THOSE who for the last four years have attentively watched the progress of events in our eastern empire, must be satisfied that nothing but a large addition to our present European military force in that quarter, can enable us to retain our late conquests, or bring the war in China to a speedy and honourable conclusion. We do not require

to be told that a British soldier is seldom at the trouble to inquire the numbers of, but where are, the enemy. In the latter years of the late Peninsular war, the soldiers had become so familiar with victory, so confident in their own prowess, and in the talents of their general, that on the eve of an engagement it was quite a common thing to hear them address their right and left-hand companions, not in the language of doubt, such as "Shall we beat them?" but in that of confidence and certain victory, "How long shall we be in beating them?" But because they met the enemies of their country on unequal terms, when a stern necessity required them to do so, almost every nation on earth being arrayed against us, is it fair that they should still be required to hazard their lives in unequal combat, when the necessity for doing so has passed away? It is preposterous to continue the system, when, for a few pounds per annum, the evil could so easily be removed. It is true, that the battle is not always to the strong, but it approaches to something like a tempting of Divine Providence to lead into a battle-field 2000 men

VOL I.

against 45,000, as was done the other day at Canton, and will have to be done again if Thurawadda, the king of Burmah, should attack us at Maulmein, as is expected. Soldiers, when ordered to the battle-field, or the breach, must go, or be tried as cowards, and receive a coward's punishment; consequently, it amounts to something like murder on the part of a government to order soldiers into action on such unequal terms, knowing that the poor fellows have no alternative but to expose their persons to the weapons of, perhaps, twenty opponents, or to have their bodies riddled with the bullets of their comrades. But the time has arrived when this cold-blooded, heartless system must be exploded. Those individuals for whose benefit, for the protection of whose property at home and abroad, the soldiers spend the best of their days, and brave pestilence and death on distant and unhealthy shores, must be made to open their pursestrings, and come forward with a few shillings of the annual income secured to them by the arms of their gallant countrymen, that such an addition may be made to the military force of the country, as will enable the general commanding in chief to increase the effective military force in India, and take the necessary steps for the regular relief of regiments serving in that country after a period of twelve or fourteen years' absence from their native land.

In consequence of the wretched cheese

G

paring system of economy lately introduced into our military service, regiments that have been in India nineteen or twenty years will have to remain some years longer before others can be sent to replace them. The 49th and 55th regiments had arrived on the coast to embark for England after a service of twenty years, but there being no other corps that could be spared for service in China, they were seized upon on the breaking out of the war with that country, and hurried off on that expedition, and not only so, but instead of being relieved now, fresh reinforcements for those regiments have lately sailed for China. These are cases of considerable hardship, both corps having suffered much. But under the peculiar circumstances of the case, what could the Governor-general do? and, in the way of relief, what can Lord Hill do, but distribute, with his usual impartiality and ability, the military resources placed at his Lordship's disposal?

The evil alluded to has now, however, arisen to such a height that nothing short of an effectual remedy will give satisfaction to the relatives and friends of those sent into banishment to India for so long a period as twenty-one years. Now, as no remedy can be provided without money, and as a direct tax can only be levied upon those having property, or permanent incomes, we would earnestly impress on the minds of the nobility and gentry the propriety of calling county and other meetings, to pledge themselves to the Crown to submit with pleasure to a tax equal to the expense of raising and maintaining an additional force of ten regiments or battalions of 1000 men each, which in round numbers may be stated at £300,000 per annum, a sum which if levied equally on the population of this country, would impose on each person a tax of about four pence halfpenny only, a mere trifle compared to the importance of the objects to be attained, viz., the shortening of the period of banishment of regiments proceeding to India from twenty-one to twelve or fourteen years, and enabling them when in that country to meet their enemies on more equal terms than they have hitherto done.

But should this mode of increasing the military force of the country be objected to, we feel assured that no objection will be started to the following plan for increasing the British force in India, and rendering it more effective for field purposes than it has ever yet been.

If men are wanted for service in India, it matters not whether they are formed into new battalions, or incorporated with existing ones, their pay is the same in either case, consequently, as far as they are concerned, there can be no additional expense. But

the case is different as regards officers. By raising ten battalions, there would be a very considerable additional expense under this head beyond what would be incurred if the men were incorporated in existing battalions. Our object, therefore, shall be to point out how 4000 men may be added to the British force in India at an annual expense over and above the pay of the men of from £20,000 to £30,000.

The present establishment of officers of a regiment of infantry serving in India is, 2 Lieutenant-colonels.

Christian-let the pen of every Christian be directed against him, and the infamous doctrines he promulgates through the columns of the "Dispatch," until they are finally put down.

From the great apathy that has hitherto prevailed, and the hold which these doctrines have obtained of the minds of the labouring classes, this will not be an easy matter; but by perseverance and the blessing of the Almighty, success will crown our efforts.

Some two or three months ago, the "Times," in an article on the diseased state of the public mind in France, had the following sentences: viz.,

"That the whole public mind of Paris and of France is diseased, and that to a fearful extent, is most certain. The tree of knowledge of that baleful class, which some have recently striven to transplant into the English soil-of knowledge without religion,"

&c.

And, again

"For this disease, this fatal disorder, there is no cure except Christianity."

To this Publicola, in a late number of the London "Dispatch," replied as follows:

"Will the numskullian writer of the 'Times' condescend to tell his readers what he here means by religion and Christianity? And how either is a dose against assassination? The Italians, Spaniards, and Portuguese are drugged to saturation with Christianity, and yet theirs are the very realms of assassins. Greece abounds in assassins, and in Christianity of another sort; and Turkey is full of assassins, and of religion, although it is not of the Christian type.'

That Italy, Spain, and Portugal are denominated Christian countries, we very readily admit; but that the inhabitants are Christians we deny. Man is commanded by the Great Author of his being not to make unto himself any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; nor to bow himself down to them, or serve them. Now, how is this commandment obeyed in the countries alluded to by Publicola? Is this champion of infidelity aware that in all and each of those nations the inhabitants, in direct violation of the divine commandment, and divine precept of the Great Author of the Christian faith, daily kneel to images, and call upon them to intercede for them at the throne of divine mercy? Is he aware, that in direct violation of those commandments which ordain that

men shall " Keep holy the sabbath day,"

and "not take the name of the Lord his God in vain," the inhabitants of these countries, instead of proceeding on that blessed day to the house of the living God, to give him thanks and praise for all the mercies he

has vouchsafed to them, fly to the theatres, and similar places of enjoyment, and there join the wretched profligates who strut upon the stage for their amusement, in openly blaspheming and taking in vain the name of the living God, the eternal King of heaven, by whom they live, move, and have their being?

If Publicola should have any doubts on this point, we would advise him to proceed to Lisbon by a Peninsula steam vessel, and satisfy his curiosity. But as our assertions can be established by irrefragable proof, it matters not whether he accepts of our advice in the matter or not. We ask, however, can people who are guilty of such profanity, be considered as members of a Christian church, or the country they inhabit a Christian country? Decidedly not. Therefore, although Italy, Spain, and Portugal are denominated Christian kingdoms, and the inhabitants thereof Christians, we unhesitatingly affirm that none of the three countries can be considered as members of the Christian family, nor the people inhabiting them, members of the Christian church.

As members of a really Christian church, we repudiate with loathing and contempt the vile imputation thus attempted to be affixed to Christianity, viz., That in those countries where Christianity is the religion of the people, assassinations are more pregnant than in any other.

Man is commanded to commit no murder. Notwithstanding the divine injunction, however, the commandment has been almost daily disregarded in every country. But it is a little singular that the crime of assassination is much more prevalent in the vicinity of Rome than in any other portion of the globe. And it is no less singular that in all the nations to the south and east of Rome, even to the walls of China, it prevails in a greater or lesser degree; while in the kingdoms to the north of Rome the crime is almost unknown, particularly in those states where the people have either emancipated themselves from the thraldom of the Romish priesthood, or the majority profess the protestant religion.

In Spain and Portugal the crime of assassination prevails to a considerable extent; in neither of which kingdoms are there more than a few protestant families, and these only in a few of the sea ports.

France has hitherto been denominated a Roman catholic country; but for half a century the pope has had but very little influence with the great mass of the population. Assassination does not prevail in France. In Holland it is not known; neither is it in the German states, nor in Prussia, Denmark, Sweden, Russia, Poland, nor in England or Scotland-and we wish we

could include unfortunate Ireland. In the southern and midland counties of Ireland, where the great majority of the population profess the Romish faith, assassination is but too frequent; while in the northern counties, where a large proportion of the people are protestants, it is almost unknown. But this cannot be matter of surprise to any one at all acquainted with the manner in which the peasantry in the southern, midland, and northern counties respectively spend the sabbath. We have already stated how the Roman catholic population of Italy, Spain, and Portugal spend the day of rest. Now, although the peasantry of the southern and midland Irish counties are not permitted to enter theatres, &c. on Sunday, yet they contrive but too frequently to spend it in a most profane manner. The mode of doing

so is as follows:

At some convenient place, contiguous to where two roads cross each other, they congregate in considerable numbers, and to the heart-stirring notes of the bagpipes, and other musical instruments, trip it on the light fantastic toe, until maddened with liquor, they engage in a row, and then covered with blood and mud, they return to their poor helpless offspring with little more than their lives.

What a contrast does not this present to the mode of spending the sabbath in the northern counties, where, in clean and neat clothing, the whole population attend the ministrations of the gospel at their respective places of worship; and when the services of the day are over, return to their families, and spend the remaining portion of the day in instructing their children and in devotional duties.

Let us take leave of the Green Isle, and cross over to the Land of the Heath. We need not enter into any lengthy detail of the manner in which the sabbath is kept in that part of the empire. By some it is denounced as too puritanical; but what are the consequences to the country, of the people "Keeping the sabbath holy," as commanded by the great Author of their religion, and whom they only acknowledge as the Head of their church? They are theseAssassination is unknown in Scotland; and in those parts of the country where a considerable portion of the native population profess the Roman catholic faith, neither of the parties permit that circumstance to interrupt for one moment their social intercourse. Would to God we could say the same thing in favour of her sister country Ireland; but this consummation so devoutly to be wished need not be looked for until the Irish agitators are completely put down, and the priests shall cease to take part in political squabbles.

These facts we earnestly entreat our Christian brethren to bear in remembrance, that they may no more be imposed upon by the champion of infidelity's random assertions; for to every unbiassed mind they must prove in the clearest manner, that assassination prevails in those countries only where the sabbath-day is not kept holy; and not in those far happier and more blessed lands where the sabbath-day is kept holy, agreeably to the divine commandment of God the Father, and the divine precept of God the Son, our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

In the article already alluded to, Publicola has the following paragraph:

:

"The Jews were the most depraved, unprincipled, and atrociously cruel people that ever disgraced the human form; and yet their government was a theocracy; and, strange to say, that as soon as they were deprived of it, they became about the average morality of the nations among which they were dispersed. Their crimes ceased when they ceased to be a chosen people.'

We hesitate not to pronounce this one of the most atrocious libels on the Deity that ever appeared in a public journal; for view it in whatever light we may, there is but one conclusion to which any man can come respecting the object of the writer, which but too clearly appears to have been to make the illiterate and unthinking portion of the people believe, that to their Creator-who is all love, all goodness, and all truth-the crimes committed by the Jews were to be attributed. What opinion should the Christian world entertain of a man who can write and publish such arrant blasphemy? Simply this-that he is a much better subject for the abode of darkness than its present inhabitants; for the latter tremble before the God of heaven, whilst the former, with a malice unknown to the spirits in Pandemonium, not only openly defies the power, but denies the very existence of the Eternal Jehovah !

Publicola, in a late letter to Sergeant Talfourd, has the following paragraph :

"You dwell much upon futurity, and speak of the criminality of denying a future existence, and talk of the deep, the solemn, interest in such sacred things. Now, Sir, you must know that the Bible rests upon a total ignorance of futurity. The Jews, the most filthy, paltry, and atrocious tribe that ever existed-but the chosen people of God, (what a patronage!) had no notion of a future state until the very latter part of their history, when the idea was taken up by a small sect-a sort of chartist sect, comprising what the Jews would call the lowest vulgar; and as we Christians deduce all our