family the pleasure which it had afforded him, with the air and the manner of one who has at length found his congenial element. From that time forth, for the cause of peace he lived, and laboured, and in the midst of efforts to promote it, he died.

It is not too much to say, that he did more for the promotion of this cause than any other individual in the State, and than all, except a very few individuals, in the United States. His labours embraced an infinitude of details-which it would be impossible to relate. Of several peace societies he managed the fiscal concerns and all the societies in the different counties of the State, were supplied with tracts and publications, either by him directly, or through his agency. The County Societies he visited in person, made excursions into different parts of the State, for objects connected with the cause of peace, procured addresses on the subject, to be delivered, published these addresses, as well as various pamphlets and tracts, opened a depository from which they might be distributed-conversed on the principles and objects of Peace Societies, whenever and wherever fitting occasion presented—in a word, he lost no opportunity, great or small, to promote the cause to which his whole soul was devoted. Thus his influence, silent and unseen, had extended itself much more widely than was generally supposed. An agent of the American Peace Society for the county of Tolland, Conn., in a recent communication to the Executive Committee, remarks:-"I found that the publications of the American Peace Society had exerted an influence beyond my expectation. The persevering efforts of the beloved WATSON, had thrown some tract, or report, into every neighbourhood, and his name was familiar on many tongues."

When, in 1831, the Connecticut Peace Society was estab lished, Mr. Watson was appointed its agent, and by him the bu siness of the society was transacted, and its publications issued and distributed. To his enterprize, personal efforts and sacrifices, this journal, commenced under the auspices of the Connecticut Peace Society, but subsequently transferred to those of the American, mainly owes its existence. During the two

years and a half since its first establishment, it occupied his thoughts almost unceasingly, and to its publication, support, and circulation, his time was almost entirely devoted. The same spirit of perseverance, and self-sacrifice which characterized him in other things, was gradually leading him towards the accomplishment of his hopes in reference to this work. Late in October last, he undertook a journey to New-York and Philadelphia, in behalf of the American Peace Society; his purpose was to lay the objects and claims of that society before the friends of the cause in those cities, and to solicit their cooperation. Having met with a very cordial reception, and satisfactorily accomplished his object, he was returning, when he was violently attacked with an inflammatory fever. He was, however, enabled to reach his home, where he languished about ten days, and then, at the age of 63, calmly and confidently departed to his rest.

The ruling passion of his life, if we may so express it, was also that of his last hours ;-the cause of peace seemed to dwell upon his mind, and was the leading theme of his conversation. A friend who was about to pray with him, inquired if he had any especial subject of petition. He replied, pray for two things; first, that I may enjoy the presence of my Saviour and particularly that God will be pleased to bless my recent exertions in the cause of peace. For other friends he left his solemn injunction, that if the cause for which he had laboured was worthy of support, they would not suffer it to languish.

We cannot close this sketch without again adverting to Mr. Watson's character. Religion seemed to be in him not so much an emotion as a habit. Beginning in early youth, it grew up with him, and was interwoven with the whole tissue of his life. He had a prevailing sense of the obligations of right-of dependence on a higher power-and of the agency of a Divine Providence in every event. To him the rule of action was not so much the rule of sight as of faith. He went to the fountain of wisdom for guidance, and having formed his purpose, clung to it with an invincible tenacity. Obstacles, and perplexities sometimes cast a damp over his spirits, but it was

momentary; the ultimate effect was only to make him more determined than before. He highly esteemed the good opinion of his friends, he was by no means insensible to public regard, but he chose to sacrifice them both, if necessary, rather than abate one whit of his resolution. Especially was this true in reference to the cause to which he devoted the eight last years of his life. He enlisted in that cause from a conviction of its intrinsic merits and at a time when it was almost without visible encouragement. We know not that he ever had any express reference to the following maxims of an eloquent friend of peace, but they were in fact his governing maxims. We know not that the author of them had ever seen Mr. Watson, but he could not have better described his rule of action.

from the most intimate acquaintance. "If it be a duty," says Professor Ware, "which we are called upon to perform, it is no matter whether there be any visible encouragement or not. Duty can be done, sooner or later. It must be begun,—in the dark perhaps; but we shall work our way to the light." In this conviction Mr. Watson laboured, "that he should work his way to the light." Shall we misinterpret the signs of the times, if we say that he lived to behold the dawn approaching, here below, before he opened his eyes upon the full and resplendent light above?

We are aware how some are accustomed to regard a course of conduct based upon such maxims; to them it seems enthusiasm; they call it delusion; they smile upon it perhaps as innocent, but pity it as very profitless. This is perfectly natural. It is the manner of an hireling to estimate every thing upon principles of profit and loss; and in making up his balance, to look at that which is seen, forgetting the mighty power which is unseen. He cannot come up to the comprehension of a character based upon the sublime principle of faith. He is down-down-very far below-and in the dark. We envy not the principles of such men; we return their pity; and we pray them that while they look upon the things that are seen and temporal, they do not forget the things that are unseen and eternal. We do not say that the subject of this notice was

without fault; that he never committed an error in judgment, but we do say, that the general rule which he followed, "the question of duty once settled, no matter whether there be any visible encouragement or not," is a sound rule. It is the principle of faith which makes the weak, strong-and which, though small like a grain of mustard seed, shall enable the possessor to remove mountains.

Other traits of Mr. Watson's character, were humility, patience, and calm forbearance under irritation and injury. We are not acquainted with his early developments of disposition, but we have reason to regard these qualities in him as not so much the effect of natural temper, as of religious principle. Indeed, we are inclined to the opinion, that natural temper would have formed in him a very different character, had it not been subdued and regulated by religious influence. In his later years, probably, this influence operated in a two fold way—it led him to engage in the cause of peace, and as a result of so doing, he saw more clearly and felt more deeply the force of its peculiar principles. His composure under circumstances of irritation and injury, was remarkable, and rarely if ever disturbed. It is a peculiar beauty of the principle of benevolence, that it is not exhausted by its operation upon others, but reacts on the possessor with most beneficent influence. He that does good to others, does a greater good to himself—it is more blessed to give than to receive. As they that take the sword, perish by the sword, so they that are makers of peace shall themselves partake in the fruits of peace.

As we looked upon the lifeless features of our departed friend, as we followed his mortal remains to the grave, and saw them slowly and silently deposited there; as we beheld the bursting tear of conjugal and of filial affection as they stood upon its verge to take the last farewell look, and with hurried footstep retired as in anguish from the scene, we could not avoid being deeply impressed with the solemnities of death. We fervently wished that every individual cherishing hatred

in his heart, or feeiing the taunts of insult rising upon his tongue, or even in the act of uttering an unkind word to wound the feelings of a fellow mortal, could suddenly realize the solemnities of such an hour; remembering the time to be rapidly ap proaching when he too must return to dust, and his spirit ascend to the tribunal of its Maker. Obdurate as iron must be the heart which would not then relent ;-insensible as marble the soul which would not learn from the grave a lesson of fraternal love. From the grave of a man of peace, our thoughts involuntarily recurred to that of the man of war. We saw the carnage of the field of battle-foe fallen against foe in count less multitude, with gashed and ghastly visages—the features distorted in the last solemn moment, with the rage and fury of the conflict. Each of these fallen men had been enticed, perhaps, forced, from the circle of domestic sympathy and affection, to enact on that field, a tragedy more direful than that of demons:

"O shame to men, devil with devil damned
Firm concord holds, men only disagree
Of creatures rational, tho' under hope
Of heavenly grace :".

Could the departed spirits, thus suddenly and violently ushered into the dread realities of the unseen world, alternately return to animate anew their weltering corses; could each fallen foe suddenly rise from his ghastly slumber, and look upon the face of his antagonist, and behold his own work—with what other cries than those of rage and battle, would that field resound!

Within a short period, five of the most distinguished leaders in the cause of peace have left their work on earth and gone to their reward. First, the beloved GKIMKE', foremost in the ranks of whatever cause he had espoused; next, BEVANS, the Secre tary of the London Peace Society and Editor of the Herald of Peace; then the much lamented DAVIS, pastor of the Baptist church in this city, a member of the Executive Committee of the American Peace Society; more recently another member of the same Committee, the indefatigable-the devoted WATSON; and last, the President of the Windham County