deputation from some of the British Churches, who, in connection with Dr. Reed, visited the Churches of America, to ascertain the true state of piety amongst them. The speech gives at one view some idea of the extent of the evil, and the measure of success which had accompanied the labors of a few years.

"Mr. M. stated a number of facts which proved the evils of intemperance. Among these were the following striking evidences of the injury done to society, as well as to individuals, by the use of ardent spirits. The number of persons received into the alms-house at Albany, in the State of New York, last year, was 633; of these 616 were intemperate. In the Orphan Asylum, where 99 children had been received, the parents of 72 had been drunkards. The police magistrate of the town, in his report for the past year, stated, that 96 in 100 of all the criminal cases brought before him originated in, or were directly connected with, intemperance; and that more than 2,500 cases came under his cognizance in a year. The result of an examination into the character and history of all the paupers and criminals in the work-houses and gaols of several of the states was as follows:-Three-fourths of the pauperism was occasioned by intemperance, and more than five-sixths of those committed on criminal charges were intemperate. In other cases, the proportion was even greater: of 1,134 paupers, in the county of Baltimore, Maryland, 1,059 were made such by the use of ardent spirits; of 3,000 admitted to the alms-house in Salem, Mass., 2,900 had been brought there by intemperance.

"Mr. M. then brought forward a variety of facts, to shew the great good that had resulted from the exertions of Temperance Societies in the United States. Among these were the following:-More than 10,000 drunkards had, within five years, ceased to use any intoxicating drink; more than 7,000 Temperance Societies had been formed, embracing, it is supposed, more than 1,250,000 members; more than 3,000 distilleries have been stopped, and more than 7,000 dealers have ceased to sell the poison; more than 1,000 vessels are now afloat on the ocean, in which ardent spirit is not used. Mr. M. then proceeded to state what he had himself seen and heard of the good effects of abstinence from ardent spirits in the sobriety in steam-boats, in families, and at public dinners -in the ruins of distilleries which he saw in various states-and in the absence of intoxication in the cities and large towns. He mentioned that he had seen more drunken persons in one half hour in Liverpool, on landing from the vessel on a Sunday evening, than he had seen in six months in America; nay, that one Saturday evening in Durham, he saw more drunken persons in the streets than he had seen in the United States. He closed by making an earnest appeal to the assembly, as citizens, masters, parents, and Christians, to give their best assistance to the Temperance cause, by not only abstaining themselves from the use of ardent spirits, but also by uniting themselves with the friends of that cause, openly and manfully, and by their example, try at least to stem the torrent of intemperance which threatens to ruin many thousand families in this country-which increases county and parish rates, and demoralizes the very sources of domestic peace and social order. The appeal induced a number of persons at the close of the meeting to append their names to the list of members."

To this may be added the additional information, that nearly all the medical practitioners have sanctioned by their opinions the formation of such institutions. Many members of Congress, convinced of its national importance, have formed themselves into societies at the very seat of legislature. The national council have reduced its principles to practice in the army and navy. States have formed their associations; in fact, the whole fraternity appear to be but one great Temperance Society-the eonservators of their home from one of the most destructive vices which iniquity could have introduced for debasing her people, and destroying her influence in the world.

Britain possesses the next claim upon the friends of Temperance, though fallen far short of her offspring, both in point of and success.

energy

According to the latest statement, we understand, that there are about 1,000 Societies; Members, 117,000; 782 Medical men had strongly recommended their formation; 3,832,800 tracts had been put in circulation; several drunkards had been reclaimed; the subject had found advocates in the national senate; and an enquiry had been instituted by parliament, which, though it failed to induce them to legislate on the subject, had diffused much valuable information amongst all classes. The Society was employing a number of able lecturers, to diffuse information through the length and breadth of the land; many pulpits were resounding with the theme, which had before been closed through prejudice the most stubborn; and philanthropists of every shade in religious and political difference had united to stem the torrent of iniquity, and preserve the happy and industrious population of the lovely island from the debasing practice of Intemperance. May they be blessed in their deed!

France, Switzerland, Germany, and all the nations of the great continent are bestirring themselves; the islands of the western and southern seas are stirred to holy emulation. Nor are our eastern countries destitute of feeling on the subject. Ceylon, the islands of the Archipelago, Canton, Madras, Bombay, Chunar, Berhampur, and other places have set a praise-worthy example, which the capital would do well to imitate. We have before us a periodical published at Jaffna, exclusively devoted to this object; and reports from the European regiment, from Maulmain, Penang, Chunar, and other places, give evidence that their various societies have not only a name, but that they live.

We have endeavoured to obtain the most accurate view of the actual numbers now incorporated with various societies, and we should suppose they do not amount to much less than two millions!! two millions of bonâ fide members. But this is not all: we may fairly presume, if our own experience may be taken as a guide, that the agitation of the subject, and the existence of societies, have led many to act upon the Society's principles, who cannot conscientiously sign its declaration; in fact we believe that the number who would range under this class is far greater than the actual amount of members. We should suppose that they may amount to some three millions more. Here then we have a population of five millions, exhibiting to a deluded world their abhorrence of the practice of drinking, and their determination to expel it from their vast circle. In the latter class, we do not include many of those who were intemperate, but a large portion of well-meaning

people, to whose hospitality the spirit frame was a necessary appendage; who themselves perhaps never drank, except to oblige a friend; and who at once injured themselves and friends to prove the strength of attachment. Now we mean, that by the agitation of the Temperance Cause, these people have silently departed from the practice of tempting any one to drink, by the total absence of the spirit decanter from their table, either at tiffin, dinner, or supper-a thing the absence of which no one regrets, and for which no one will dare to ask, unless for a medicinal purpose. Happy change!

you

Would that in every family a similar transformation could be effected; would that otherwise rational people would but put away their prejudice on this point. Why should the virtuous have a strong inclination to sanction that which may and does lead to vice, rather than give their patronage to an institution which at least lifts up its voice against an increasing evil?-an evil which threatens to destroy every vestige of social happiness, political strength, and, if not checked, religious energy. Let us, dear friends, intreat you at least not to oppose us do not throw ridicule upon our efforts, if cannot aid us by your active labours; we entreat you, do not attempt to oppose us, by treating our well-intentioned effort with ridicule. We entreat this from you, for the sake of the families and countries of those with whom you come in contact, who by your smiles and sarcasms may be induced to adopt an habit which may terminate in their present and future misery. We are quite willing to admit, that you may have been prejudiced against our cause by the intemperance and extravagance with which it has been advocated. We have regretted the intemperance too oft displayed by the advocates of temperance; but we ask, will not the enormity of the evil, and the supineness of those who ought to have been up and doing, form some excuse for strong feeling and language? If not, should a cause suffer because it may have injudicious advocates? Would the friends of the slave be prepared to adopt every sentiment propounded by the advocates of African freedom; nay, would even some of the most eloquent and judicious advocates of the rights of man be prepared to admire all that they themselves had written or said? But who doubted the justice or excellence of their cause? None but the interested; and why should this cause suffer, because in its infancy it has not displayed the wisdom and energy of mature days?

We ourselves in the last paper appear to have employed a word in speaking of the Saviour's miracle of turning water into wine, which another writer has rebuked. We stand reproved; not that it was our design to impugn the Saviour's ability, we believe we shall be acquitted of that by our friends;-but we are grieved that we should have prejudiced the Cause we advocate by the employment of a single injudicious expression.

But we ask, Is not the success of the cause enough to lead you to ponder well, ere you refuse to aid? How many years did the friends of the slave toil before their work was accomplished? More than a generation slept in death before their work received its laurel. How long and painfully did the friends of political reformation strive to obtain the boon they solicited? More than a century rolled away ere it was bestowed. But here, in the short space of 15 or 16 years, has almost a whole nation become converted, and her sons satisfied with the beverage which their fountains and rivers supply. In the short space of 8 or 10 years, has the Temperance standard rallied around it hundreds of thousands in other lands, who will never fear to defend its principles; while thousands more, like the timid women, stand afar off and weep, though they do not admire it the less, but fear to give it their cordial support. If you feared to assist us in our experimental period, will you not aid us, now that we have proved the soundness of our views by the success of our practice? Remember too, that this success has been obtained over a strong and potent foe, aided by the smiles of the temperate, the sanction in some cases even of the pious, and always by the many interested in its continuance. If you will but aid us, how speedily may the evil be exterminated; for if the few have thus vanquished, what will be effected in the day of universal warfare? what but universal victory? We solicit the aid of rulers as the fathers of their people, whose duty it is to prevent the peace of their borders from being disturbed by the entrance of an insidious and destructive foe. To philanthropists we appeal in the name of suffering humanity, assuming the form of emaciated bodies, diseased minds, mourning widows, and destitute orphans. To the temperate consumers of the poisonous liquid we make our appeal, first on the ground of its utter uselessness to themselves, and the probable influence their example may have on others. To the ministers of Christ we proffer our claims, confident of success, if they will but examine the cases of their lapsed members and brethren in the work. How many brave men has not strong drink slain? To the Missionaries of the cross we would say, Brethren, remember what devastation intemperance has inflicted on one of the finest fields of Missionary operation and success-the South Sea islands; and not less on the plains of Africa, until counteracted by the existence of temperance institutions; nay more, to our brethren in Bengal, we appeal on the ground that within the last three years, the importation of spirituous liquors has more than doubled, while its consumption amongst Europeans has diminished. By whom is the increase consumed ? By the enlightened and liberal Hindus, who think it one of the finest tests of their liberality, that they will drink brandy like a Christian! How shocking, to find them a nation of idolaters,

and leave them a nation of drunkards. We appeal to all, in the name of humanity and religion, to render their prompt aid in a living temperate example.

φιλος.

VI.-Hints on Economizing the Means of Native Instruc

GENTLEMEN,

tion.

To the Editors of the Calcutta Christian Observer.

66

In addressing to you a few remarks on the subject indicated at the head of this paper, I shall abstain from adverting to any of those questions " adhuc sub judice," which, though they may not have been discussed with acrimony or intemperance, must nevertheless have proved in effect rather walls of partition than bonds of union between the friends of education: I allude to the Romanizing system and to the respective degrees of efficacy to be attributed to the English and vernacular tongues as instruments of Indian civilization. Whatever difference of opinion may exist upon these or similar points, all parties will, l'apprehend, be agreed, that the resources of education in each of its departments, the English no less than the vernacular, fall far short of the wants of the country; and that this inadequacy in the existing means imposes on all concerned in administering them, the strictest obligation to economize and turn them to the greatest possible advantage by a judicious application. Nor should the propriety of a fair and equal distribution of the benefits of instruction be overlooked. I shall make a few brief remarks on each of those points, with particular reference to the management of the Government English schools in the interior.

I. As in the present state of the resources applicable to education, the proffer of gratuitous instruction in English can be made to a very small number of students only, a prudent economy suggests that this proffer should be restricted to such of the candidates as by their ability, diligence, and good sense should afford the best security for the improvement of the boon accorded to them, instead of being indiscriminately lavished with seeming liberality but real indiscretion upon all, however stupid or incapable, who may foolishly rush forward to enter upon a difficult, and, to them, unprofitable, study. The latter course is, however, I believe, universally adopted in our English seminaries, and it is not difficult to calculate how large a proportion of the scanty educational resources at our command are thus uselessly squandered. Three-fourths, at the very lowest estimate, of the students admitted, must be incompetent to convert an acquaintance with English into that effective instrument of extensive benefit to themselves and others which it ought to prove. It is surely the dictate of wisdom to regard the culti.