A LETTER ADDRESSED TO THE KING, BY THOMAS THRUSH, ON RESIGNING HIS COMMISSION AS A CAPTAIN IN ON THE GROUND OF THE UNLAWFULNESS OF WAR. Render therefore unto Cæsar, the things which are Cæsar's; and unto God, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then A LETTER &c. &c. "I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness." SIRE, WHEN a subject presumes publicly to address his sovereign, on a matter which he deems of the very highest importance to the welfare and happiness of mankind, he cannot, if his motives are pure, help feeling much anxiety to acquit himself in a way that may best promote his views; that may give no offence to the sovereign he addresses; and that may, as much as possible, disarm public censure. This, Sire, is my case: and when I inform Your Majesty that the purport of this letter is to announce my resignation of the commission and rank I hold in Your Majesty's Naval Service, from a conviction that my retaining them is incompatible with my Christian profession, it will be obvious that my situation, if not one of great difficulty, is, at least, one of peculiar delicacy. It will be equally obvious, that it is no easy matter for me to avoid giving offence, or even to escape censure. The difficulties of my situation are increased by the consideration that I have no precedent for my guidance, either as to the letter I am addressing to Your Majesty, or to the important and unusual act to which this letter relates. In both cases, I am acting, and I feel the weighty responsibility, solely on my own judgment, and without the aid of precedent or example. This consideration ought to make me both humble and cir |