'enough to have followed his example: one out of even the skipping, dancing, worthless tribe, whose gallantry sunk into ingratitude, whose levity sublimed itself into guilt? No, no; "imperfectly civilized" as his countrymen have called us, they cannot deny that there is something generous in our barbarism; that we could not embrace a friend while we were planning his destruction ; that we could not affect his table while we were profaning his bed; that we could not preach morality whilst we were perpetrating crime; and, above all, that if in the moment of our nature's weakness, when reason sleeps, and passion triumphs, some confiding creature had relied upon our honour, we could not dash her from us in her trial hour, and for our purse's safety turn the cold-blooded assassin of her character.-But, my Lord, I ask you not as a father-not as an husband-but as a guardian of the morals of this country, ought this to be a justification of any adulterer, and if so, should it justify an adulterer under such circumstances?-Has any man a right to scrutinize the constitution of every female in a family, that he may calculate on the possibility of her seduction! Will you instil this principle into society? Will you instil this principle into the army? Will you disseminate such a principle of palliation? And will you permit it to palliate-what? The ruin of an household-the sacrifice of a friend-the worse than murder of four little children-the most inhuman perfidy to an host-a companion-a brother in arms!!

Will you permit it? I stand not upon her innocence-I demand vengeance on his most unnaturally villainy. Suppose I concede his whole defence to him-supposed she was begrimed and black as hell-was it for him to take advantage of her turpitude? He, a friend—a guest—a confidant-a brother soldier! Will you justify him even in any event in trampling on the rights of friendship-of hospitality-of professional fraternity-of human nature! Will you convert the man into the monster? Will you convert the soldier into the foe from being the safeguard of the citizen? Will you so defame the military character? Will you not fear the reproaches of departed glory? Will you fling the laurelled flag of England, scorched with the cannon flame and crimsoned with the soldier's life blood-the flag of countless fights and every fight a victory -will you fling it athwart the couch of this accursed harlotry without almost expecting that the field sepulchre will heave with life, and the dry bones of buried armies rise re-animate against the profanation!-No, no-I call upon you by the character of that army not to contaminate its trophies-I call on you in the cause of nature to vindicate its dignity-I call on you by your happy homes to protect them from profanation-I call on you by the love you bear your little children, not to let this CHRISTIAN HEROD loose amongst the innocents. Oh, as you venerate the reputation of your country-as you regard the happiness of your species-as you

hope for the mercy of that all-wise and all-protecting God, who has set his everlasting canon against adultery-banish this day by a vindictive verdict the crime and the criminal for ever from amongst us,

SPEECH

i..

DELIVERED

AT THE FOURTH ANNIVERSARY

OF THE

GLOUCESTERSHIRE MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

Sir,

AFTER the eloquence with which so many gentlemen have gratified and delighted this most respectable assembly, and after the almost inspired address of one of them, I feel almost ashamed of having acceded to the wishes of the committee by proposing the resolution which I have the honour to submit. I should apologize, Sir, for even the few moments intrusion which I mean to make upon this meeting, did I not feel that I had no right to consider myself as quite a stranger; did I not feel that the subject unites us all into one great social family, and gives to the merest sojourner the claim of a brother and a friend. At a time like this, perhaps, when the infidel is abroad, and the atheist and the disbeliever triumph in their blasphemy, it behoves the humblest Christian to range himself beneath the

banners of his faith, and attest, even by his martyrdom, the sincerity of his allegiance.

When I consider the source whence Christianity has sprung-the humility of its origin-the poverty of its disciples-the miracles of its creation -the mighty sway it has acquired, not only over the civilized world, but which your missions are hourly extending over lawless, mindless, and imbruted regions, I own the awful presence of the Godhead-nothing less than a Divinity could have done it!-The powers, the prejudices, the superstitions of the earth, were all in arms against it; it had no sword nor sceptre-its founder was in rags-its apostles were fishermen-its inspired prophets, lowly and uneducated-its cradle was a manger-its home a dungeon--its earthly diadem a crown of thorns!And yet, forth it went-that lowly, humble, persecuted spirit--and the idols of the Heathen fell; and the thrones of the mighty trembled; and Paganism saw her peasants and her princes kneel down and worship the unarmed conqueror!

If this be not the work of the Divinity, then I yield to the reptile ambition of the atheist. I see no God above-I see no government below; and I yield my consciousness of an immortal soul to his boasted fraternity with the worm that perishes!-But, Sir, even when I thus concede to him the divine origin of our Christian faith, I arrest him upon worldly principles-I desire him to produce, from all the wisdom of the earth, so pure a system of practical morality-a code of ethics more sublime in its conception-more