by Mr. Ralph B. Grindrod, M.D., LL.D.; "Antibacchus," by Rev. Benj. Parsons; "The Philosophy of Drinking Usages," by Mr. Dunlop; "Temperance Fables," by Rev. J. Collinson; and "Truth in Fairy Fiction Drest," by Mrs. C. L. Balfour, Mrs. Ellis, and Mrs. S. C. Hall. Among the editors of temperance periodicals were J. W. Green, Thomas Cook, Mrs. Balfour, Rev. Jabez Burns, D.D., and Dr. Lees. Dr. Lees' "Standard Temperance Library and Illustrated History of Alcohol," are of permanent value. Among the clergymen active in this cause may be mentioned Dr. Pye Smith, Rev. James Sherman, Rev. Charles Stowe, Rev. J. H. Hinton, and Rev. Jabez Burns, D.D., all of London. Medical opinion and practice was mostly against the cause, although a declaration drawn up by Julius Jeffreys, Esq., a surgeon, was signed by about eighty of the principal physicians and surgeons of London, distinctly favoring total abstinence on physiological grounds. Dr. Higginbottom, of Nottingham, and Dr. Thomas Beaumont, of Bradford, joined this movement, the latter writing an admirable treatise on alcoholic beverages, advocating their disuse. Nor should we omit among the laborers in this great reform, Mr. T. A. Smith, once a journeyman carpenter, who became a scientific lecturer on chemistry; and Mr. John Cassell, a raw Lancashire lad, who became a temperance publisher, and the founder of the large publishing house of Cassell, Petter, and Galpin. "After thirteen years of arduous propagandism, the temperance cause had achieved extraordinary success; it had checked the influx of much evil; it had reclaimed multitudes; it had insured the moral safety of still larger numbers; it had abolished some trade usages and modified others; it had established itself as one of the progressive and philanthropic forces of the age; and impartial observers, like Mr. Thomas de Quincy, were able to say that, in their opinion, it had been the appointed agent of Providence to rescue the Anglo-Saxon race from the one dark vice which had been most successful in seducing it, and making its degradation sure." From 1843 to 1860, though some reverses were experienced, the reform made steady progress in England and Scotland. THE WORLD'S TEMPERANCE CONVENTION, held in London in August, 1846, re-inspired and strengthened the numerous laborers in this great reform. The presence and addresses of Rev. Drs. Lyman Beecher, John Marsh, and other veteran champions of temperance from America, were greatly enjoyed. It was a memorable occasion-one of the first of the great world conventions that have since been held for the promotion of other great causes. No less than three hundred delegates, appointed by their respective temperance societies in different parts of the world, attended it, twenty-five attending from America. Its deliberations were continued through a week, in morning and evening sessions, during which a large amount of valuable information was elicited, and the bond of brotherhood between the members was closely drawn. The convention closed with a crowded public meeting in the capacious theater of the "Covent Garden," and the enthusiasm was unbounded. It was then computed that the total abstainers from all intoxicating drinks connected with the temperance societies were, in America, 7,000,000; in Ireland, 5,000,000; in England and Scotland, 3,000,000; on the Continent of Europe and the British colonies, 3,000,000; total, 18,000,000. An address, drawn up by Hon. James Silk Buckingham, was prepared and sent out to the heads of the great governments of the world, from which the following extract is taken: Rulers of nations, and protectors of the people committed to your care! if you desire to prevent their labor-created wealth from being destroyed -to see the resources of their industry fully developed, their golden harvests of grain husbanded for the food of man, your population preserved in vigorous health and industry, the youths well instructed and morally trained, the men sober, the women chaste, the public authorities just and temperate, your subjects happy and obedient, and the great duties of morality and religion cheerfully and willingly performed, under the influence of love for their excellences and a hearty participation in their enjoyments, rather than from a fear and terror of the punishments that await their neglect—if these be the objects of your high and noble ambition, O rulers and potentates of the earth! we entreat you, in the name of the World's Convention, now assembled together in friendly union from the varied countries that have sent us here to represent their feelings, hopes, and desires, that you unite with us in doing whatever in your wisdom may seem best calculated to arrest the progress of intemperance in your respective dominions-to encourage all societies, institutions, and measures for abolishing the drinking usages and customs of your people -to honor by your august presence, as well as patronage, (as their Majesties the King and Queen of Sweden have recently done, attending in their royal persons the great Temperance Convention at Stockholm, held in that city during the last month only,) similar gatherings together, for the same purpose, of the subjects of your own realms; and while you will thus draw down upon your crowned and anointed heads the blessings of all your people, and the grateful homage of the heart from millions yet unborn, your dying moments, whenever they may come as in the course of time must happen to us all-will be soothed with the remembrance that you have endeavored to discharge the high trust and responsibility committed to your rule, by encouraging within your dominions a new moral reformation for the improvement of mankind-the great end and aim of which is to promote "Glory to God, on earth peace, and good-will to man! In the name and under the authority of the convention, (Signed,) J. S. BUCKINGHAM. A London Temperance League was formed in 1851 which was merged, in June, 1857, into the National Temperance League, under whose auspices Mr. John B. Gough visited England and achieved some of his greatest successes. "Bands of Hope" were formed in 1847 in Leeds by Mrs. Carlisle, of Dublin, and rapidly spread among the young. A ministerial conference held in Manchester, in 1848, was a rallying event, and a starting-point for future progress. June 1, 1853, the United Kingdom Alliance was organized in Manchester, Sir Walter C. Trevelyan, Bart., president, whose work was the suppression of the liquor traffic by law. This body has done much in the herculean task of raising the tone of public morality in reference to the drinking customs. In Scotland a Scottish Permissive Bill and Temperance Association was organized to help forward the political aspect of the work. In Ireland the cause was advanced by Father Spratt and Mr. J. Haughton, of Dublin, who fanned the flame of hatred to the whisky scourge. The literature of temperance received many valuable contributions. Dr. Carpenter's "Physiology of Temperance," Professor Müller's "Alcohol" and "Nephalism," Dr. Wilson's "Pathology of Drunkenness," Dr. Reid's "Temperance Cyclopedia," etc., etc. A medical certificate, signed by two thousand of the profession in the United Kingdom and India, was procured by Mr. Dunlop, assisted by Sir John Forbes, Dr. Carpenter, and Dr. Guy. |