eyes of the people scenes of cruelty, and corpses murdered by tortures, they then corrupt in the heart of the citizen the ideas of the just and the unjust; they cause to spring up in the bosom of society ferocious prejudices, which, in their turn, reproduce others. Man is no longer to man an object so sacred; a less lofty idea is entertained of his dignity when the public authority treats so lightly his life. The idea of murder inspires much less dread than before, when society itself presents the example and exhibition of it; the horror of the crime is diminished when society punishes it only by another. Beware well of confounding the efficaciousness of punishments with the excess of severity: the one is absolutely opposed to the other. Everything seconds moderate laws; everything conspires against cruel ones.' 'What might not France and the world been spared, had these sentiments prevailed? They were advocated in the assembly, but the orators were put down by the clamors of the fierce galleries, like vultures scenting their prey from afar.'

We admit that this mode of punishment may be re-established, but then it will be more and more difficult as society is taught the sacredness of human life. This law is a weapon, ready prepared, which is more susceptible of abuse than any other. An attempt to introduce it after its abolishment would be such an innovation that an alarm would be sounded.

We forget that even the Son of God suffered by a perverted use of this law. The Jews did not venture to demand his death of the Roman governor without the forms of law and the semblance of justice. When Pilate found no cause of death in him.' they appealed to their own laws, saying, 'we have a law, and by our law he ought to die.' Thus the punishment of death

became the pretext for the greatest crime ever perpetrated in our world; a deed so foul that it is not yet expiated, though the guilty nation have been, for eighteen centuries, exiles and vagabonds upon the face of the earth, a by-word and a reproach, 'their own house left unto them desolate.'

We are overwhelmed with the thoughts that rush into the mind when we consider the horrid use that may be made of this form of punishment. Had it not been for the contempt of human life which it has taught the community, there would have been no fires at Smithfield, no massacre of St. Bartholomew, no reign of terror in the first French revolution. Cranmer would not have been led to the stake in his old age, nor Stafford to the scaffold in the full vigor of life and usefulness; Lavorisier might have lived to enlighten the world by his science; Condorcet to instruct by his learning, and Malesherbes to improve it by his virtues.'*

* How little do we think of the influence of Capital Punishment upon the surviving relatives! How many affecting scenes must there have been in the French revolution! How many sighs and groans! How many tears unnoticed, except by Him who regards even the falling of a sparrow. We will give an instance that happened in our own revolution, which will show how cruel death is when he comes in the form to which we have so frequently alluded. The story is that of Colonel Hayne, of South Carolina, who was taken prisoner by the English. He had a wife and six small children. He was very amia ble, and a great many interceded for him, but in vain.-During the imprisonment of the father, his eldest son was permitted to stay with him in the prison. Beholding his only surviving parent, for whom he felt the deepest affection, loaded with irons and condemned to die, he was overwhelmed with consternation and sorrow. The wretched father endeavored to console him, by reminding him that the unavailing grief of his son tended only to increase his own misery, that we came into this world merely to prepare for a better, that he was himself prepared

If it be true, then, that the light regard paid to human existence has proved sources of unhappiness, it becomes all in this enlightened age to weigh well their motives when they advocate the punishment of death. We know that even they contend that life will be rendered more sacred by taking that of the murderer. But facts show the contrary. The legal existence of this penalty is not only abused on extraordinary occasions, but it tends to encourage daily a disregard for life, and leads on to murder. If the government would

to die, and could even rejoice that his troubles were so near an end. 'To-morrow,' said he, 'I set out for immortality; you will accompany me to the place of my execution; and when I am dead, take my body and bury it by the side of your mother.' The youth here fell on his father's neck, crying, 'Oh, my father, my father, I will die with you! I will die with you!' Colonel Hayne, as he was loaded with irons, was unable to return the embrace of his son, and merely said to him in reply, 'Live, my son, live to honor God by a good life; live to serve your country; and live to take care of your brother and little sisters.' The next morning, proceeds the narrative of these distressing events, Colonel Hayne was conducted to the place of execution. His son accompanied him. Soon as they came in sight of the gallows, the father strengthened himself, and said, 'Now, my son, show yourself a man! That tree is the boundary of my life, and of all my life's sorrows. Beyond that, "the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest." Don't lay too much at heart our separation; it will be short. 'Twas but lately your dear mother died. To-day I die. And you, my son, though but young, must shortly follow us.' 'Yes, my father,' replied the broken-hearted youth, 'I shall shortly follow you, for, indeed, I feel that I cannot live long.' And his melancholy anticipation was fulfilled in a manner more dreadful than is implied in the mere extinction of life. On seeing his father in the hands of the executioner, and then struggling in the halter, he stood like one transfixed and motionless with horror. Till then, proceeds the narration, he had wept incessantly; but soon as he saw that sight, the fountain of his tears was staunched, and he never wept more. He died insane; and in his last moments often called on his father, in terms that brought tears from the hardest hearts.

cease to legalize the shedding of blood, there would then be established in the human mind the great doctrine of the sanctity of human life-that even the days of the criminal are too sacred to be shortened.

We appeal, then, to the politician as well as the religionist, to think deeply and seriously upon this subject. We may think we have outgrown, in the religious world, the doctrine of the stake and the fagot; yet, perhaps, it is because no sect among us possesses the power. Let any political or religious party gain the ascendency; then they have the weapon ready formed at their hands.* The guillotine may be established, or the fires of Smithfield may again be lighted, or even all the cruelties of the Inquisition may be revived! And this penalty is likely to fall, not on the most corrupt and abandoned, but upon the very best citizens. Not belonging to either party, they are suspected by both, and, therefore, are likely to become the first victims. In view of all these facts, we cease to wonder at the strong language of La Fayette in the motto upon our title: 'For my own part, I shall demand the abolition of the punishment of death until I am convinced that human judgment is infallible.'

* Numberless incidents occur in history to illustrate this point. During the reign of James II., while the tyrant Jeffries was on the bench, the following took place ::-'A Mrs. Gaunt was noted for her beneficence to all professions and persuasions. One of the rebels, knowing her humane character, had recourse to her in his distress, and was concealed. The abandoned villain, hearing that a reward and indemnity was offered to such as informed against criminals, betrayed her. His evidence was incontestible. He was pardoned for his treachery-she burned alive for her benevolence.'

Another instance occurred, equally terrible. 'Lady Lisle was proved innocent twice of sheltering two fugitives. But the jury was sent back by Jeffries, with reproaches, and they were constrained to give a verdict against the prisoner.'

ESSAY IX.

FUTURE CONDITION OF THE SOUL.

Appeal to Christians-Conduct of prisoners-Stephen M. Clarke—
Cheever's argument—Petition presented by Lord Brougham-
Incident at Lechler's execution-Execution of a man eighty-three
years of age-Reformation possible-Corinthian church-Apostle
Peter-David, king of Israel.

Who can reflect, unmoved, upon the round
Of smooth and solemnized complacencies,
By which, on Christian lands, from age to age,
Profession mocks performance. Earth is sick
And Heaven is weary of the hollow words
Which states and kingdoms utter when they talk
Of truth and justice.

WORDSWORTH.

WE reach now, in our labor, a part of our subject, which presents some very solemn aspects; so solemn in their nature that language is inadequate; views that overwhelm the imagination, and which we would gladly have passed over, but a sincere conviction of duty calls upon us in the most imperious manner to give it our serious attention. It is a view on which we have thought with the deepest reverence, and we feel to invoke the divine aid while we carefully call to it the attention of the reader.

We do, therefore, in the most solemn manner, and in the fear of God, appeal to that very large and respectable body of Christians,-among whom are to be found many bright examples of piety and learning, -who believe that 'life is but a trial for eternity-that