better sort of people, that they may the better pursue the pleasures of
the bottle. Others have gone so far in their songs, as to promise long
life as a consequence of drinking; while others, who confess that human
life may be shortened by such means, take care to throw out, that, as a
man's life thus becomes proportionably abridged, it is rendered
proportionably a merry one. Now the Quakers are so particularly careful
with respect to the use of wine and spirituous liquors, that the society
are annually and publicly admonished to beware of excess. Quakers are
discouraged from going even to inns but for the purposes of business and
refreshment, and are admonished to take care, that they stay there no
longer than is necessary for such purposes. The Quakers therefore,
cannot be supposed to approve of any of the songs of this class, as far
as they recommend or promote drunkenness. And they cannot but consider
them as containing sentiments injurious to the morals of their children.

But let us examine another class of songs, that may be found in the same
collection. These may be denominated martial. Now what is generally the
tenor of these songs? The authors celebrate victories. They endeavour,
regardless of the question, whether their own cause be a right or a
wrong one, to excite joy at the events, it is their aim frequently to
rouse the soul to the performance of martial exploits, as to exploits
the fullest of human glory. They frequently threaten enemies with new
chastisements, and new victories, and breathe the spirit of revenge. But
the Quakers consider all wars, whether offensive or defensive, as
against the spirit of the christian religion. They cannot contemplate
scenes of victory but with the eye of pity, and the tear of compassion,
for the sufferings of their fellow-creatures, whether countrymen or
enemies, and for the devastation of the human race. They allow no glory
to attach, nor do they give any thing like an honourable reputation, to
the Alexanders, the Caesars, or the heroes either of ancient or modern