of the tonage in the United States, in various departments, and apply. ing the above calculations, will give about the following numbers of men. In the foreign trade, 500,000; in the coasting trade, in vessels of nearly or over 100 tons burthen, 25,000; In coasting vessels of less than fifty tons burthen 5000; in the cod fishery, 10,000; in the whale fishery, 5000; in steam vessels, 1000; in the United States navy, 6000. These numbers though not made with perfect accuracy, are thought not to be exaggerated. They give a total of 102,000 men." Report of the Seamen's Friend Society, for 1832.

(b.) The following account is taken from the Albany Argus of December, 1831.

"The insurance offices in New York and Albany, readily deducted five per cent from the amount of premium usually charged for such voyages, in consequence of the absence of distilled spirits from on board, inaking a difference of about $100 in a common whaling ship, and this amount added to the amount saved in the cost of the usual supply of spirits, will make between three and four hundred dollars."

(L.)

Prison Discipline Societies.

The leader in this department of benevolence must ever be acknowledged to be the excellent John Howard of Cardington, England, who for a number of the last years of his life devoted himself and his fortune to the melioration of the condition of prisoners.

The variety and amount of good effected by his exertions cannot here be stated. He lived and died in the last century, was born in 1726, and died in 1790.

The

From the time of Howard's death the cause seems to have declined and comparatively little was attempted in Europe or America till about ten or twelve years ago. Of foreign societies not much information has been obtained. London Society has been in operation about eleven years. In 1827, the receipts were about 8000 and the expenditures about 12,000 dollars.

In Ireland an association is formed at Dublin for the improvement of prisons; and prison discipline societies of this nature also exist in France, at Petersburg in Russia, the Netherlands, and the Prussian Dominions. In Germany the subject is exciting the attention of the public. Dr. Julius of Hamburg is much engaged in this cause.

However the spirit of Howard has not been carried out in foreign countries as it should have been. Indeed, notwithstanding his benevolence there was wanting in part

in his operations and plans, the proper idea of discipline, or the moral improvement and recovery of offenders; and the penitentiary system, strictly speaking, is American. Acts were passed in the colonies as early as 1699, authorizing magistrates to confine rogues and vagabonds, and provision was made in 1735, for the erection of houses of correction.

But neither in this country was the subject at first understood as it now is, nor has it even now, perhaps, come to be understood as it is hoped it may be in the further progress of attention to it.

Considerable has been done, however, in relation to the construction prisons with single apartments, to prevent intercourse among prisoners, the profitable employment of heir time, and especially the manner of managing and givig instruction to them in morals and religion. Particulary has it been shown to be of the highest importance to have for jailors and wardens, men of correct moral principles, stern integrity, and firm decision, with faithful, devoted chaplains.

The Prison Discipline Society of this country, owes its origin principally to the Christian enterprize, and persever-: ing efforts of the Rev. Louis Dwight, who in 1821-2 commenced the investigation of the condition of the prisons and penitentiaries in the United States, and pursued it in succeeding years, till June 30, 1825, when the Prison Discipline Society was instituted at Boston. The object of the Society is "the improvement of public-prisons."

Besides the object already mentioned in relation to which the Society has produced a desirable change, there is also the subject of imprisonment for debt, and the criminal code of laws generally, towards which it has directed successfully, the attention of legislators, judges, and jurors. The annual reports of the Society, embody also a vast amount of facts in relation to the causes, circumstances, and means of prevention of crimes and offences in the community, which cannot be found elsewhere.

From the State Prison in Wethersfield, in Connecticut, there has always been an actual income. During four and a half years last past, the clear gain was $25,853, 06.

The expenses of the Society are about $3,000 a year. The officers of the Society, are the Hon. Samuel T. Armstrong, President; the Rev. Louis Dwight, Secretary; and Mr. Charles Cleveland, Treasurer.

(M.)

Peace Societies.

This class of benevolent associations have for their object the suppression of war, and the promotion of amicable views and friendly conduct among all mankind.

The circumstances and occurrences which may have led to their origin and history so far as known are as follows. A proposition in London for a Peace Society, and the formation of a Peace Society first in New York, next in Warren County, Ohio, and last in Boston, Mass. were nearly simultaneous. The proposition in London though not exactly for a Peace Society, yet virtually amounting to that, was made in the Philanthropist for July, 1815, in a letter to the Editor of that work, dated the 7th of April, 1815, signed a "Friend of Peace." The Society in New York, though from Prudential considerations unavowed for several months, was formed August, 1815, the Society in Ohio, Dec. 2, 1815, and the Massachusetts Peace Society, Dec. 28, 1815.

But before any of these measures, there had been in England, Oct. 1813, a sermon on universal peace, and in this country a "Solemn Review of the Custom of War," a Tract written by the Rev. Noah Worcester, D. D. and published in Boston about Christmas, 1814. How far Dr. Bogue's sermon may have led the way to pacific measures in England, we cannot tell, but probably it had some influence. As to the "Solemn Review," it is modestly said by the author that as it was published less than four months prior to the date of the letter for the Philanthropist, there can be no reason to doubt that a proposition for a Peace Society was made in London prior to any knowledge of the "Solemn Review," or of any proposition for Peace Societies in this country; and so it may have been. At any rate, such appear to have been the facts in the case. Of the Society formed in New York no hint has been discovered as to the cause and circumstances of.its origin. Very probably it owes its origin to the "Solemn Review." The Ohio Society acknowledges it directly, naming in so many words, that having seen the "Solemn Review" of the Custom of War, a number of citizens formed themselves into a society without having any knowledge at the time that a similar society existed on earth.". The source from which the Massachusetts Peace Society took its rise is too evident in view of what is here stated to need remark.

The London Peace Society, or the "Society for Promoting Permanent and Universal Peace," was formed at London, July 14, 1816, and the Hibernian Peace Society, Nov. 11, 1824. The first Peace Society on the Continent was formed in Geneva, in Switzerland, Dec. 1830. The Anferican Peace Society was formed at New York, May, 1828.

The amount of good accomplished by these societies has been considerable, especially in the way of circulating Tracts and awakening attention to the subject of peace. Most of the societies have numerous auxiliaries by which information concerning the object of the society is diffused through the community. Besides occasional pamphlets which they have published, the societies in this country have now for a number of years constantly kept open a channel of communication through some periodical; they have also employed agents at different times; and now the American Peace Socier has a permanent General Agent and Secretary, whose entire services are devoted to the interests of the Society. Its periodical is the Calumet, pub-. lished once in two months at New York. The President is S: V. S. Wilder, Esq. and the Corresponding Secretary and General Agent William Ladd, Esq.

Of the Foreign Societies, the London Peace Society has been the most active and efficient. It has opened a correspondence with responsible and influential persons in most of the considerable places in England and Scotland. To express the object of the society in its own language, it is, "to print and circulate Tracts and diffuse information tending to shew that war is inconsistent with the spirit of Christianity, and the true interest of mankind, and to point out the means best calculated to maintain permanent and universal peace upon the basis of Christian principles. The society may consist of persons of every denomination who are desirous of uniting in its object; and an annual subscription of 10s. 6d., or a donation of £5 5s. entitles to membership. The business of the society. is conducted by a committee of more than 36 members who meet once a

month or oftener if necessary. A general meeting is held annually at such a time and place as the committee name. The organ of the Society's communication is the "Herald of Peace."

The Society at Geneva has hardly had time since its formation to accomplish much. It has, however, done something. At least it has proved a rallying point to the friends of the cause in that part of the world. As connected through the movements which led to its formation to the London Society, it deserves consideration, too, as a fruit of that Society. Directly it owes its origin to the efforts of M. J. J. Conte De Sellon, who says he has been devoted to the inviolability of life ever since the year 1816, and that he has been active in inculcating his sentiments among men of high rank in France. At his instance a public assembly was convened at Geneva in 1826, which offered a prize for the best Essay on the abolition of punishment_by death. The Essays presented were 30, and M. Charles Lucas proved to be the successful writer. The fact was he had already, Dec. 1823, had his attention called to the subject by the Society of Christian Morals in France, a Society established in consequence of an effort springing from the London Society's operations to form a Peace Society in Paris.

Thus the London Society through their successful ef forts in circulating intelligence favorable to a pacific spirit, are entitled to the credit of having produced a considerable revolution in the state of public opinion in France and on the continent generally. This at least has been accomplished in men of no less distinction than M. de Tracy, M. Casimer, Perier, late Prime Minister of the Nation, and General M. Sebastiani another of the Ministers; to which may be added Due de la Rochefoucauld, President of the Society of Christian Morals, and Due de Broglie a member of its committee and an active promoter of its objects.

The amount of Tracts published by the London Society, including the 14th annual Report, (which was the Report for the year ending June, 1831,) was 19,271 making the whole amount since the establishment of the Society, $488,571. The sales and distributions for the year 1831, were 20,416. The amount of subscriptions and donations for the same were £577 9s. 6d.