How the Free Sunday School was Made a Success.

clix 'Local System,' as best adapted to Counteract the present Progress of Juvenile Depravity. By J. Livesey. Preston: I. Wilcockson, 1829." Size, fcap. 8vo, pp. 11. Price not stated. This interesting little work treats upon the education of the neglected classes. It deals primarily with Sunday Schools, but incidentally it takes a much wider range. Like all Mr. Livesey's productions, this little treatise is marked with sagacity, and displays considerable insight into the subject discussed. In the opening paragraph a sentiment is expressed which is in remarkable agreement with the conclusions arrived at by Dr. B. W. Richardson, after three years' experience on the London School Board. "If we brighten the intellect," says Mr. Livesey, "without at the same time strengthening the moral feeling, we are only capacitating individuals for greater mischief, and increasing their facilities for the commission of vice." *-(Not in Brit. Mus. Library.)

"The First Book" for persons learning to read, referred to on page 45 of the “Autobiography," was most likely published very shortly after the little pamphlet on Sunday Schools, as the deficiencies of the primers and reading books then in general use in schools are therein remarked upon. It is evident that the "First Book" had not then been issued, or it would have been mentioned by Mr. Livesey, -(Not in Brit. Mus. Library.)

Mr. Livesey's first periodical-the Moral Reformer-commenced in January.

*As this pamphlet has come to light since the chapter on education was printed off, it may interest the reader to learn that it contains some particulars of Mr. Livesey's Youths' School referred to on page xxxvi. Mr. Livesey says: "In this school from forty to fifty boys, from fourteen to twenty-one years of age, are regularly taught every Sunday. No compulsion, no coercion, is used, and yet the lads seem quite happy to forego their play to attend school, and are much more orderly than could be expected. The teachers take into consideration their age, and suit their system of teaching to it; they lead them on by affection, encourage them by every prospective advantage, and conduct their teaching upon a plan which seems always to inter st them. As some may feel wishful to know more of this system, I will give a brief detail of it. They meet but once in the day, from half-past 9 till 12; of course, in the afternoon their parents are at liberty to take them to any place of worship they please. They commence by reading a portion of the Scriptures; the classes are then furnished with teachers, and about forty minutes are occupied in reading and spelling. Their names being called over, every boy is furnished with a slate or book, and writes a copy, every single line of which is examined as he proceeds. This being finished, the writing is laid before an impartial person, and the boys change seats, higher or lower, till the next week, according as he judges of its execution. They then clean their slates, and are required to write, without copies, any passage of Scripture which they may have committed to memory. This is an interesting process, and, attended as it is by a subsequent examination, is well calculated to produce good impressions. It leads them to a correct orthography, to a proper use of capitals and stops, and to a taste for composition, as well as impressing the subject upon their minds. Some out of each class are requested (but not compelled) to read what they have written, which, from the great variety, is both entertaining and highly instructive. From these passages, as they are read, admonitions and exhortations are given by one of the teachers in as plain a manner as possible, and the scholars are sometimes led on by questions to make their own remarks. If any passage should refer to natural history, or to any part of creation, they always endeavour to make their ideas subservient to their conviction. In these exercises their countenances will sometimes indicate an elevation of mind, which cannot be mistaken. Advantage is taken of seasons or events; they are told the meaning of Christmas, Easter, etc., and are informed how differently they were originally celebrated to what they are now. If a man be drowned, or murdered, or executed, the event is improved by such observations as are likely to be useful. These instructions occupy nearly half an hour. The school concludes with prayer. On these principles the school has been conducted for several years, but the teachers have no Medial law among them, for if any improvement can be suggested it is adopted; and what may be regarded of some little advantage, in order to do this they have no person's consent to obtain beyond their own circle. This school got on tardily at first, and it was not till the plan of writing, and the subsequent application of it to religious instruction, was adopted, that they found a principle which would keep the youths together with ease. Some persons object to teaching children to write on Sundays, and generally, for the same reasons that led men to clamour against the venerable Raikes, when he first attempted to establish Sunday Schools. If, instead of being led by prepossession, men would reason candidly, I think they would come to a different conclusion. On no subject, perhaps, is that saying more verified, 'Ye strain at a gnat and swallow a camel"" (pp. 7, 8). Such were some of the plans followed in this Sunday school. A subsequent adult school, conducted by Mr. Livesey, gave Preston its first Temperance Society, and furnished to the world many useful reformers.

clx

Mr. Livesey a Pioneer of Cheap Literature.

1831, and was concluded in December, 1833. Each number consisted of thirty-two demy 8vo pages. The price of the Moral Reformer was sixpence, but Mr. Livesey supplied it at half-price to persons who agreed to take the magazine regularly for a year. By this plan a really valuable work was brought within reach of everybody who could afford the sum of three farthings a week. Mr. Livesey thus preceded, as a purveyor of cheap literature of an instructive and elevating character, both the publishers of Chambers' Journal (issued at three-halfpence weekly) and the Penny Magazine; as the first number of the former appeared on February 4th, 1832, while the latter was commenced on March 31st of the same year. At that time, and until 1836, the duty upon paper was threepence per pound, a sum which is about equal to the cost of the paper upon which most of the cheap periodicals of the present day are printed! When this fact is remembered, the difficulties of establishing a cheap periodical in 1831, and subsequently of sustaining a popular Temperance literature, will be better understood. From its commencement, the Moral Reformer was got up in a neat and creditable manner; but its appearance very much improved from March 1832, when Mr. Livesey became his own printer.* The Moral Reformer was in every way a remarkable production. It discussed with intelligence and power a great variety of topics; its spirit and tone were admirable. The originality of its editor (and indeed author) is very noticeable, it being quite an exception to find him quoting authorities, while he frequently wrote articles extending to twelve or sixteen pages without any further citations, than a few lines of Scripture.—(Not in Brit. Mus. Library.)

The Preston Temperance Advocate, the first teetotal publication ever issued, was commenced in January, 1834, and published monthly by Mr. Livesey for four years, when it was handed over to Messrs. F. R. Lees, John Andrew, and Barnabas Crossley; and it still survives as the organ of the British Temperance League. As a medium for the diffusion of Temperance truth, the Preston Advocate has never been surpassed. It contained no offensive personalities, and was in every way admirably designed to inform and instruct the reader upon the question. In short, it may be said to have effected for Temperance what the Struggle subsequently did for Free Trade. The size of the Advocate was crown 4to, and each number consisted of eight pages. Its price was one penny. In November, 1835, Mr. Livesey commenced to illustrate it, and throughout the years 1836-7, a wood-cut appeared on the first page of each number. Writing subsequently upon Temperance periodicals, Mr. Livesey thus refers to the cost of these illustrations: “I know that the sale of the Preston Advocate was kept up very much by this means. It is true the expense of these cuts was considerable; the Advocate

cuts varied in cost from £1 to £5;"† but this extra expense was more than covered by increased sales. In the issue for May, 1836, appears a notice to the effect that on the 28th of that month the Advocate would appear as a weekly, but in the June number Mr. Livesey announced that after mature consideration he

Mr. Livesey ceased to be his own printer at the end of 1859, when, owing to the illness of his eldest son, he disposed of the business.

† Livesey's Moral Reformer, 1838–9, p. 179.

A Cheap Library-Various Editions of the Malt Lecture. clxi

had decided to abandon the idea of a weekly publication, resolving instead to issue on the 15th of each month a supplement, containing matter of permanent interest, uniform in size and price with the Advocate. In this way Temperance literature of sterling value was produced at the lowest possible cost, to the great advantage of the movement. Each of these supplementary numbers was complete in itself, and the series comprised "The Temperance Doctor," "The Trial of Alcohol," "Physiological Influence of Alcohol," "The Wine Question," "Temperance Poetry," " Temperance Picture Gallery," "American Reports," Temperance Tales," and a number of similar productions, forming altogether the cheapest Temperance library ever produced. Whenever the Advocate contained matter of more than ordinary interest, Mr. Livesey's habit was to notify that the forme of type would be kept intact until a given date, up to which societies or persons could be supplied with quantities of the publication for distribution at £2 per 1000 copies; and similar facilities were offered regarding the supplements. These points are mentioned as illustrations of Mr. Livesey's sagacity as the conductor of a press propaganda worked upon the principle of pure benevolence. At the time the bulk of these publications were issued, the duty on paper was threepence per pound; in 1836 it was reduced to three-halfpence. -(Not in Brit. Mus. Library.)

"The Sheet Almanacs," issued by Mr. Livesey at a penny, were very widely circulated. The first, published in November, 1834, for the following year, was unquestionably the pioneer Teetotal Almanac.-(Not in Brit. Mus. Library.)

"The Malt Liquor Lecture."-In June, 1836, appeared the first edition of this famous discourse or treatise, the full title of which is given on page cxvii. It was well got up and comprised thirty-two demy 8vo solid pages of type. Its retail price was sixpence, but a very large reduction was made upon quantities. A cheaper edition having been inquired for, Mr. Livesey announced that he was prepared to issue one in sixteen pages crown 4to, to sell at twopence, as soon as orders for 7000 copies at £5 per 1000 were forthcoming. In the Advocate for December, 1837, he acknowledges the following orders: London Society, 1000; Bradford ditto, 1000; Clithero ditto, 200; Stroud ditto, 100; Huddersfield ditto, 100. Whether the stipulated number were ordered or not does not appear; but the lecture was published in the form and at the price promised, and subsequently the stereotype plates were handed over to Mr. Pascoe, of London, who printed a large penny edition from them. The full text of the original lecture was also published in Edinburgh, Birmingham, Dumfries and Ipswich; * and in 1864 Mr. Livesey reprinted it verbatim as a crown 8vo pamphlet of 32 pages, which was published at one penny, but supplied in quantities of fifty and upwards at half-price.* Several abridged editions of the lecture were issued by Mr. Livesey on various occasions, one of which is bound up at the end of this volume. In 1870 Mr. Livesey issued "A New Lecture on Malt Liquor "* at a penny, which was an adaptation of the original lecture to that time. The lecture was also reprinted extensively by publishers and benevolent persons, † and altogether its circulation must have

+ Mr. Livesey gave a general permission to reprint any of his publications; he never retained any copyrights.

m

clxii

Mr. Livesey a Progressionist Among the Teetotalers. exceeded two millions.-(Only the editions marked with an asterisk are in Brit. Mus. Library.)

Livesey's Moral Reformer was commenced as a penny weekly in January, 1838. Its size and appearance were similar to Chambers' Journal; and it was continued as a weekly publication until March 31st, when its pages and price were doubled, and it became a monthly. In this form the Reformer was continued until February, 1839, when it ceased. An examination of this work discloses Mr. Livesey's chief motive in issuing it. He had a large number of Temperance disciples throughout the United Kingdom, and he was evidently anxious for their mental improvement. Knowing that the human mind cannot stand still, and feeling that the adherents of Temperance needed something to supply the place of the old associations connected with drinking, which had previously engrossed their attention, he endeavoured to lead them into a more elevated atmosphere. This second series of the Moral Reformer was admirably adapted to such an end; but a sufficient number of Mr. Livesey's teetotal disciples failed to avail themselves of its benefits, and consequently a publication of great merit was discontinued. The numbers issued make a volume of 220 pages.—(Not in Brit. Mus. Library.)

The Struggle, a weekly illustrated paper, issued in support of the Free Trade movement, will be found very fully described in chapter v. (on pages lxi., lxii., lxxi.), and on pages 21-3 of the "Autobiography," 1841-6.

The Preston Guardian, a weekly newspaper, started Feb. 10th, 1844, and conducted by Mr. Livesey or his sons until the end of 1859, was indeed a 'guardian' of the rights and best interests of the public. The get up of the paper was admirable, and its contents varied and excellent. Local occurrences of interest were pictorially illustrated in the Guardian by woodcuts, which were greatly superior in definition to the 'process' blocks now so common in newspapers. The Guardian, which in every respect merited the recognition accorded it by Mr. Cobden, was the leading paper in North Lancashire.

Livesey's Progressionist. In August, 1851, the Teetotal Times, which had been conducted for upwards of five years as an independent Temperance paper by the late John Cassell, was incorporated with the Temperance Chronicle. Feeling the need of an independent journal, Mr. Livesey in January, 1852, issued the first number of Livesey's Progressionist; or, Advocate of Temperance, and Physical, Moral, Social, and Religious Reform. Each number of the Progressionist consisted of 16 pages, and the price was one penny. The preliminary notice, which indicates the scope of the work, was as follows:

"In bringing out the first number of the PROGRESSIONIST, I may briefly state, that the work is primarily intended to advocate the teetotal cause, and to enforce its claims upon the public; but, at the same time, as circumstances may occur, it will take up any question in which the world's progressive improvement is involved. I wish it to be distinctly understood that no individual or society, none but myself, must be considered responsible for the articles contained in this periodical."

J. LIVESEY.

The Progressionist, which discussed many topics allied to Temperance, was a strenuous advocate of progress. In April, 1852, the title was changed to the Teetotal Progressionist, and in the following month, owing to failing health, Mr. Livesey

Periodicals, Pamphlets and Tracts.

clxiii

handed the periodical over to the late Mr. Horsell, who conducted it until the close of 1853. Mr. Livesey contributed to the Progressionist numerous articles on a variety of subjects during the years 1852 and '53, and his communications have either his signature or initials appended to them. The work was similar in size to the Preston Advocate, and the numbers for the two years make a goodly volume of 372 pages.

The Staunch Teetotaler, by Joseph Livesey, was commenced as a penny monthly in January, 1867. In size and appearance it resembles The Moral Reformer. In his Prefatory Remarks, Mr. Livesey reminded the reader that he was then in his 73rd year. "I feel it a task to leave home and lecture,” he says, “but can pleasantly fill up part of my time in writing for the press." The Staunch Teetotaler continued in the field for two years; at the close of 1868 Mr. Livesey was compelled to relinquish it in consequence of the failure of his wife's health. The great excellence of this magazine has been elsewhere remarked upon; indeed the entire work merits republication. In order to promote the circulation of Temperance truth, the monthly numbers of The Staunch Teetotaler were supplied in parcels of 250, for 10s. The complete work makes a volume of 384 pages.

"Reminiscences of Early Teetotalism. Preston, 1868." A demy 8vo pamphlet of 40 pages. A third edition of this work was issued by Mr. Livesey as recently as April, 1884.

"The Autobiography of Joseph Livesey. Preston, 1881." A work of 98 demy 8vo pages, the second edition of which forms part of the present volume.

It is unfortunate that copies cannot be obtained of the very numerous pamphlets issued by Mr. Livesey, who was in the habit of promptly seizing upon, and thus dealing with, passing events. It is quite impossible to give a complete list of the titles of Mr. Livesey's latter pamphlets, but the following may be named: "A Letter to Wilson Patten, Esq., M.P., on the Drinking System, the Late Sunday Bill, and the Maine Law, 1855." A demy 8vo pamphlet of 16 pages, issued at one penny." Free and Friendly Remarks upon the Permissive Bill, Temperance Legislation, and the Alliance, 1862." A 16 pp. imp. pamphlet; price one penny. (Not in Brit. Mus. Library.)—" Malt, Malt Liquor, and the Malt Tax, 1865." 16 pp. demy 8vo; price one penny.-"A Word to Publicans, 1868." Demy 8vo.-"True Temperance Teaching; showing the Errors of the Alliance and the Permissive Bill, 1873." A 16 pp. demy 8vo pamphlet published at one penny. (Not in Brit. Mus. Library.)-Mr. Livesey published a very powerful letter addressed to Mr. Gladstone upon the fearful evils resulting from the Grocers' and Confectioners' License Scheme of that statesman. His last effort in pamphlet form was a small work entitled The Temperance Teacher, issued at irregular intervals in 4 pages demy 8vo, and so arranged that each number, by a slight alteration, could be circulated as a tract. Ill health limited the Teacher to about a dozen numbers.

"The Temperance Tracts," written, neatly printed, and issued at the lowest possible price, by Mr. Livesey, were so numerous that anything like a complete list of them is impossible. For upwards of half a century he was continuously engaged in this important sphere of usefulness. "Livesey's Temperance Leaflets," the cheapest tracts ever issued, comprised 32 varieties, and were sold at 10d. per