Again, the formation of snow, that is, of aqueous vapour frozen before it was collected into drops, cannot be effected without eliminating the caloric of fluidity, and the caloric of vaporization. Taking the former at 140o, and the latter at 940°, it will appear that every pound of snow which descends to the earth must give to the atmosphere a quantity of heat sufficient to raise six pounds of water from the freezing to the boiling point. Paradoxical, ARBITRATION INSTEAD OF WAR. Mr. Cobden has engaged to bring before the House of Commons, at an early period of the next session of Parliament, a motion in favour of Arbitration Treaties between England and foreign countries, binding them, in case of future misunderstanding, to refer the subject-matter of dispute to the decision of Arbitrators. But as the subject is somewhat new as a matter of popu lar discussion, it may be necessary, in a few plain sentences, to explain the nature, object, and manifold advantages of this proposed method of Arbitration. By arbitration then, it is intended to apply to nations the same rational principles for the settlement of differences, as have been long ago adopted between individuals in all civilized communities. There was a time when in this and other countries, not only were criminal cases decided by therefore, as it must appear to those who have wager of battle, that is, by the accused asserting his innocence by fighting with his accuser, but never reflected on the subject, we find that snow, even civil cases, such as related to disputed proas it forms, contributes powerfully to moderate the perty, &c., were adjudicated by a similar appeal rigours of winter. We thus perceive that the snow to brute force. This preposterous method of which clothes the earth during the rigours of win- seeking justice has long ago been exploded, as ter, answers a double, or more properly a triple between man and man, and any person who would purpose. It gives out to the atmosphere in which propose it now, would be laughed out of society it is formed a great amount of heat or caloric, for his absurdity. But what is war but the perwhich was absorbed, not unfrequently, in a warm petuation of this folly in regard to nations, an atregion, during its conversion into vapour; it fur-tempt to decide questions of right by violence and nishes the earth with a covering comparatively warm, and thus protects the nascent vegetation from the rigours of frost; and by its power of reflecting the feeble light, which is cast upon it, as well as by its capacity of emitting a phosphoric light, it renders the long nights of winter less gloomy. The water formed from the gradual melting of snow is absorbed by the earth more copiously than when it descends in rain, and thus serves to replenish the stores from which our springs are supplied. If the law of absorption, above explained, had been wanting, and the snow and ice formed during winter suddenly turned into water whenever the temperature of the atmosphere rose beyond 32°, what tremendous floods should we have frequently witnessed! But in consequence of this wonderful provision in the laws of nature, the snows and ices of winter, when penetrated by the vernal rays, are gradually reduced to the liquid state, and by the absorption of the caloric of fluidity, the atmospheric temperature is lowered; and thus the change from winter to summer is almost imperceptibly affected. ED.] He that would employ his abilities, his influence, and his authority, in the reformation of others, must take care to reform himself, before he enters upon the work. habit could have so long saved from the reprobablood, which nothing but the inveterate power of tion and contempt of mankind. If it be said that this project of settling international disputes by arbitration is impracticable, we can confidently appeal to history and fact, in proof of the contrary. It has been tried in a large number of instances, and it is evident from these, that whenever fairly applied, it is equal to any emergency that national affairs can present. Iceland and Norway have preserved peace, between their respective countries, for six hundred years, by arbitration alone; and by the same just and rational method, the Helvetic Union preserved peace among its different members for more than five hundred years. A disputed question between Great Britain and America was decided by the arbitration of the Emperor of Russia; and another between the same nations was submitted to the arbitration of the King of the Netherlands, and finally settled without war. A difficulty that arose between Britain and France, was satisfactorily terminated by the arbitration of the King of Prussia. The dispute on the "Sulphur question," between Great Britain and Sicily, was also adjusted by the arbitration of Louis Phillippe, then King of France. To these many others might be added, but the instances adduced are sufficient to prove that arbitration can decide great national disputes without war; and all that is now required, is, to adopt this as a fixed and regular law of nations, instead of leaving it to be un certain and occasional. The advantages of this method over war are so obvious, that they must strike the common sense of every man that has the courage, for a moment, to think for himself. It is more rational.-War is the proper resource of brutes, not of beings endowed with reason. It reduces men to the level of tigers, it tramples right under the foot of might, and yields the victory to the strongest alone. History abounds with examples, where the superiority of mere brute force has triumphed over justice, humanity, patriotism, and liberty. But arbitration, calmly weighing contending claims in the scales of equity, and by the light of reason, will decide the question in harmony with their dictates. attention of the British Legislature. But Mr. Cobden can do nothing effectually without the support of the public. The people must determine whether the absurd, wicked, sanguinary, and costly system of war is to last for ever; or whether arbitration shall take the place of the sword. To them, therefore, do the friends of peace appeal and say, unite without delay earnestly to petition Parliament to substitute arbitration for war. Let your petitions for this purpose be signed universally, and send them to your own Members for presentation, accompanied by a respectful, but decided request to support their prayer, as well as the motion, whenever it shall be brought before Parliament. The Electors, especially, should reIt is more humane.-The horrors and cruelties member that they have in their hands the destiwhich war perpetrates are unutterable. Destroy-nies of their country, and to a great extent those ing the fruits of the earth, laying waste cities, of the whole world. Let them see to it, that by towns and villages, burning the hearths and home- a faithful discharge of the trust reposed in their steads of the poor, and without pity or ruth, in- keeping by possessing the franchise, none may volving in one indiscriminate massacre all ages, have occasion to charge them with supineness, insexes and conditions, helpless childhood and vener- difference, or neglect on this great occasion. able age, creating widows and orphans by thousands and tens of thousands, deluging the earth with blood, and filling the air with wailing voices of agony and terror. Arbitration will avoid all these atrocities, and leave the people in peaceful possession of the fruits of their industry, and the quiet happiness of their homes, while the quarrels of their rulers are settled by an appeal to reason and justice. It is incomparably cheaper than War.-The enormous taxation which war entails is absolutely crushing down the industrial energies and resources of the people, hindering the development of commerce, and exhausting the earnings of labour, and not unfrequently endangering government itself, by making it the instrument of its own rapacious demands. In Great Britain it takes away 17s. 6d. out of every 20s. paid in taxation, and this year (1848) it will absorb the almost incredible sum of forty seven millions sterling of the people's money, in paying the interest of its past, and the cost of its present exorbitancy. Arbitration, by a far more economical mode of adjusting disputes, will effect an all but incalculable saving, and thereby diminish in every way the burdens of the country. It is more consistent with the spirit of Christianity-War involves an inversion of all the principles of morality, a perpetual outrage and affront to the genius of the gospel, an insolent and contemptuous disregard of the temper inculcated, by precept and example, by Him who came not to destroy men's lives but to save them. Arbitration, on the other hand, by appealing to Truth, Justice and Mercy, is in strict accordance with that benignant system which pronounces its choicest blessings on the meek, the merciful, and the peace-maker. Such then, as compared with the customs of war, is the method of settling the disputes of nations to which Mr. Cobden is about to direct the Christians of Great Britain!-You surely have at heart the cause of peace and humanity; let not the present opportunity of forwarding that cause pass away unimproved. Let a petition be prepared in every Christian congregation throughout the land, and signed universally by those who bewail the portentous insult and wrong which the continuance of the war system inflicts on Christianity, and who desire to advance the kingdom of Peace upon earth. The British Public at large!-You have now a solemn duty to discharge, and a proper opportunity for discharging it. You groan under heavier burdens than any other people on earth; and unless by timely, earnest, and united exertion, you use the means to effect a change, your children will have to groan and suffer too. As you would relieve your country from a weight of taxation, which is hurrying us to the verge of national bankruptcy; as you would advance the interests of truth, justice, and humanity; as you would discharge your own consciences from blood-guiltiness, by participation in the iniquitous system of war, rally around Mr. Cobden, and let the House of Commons be deluged with Petitions for Arbitration.-Peace Congress. CHILDREN'S AMUSEMENTS. The resources that children possess within themselves to create amusements for themselves are inexhaustible: the simplest objects are a source of delight and a stimulus to their ever-active minds. Their enjoyments are transient, and require continual change; because the child's attention cannot dwell long on one object or idea, it is soon wearied, and requires something new to enliven it. But children are not inconstant in their pleasures; they have their favourite toys, and plays, and stories, to which they recur with ever-fresh delight at intervals. Their affections ways senses. never tire, though their senses, and minds, and limbs do. They cherish a fondness for pictures, dolls, or other toys, as well as for animals, playfellows, brothers and sisters, parents and friends. Children who have few toys are more ready at amusing themselves than such as have many; for number and variety perplex their choice, while a few simple things stimulate their fancy and ingenuity to active exercise. It is very interesting to watch children at their play, and note how much the imagination is exerted; as for instance, in making houses and coaches with chairs and stools; keeping school or shop; travelling in railway trains or steamboats; in short, imitating whatever they sce done. The healthy state of childhood is one of continued activity; but in a variety of it seeks those connected with the external Children cannot form abstract ideas: they must have something visible and palpable to hold their attention; for it cannot be held long together by the same thing. But change is rest to them. Infants require something tangible: the first act of an infant is to touch and try to grasp what it sees. They like to examine also; and what is called love of mischief is not "destructiveness," but investigation misdirected. Toys should be made not only simple and strong, but to be taken to pieces, and put together again; thus "destructiveness would be converted into "constructiveness." A box of wooden bricks or blocks is one of the best and most lasting toys for children; for it exercises their ingenuity in building them up, and they are not easily damaged. Small wooden blocks of geometrical shapes, that they may be built up into houses, castles, bridges, and crosses are likewise amusing as well as useful to draw from;-a box of coloured pieces of wood or pasteboard in triangular form to be arranged in patterns something like the Chinese puzzle is an excellent plaything. It is not an uncommon mistake with writers for the young to present abstruse or complicated ideas in short words, or confusedly and vaguely; whereas, simple ideas clearly conveyed in longer words would be better understood. The art of the teacher or the entertainer of children, consists in first exciting, and then gratifying the child's curiosity about things that it is well for such an one to know. There are, of course, frequent opportunities, in the use of pictures especially, to inculcate very useful lessons of truth and duty, which a wise teacher or parent will not fail to improve. It is very common also, in the progress of such plays, as keeping-house, going a visiting, receiving company to tea, governing children at home or at school, for bad passions or erroneous principles to be exhibited, which can never be so impressively corrected, as in connection with the very incidents that occasion them.-S. S. Journal. VITAL STATISTICS OF PHILADELPHIA. Medical Sciences, Dr. Emerson presented some The excess of males 1840, is estimated at 226,693, an increase of year, The coloured inhabitants, in 1840, constituted about per cent. of the total population, being 18,456, of which the males were 7,624; the females 10,832. The rate of increase is much lower than that of the white population, and the difference in the proportion of the sexes more striking. The increase of population, from births, during the ten years, from 1831 to 1840, was 76,536; at least, this was the amount registered at the Health Office. Of the grand total, 39,512 were males, and 37,024 females. The excess of males, at birth, during the decennial period, was about 6 per cent., whereas it usually amounts to about 71 per cent. The total mortality for ten years is 49,678. The average for the ten years was, for whites, 1 in 43.12; for the coloured, 1 in 31.05. With respect to the greater mortality of the coloured, compared with that of the white population, the difference is much less than during the past decennial period, when it was 1 in 21, or at least double that of the whites alone. TWO WORLDS CONTRASTED. There is a fulness about the promises of a future life, that contrasts strangely with the trials of this present time. The inhabitant of the blessed city shall never say, I am sick. God shall wipe away all tears from off all faces. They shall Happy is he, who, when the hour of death hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither cometh, hath nothing to do but to die. shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. The water of life, flowing from the throne, is not only clear as crystal, but it rolls a full swelling river. The tree in the midst of the paradise, on either side of the stream, not only yields the fruits of life, but yields them every month; and even its leaves are for the healing of the nations. There is no night there. Not a cloud intervenes between the raptured saint and the sunlike glories of God and the Lamb, and never do the curtains of evening close round that celestial day. Contrast this unmingled joy with "the sufferings of this present time," and how "beyond compare," is the "glory that shall be revealed!" Every wo here is mitigated by some accompanying blessing. There are thorns along the Christian's path, but the roses bloom among them in fragrance and beauty. There are clouds in his sky, but the sun breaks through, and darts golden rays to scatter the darkness. Storms gather, and thunders roll round his head, but they pass away, and the bow of hope is pencilled on the retiring cloud. How light then "the sufferings of this present time," mitigated and softened by Him "who tempers the wind to the shorn lamb," compared to the unclouded peace and glory of heaven, to the fulness of joy and pleasures for evermore at the right hand of God! FEEE COLOURED SCHOOLS IN LOUISIANA. The heads, that are heavy with grain, Thy blessings shine bright from the hills, May we be as free from the blight, As that which we gather to-day! Our Father, the heart and the voice And send up their song from the fields ! SUMMARY OF NEWS. PENNSYLVANIA LEGISLATURE.-This body bas been almost entirely occupied with private and local bills. Another North Branch Canal project was defeated in the House on the 29th, by 34 to 47. The joint resolution providing for an amendment of the Constitution, so as to give the election of judges to the people, passed the House on the 2nd inst., by yeas 52 nays 25. It has already passed the Senate. Before becoming a part of the Constitution, however, it must also pass the next Legislature, and then be submitted to a direct vote of the people. During the storm of the 27th ult., twelve spans of the new Central railroad bridge over the Susquehanna, six miles above Harrisburg, were destroyed by a whirlwind. The House of Representatives passed a bill appropriating annually the sum of one thousand dollars, for the support of schools for free children of colour. Up to this time the free people of colour have contributed their full share of taxes for the maintenance of the public schools, without in the slightest degree participating in their beneOn the 30th ult., a vote was taken by the citi fits. This is great injustice, compatible neither zens of Cincinnati, on the question whether the with Democracy nor Republicanism, as Mr. Pille city should subscribe one million of dollars to the observed. It is not an inconsiderable portion of the Cincinnati and St. Louis Railroad, which resulted taxation that is borne by the free people of colour-in a large majority for the subscription. This sum the public schools are closed to them, although their property is burdend for the support of that institution. The bill is now before the Senate, having passed the House of Representatives, and it is to be hoped that the Senate will deem it, as the House has done, a mere act of justice, to say nothing of the general good to be derived from spreading the blessings of education among a class of people who have always been true to the State and faithful to their public duties, whenever called upon to discharge them.-N. O. Courier.dition. HYMN OF THE REAPERS. Our Father, to fields that are white, In praises our voices unite To Thee, who hast made them thy care. The seed, that was dropped in the soil, We left, with a holy belief In one, who, beholding the toil, Would crown it at length with the sheaf. And ever our faith shall be firm In thee, who hast nourished the root; Whose finger has led up the germ, And finished the blade and the fruit! is to be expended on the Cincinnati end of the road. A report was recently received from Santa Fe, had sustained immense losses in attempting to pass to the effect that Col. Fremont's exploring party the Rocky mountains, on its way to California. One account even stated that Fremont himself was the only survivor of the party. Later accounts represent that eleven men, and all the mules belonging to the party, perished in the mountains, owing to the severity of the weather, and the depth of snow. Among the dead, is reported the name of Preuss, the scientific companion of Fremont's first expeFremont was supplied with another outfit at Santa Fe, and resumed his route to California. HAVERFORD SCHOOL. TO FRIENDS IN THE COUNTRY. A number of coloured children in the school at the "House of Industry," in Catherine street above Delaware Seventh, are in want of good situations in families. Application can be made at the school, except on 7th days. 4th mo. 7th-2t. FRIENDS' REVIEW. VOL. II. A RELIGIOUS, LITERARY AND MISCELLANEOUS JOURNAL, PHILADELPHIA, FOURTH MONTH 14, 1849. EDITED BY ENOCH LEWIS. - Published Weekly by Josiah Tatum, Price two dollars per annum, payable in advance, or six copies for ten dollars. This paper is subject to newspaper postage only. For Friends' Review. MEMORIALS OF REBECCA JONES. (Copyright secured.) NO. XXXVI. (Continued from page 451.) To resume the diary; she proceeds :-"During the holding of the Yearly Meeting, I had some private religious opportunities, and close labour, and some open service. So had dear Jane, and Gervase Johnson, the band of young ministers, &c." Helper and everlasting Friend. yet see my way for a peaceful escape, so we must wait in the patience till we can move in the clearness towards Bedford, and thence take a fresh look out. It is no small matter to be brought such a distance from home, and it will be a comfort, if favoured to get there again, to look back without regret or condemnation." On the 10th of Seventh month, 1799, they all took packet, and being driven ashore at Wood's Hole, did not reach Bedford till next afternoon. After several meetings in the vicinity, she mentioned to her friends on the 13th, a weighty prospect of visiting the families at Bedford, and received their sympathy and encouragement. On the 14th, being First day, she had the afternoon meeting postponed to 5 o'clock, for the more general gathering of the inhabitants: and next day "began the arduous task of visiting families in Bedford," accompanied by William Rotch and a female friend. "We set out," she writes, "in a low, poor and abased situation of mind, and were helped through the day by the Father of mercies." They appear to have visited 48 families, and to have been occupied till the 23d, when, she says, "we closed with a sitting with two schools, which were indeed crowning opportunities. Under the humbling sense of gracious daily help vouchsafed, our minds were enabled to ascribe the praise to our blessed Shepherd, who is now and forever worthy." On the 20th, they went with Wm. Rotch and other friends, to Bedford. On the 22d they had a satisfactory meeting at Long Plains, and on First-day two laborious meetings at Bedford. Various meetings are noted, and the several travellers appear frequently to have diverged in various directions, and to have occasionally rejoined each other." "Dear Jane," she notes, "is in her place, and is helped, from time to time, in the exercise of her gifts, which makes way in the Having completed this service, she was careful hearts of Friends. * * Dear Joseph Whitall not to leave New Bedford prematurely, "desiring has a precious gift, and is much beloved by his that the Lord may be pleased to be near us in our friends." Having attended Bedford Monthly return, even as he condescended to conduct hither Meeting, to their comfort, on the 26th they all in safety." She took a solemn leave of Friends went in a packet sloop to Nantucket, "where my at their meeting on Fifth day the 25th, "under old friend S. Barney was waiting to see me, and the firm belief, that if those among them who we mingled tears of thankfulness." Of the are mercifully visited, do not progress in the Monthly Meeting of Nantucket, and that for the Christian path, it will be owing to their not mindNorthern District of Nantucket, she says: "both ing the day of small things." That day occurred these were seasons of deep exercise and close several "precious opportunities," and in the evelabour, which, however, yielded peace to my ning many young Friends and others, who conmind." R. J.'s labours on this island were ex-vened at the house of her host, Wm. Rotch, were tensive, and her exercises in the numerous meet-" encouraged to dare to stand alone in the most ings she attended, deep and painful. "Seventh month 3d.-The Quarterly Meeting here ended yesterday. It was, on the whole, a season of favour, as well as a time of deep exercise throughout; so that we have fresh occasion to ascribe greatness, with glory, to our blessed important pursuit." Next morning was a "uniting, melting season "with many friends who thronged around her at her lodgings, and taking leave of them, our friends proceeded in W. Rotch's carriage to T. Robinson's, at Newport. At this place she was "deeply humbled" in several |