3. Captain Sword and Captain Pen. 4. Querela Pacis, The Complaint of Peace. 1. Report of Rev. William Ely. ADVOCATE OF PEACE. No. XI. DECEMBER, 1836. ARTICLE I. NOTICE OF THE LIFE AND CHARACTER OF BY THE EDITOR. OUR readers will naturally expect an apology for the delay of the present number of this work to this late hour. Early in November, we had the manuscript in a course of preparation, and it would soon have been ready for the press, but a sudden dispensation of Divine Providence arrested our progress. William Watson, the founder, proprietor, and publisher of the work, was suddenly summoned from the scene of his devoted labours in the cause of peace, to enter into his eternal rest. It thus became necessary for the Executive Committee of the American Peace Society, to make new arrangements for the publication of the work, before it could proceed. Such is our apology-satisfactory as such, no doubt, to all; but to some, fraught with suggestions of a melancholy interest. Those who were personally acquainted with Mr. Watson will be deeply sensible how much undaunted resolution, perse vering effort, and self-denying industry, will be required to repair his loss. It would be an act of unfaithfulness to the cause which it is the design of this work to promote, as well as of injustice to the memory of Mr. Watson, should we suffer the occasion of again appearing before the public to pass without a word in regard to his life and character. William Watson, born at East Windsor, Connecticut, in 1774, was the son of a successful merchant of that place, and embraced his father's profession, which he followed at Enfield, Suffield, and ultimately in this city. At the age of twelve years, he was the subject of deep religious impressions; the seeds of religious character seem to have been implanted in his mind at that early period, and though he was exposed to many trials and temptations, they remained there, acquiring strength and vigour to spring up, in due time, into a more fully developed maturity. Thus early was he furnished with that inner grace which subdueth the heart, ordereth the passions, and ministereth heavenly consolation to the soul in the hour of tribulation; and in him it well performed all these offices. Having acquired a handsome capital, he engaged largely in importations from Europe, and in 1816, and 1818, visited England in the capacity of an importer. Unforeseen changes in the commercial world, caused these importations to result in heavy pecuniary misfortune, a thing grievous to be borne for the present, but working out through the grace of God, the peaceable fruits of righteousness. This event gave a new direction to the life of Mr. Watson, transferring the enterprize, industry and promptitude of his commercial character, to the work of Christian benevolence, here to be employed in gaining, not the corruptible, but the incorruptible-treasures not of earth, but of heaven. Mr. Watson possessed more than most men, some of the most prominent traits of the true mercantile character. Wherever he was known, he was known for integrity, accuracy, love of order, and exact punctuality. For punctuality he was proverbial. Rarely have we heard his name mentioned among men of business, without allusion to his punctuality. It seemed to be an innate element in his character-and so sensitive was he on the subject, that the least seeming departure from the strict rule, never failed to bring from him an apology. And if, in any case, circumstances beyond his control compelled him to defer the time of fulfilling an engagement, we are witnesses to the poignant regrets which he manifested. It was as if nature had received an irritating wound-refusing to close and heal, till the cause should be removed. These qualities of integrity, accuracy, order, punctuality, if not the shining qualities which excite admiration, are yet the enduring ones on which the stability, regularity, and harmony of society, depend; they go far towards making their possessor a man of justice,—and a man of justice is well fitted to be a man of peace. We have alluded to the altered direction of Mr. Watson's life, occasioned by the change in his commercial prospects. In 1819, the Temperance Reformation was in its incipient stages. Mr. Watson, who did not measure an enterprize by its present progress, nor estimate its importance by the standard of popular favour, enlisted in this cause, with a purpose which no opposition nor obloquy could discourage, with a zeal which no indifference could damp. For nine years, through evil report and through good report, he persevered in humble, self-denying labours for its promotion; leaving it when now advanced, and regarded with favourable eye-again to enter upon a course of self denying labour in another cause, promising, perhaps, less violent opposition and obloquy, but not less indifference, coldness, and discouragement. In 1828, Mr. William Ladd delivered a lecture in this city, on the subject of peace and war. The style and manner of Mr. Ladd delighted Mr. Watson, and the nature of the enterprize to promote universal and permanent peace, now, for the first time, fully opened to his mind, seemed to impart a new enthusiasm to his character, to give a new spring of action to his life. Returning home from the lecture, he expressed to his VOL. II. No. 11. 10 |