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ments are so great in many other places. Oh that the Synod would send out even one missionary here what a field for labour, and all apparently ripe! God, in his pro. vidence, seems here to be making the very wrath of man to praise him, and why should not the Synod of Ulster take her part in the glorious work. I regret that want of space reminds me that I must wait for another letter to tell you much about this country, both in its physical and moral capabilities, which even my short acquaintance with it demonstrates to be very great. I go to Lucea in a few days. My family are and have been all quite well. I was the only one who suffered from sea-sickness. Give my kindest regards to Mrs. Cooke, Favour me with a letter at your earliest convenience. You know how re freshing it would be to me here to hear how all matters are going on at home and believe me, yours in Christian love, THOMAS LESLIE.

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HISTORY OF SEVENTEEN HOUSES, COMPOSING ONE SIDE OF A STREET, IN A VILLAGE IN COUNTY DOWN, IRELAND. From the Tracts of the British and Foreign Temperance Association,

"SUPPOSE that an immense body of evidence, altogether independent of Temperance Societies, should establish be yond contradiction that distilled spirits are not only use. less to men in health, but positively injurious; and that the first medical authorities in the world should declare, in opposition to their own interests, that nothing would tend so much to the improvement of the health of the community as an entire disuse of ardent spirits, which they consider as the most productive cause of diseases, and con sequent poverty and wretchedness, among the working classes; suppose that such truth as this were brought properly to bear upon the public mind, could we harbour the thought for a moment, that men would be so dead to their own interests, so utterly reckless of consequences,→→ as to persist in giving their support and encouragement to the use of a pernicious drug, which is filling our land with drunkards and with widows and orphans,-filling our asy. lums with lunatics, our streets with prostitutes, our jails

with felons, our hospitals with the wounded and diseased, and our grave-yards with the dead!

"Let any friend of his country turn to the publications of Temperance Societies, and say whether or not all this has been fully verified.

"It is not, however, my intention to enter at present on a discussion of any of the arguments urged by Temperance Societies. My conviction is, that there would be, compa. ratively, little need for them in addressing conscientious men, unaffected with the love of distilled spirits, were their eyes fully opened to the extent of the atrocity each day perpetrated by distilled spirits throughout the land.

"Such general statements as are already before the public respecting the tremendous proportion of pauperism, crime, disease, and premature death, to be ascribed to distilled spirits, certainly fill the mind with horror; yet still there is a possibility of escaping from the proper conclusion to be drawn from such statements, by attributing all the evil to the mere abuse of a substance in its own nature good. I'now, therefore, furnish to the British public specimens (pledging my character to their correctness,) of the indiscriminate havoc which distilled spirits are producing in neighbourhoods and families, at the same time declaring that the particulars specified are only a part, and, in some cases, a very small part, of what could readily have been produced.

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"My first illustration is taken from a small country town in one of the most civilized districts of Ulster; and this town is selected, not because it is more infamous for drunkenness than others (on the contrary, its magistrates have always been strict in preventing the multiplication of spirit licences,) but simply, because I happen to have had good opportunities of knowing the circumstances of its inhabitants. The town contains twenty-four spirit-shops, all of which, with perhaps three exceptions, have become poor in the trade. I furnish a short history, and only for a few years, of one side of a street, consisting of seventeen houses.

"No 1, was inhabited some years since by a tradesman with a large family. He was occasionally a deep drinker. He and his neighbour, both intoxicated, fought, and he received a kick, of which he died in a few days. The house then fell into the possession of a boisterous man, determined at all hazards to make money;-he kept a noisy

public-house-had much sale, drank deeply for some years during which he was almost constantly under the care of doctors, and died a desperate drunkard in the latter part of 1829. His son and successor was an active man, made a hypocritical profession of religion, read, prayed, and exhorted, was accounted a prodigy of religious exhibition; yet he became a notorious drunkard, failed, involved many, and was cast into prison.

"6 'No. 2.-The last tenant had saved at one time about 30007., but became a drunkard, and died pennyless many miles off, returning from a tedious imprisonment.

No. 3, has had a succession of inhabitants, their term of residence always short, the cause of removal in every case strong drink. Here has been riot of all grades, drinking even to madness, &c. &c. The present tenant had once saved money, but, having at length obtained a spirit licence, he is now poor. One of his little daughters became, last winter, so confirmed a drunkard, that the most decided means of reformation were resorted to, I know not with what success.

"No. 4.-The late occupant was accounted a very respectable man, and carried on business extensively. About thirty years ago, he told a friend in confidence that he possessed property to the amount of 22,000l. One branch of his business was the sale of distilled spirits. He was considered a most correct man, and despised from his inmost soul any one who drank before dinner; yet I suspect that none of his friends would be hardy enough to assert that, for a number of years, he ever went to bed sober. His losses by trade were few; yet, unaccountable as it may seem, (for every thing he did was on the saving plan,) he was borne to the grave a short time since, a man who died poor.

'No. 5, was inhabited by a man of most retired habits, seldom seen even by his nearest neighbours. Report said that two quarts of whiskey per day was not too much for his consumption, and that one was considered by him a miserable allowance. His life was cut short. His son became a few years since his sole heir, got married, drank, broke his wife's heart, failed in business, and now wanders the world in search of drink and employment.

"No. 6, has had a succession of inhabitants. One of these, who died, some years back, was a drink-seller, rather reputable in his line. On his death-bed he seemed to be

most confident of heaven. On being asked the ground of his assurance, he said, 'If any man had too much drink already, I did not give him more; my house was quiet and regular, and, unlike my neighbours, I did not burn candles to sell drink after night.' On this being reported to one of his acquaintances, he admitted the truth of the general statement, but added that he did not wonder at the sobriety of his friend's house, for, it took a great deal of his drink to make any body drunk.'

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"No. 7.-Present inhabitants civil people, rather indus trious, once sold spirits. Inquiring lately of a near relative of theirs what their mode of life is, Why,' said he, 'since ever I knew them, they drank just all they could get."' "No. 8.-Present inhabitant a kind-hearted man, who has sold spirits for twenty years, is not regularly drunk, -only occasionally, has got many sore beatings from his customers. Every single article of his property was auctioned last winter, by a sheriff's sale.

"No. 9. Another drink-shop,-the fate of its inhabitants very tragical. The first proprietor a notorious drunkard. His end was death in a moment by apoplexy. His daughter, who inherited his house and business, married a great sturdy drunken scoundrel, from whose daily drunken brutality she led a wretched life. On a tight memorable for rain and storm, the ruffian shut her outside the house. Not wishing to expose his shame by going into any neighbour's house, she sat all night (and an awful night it was,) beside the door. Next day she was seized with a putrid sore throat, which soon carried her to the grave. She was as majestic a figure as ever graced female attire. You ask what became of her husband. His servant maid, a picture of every thing vile and ugly, said he had married her. He denied it. They lived together, or rather quarrelled together, till poverty drove them both out of the country.

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“No. 10.—A spirit store. The proprietor a genteel, friendly man. Even his enemies accused him but of one fault -drunkenness. For a number of years did his poor emaciated frame suffer under it. He trembled, and coughed, and staggered about, took medicine to cure this disease, and drank to aggravate it, till at length reason gave way, and a gradual decline and death followed.

"No. 11, belonged to a substantial, sturdy little tradesman, who never sold drink, but bought much. He used to say that he could make money if it was above ground. When drunk, and

this was often, he was, in his line, a great philanthropist, which he evidenced by treating every neighbour with whiskey. Quiet, moderate men were often seen wending their way cautiously towards him, when drunk,-their only object to get a glass from him. Almost all they said of him was, that it was a pity so good a man should drink so much whiskey. Every lover of drink regarded him as a father. His purse, however, was stronger than his constitution. After a fourteen days' drinking fit, it was remarked, that in walking he was much bent to one side. His days were ended. His ruling passion was strong even in death, for in his last moments he called a companion to his bed-side, and said, 'When I am buried, and my grave neatly covered, buy five gallons of whiskey and drink it over me.'

"No. 12.-This house has been long occupied as a publie nuisance. Its original proprietor sold drink, kept a house of ill fame, harboured thieves, received stolen goods, &c. I am not exactly acquainted with his history, but believe that death somewhat seasonably freed the world of him.

"No. 13. The proprietor had, in the early part of his life, saved, as report says, about 4007. He then commenced hard drinking, and spent his money with amazing rapidity. Towards the end of his cash, he happened one day to have so much use of his eyes as to see a young woman to his fancy. He visited her; and how could she resist? for he was still completely drunk. For better for worse, they were married. She was the very wife for a drunkard. Believing that every woman should bear rule in her own house, when the man is incapable, she immediately assumed both the legislative and executive. She set her face against drinking in all its shapes: she would and must be obeyed; and so completely has her husband been reclaimed under her good government, that for many years he has entirely abstained.

"No. 14, has had many inhabitants-the most conspicuons, a genteel family, who feasted and drank for a time nobly; but their drinking, like the confusion of languages, scattered them abroad over the face of the whole earth.

"No. 15.-One story out of many. This house was partly occupied by a mother and her daughter, who had a little annuity to support them. They were quiet deep drinkers: the neighbourhood knew little of them. One night, those in the adjoining house were awakened by a suffocating smell. The houses were searched, for no one could endure it. On enter ing the apartment occupied by the two females, the mother