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    can I hastily admk 9 that to petition the legi ^ Uiture for the restoration of peace wiii ' -eot ' no avail Our rulers are cither disposed to adopt pacific measures or not . Suppos ' ng that they are , is not this ra-her an argument in favour of petitioning than against it ? For will it not be gratifying , rather than displeasing to them , to find that the sen u merits and disposition of

    the people coincide with their own > But in the supposition they a > e inclined to protract the war , and ; he objection res s on this supposition , will the wishes of tiie people , e pressed with becoming deference and firmness produce no impres . ion ? Gentlemen , until the event has proved that our legislators can and will treat the opinions and wishes of the people with total disregard , I will not admit the idea .

    * ' Much I am aware , will depend on unanimity in this business A single petition—a few petitions uill avail nothing . But let all the friends of peace , who I am confident are a very great majority in the kingdom , come forward , and with one heart and voice , add . ess the legislature as they are entitled to do , and as they ought to do ; and it requires not the spirit of prophecy to furetel the

    result . The only thing to be dreaded , Gentlemen , is the want of this promptness and unanimity . But even this ground of fear is beginning to subside ; our countrymen are beginning to shake off the spirit of slumber and awake to a just sense of their duty , their interest . Our example this day may have some influence . But should they remain supine > and our efforts , through their supineness , fail of accomplishing the desired effect , still w e shall have the satisfaction

    to reflect , that we have done what we could to check the horrors of war , and restore peace to a distracted , bleeding world ! " Gentlemen , before I sit down per mit me to offer one thought more which just occurs . War c « nnot be eternal . It contains within itself * its own antidote .

    After having swept the earth with the besom of destruction , it will destroy itself . The < live of peace shall be planted and shall flourish in every clime . The din of war , the clangor of arms , the shouts of the victorious , the groans of the dying , shall for ever cease , ^ and every object that meets the eye , every sound that accosts the , ear , shall indicate the most perfect security , peace and happi-

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    ness . Our eyes may not see this golded era , this millenial year , this desire of all nations , but come it will ; and as \ % will be introduced by human agency , m part at leart , uho can tell but our efforts this day , inconsiderable as they are , may contribute , in . some degree , to accelerate its arrival . "

    The Rev . C- Berry seconded tfye 4 th resolution , aud proceeded as follows \—* Tvlr . Chairman * and Gentlemen , I rise to have the pleasure of seconding the resolution which you have jutt heard , and of publicly declaring my entire appiobation of the object and proceedings or this Meeting . There are few occasions which could have induced

    me to address such a numerous and respectable assembly , as that to which I h-ve now the honor of speaking ; but this is one of tho ^ e occasions , upon which a sense of du-y is irresistible . It appears to me that we art : acting , this day , as men and as Christians ought to act : as becomes the lovers Of their ^ % ^^ ^^ A ^ A <^^ ^^ ^^^ l ^ & ^ k ^ « b A ^ ^^ ^^ ^ v w ^ ^^ * ^^ V ^»~ ^ ^ - ^ ^ h ^ » ^ ^ ^ ^^^ ^ J ^

    country and © f mankind ; more especially ( as this resolution signifies ) in har - mony with that religion which we all profess ; and , I will add , with respect to myself , consistently with the spirit and duties of that profession of which I am a member , which is peculiarly called upon to promote , in every way , the peace and happiness of mankind .

    " Gentlemen , the evils and calamities of war are an inexhaustible subject : we all know the privations aiid afflictions which it produces : I 6 hall not dwell upon them ; they are painful and distressing to contemplate ; they have been already strikingly illustrated by my

    professional colleague , who has just addressed you . Besides which , I hope we are animated with higher and more generous motives , than to wish and petition for peace , merely that we may have an opportunity of becoming a richer and more luxurious nation ! It

    is not merely that our trade may be relieved from its present burdens , and that our condition alone maybe more easy and prosperous : —our views are more benevolent" and extensive—we look to promote the comfort and contentment

    of the }• oarer classes of society—we desire to promote the spreatl of religion and virtue among mankind , which are opposed by nothing more than th-e spirit , and the evils of war—we wish , by a faithful delineation of these burdens and calamities , to induce our rulers to

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    f $ S Pc < tce * — Proceedings at Leicester *

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Jan. 2, 1813, page 68, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2424/page/68/