A Discourse

I would, therefore, ask the attention of my respected auditors to a brief review of these events, of ‘ the things, which our eyes have seen,’’—to a cursory notice of some of the important lessons moral and political, which people and rulers, electors and legislators have alike been taught by these things, and are bound to remember; and lastly, to the mention of certain objects, in the promotion of which every patriot and philanthropist, and certainly the appointed guardiaus of a christian commonwealth, will feel themselves urgently called upon to exert their influence, from the extraordinary character of the times and state of the world, in which we live. I. A year has not yet elapsed since the friends of liberty, of religion and human happiness in this country, spontaneously and publicly testified their devout and joyous sympathy with the exulting nations of Kurope when they heard the tidings of their emancipation from the galling yoke of tyranny, of their deliverance from the desolating demon of war, of their restoration io mild and equitable rule, to the quiet cultivation of the arts and enjoyment of the blessings of peace. We had long taken a humane and arixious interest in the great events, that were passing upon the tragic theatre of the old world. We saw, with dismay and deep concern for the liberty, the religion and all the salutary institutions for the improvement and happiness of civilized man, a stern and unrelenting despot, a contemner of God and man, at the head of a mighty empire, a leader of unnumbered legions trained to the work of destruction in the midst of atheism, carnage and erimes, accustomed to victory, athirst for conquest and plunder, going forth conquering and to conquer. We saw immense armies scattered before him. We saw ancient thrones, principalities and powers fall prostrate at his approach. We saw kings and emperors casting their crowns at his feet. We saw the iron yoke fastened upon the necks of his victims, while terror stifled their groans, We saw him wringing from them, with insatiable cupidity and unsparing cruelty, tribute upon tribute, sacrifice upon sacrifice of their best blood and few remaining comforts ; and all this to rivet more firmly the chains, which bound them to the chariot wheels of their conqueror,—to satiate his lust of boundless conquest, and to spread the portentous glare, the blasting splendors of his name and despotic dominion over the whole civilized world.

We saw, indeed, one people, and one only, who kept the tyrant at bay, who never bowed the knee to this great Baal, who never trembled at “ this god, who then bestrode the”’ continental “world.’’ And this people—shall we not exult in the claim ?—this people are our kindred by blood, the descendants of the brethren of our fathers. Their St. George’s channel, their wooden walls and hearts of oak, and more than all, perhaps, the prayers and alms of their “ noble army” of christian philanthropists formed a barrier, which the myrmidons of the tyrant could never pass. England stvod unmoved. within view of his shores, queen of isles, mistress of the ocean, vanquisher of his fleets and colonies, the asylum of the proscribed objects of his jealousy or revenge, mocking at his impotent rage, engrossing the commerce of the world, and carrying, in exchange for the perishable products of their soil, the bread of life, the glad tidings of salvation to farthest India, and the remotest islands of the Gentiles. We. saw, in the mean time, the despot inflicting upon his passive subjects and allies unheard of hardships and privations by that barbarous engine of tyranny, the continental system, the only weapon with which he could hope to reach that object of his hate and terror, the maritime supremacy of unshaken, undaunted England. The oppressions of this system added to others, stamped with the character of the blackest treachery and most outrageous insult, roused, at length, the siumbering energies of Spain, stirred the proud spirit of Spaniards, and inflamed with a sudden fever of resentment and revenge the blood, which till then they had seemed to have forgotten, that they had derived from a brave and warlike ancestry. We saw and admired their desperate daring, their noble struggle. But we rather wished and prayed, than hoped it would be erowned with success, although backed, as it was, with the generous and powerful aid of England. The then little known, but now illustrious Emperor of Russia, finding his empire degraded and burdened by the conditions, which in an unfortunate moment, he had entered into with the mighty oppressor of the continent,—-convineed, by the fate of neighboring princes, that to be in league with him in any form was to enter into compact for his own destruction, and that his only alternative in order to save any thing from the ilimitable claims of his imperial friendship, was to , hazard every thing in determined hostility against bim,—warmed, also with a generous glow of indignation at oppression, and animated by the heroic example of England and Spain united,—above all, elevated and sustained by a pious confidence in God and the justice of his cause,—he prepares and calmly waits for the assault, which he was aware had been long meditated by the modern Sennacherib against his crown and empire. We saw that “scourge of God” go forth in his wrath with his hundreds of thousands madly confident of an easy victory over the only remaining empire of the continent, that had courage and strength to resist his desolating progress to universal dominion. The prayers of all who cherished in their bosom a spark of interest for the liberty and happiness of mankind, were earnestly preferred to the righteous Father of the world, that he would interpose. Neighboring and distant nations seemed alike interested, and alike waited the issue of the contest in trembling suspense. Nor were they left long to doubt of the result. For, behold, “the Lord of hosts, mighty in battle, whet his glittering sword, and his hand took hold on judgment.” He not only inspired the hardy men of the north, with unconquerable energy and intrepidity in defence of their homes and temples, and of a sovereign, whom they loved, because they had found ‘in him, not an oppressor, but a father of his people ; but he brought, also, to their aid the irresistible might of his ministering servants, the elements, flaming fire and frost, “ stormy wind and tempest fulfilling his word.” He scattered by thousands the carcasses of the invaders in the wilderness. He emphatically spoiled the _ spoilers. And, by a rapid descent from his dizzy eminence, before the close of a second year from his proud entrance into Russia, at the head of perhaps the most powerful and best appointed army the world has yet seen, we saw this disturber and terror of the world re- — duced to the condition of a despised, and therefore, — alas, unguarded exile—the man, whose plans of em.