and open trials of strength.  The discomfiture of the French, in this instance, was most assuredly owing to the cunning exercised by their enemies, and not, as stated, to their superiority of skill or power:  they were not permitted to try either, but were attacked when unprepared, mercilessly robbed, and slaughtered.  And this was a victory.  A victory over people who were not allowed the chance of defending themselves.  ’Tis true the French had been tyrannizing over the people of Normandy; but a bad example ought to be avoided, not imitated, as in this case.  Retaliation is no part of a Christian’s duty, and was not required at the hands of the English.  What right has any nation, deliberately, and for no other purpose than gain, to invade the territories of another, to burn their houses, to destroy their inhabitants, and to plunder them of all their possessions?  Is this a fulfilling of the law?  Is this our duty to our neighbor?  Surely not; and yet such are the principal features in a great victory, from which the conquerors return to be honored of all men—­for which bonfires blaze, guns are fired, cities are illuminated, and every voice is raised to shout victory! victory!  Such victories, my dear children, are abominations in the sight of God.  He bid us live in love and charity with all men.  His Son says, ’By this I know that ye are my disciples, because ye have love one toward another;’ and St. Paul further desires us to ’love one another with pure hearts, fervently;’ adding, ‘for love is the fulfilling of the law.’  Much more might be said on this subject; but I will detain the meeting no longer than merely to repeat a few verses from a poem of Southey’s, written on the battle of Blenheim; which, as they coincide with my opinions, afford me much satisfaction, because they testify that I do not differ in sentiment from all mankind:—­

  “’With fire and sword the country round
      Was wasted far and wide,
  And many a childling mother then,
      And new-born infant died. 
  But things like these, you know, must be
  At every famous victory!

  “’They say it was a shocking sight
      After the field was won,
  For many thousand bodies here,
      Lay rotting in the sun. 
  But things like that, you know, must be
  At every famous victory!’

  “‘Great praise the Duke of Marlbro’ won,
      And our good Prince Eugene.” 
  “Why, ’twas a very wicked thing!”
      Said little Wilhelmine. 
  “Nay, nay, my little girl,” quoth he,
  “It was a famous victory!”

  “’And everybody praised the Duke,
      Who such a fight did win.” 
  “But what good came of it at last?”
      Quoth Little Wilhelmine. 
  “Why that I cannot tell,” said he,
     “But ’twas a famous victory!” ’”

GEORGE.  “If I were an admiral, I would never fight for gain, and I would not allow any of the men under my command to be cruel to the poor people in their power.”