books?" "Here ;" and the Chaplain takes out the Bible.

"Really," says the General, "we ought to have thought of this before. It is a bad time to commence the study of tactics when the enemy is right before us; but I suppose we are bound by the treaty. What is the first thing, Mr. Chaplain ?"

"Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."

for men to carry on a future war with Mexico, we think the Governor will best consult the conditions of the treaty by directing that the recruits shall all come from the peace society. He should appoint Thomas Anthony Colonel of the regiment, and John Meader Major, and he should go down to Newport on the first seventh day after the second sixth day in sixth month, and walk right into the Yearly Meeting and ask the clerk to draw up a plan of the campaign. That is the way to fight"on Christian principles.". Prov. Daily Journal.

CONTROVERSY.

Controversy on religious subjects too frequently becomes, through the depravity of the heart, the occasion of sin. When opinions are stated and maintained, not from a regard to truth, but to victory in the argument; not with a view to the glory of God, but to the exaltation of self or of a party; not with a desire to inform and conciliate, but to confound or to irritate; the unhappy disputant has reason to mourn over his work. He may have defended a doctrine ably, but he has defended it with unrighteous armour. He may gave gained a triumph, but he has not "gained his brother." He may have pleased his

may be accosted, at the last day, with a very alarming question, "Who hath required this at thine hands?" He may have brought a curse upon himself, and not a blessing.

Life of R. Housman.

FRIENDS' REVIEW.

PHILADELPHIA, FOURTH MONTH 1, 1848.

sect, but he will not have pleased his God. He | House of Peers, an integrant part of the Parliament, whose rights and privileges they had engaged, on oath, to uphold, was declared to be useless and dangerous, and therefore abolished.* The same body abolished the oaths of allegiance and supremacy; and in order "that they might have some obligation of obedience from their subjects, who had broken all the former oaths which they had taken, a new oath was prepared and established, which they called an engagement, the substance of which was, that every man should swear that he would be faithful to the government established, without king or House of Peers, and that he would never consent to readmit either of them again." This was followed in 1655 by the oath of abjuration, renouncing the authority of Charles Stuart: yet in 1660, this same Charles Stuart was restored to the throne of his ancestors, apparently with the general concur rence of the nation; and the House of Peers reestablished without opposition. Prelacy regained its ascendancy, and the oaths of allegiance and supremacy were again tendered to the people of England, and severe penalties inflicted upon those who refused to take them.

QUAKERISM. The second point in which the practice of our primitive friends was supposed to be inimical to the order of civil society, was that which related to the administration of justice. The judicial proceedings were so entrenched in oaths, that some, not to say most, of the judges seem to have actually thought that justice could not be administered without them. When Francis Howgill was on trial for refusing the oath of allegiance, Judge Turner inquired, "Do you think the law must be changed for you, or only for a few ?" adding, "if this be suffered, the administration of justice is hindered; no action can be tried, nor evidence given for the king, nor other particular cases tried; and your principles are altogether inconsistent with the law and government." On another occasion, it was declared from the bench that if the Quakers themselves had a government they must have oaths; and no government could be conducted without them; for said the man in ermine, an oath binds the

conscience at all times.

We should reasonably suppose that such glaring illustrations of the futility of oaths, and the obvious impiety of requiring the subjects of the realm, professedly to place their hopes of acceptance in the Divine sight on the performance of these incompati ble engagements, would have led all men of sober reflection, to conclude that oaths were both useless and dangerous. We cannot indeed rationally doubt that many men of that day, were fully convinced that governments derived very little security from the oaths which were tendered to the people, and that their customary and familiar use in courts of law, could not fail to deteriorate the public morals. But oaths were interwoven into every part of the system of government; even their seminaries of learning were loaded with them. It would seem as though nothing could move without them.

Though there is no shadow of doubt that oaths were frequently tendered to our early Friends, by persecuting judges and magistrates, as a means of subjecting them to the penalties of the law; yet it must be conceded that many of these men, whose lives were passed in the midst of proceedings, in which oaths constituted a prominent part, really be ⚫lieved that governments could not be maintained, or justice administered without them. The people of England during the latter years of Charles I., and sensible impression upon it, required a moral force, To break up such a system, or even to make a the interval between his death and the restoration which merely moral considerations were not adeof his son, had opportunity enough to discover the quate to supply. That force was furnished, and futility of oaths as a security to the ruling power. nothing less could furnish it, by religious convic In 1643 the solemn league and covenant was sub-tion. Many of the early reformers had borne their scribed and sworn to, by two hundred and twenty-testimony to the unlawfulness of oaths under the two members of Parliament in one day: and the Christian dispensation; but unhappily the plan of Committee of Estates published an order, that it should be subscribed and sworn to by all the sub-date it to the practice of its professors was adopted jects, on pain of having their lands and rents for- in relation to oaths; and the labours of the learned, feited. This covenant bound the parties "to endeavour the extirpation of superstition, prelacy, &c., reconcile the doctrines of the gospel with the usages were not unfrequently employed in endeavours to to maintain the rights and privileges of Parliament; of the people, instead of elevating the practice to the and to preserve and defend the king's person and authority." In 1649, the king, whose person and perfect standard of our Lord and his apostles. But authority they had sworn to defend and maintain, was put to death by the Rump Parliament; and the

reducing the standard of Christianity to accommo

*Rapin, vol. 2. p. 482.

†Clarendon, Hist. Reb. vol. 5, p. 2413.

do otherwise than they did, with the principles, the 310 of this Review.