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QUARTERLY OBSERVER.

No. III.

JANUARY, 1834.

ARTICLE I.*

CONGRESS OF NATIONS.

WE Confide in the ultimate triumph of truth and virtue on the earth. Surprising misconceptions, strong prejudices, bewildering illusions, and even the claims of pride and interest may all be dragged as captives at the chariot-wheels of truth, and justice, and benevolence. The world has recently seen such triumphs. It will behold still greater.

Among the subjects, which are intimately connected with literature and science, there is one, which has also most important relations to government and to social and individual happiness, and which involves in it topics of thrilling interest and overwhelming sublimity. And, as this subject has not recently, if at any time, engaged our attention in our literary convocations, I have thought, that I would venture to introduce it before the brethren of this society. I wish to summon all the intelligent minds in this assembly,-the minds of delicacy and refinement, as well as those of power, -to the work of disenchanting the community and the world of a strange and disastrous delusion, which still holds sway over the unhappy race of man. Need I mention as my subject the word WAR,-the substratum of history-the burden of song-and yet the general crime and greatest curse of man upon the earth?

This article was delivered by president Allen, as an Address before the Phi Beta Kappa Society, at Bowdoin college, Sept. 5, 1833.

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