cxiv

Mr. R. G. White-Mr. Delavan visits Preston.

God will prosper you." * Personally, Mr. Delavan had thoroughly imbibed the Preston doctrines. At this time he regarded teetotalism as a principle, not a mere expedient; and while he gave credit to those of his brethren who abstained on the ground of expediency, he set his own view of the matter in the strongest possible light.

"To me," he declares, “it seems morally wrong to drink anything that tends to abridge our own lives, or injure our neighbour. I am convinced that the use of intoxicating liquors as a beverage, while in health, is always injurious and never useful, and that while using it in any quantity, I am accessary and co-operative in keeping up all that dreadful machinery of making and vending, which is filling our world with misery, and destroying in this country alone, directly or indirectly, at this time, one hundred thousand annually. Feeling thus, for myself, I cannot put this question on any ground but duty-duty to myself and to my neighbour."+

The Ninth Report of the American Society (for 1836) contains a number of very interesting letters from persons of distinction, including one from Robert Guest White, Esq., of Dublin, who states that in 1834, when in London, he heard from Mr. James S. Buckingham of the doings at Preston, and proceeds:

66

Having visited it (Preston) at the end of August, was present at a festival held in the theatre five successive nights. I became a pledged member of the society, by signing the total abstinence pledge upon the spot. As to the capability of a teetotaler's exertions, permit me to mention those made by my dear and worthy friend, Mr. Joseph Livesey, of Preston, who in October last travelled upwards of three hundred miles in six days [before railway facilities, this], in which time he attended five evening and one noon Temperance meetings, speaking upwards of two hours at each of them, without feeling the least inconvenience or fatigue; and thus he is able and willing to repeat, whenever opportunity offers, or the cause of Temperance requires." ‡

During 1838-9, Mr. Delavan spent several months in Europe, principally employing himself in investigating the results of wine-drinking in France and Italy, and posting himself up in all that related to the Temperance enterprise in Britain. How heartily Mr. Delavan appreciated the spirit and genius of the Preston movement-which he evidently thoroughly understood-will be seen by the following quotation from a letter on the condition of Temperance in England, addressed to the Rev. Dr. J. Marsh, Secretary of the American Temperance Union. The letter, written from Paris, is dated November 20th, 1838. Mr. Delavan says:

66

'In Preston and the neighbouring county our excellent fellow-labourer, Mr. Livesey, by his indefatigable efforts, has produced a most astonishing change; and it only requires the same amount of labour and action in other sections of the country to produce the like results." §

Writing to Dr. Marsh from London, May 17th, 1839, Mr. Delavan describes a visit to Preston, from which it will be seen that he had learned to "love Mr. Livesey as a brother" for his work's sake. He says:

"Preston being within thirty miles of Liverpool, I paid Mr. Livesey a visit. You know that this gentleman was the first individual who raised the total abstinence banner. He was the first individual that prepared and signed the total

"The Temperance Doctor" (Preston, 1836), p. 8.

"Report of American Temperance Union," 1838, p. 91.

+ "American Permanent Temperance Documents," pp. 561-3.

§ Journal of the American Temperance Union (February, 1839), p. 18; and also The Temperance Journal (London, 1839), p. 146.

An Address.-Dr. W. Patton's Acknowledgments to England. cxv

abstinence pledge. The results of his labours can never be known in this world— he has done too much good to be popular. I hear much evil said of him; but I love him as a brother, from whom, in the early stages of the great work we have in hand, I took much counsel and support. A more devoted and intelligent, and at the same time unpretending advocate of temperance, I have nowhere seen." *

“In June, 1839, Mr. Delavan visited Scotland, and attended the meetings of the Scottish Union, at Edinburgh. He reports to Dr. Marsh that "some of the delegates wished to reserve small beer and home-brewed ale; † but only on the belief that it contained no alcohol,—but on investigation [explanation] it was excluded." +

On June 12th, 1839, an address from the Newcastle Temperance Society, signed by John Priestman, was presented to Mr. Delavan. After admitting our indebtedness to America, it declared that: "The citizens of America, and the philanthropists of the world, owe much to the men of Preston, who taught by decided example the genuine principles of a Temperance reform;” §—a sentiment in which Mr. Delavan heartily concurred. Its citation is also useful as showing how the Newcastle Society at that time regarded the Preston movement.

A direct acknowledgment of the indebtedness of America to England for the teetotal pledge was made at the fourth annual meeting of the American Temperance Union, on May 14th, 1840, by the Rev. Dr. William Patton, who in the previous year had been a delegate to England. Dr. Patton said:

"Total abstinence from all intoxicating drinks is a principle of English manufacture. We sent over the old ardent spirit pledge; but after all, it did not touch the English beer, the good old brown stout, wine, nor delicate cordials for ladies. All these were untouched, and the graves of the drunkards were filling up as fast as So they adopted what they called the teetotal pledge (though I don't like the name); || and they sent that back to us."¶

ever.

The conclusion then is irresistible that not only the British Isles, but America, and, through these lands, the world at large, is indebted to Preston for the only successful system of Temperance reform: a system which, after a test extending to half a century, can point to evidences of its efficiency in all climes, among all races, and in every rank and sphere in life. And it is also equally conclusive that Joseph Livesey was the founder and inspirer of the remarkable Preston movement, and the chief director of its effective propaganda.

* Journal of the American Temperance Union (August, 1839), p. 125.

+ Mr. Davie's total abstinence pledge of 1830 allowed a similar exception,-it did not strike at the entire system.

§ Ibid. (October, 1839), p. 158.

Journal of the American Temperance Union (1839), p. 127. Why not, Doctor? If the grotesque word was in use in New York State in 1827, it would surely have familiarised itself to the American ear by 1840!

Journal of the American Temperance Union (June, 1840), p. 87.

CHAPTER IX.

TEMPERANCE: TEACHINGS.

You are right in the path of usefulness you have chalked out for yourself; the Temperance cause really lies at the root of all social and political progression in this country. If you could convert us into a nation of water-drinkers, I see no reason why, in addition to our being the most energetic, we should not be the most polished people. I need not say how much I reverence your efforts in the cause of teetotalism, and how gratified I was to find that my note (written privately, by the way, to Mr. Cassell) should have afforded you any satisfaction.-Letter from RICHARD COBDEN to JOSEPH LIVESEY, dated October 10th, 1849. "Morley's Life of Cobden," People's Ed., p. 69.

Sobriety and self-denial fortifies the observers thereof against many evils, and prepares the mind to be the temple of GOD.-T. TRYON (1696).

MR. LIVESEY was recognised as the teacher at the outset of the Temperance enterprise. We have Cobden's testimony to his "happy art of putting questions of a difficult and complex character into a simple and lucid form;" and to that valuable and not too common faculty the Temperance cause in Europe and America is much indebted for its advancement. After a thorough examination of the drink question from its very foundation, he came to the conclusion that the entire system was a mistake. There was no accident in the drunkenness, the physical and social disorder, the moral turpitude and spiritual decadence arising from drinking; these evils were the natural and logical outcome of a system which, by turning food into poison, violated the laws of Nature, and defeated the designs of Providence. And just as surely as an individual who systematically breaks the laws of health will suffer pain, so a State, community, or people, which perverts the bounties of Providence from their true and natural use, will pay the penalty in physical, moral, and spiritual evil. This truth, which is the foundation of all real Temperance reform, and was the distinguishing characteristic of the Preston platform, Mr. Livesey in the beginning did more than any one else to popularize, by setting it forth in a "simple and lucid form."

The oral delivery of the Malt Liquor Lecture produced very remarkable results, and as Mr. Livesey was not ubiquitous, he could not be in Preston directing an important propaganda, and at the same time lecturing to the people at John O'Groat's or Land's End. Dr. Mudge and others repeatedly urged the publication of the full text of the discourse, but for some time Mr. Livesey's energies were too much taxed to permit of its preparation. The Birmingham Society published it from the shorthand writer's notes in April, 1836; and in or about June of that year Mr. Livesey issued an authorized edition of his famous lecture as a closely printed demy 8vo pamphlet of 32 pages. The production has never been superseded, and it entirely merits the opinion expressed of it by Mr. Thomas Beggs, one of the most thoughtful and philosophical writers on Temperance, whose judgment is of considerable weight and value.

"That Lecture," says Mr. Beggs,"contained the whole philosophy of the

The Original Malt Lecture of 1836 thoroughly Comprehensive. cxvii

Temperance movement in its domestic, social, and political aspect, and left little to those who followed Mr. Livesey but enforcement and illustration of the propositions laid down." *

THE TEACHINGS OF THE ORIGINAL MALT LIQUOR LECTURE.

"The Malt Liquor Lecture," as originally published, in 1836, was, as Mr. Beggs has described it, a thoroughly comprehensive review of the whole question of Temperance. The Lecture appended to this volume is a reprint of an abridged edition, prepared for extensive circulation, and restricted to the discussion of the manufacture, nature, character, and effects of malt liquor. It cannot be too carefully studied by the reader. During the last half-century, Mr. Livesey's views on malt liquor have been extensively circulated in Great Britain, America, and the colonies, and his positions have never been successfully controverted; indeed, they were too clearly demonstrated ever to have been seriously assailed. Mr. Livesey's general teachings on Temperance, in 1836, in his published lecture, and several years earlier in his spoken addresses, were comprehensive and complete. In the original lecture he sets out with a statement regarding the extent and consequences of drinking, and calls attention to the fact that the greater part of the alcohol consumed in Britain is swallowed under the disguise of malt liquor. The causes of intemperance, he then classifies under five heads—“ INTEREST, APPETITE, FASHION, IGNORANCE, and DEEP DEPRAVITY ; " and the thoroughness with which he treated the question is made evident by the following citations from the lecture: +

Interest.

"It is an unfortunate circumstance," says Mr. Livesey, "for society when the interests of perhaps a majority are in a state of conflict with the happiness of the rest. I will not ask who are, but who are not interested in the manufacture, sale, or use of intoxicating liquors? The trade-including all who make, sell, or assist in this nefarious traffic-includes a vast number of foreigners, who make or supply all our wines, hollands, rum, and brandy; the merchants who import the same; the first and second class of wholesale dealers in this country; the brewers and the distillers at home; the owners of public-house property; the maltsters and the hop-merchants; the barley and the hop-growers; the licensed victuallers, beer-shop and dram-shop keepers; with almost an innumerable host of servants, travellers, and clerks attached to every branch of the trade. Whilst we have all these directly benefiting by intemperance; whilst every street is disgraced with these vaults' of death; and whilst interest throws open the door of temptation in the middle and at the end of every street,-is it any wonder that we are this day a nation of drunkards?

The

"Every person engaged in the outfit of the gin palaces and public-houses, in the outfit of breweries, distilleries, etc., is likely to be on the side of drinking. coopers, glass, pot, chair, and pipe makers, and many others will incline to support the public-house system. Landlords being so numerous, and being among the best of customers for butchers' meat, drapery, newspapers, etc., it is easy to conceive that many who are not friends to drunkenness, are likely, at least, to connive at the habits of drinking, from which their profits, to some extent, seem to proceed. Sickness and crime are the common results of intemperance. Those who profit by either of these (and they are not a few) are almost certain to connive, to some extent, at this prevailing vice. In estimating the number of those who are likely

"Life and Labours of Alderman John Guest.' London, 1881, p. 16.

The quotations are taken from the first edition of Mr. Livesey's Lecture, the full title of which runs as follows: "A Temperance Lecture based on the Teetotal Principle; including an Exposure of the Great Delusion as to the Properties of Malt Liquor; The substance of which has been delivered in the principal towns of England. By Joseph Livesey. 'All great things subsist more by FAME than real strength.'"-Preston, 1836.

cxviii

1836-Appetite and Fashion-Dangerous Customs.

to countenance it from interest, it would be unfair to omit even the Government itself; for were it not for the revenue derived from intoxicating liquors, it is impossible to believe that Government could have approved of some late legislative measures, or that it would encourage the legal demoralization of the people. Indeed, it requires an extensive knowledge of society to form any adequate idea of the interest which is allied with the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquor.

Appetite.

"When we look at the inveterate habit acquired by many in the use of snuff and tobacco, I scarcely need to tell you, ladies and gentlemen, that what at first is unpalatable and nauseous, becomes by repetition agreeable and tempting; and this applies with great force to all kinds of alcoholic stimulants. They are capable of producing almost immediate excitation; and being always followed by a corresponding depression, the drunkard longs for another glass, to regain his spirits, and thus becomes the slave of appetite. Many become drunkards against their better judgment, and go on, labouring under remorse of conscience, and the apprehension of death, drinking the liquor, which they know will prove their ruin. Thus our national intemperance is perpetuated, for old topers become leaders of bands, and serve as decoy ducks to others, who soon become like themselves, the slaves of appetite. Thousands and tens of thousands, who began with a social glass to please a friend, or to relieve some ailment, have gone on, increasing the quantity, till you see them sacrificing both themselves and their families to their insatiate thirst for drink. How painful to see fathers or mothers, whose love of ale or spirits will even lead them to rob their children both of food and clothing, in order to procure for themselves intoxicating liquor! How painful to stand at the front of the dramshop, and observe the wreck of health, fortune, intelligence, and virtue, floating through these infernal doors! When a man begins to like the liquor, he is half undone, and he is fortunate indeed if he do not finish his course in the drunkard's grave. Some drink for interest, some for fashion, and some through ignorance; but, if the truth were known, a vast number drink because they like it.

Fashion.

"To this I beg your serious attention. Because our mammas and papas drank a certain sort of drink, we adopt the same practice, without entering into any inquiry whether it be good or bad. The fashion of drinking begins with us at our birth, and follows us till we are laid in the grave. So soon as a child is born into the world, the event must be celebrated by the use of some kind of intoxicating drink. The largest table and the best china are procured, and in the centre stands the cream jug with the cork in, well supplied with Jamaica cream. Here the parties enjoy themselves, and drink to the health of the new-born babe, the doctor being president of the feast. The mother being put to bed, every visitor who enters the room is treated with a glass out of the stock provided for the occasion; and then, after all the tittle-tattle common on such occasions, she is handed another glass before she goes, to keep the cold out.

"The christening is the next season for drinking, and Sunday is usually selected for the ceremony, because it affords a greater opportunity for drinking.

"Both weddings and funerals are conducted on the same principle; and on the latter occasion we find, where the parties are assembled to pay their respects to the departed, that the tables are covered with hot ale and cold ale, pipes and tobacco; nay, such is the absurdity of the drinking fashions at funerals, that so soon as you touch the latch of the door, you are presented by a female, suitably attired, with a smoking hot tankard of poison and water.

"Christmas, Shrovetide, Easter, Whitsuntide, every memorable day in the history of our religion; every national holiday; races, fairs, and especially elections, are all seasons for destroying reason, impairing health, and demoralizing character, by the use of strong drink.

“In respectable life, it is the fashion on all social occasions to drink stimulating liquors. At dinner, it is supposed that the food would not digest unless accompanied with wine or brandy; and the afternoons are so tediously long, that each gentleman has to take his pint of wine in order to kill time! When one friend calls to see another, the common invitation is, 'What will you have to drink?' It