THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



517 



"Temperance and Teetotalism. An Inquiry into the 

 Eflfects of Alcoholic Drinks on the Human System, in 

 Health and Disease." 



In this little work, wliich is sold for the small sum of 

 three half-pence, is to bo found a large amount of most 

 valuable information on the very points discussed by 

 " Y. H. N." and his friends, at that interesting meeting to 

 which his letter refers, all tending to prove in the most 

 convincing way, not alone the value of teetotalism as a sus- 

 tainer of health and strength under the most varied and 

 severe employments, but the positive injury done to the 

 working man by the use of alcoholic stimulants. 



Dr. Forbes's illustrations are taken from agricultural and 

 other labour both at home and abroad, in temperate and in 

 tropical climes, and I do not think auy canded inquirer 

 could avoid being deeply impressed with their force. In- 

 deed, the teachings of science, as well as of experience, are 

 all in favour of an eutire abandonment of the use of intoxi- 

 cating liquors by men in health ; but those teachings are 

 more than neutralized by the desire for these stimulants 

 which the use of them creates. 



While writing, I am interrupted by a lady, whose simple 

 story is but a repetition of the sorrows which many have to 

 endure from the cruel cause to which I am referring. She 

 resides in London, and has come over to Dublin to try and 

 save her brother, who has lived in this city for several years» 

 where he has had employment as a clerk and commercial 

 traveller, but who has become addicted to habits of intem- 

 perance. Her only hope of saving him lies in getting him 

 away from the temptation, which has often (although he is 

 but 33 yeara old) proved too strong for his resolution to 

 amend. She would wish to place him— and he is willing to 

 go himself — on board a temperance ship. 



Are we teetotalers me re visionary enthusiasts when we 

 appeal to our countrymen on behalf of such sorrowing ones 

 as these ? Is such misery to exist in our midst, and to an 

 extent which it ia appalling to contemplate, and must we 

 plead in vain when we appeal to the sober and the intelli- 

 geut to aid us effectually in banishing for ever from our 

 land so great a curse as the liquor traffic ? 



Excuse this digression from my main object, which has 

 been caused by the affecting circumstance I have narrated. 

 A young lady has come all the way from your great city on 

 this errand of affection ; but the craving for an accursed 

 stimulant, /ed by the heartless liquor traffic, will, I fear, defeat 

 her purpose. 



Such meetings for discussion of the subject as your cor- 

 respondent refers to, will, however, do much good. By- 

 and-bye the light of truth will break in upon the thick 

 darkness which yet surrounds us, and the voice of a united 

 people will prohibit the common traffic in poisons which 

 blast the fairest human prospects, and which, in return 

 for all the misery they inflict, have not even one single bless- 

 ing to place in the opposite scale. 



Both employers and their men yet need enlightenment 

 on this subject ; and it is with a view of pointing out to 

 inquirers trustworthy evidence to guide them to sound con- 

 clusions, that I recommend to their notice the little pamph- 

 let I have referred to : it contains a mine of information on 

 the subject. 



Working men need be under no apprehension that injury 

 to their health will result from their disuse of strong drinks. 

 Two thousand physicians of the United Kingdom have 

 signed the following declaration : — " Total and universal 

 abstinence from alcoholic beverages of all sorts would greatly 



contribute to the health, the prosperity, the morality, and 

 the happiness of the human race." 



Stronger words than these could not be penned to prove 

 the inestimable value of teetotalism. What have we on 

 the opposite side.* Nothing— nothing but appetite and 

 folly. A distiller, with whom I was once arguing the 

 question, said to me, " We'll place the folly of mankind 

 against the wisdom of mankind, and we'll beat you teeto- 

 talers ten times over." 



This is the simple truth of the matter : folly is our 

 destroyer, and it confounds the wealthy as well as the poor, 

 the learned as well as the ignorant become powerless when 

 they allow appetite to get the mastery over reason. 



For a quarter of a century moral suasion has been put 

 forth energetically in these kingdoms to stem this torrent 

 of evil, and it has done much good; but, as the flood rolls 

 on still, the energy of the people is aroused to stem it effec- 

 tually by the added force of legislative enactment. The 

 traffic is doomed, and however great the wealth and influence 

 of its supporters, it will fall, and fall soon, I hope, amid the 

 rejoicing.s of the entire nation. The British Lion is aroused, 

 and he will overthrow this his greatest enemy, and it will 

 be the most glorious victory he ever gained. 

 I am, sir, respectfully yours, 



James Haughtox. 



35, Ecdes-street, Dublin, April 29. 



LEGISLATIVE OBSTRUCTION TO AGRI- 

 CULTURAL PROGRESS. 



Sir, — Although the British farmers have astonished all 

 the world by their forwardness in agriculture, which has 

 been greatly delayed, long checked, and obstructed for ihe 

 wantof tenant-right.a/ifls justicebetween landlord and tenant, 

 which the Mark Lane Express has for years been trying to 

 obtain, at the same time has been proving the game laws 

 are a great hindrance and injury to all good farming, 

 many farmers would be glad to know what our Parliament 

 has done for the British farmers to benefit or enlighten 

 them. Long speeches, and nothing in them, say they, is 

 murdering time. The farmers require short speeches, with 

 a great deal in them, alias a great deal in a little ; instead 

 of a little in a great deal of froth. But it is, as it was in all 



ages: 



" Zeal for public gooi with men are rare ; 

 But for self-interest that's the chiefest care." 

 Does our Parliament keep pace with the times ? The old 

 adage says, " Go to war with as many as you can, and 

 with a few to counsel." 



I have read of Ancient Greece being well governed by 

 seven wise men. Suppose a grandee, alias China gentle- 

 man, were to ask our English legislators how many acres of 

 the staff of life does England produce yearly, they would 

 find themselves at as great a loss as an Ethiopian, Tartar, or 

 Arabian. Let the farmers mind whom they depute to get 

 their grievances redressed, that they do not turn round upon 

 them and be their greatest grievance. 



The immense waste of the sewage of London, whichlif 

 properly applied is worth £3.000,000 yearly, shows that 

 our Parliament has not kept pace with the times, and 

 has checked progress in agriculture. Tenant-right has 

 worked well in North Lincolnshire, and is a fine example 

 to all the world. It is vain and ridiculous to say that justice 

 between landlord and tenant would not work well in any 

 county or kingdom. Samuel Arnsbv. 



Millfidd, Peterboro', April 26th, 1859. 



