EXPLANATORY. IN issuing this Autobiography a brief explanation is necessary. In 1867 and 1868 my father published The Staunch Teetotaler; and in the number for April, 1867, he commenced a series of chapters headed "Reminiscences of Early Teetotalism;" these extended over the rest of the year, and into the fourth monthly part in 1868. The whole series might fitly have been called "The Teetotal Autobiography of Joseph Livesey;" indeed, the Rev. Charles Garrett, who urged the work upon my father, remarked, "It must be Autobiographical." In the number of The Staunch Teetotaler for January, 1868, was commenced a series of twelve chapters headed "The Author's Autobiography:" and these chapters are reprinted in the following pages without the least alteration; hence in perusing them the reader must remember they appear just as issued thirteen years ago.* In place of adopting the same plan with the twelve chapters of "Reminiscences" my father has restricted himself to a few extracts from that Autobiographical series. These he has accompanied by comments, and also with references and reports of events occurring up to 1881. This portion of the work has been sent to the Press at irregular intervals, owing to my father's failing health; hence Chapters XIII. to XVIII. are not arranged on any settled plan, as is evidenced in the Chapters I. to XII. Upon perusing the latter chapters, and comparing them with the "Reminiscences," it has suggested itself that the readers of this work will desire to know something more than is here given of the history of the Temperance Movement from the years 1832 to 1836, and of my father's intimate connexion with it during that period. This is now supplied from an independent source, in an abridgment of The Dawn and Spread of Teetotalism, by the late Joseph Dearden, and issued by him in 1873. A fac-simile copy of the Teetotal Pledge as drawn up by my father in September, 1832, will be found on page 109. W. LIVESEY. [* The reader must now (1885) remember that seventeen years have elapsed since the following pages were first printed.] AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF JOSEPH LIVESEY. CHAPTER I. In sitting down to write my autobiography, as promised, I feel several discouragements. In going over the events and collecting the incidents connected with so long a life, it is very difficult to make a selection such as shall not omit what would be deemed by my friends as important, and yet not to tire them with details of little moment; and to do this without exposing myself to the charge of vanity and egotism is still more difficult. Next, my memory of late has become very much impaired, and this increases the labour required, to be certain that facts, events, and dates are truly narrated. Fortunately, I have the benefit of a very copious memoranda, which I made while residing nine weeks at a Water Cure Establishment on the Rhine, in the year 1853, which has been laid by, unperused till now. The following is the first paragraph, giving the reasons for drawing up the sketch, which was not intended to appear during my lifetime, and little did I think that fourteen years would elapse before it' would be disturbed. 'My experience of sixty years may possibly, if placed upon record, be of some service to those who are but just beginning to tread the active stage of existence. If it should convey to such, useful hints that may enable them to escape any of the ills of life, and prompt to a course of virtue and usefulness, I shall be well rewarded for the trouble of my narrative; and, if not, the writing will beguile away a few hours, which I now find myself, from infirmity, unable to appropriate to a more useful purpose; and, at any rate, these memoirs will be read with some interest by a few whose friendship I have had the happiness to enjoy. It may also be pleasing to my numerous family to have condensed, ready to their hands, the most striking incidents of my life, some of which they may have never heard of or forgotten; and, possibly, they may here trace some of the advantages which they at present enjoy over the children of many other families." I drew my first breath in a humble cottage in the village of Walton, on the 5th March, 1794. This village is beautifully situated on the banks of the Ribble, one mile and a half from Preston. I was born in that part called "Walton Cop," and there I resided in three different houses, almost contiguous, till after my marriage, when I came to Preston, in the winter of 1815. I was named after my grandfather, Joseph Livesey, my other grandfather being William Ainsworth. They were both small farmers in the township of Walton; the former occupying a farm in Toad House Lane; the latter, one called "Water |