and Elihu Burritt, which ringing with an enthusiastic chord, stirred the friends of peace everywhere, and rallied them from afar, from hamlet and city, at home and abroad, to the standard unfurled. Visits followed visits to Paris, where interviews were obtained with the most eminent leaders of political and religious thought in France-of such men as Garnier, Chevalier, Bouvet, De Cocquerel, Horace Say, Victor Hugo, the eminent De Tocqueville, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Dufaure, Minister of the Interior, all of whom entered into their project with considerable “esprit de corps," and especially the Minister, De Tocqueville, who showed a cordiality and a friendliness, earnest and sincere, that must have astonished, as it gladdened their hearts. Well might they say, "the news of the Congress is flying through all parts of Europe and is awakening a great interest amongst all classes," and though the City of Paris was then in a "state of siege," the French Government displayed from the beginning a generous accord, admitting the peace party from England without passports, and without examination of their luggage.

The Congress assembled August 22nd 1849, under the presidency of Victor Hugo, representatives being present from all parts of Europe and the American Continent. Its sittings continued for three days, and judging by the speeches delivered and papers read, the proceedings proved of unsur. passing interest. Conspicuous for their eloquence and power were the harangues of Victor Hugo, the "Tribune of France," M. Visschers, of Belgium, Emilie Girardin, Richard Cobden, Henry Vincent, the Abbé Deguerry, curé of the Madeline (cruelly murdered by the Communists in 1871) Amasa Walker, member of the American House of Representatives, Edward Miall, and Athanase Cocquerel, the eminent Protestant Minister.

The Congress was most successful whether viewed in the character of those assembled, the remarkable display of eloquent orators, or the deep moral impression which it

exercised throughout Europe. Great credit was due to many whose voices were not often heard, on whom devolved the arduous labours that brought so much success—such were Henry Richard, Joseph Sturge, and Elihu Burritt.

One of the most interesting features of the Congress was the Soirée given by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, De Tocqueville, to the members and delegates, and which came off with great èclât. It was attended by the elite of Paris, including many of the Foreign Ambassadors, and members of the French Government, which may be taken as a proof of the profound impression produced on the minds of the people of France and of their deep sympathy for the cause of international peace.

"RAJAH" BROOKE AND BORNEO.

Reference should now be made to the lead Mr. Richard took in conjunction with Joseph Sturge, in face of much unmerited obloquy, against the outrageous massacre perpetrated by Sir James, alias "Rajah" Brooke, on the Dyaks of Borneo, on the miserable plea, never substantiated, that they were a piratical tribe. When it is remembered that 1,500 of those unhappy people perished at the hands of these "soi disant champions of freedom, of commerce, and avengers of humanity," perished without one tittle of evidence having been submitted of their guilt of piracy, we shall not be surprised at the shout of indignation which was raised against these Borneo Butchers.

Under the auspices of the Peace Society, Joseph Sturge and Henry Richard convened a public meeting in the City of London, which was overwhelming in its condemnation against what Mr. Cobden justly called "a gratuitous, and cold-blooded butchery," and especially against the author of that cruel massacre. At this meeting Mr. Richard delivered

a powerful speech, being a calm statement of the whole facts of the case, wherein he conclusively showed who were the real pirates—not the Dyaks under the Sultan of Borneo, but the expedition of Rajah Brooke sailing under the prestige of the British Flag, that these outrages were the result of the large number of restless military adventurers, wanderers on the seas, "nothing particular to do," "looking out for a job," the deposing of Rajahs and Sultans, and the aping of Warwick the King-maker in the Eastern Waters. Amid the approving cheers of this great meeting, he declared there was no shadow of a pretence that these unhappy Dyaks ever molested an English vessel, and he charged Sir James Brooke with the committal of a criminal act, that was an outrage of all law, human and Divine, and concluded a powerful speech by an eloquent appeal to the Bishops and clergy who invited this Rajah of Borneo fame to the Hanover Square rooms, that they might present him with a snuff-box, "caress, and bless him," that if they wished "to spread Christianity among the heathen, it must not be by canister and grape-shot."

The results of this meeting, and the general protests raised throughout the country, soon told on the Government, and though unhappily these destroyers of the aboriginal tribes of Borneo and Celebes were not arraigned for trial, yet the abominable" blood-money reward” which they claimed, amounting to £20,000, was refused them, and the Act which granted such a foul subsidy of £120 for every head of a Dyak slain, was for ever unconditionally repealed.

THE FRANKFORT CONGRESS, 1849. The next important movement with which Mr. Richard was prominently associated was the Peace Congress at Frankfort, the last of the Congresses convened in the

European Capitals. The arrangements for this international meeting devolved mainly on Mr. Richard, assisted by his coadjutors, M. Visschers, Elihu Burritt, and William Stokes, and judging by the success of the project, these labours reflect great credit on their energy and skill. Consequent on the want of acquaintance by the leading men in Germany with the aims and policy of the Peace party in England, it was found necessary that a tour should be paid to Berlin, Darmstadt, Mannheim, Worms, Leipsic, Dresden, Hamburg, Hanover, Nuremburg, Munich, Stuttgard, and many other towns, where interviews took place with distinguished Politicians, Professors of Universities, and eminent writers of the day. These interviews were of the most cordial character, and helped largely to direct the attention of some of the foremost minds in Germany to the question of peace with fresh and deep interest.

The Congress met August 22nd, 1849, and it is not too much to say of it that it was a memorable meeting, worthy of its predecessors. It was presided over by the Prime Minister of Hesse Darmstadt, and amongst the eminent men who supported him were various members of the National Assembly of France, and of the English Parliament, Professors of Universities, Ministers of Churches from various countries in Europe and America, and attending the Congress were representatives of almost all the civilized nations of the world, gathered, not for mutual hate or destruction, but mingling their sympathies and counsels to advance the great work of international peace. Of the proceedings of the Congress, space will not permit to refer. For several weeks these proceedings occupied a foremost place in the records of the European Press, and it was evident they excited great interest, especially on the thoughtful Germanic mind, as it was natural it should do in all its grandeur, as one of the most pressing questions demanding their attention.

THE KAFFIR WAR, 1850.

We must now turn from these encouraging records of the triumphs of Peace to the inglorious Kaffir War, which excited, at the close of the year 1850, considerable interest, and which involved Mr. Richard and the peace party in England, in an active opposition to the policy which sanctioned one of the most iniquitous wars Great Britain ever waged. This war of 1850 proved the truth of the language of Bacon,

"But what does war, but endless wars produce,"

as it was the result of the embittered feeling which the previous wars of 1811, 1819, 1830, and 1846, had left in their blood-stained track. From the first day of British connexion with the Cape of Good Hope in 1806, British possessions there had steadily increased, not by right but by might, not by justice but by a cruel policy of extermination. Under the various administrations of Lord Charles Somerset, Lord Glenelg, and Sir Harry Smith, the grip of England had steadily tightened, until in 1846 it was described as exceeding the territory of any one of the largest States in Europe. It were difficult to explain or defend the causes which led to this gradual policy of unjust annexation, and its concomitant evils, the extermination of the various aboriginal tribes. Sometimes it was explained on the ground of the encroachments of Europeans, the restless adventurous spirit of Englishmen; sometimes to disputes as to the boundaries of territory; sometimes by the straying of the cattle of settlers, and in this war of 1850, by the stealing of an axe, or the straying of an ass, the property of an English colonist; but above all, and herein lies the main cause of these humiliating wars at the Cape, by the presence of British troops, which encouraged the encroachment of Europeans on the Kaffirs' territory. The Kaffirs naturally resented; they stole the cattle of the colonists, and committed depredations by way of reprisals. Then followed retaliation, and war ensued,