THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON.

We hate war, and wish our readers to hate it too. The clarion of war, the rattling drum, the shrill fife, the nodding plume, the gay epanlette, the flashing sword, and the streaming banner have no attractions for us. In the so-called glories of war we see widows' tears, desolate orphans, mangled bodies, ruined souls, demolished eities, and misery of every form. Aggressive war is nothing less than wholesale murder, and defensive war can only be tolerated by a Christian mind when stern necessity requires it-when no other means of protection and security avail. Alexander, Julius Cæsar, Napoleon Bonaparte, and many other eaptains, who figure in history, were wholesale murderers. They slew innocent human beings by tens of thousands, from no other motive but the gratification of their thirst for the glory of conquest. Hail happy day when the name of all such glory shall make men blush with shame, and turn aside from it with sickening disgust, and when the jarring nations shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; when nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more!

The late Duke of Wellington, though a warrior, was, we are told, an exception to the general character of his profession. He engaged in war, not as an invader of peaceful territories, but as the protector of the innocent and injured against the proud usurper and the cruel invader; as the defender of the claims of justice, national right and order, against the ravages of the selfish and ambitious tyrant. For this reason, and because his character presents many excellences, we give him a place in the JUVENILE INSTRUCTOR.

The unadorned name of the Duke was Arthur Wesley, or Wel lesley; a name which descended from a kinsman named Garret Wesley, who adopted the grandfather of Arthur, and made him his heir, on condition of his assuming his name. The name of Wesley is derived from Wellesleigh, in Somersetshire, where the family (which was a Saxon one) settled soon after the Norman invasion. The story respecting the adoption of the Duke's grandfather is interesting, as it is connected with Charles Wesley, the worthy brother of the venerable and devoted John Wesley.

When Charles Wesley was at Westminster school, his father received a letter from the aforesaid Mr. Garret Wesley, then in Ireland, offering to adopt the boy as his heir; but the overture was declined: and Richard Colley, the grandfather of Wellington was adopted in his place; and henceforth the name of Wesley, or Wellesley, was taken by the family. Had this offer of the Irish gentleman been accepted by Charles Wesley's father, the circumstance might have given quite a new phase, not only to the history of the family, but to the religious and political history of Britain from that period to the present day. Napoleon might have had no conqueror, and the Christian Church no Methodist denomination. The proud aggressor might have succeeded in trampling down the liberties of England, and the spiritual darkness and death which closed the

period of the seventeenth century might have rested upon the nineteenth century. But God, who doeth all things well, ordered it otherwise.

Arthur Wesley (we must call him at present by his youthful name), though of English lineage, was born in Ireland in the year 1769, that being the same year in which Napoleon saw the light. In his boyish days he gave no signs of remarkable genius, or of those extraordinary qualities which, in after-life, raised him to such emi nent distinction. The first part of his education was at Eton, and afterwards he studied at Angiers: and though the youth left no signal reputation behind him, no doubt his time was profitably employed, and his mind tolerably well stored with the elements of various knowledge.

At the early age of eighteen Arthur entered the army, and by the time he was twenty-four he had risen to the dignity of LieutenantColonel. It is not our intention to recount his battles; but we may remark that from the year 1793 to 1815 he was almost constantly in the field. In India, he conquered the fierce Tippoo Saib, and other rebellious chiefs, and firmly established the British power in that great continent. In Spain and Portugal he defeated the invading armies led forth by Napoleon's generals, and afterwards, on the plain of Waterloo, he conquered the tyrant Napoleon himself, and completely routed his mighty army. It was that signal victory, under Providence, which secured for our country the peace we have enjoyed for the period of thirty-seven years. It finished his career as a warrior, and, loaded with honours and titles, he returned to England, and his public life was henceforth occupied in the more pleasing duties of the statesman and the senator. Let us glance at the principal features of his character.

1. He cultivated his mind. Some young men never study at all, but allow their minds to grovel in ignorance; others leave off study when they leave school; and others abandon mental pursuits as soon as they have acquired some petty distinction. Not so with | Arthur Wesley; he was a student through life. His natural talents were not so brilliant as those possessed by some; but he was always learning something. He studied men as well as books; gathering up knowledge was his daily habit. In old age as well as in youth his active mind was constantly making itself acquainted with something useful; even at the advanced age of eighty-three, just before his death, he was busily employed in studying the voluminous report of the commission of inquiry on the University of which he was the Chancellor. Young men, imitate his example. Cultivate your mind; never be idle; be always learning something useful and good.

2. Wellington was a temperate man. We never read of his being guilty of drunkenness, gluttony, and uncleanness, or of adopting & style of luxurious living. His habits were simple, abstemious, and unostentatious. He slept on a hard bed, and that bed was in bis study, and there he died. Young men, be temperate in all, things. As a beverage, never taste intoxicating drinks, never adopt an expensive and luxurious mode of living, keep your body in sub

jection to your mind, and let your mind itself be in subjection to the government of God. This is the way to secure health, and to live a long, happy, cheerful, useful life.

3. Wellington was an early riser. This was his habit, not only in the camp but at home; not only in the time when war stimulated his energies, but during the most quiet and retired periods of his life; not only in youth but in old age. Here is an example for young men. The sluggard is a mean, despicable, useless character. He never rises in dignity and usefulness. He never shines amongst the wise, the energetic, the learned, or the great. It is the early riser, such as the Wesleys, the Doddridges, the Baxters, the Franklins, the Wellingtons, &c., who do great things, and live for great ends. Young man, never waste your precious time in bed. Up early, and at your devotions, your studies, and your labours. 3. Wellington was remarkable for firmness of purpose. He was not a man of many words, but of great deeds. His purposes were not rashly formed, but when once formed were most firmly adhered to. Neither opposition nor danger could shake them. He used to say, "I never in my life gave up anything which I once undertook." Hence the unity and consistency of his character, and hence the wonderful success of his enterprises. Here, again, is an example 'for young men. A fickle mind never excels in anything. It neither rises to personal greatness, nor shines in much usefulness to mankind. The unstable minded is for ever forming plans, but never executes them. His wretched life is made up of broken purposes, is spent in dreaming and in building castles in the air; and at last he dies, and leaves the world with talents unimproved, opportunities neglected, and the noble ends of life unaccomplished. Young men, avoid this fickle character. Be a Wellington in the cause of truth, virtue, and holiness.

4. Wellington was eminent for his adherence to truth and honesty. During a life of eighty-three years, no one could ever say that this great man had deceived or defrauded him. He was too great to stoop to the mean artifices of falsehood, deceit, and fraud. His word was as good as his oath, and his uprightness of character inflexible. Young men, imitate this mark of true moral excellence; it is one which all may copy. All may not be great; but all may be good, truthful, sincere, and thoroughly honest.

5. Wellington was a lover of peace. We have before remarked that he never fought as an aggressor on the rights of others, but as a defender of human rights. We may say more than this: he lamented the necessity of war, he regarded it as an evil, and was sparing of human life even in his campaigns. In the senate of this nation he said, "My Lords, I am one of those who have probably passed more of my life in war than most men, and principally, I may say, in civil war, too; and I must say this, that if I could avoid, by any sacrifice whatever, even one month of civil war in the country to which I am attached, I would sacrifice my life in order to do it." This was noble in a soldier; but we think our young men may excel Wellington in this feature by having nothing to do with

war-by abstaining from the profession as well as the practice and spirit of war; and by fighting only against sin, the world, the flesh, and the devil and here, by the help of God, they may insure victory in every conflict,

6. The life of Wellington appears to have been actuated by a sense of duty, not of ambition for military glory. Had his notion of duty had respect to God, the motive would have been still higher; but his sense of duty had regard, we think, chiefly to what was due from him to his sovereign and his country. Still, duty based on these lower grounds is far higher than the motive of glory. The one is a species of moral virtue, and the other is the gratification of a selfish passion. We would say, an enlightened regard to duty in its highest sense-the duty we owe to God as our Creator, Redeemer, and Governor-and the duty we owe to man as enforced by the high authority of God, should be the actuating and regulating principle of our life. This principle, apart from vain-glory and ostentation, gives true greatness and elevation to the human character; and, what is more, it secures the favour of God, and brings the reward of eternal glory and happiness.

We know little-alas, too little of the religious character of Wellington. He was regular in attending the early service at the Chapel Royal at St. James's, and the sermons preached at Whitehall; and the Bible found in his bookcase seemed to have been well read. These facts are pleasing; but whether or not he knew Christ as his Saviour from guilt and condemnation, and as the hope of glory, we cannot say. We hope-we cannot but hope, yet we are not satisfied, because evidence is defective. Here, then, we leave the great warrior and statesman. Let our young people by no means imitate the hero in this respect. On the contrary, whatever be their lot in this world, let them secure the pearl of great price-a personal saving interest in Christ, and a meetness for the inheritance of the saints in light.

The Duke died at Walmer Castle, September 14, and was interred, with unparalleled pomp, November 18, 1852. His funeral cost £80,000. We respect his memory, but God grant we may never need his like again!

SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATED.

THE ANCIENT IDOL, NISROCH, WORSHIPPED BY THE NINEVITES.

AMONG the numerous sculptures discovered in the ruins of Nineveh by the enterprising Dr. Layard, is one which is represented by the engraving before us. Dr. Layard gives the following description of this sculpture :-" Adjoining a cornerstone was a figure of singular form. A human body, clothed in robes, was surmounted by the head of an eagle or of a vulture.