LETTERS TO BROTHER JOHN. 259 



they possess the power of strengthening the body 

 of communicating 1 some portion of their own 

 strength, I suppose, to the body of the potato. 

 People seem to suppose that by swallowing strong 

 drinks they actually swallow strength ; as though 

 strength were some tangible substance, which can 

 be chewed, swallowed, and assimilated, like a potato. 

 We say that onions have a "strong smell"; and we 

 might as well expect to derive strength from smell- 

 ing onions, as to do so by drinking fluids which 

 have a strong flavour. We call them strong, be- 

 cause they affect us strongly. And this, of itself, is 

 another proof of their mischievous tendency ; for 

 whatever affects us strongly, cannot be " chip-in-por- 

 ridge"; and if it be not good and necessary, it must, 

 of necessity, be not only simply injurious, but very 

 much so. 



But, after all, my dear John, mankind in gene- 

 ral know how to live, as well as I can tell them. 

 They do not err from ignorance. They are spell- 

 bound by passion seduced by pleasure, and hood- 

 winked ; but they are hoodwinked willingly. They 

 know that spirit, wine, ale, &c., are unnecessary, 

 and even hurtful. All writers, in every age, have 

 written in favour and praise of temperance, both 

 in eating and drinking. Universal experience 



