and is not, therefore, liable to any objections which may be made to them, but can be fairly advocated or assailed only on the abstract principles of expediency, justice and humanity. The writer is painfully conscious that he has not done justice to his subject; but is consoled by the reflection, that a topic so new, and involving considerations so numerous and so momentous, might task and exhaust the ability of the strongest intellect. He hopes that the attention of abler men may be drawn in this direction, and their talents and learning enlisted in this cause; and if his Essay shall conduce to that result, its errand will have been accomplished, although a long series of years may elapse before the anticipations of the ardent friends of peace shall be realized, by the adoption of their scheme for the amicable adjustment of national disputes and dissensions. Whenever, in the course of human events, under the direction of a merciful and benignant Providence, a considerable number of the leading commercial states shall, by treaty stipulations, establish a Commission for the compilation of a uniform system of international law, and thus remove, as between themselves, one fertile source of discord; and still more, whenever such nations shall covenant one with another, that in no case will any two of them have recourse to the bloody arbitrament of war, but will refer the decision of all exciting disputes to a Congress of delegates chosen from the other associated powers, and composing either a standing and permanent Board of Arbitration, or a special and temporary Commission,-whenever that period shall arrive, the bright visions of prophetic philanthropy shall be more fully realized, and shine forth in living beauty before the eyes of a delighted world;-then shall the strong and figurative language of Isaiah become familiar and true as household words;-and then shall the "golden era" of the poets return, under the auspices, not of a heathen Saturn,-—a fabulous divinity,—but of that Saviour, Christ the Lord, whose highest title is "PRINCE OF PEACE," and whose advent was announced in Judea, as the coming of "peace on earth and good-will to men!" "Aggredere o magnos, aderit jam tempus, honores; ESSAY ON A CONGRESS OF NATIONS, FOR THE ADJUSTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL DISPUTES, AND FOR THE PROMOTION OF UNIVERSAL PEACE, WITHOUT RESORT TO ARMS. BY HAMILTON. ESSAY. THE profound inquiry is of vast importance to men and nations. Their patient and dispassionate consideration could not well be invited to one more interesting or comprehensive. To convince the judgment, ensure confidence, divest the political world of various prejudices in favor of war, requires great caution, lest any intemperate zeal be indulged, or equally injurious fears consulted, on a subject of such magnitude. For these ends, and no other are had in view, we are compelled to begin the investigation much in advance of its main object. Nothing, however, can be deemed too remote from that object, which inseparably hangs on each step of our progress to obstruct or discourage. As the hindrances and objections to the foundation of the proposed institution spring from the idea, that it will impair sovereign rights, or may be all traced as effects of tyrant custom, emanating from the vainer idea that war cannot be dispensed with, it manifestly becomes |