mean importance at the period-a demonstration was also, to some extent, hereby effected, to the fact that confederacy and association could be most powerfully and beneficially employed in favour of national sobriety -a point utterly denied by most people at that period.

It must also be remarked that great and effective good was done in Scotland (perhaps also in Ireland) by the pledge of abstinence from whisky, as beer was little drunk in North Britain before the commencement of the movement. It is curious that by the initiative efforts on behalf of temperance, ardent spirits began to receive such a bad name, and to drop from their former position of universal honour, that the consumption of strong beer greatly increased among the commonalty in Scotland after 1830; and this among other good reasons, influenced the friends in Scotland to improve the pledge, and include abstinence from all intoxicating liquors. Mr. Dunlop, at first, in 1829, proposed abstinence from all wines; and the Greenock, Aberdeen, and some other societies at first took his advice.

At the commencement of teetotalism in England, the Preston friends, and other supporters of total abstinence, had less to do in contending with the public at large than to combat the old societies, that had already been instituted up and down the country, who gave the most obstinate resistance to the ameliorated pledge, and new principle and practice.

The press was also doing its great work; and during the period to which this chapter refers, the following

works, among many others, were published on this question :

1804. Trotter's Enquiry, Philosophical, Chemical, and Medical, on Drunkenness.

1814. Enquiries into the Effects of Fermented Liquors, by a Water Drinker.

1829. Philosophical Enquiry into the Drinking Usages of Society, by John Dunlop, Esq.

On the Extent and Remedy of National Intemperance, by John Dunlop, Esq.

1830. A Lecture on the Nature, Uses, and Effects of Ardent Spirits, delivered at Bradford, December 7th, by Thomas Beaumont, Surgeon. Notices respecting Drunkenness, and of the various Means which have been employed in Different Countries for restraining the Progress of that Evil, by a Medical Practitioner.

1831. An Essay on the Wine System of Great Britain, by John Dunlop, Esq.

An Essay upon the Wines and Strong Drinks of the Ancient Hebrews, and their reference to Dietetic and Religious Views on the Modern Use of Spirituous Liquors, by Rev. Moses Stuart, M.A.; with Preface, by John Pye Smith, D.D. 1832. The Principles of Temperance Societies stated and recommended in Scripture; a Sermon preached at Ayr, on January 24th, by George Barclay.

And of temperance periodicals started at this time, we

may notice the following:

Scottish Temperance Record.

Edinburgh Temperance Chronicle.

British and Foreign Temperance Herald.

Temperance Magazine and Review.

Temperance Advocate (Belfast).

Some of these lived but for a short time, while others

continued for some years.

CHAPTER III.

THE PRESTON SOCIETY AND TEETOTALISM:
1832 TO 1836.

't have already spoken of the existing societies as being inefficient; and, indeed, it soon became apparent that forbidding alcohol under one name and allowing its use under another name, was not an effectual way either to reclaim the drunkard, or to prevent the moderate drinker from becoming intemperate. Before the societies, therefore, had been very long at work, it was discovered that large numbers of reclaimed drunkards were continually relapsing into their former condition; for being permitted to use beer and ale "in moderation," they either returned shortly to their old habits of spirit drinking, or else became intoxicated on fermented liquors. Dr. Trotter had long since borne his testimony to the impossibility of continuing to use these drinks in safety. "As far," he writes, "as my experience of mankind enables me to decide, I must give it as my opinion, that there is no safety in trusting an habitual drunkard with any limited portion of liquor. Wherever I have seen the drunkard effectually reformed, he has

at once abandoned his potations." And Mr. Thomas Beaumont, a surgeon of Bradford, also writes to the following effect: "Here the first moderation society was formed, and here there was no want of zeal, talent, or piety, in the working of that system; and yet, in nearly five years, we did not succeed in reforming one solitary drunkard." Similar language was also used by G. B. Browne, Esq., of Halifax, who says, "In 1832 we formed a temperance society on the moderation pledge; the effects were scarcely visible, no drunkards were reclaimed, and not many reduced their daily consumption of wine and porter. In 1835 the total abstinence pledge was introduced. The first society dwindled away, and the teetotalers gained strength, and now reckon 700 members, among whom about 100 are reclaimed characters, several of whom are become truly religious." And Mr. John Cadbury, of Birmingham, says, "On the moderation system, I never knew one drunkard reclaimed; whilst, on the teetotal plan, we have hundreds who were once drunkards, now, not only sober men, good husbands, and kind fathers, but regular frequenters of a place of worship."* Similar testimonies are borne from Leeds, Liverpool, and other places, and serve to show the importance of some reviving and reforming process in the societies. This was now being felt everywhere. The supporters of the movement were becoming discouraged, and, says Mr. James Teare, "All our advocates were declaring that nothing would * See Grindrod's Bacchus, pp. 347, 348.