and Southern States. He was received with kindness, heard with attention, and was instrumental in awakening new interest in that part of the country. In March, he returned, and continued his labors in New England, till within three months of the close of his engagement. Having been invited to take charge of a church in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and believing it to be his duty to accept the invitation, he resigned his laborious and successful agency, Sept. 30th, 1830. And while the Committee would gratefully acknowledge the kindness of the Lord in his preservation and success, they would affectionately sympathize with him in his recent domestic affliction, and express their earnest hope that both mercies and trials may be overruled for his greater usefulness on earth, and his more distinguished glory in heaven.

Rev. Edward W. Hooker, associate general agent, and editor of the Journal of Humanity, after the judicious and able discharge of its duties till the paper was established, and had taken strong hold on the interests of the community, resigned his connection with the Society; and Mr. E. C. Tracy was appointed editor in his stead. This paper still continues to be a powerful auxiliary in the great and good cause. It is read with deep interest, by intelligent and philanthropic men, in this and other countries; and should its circulation be extended so as to render its publication permanent, it would accomplish unspeakable good to our country and to the world. And the Committee would earnestly request the friends of the object, as extensively as practicable, to promote its

circulation.

Other papers, and periodical publications, have exerted a powerful influence, and rendered valuable aid to the cause; and it is desirable that such publications should be circulated extensively throughout the country.

Rev. Wm. Kinner, a Baptist clergyman in Illinois, has been appointed to labor for one year, as agent, in that state; and the American Tract Society has made a donation of temperance tracts, to be distributed by our agents, in that extended and interesting part of our country.

The Corresponding Secretary, since his reappointment, August 27th, 1829, has continued uninterruptedly his labors in the service of the Society. He has visited various parts of the British province of New Brunswick, and the states of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and the District of Columbia. He has traveled more than 6,400 miles, and preached and addressed public bodies three hundred and eighty-six times. He has assisted in the formation, and attended the anniversaries, of numerous Tem

* Mrs. Rebecca Hewit, wife of Rev. Nathaniel Hewit, died at Bridgeport, Conn., deeply lamented, Jan. 2d, 1831.

perance Societies; written a number of articles for publication; conducted the correspondence; and superintended the general concerns of the Society.

At the request of a number of gentlemen, he, in January, 1831, visited the District of Columbia, and addressed the citizens of Washington, Georgetown, and Alexandria. Three Temperance Societies had been formed, and ten others were formed, during his visit, embracing more than one thousand members. At the request of individuals of both houses of Congress, he addressed the members of that body, in the capitol, on the subject. The attendants were numerous, and the interest manifested was highly auspicious. From all parts of the country, members of Congress testified that a great change had been effected, and one in the highest degree salutary to all the social, civil, and religious interests of the community.

A member from one of the Southern States, and from a district in which it had been customary for candidates for office to bribe the electors with spirituous liquors, declared, "that so great had been the change of public sentiment, that, should any man now pur. sue a similar course, that, of itself, would defeat his election."*

Another member from one of the Western States, declared, "that the change in his part of the country had been wonderful; and that he considered the object of the Temperance Society as one of the most important, and its operations as among the most useful, of any in the world. The children-the children," said he, "to all future generations, will experience the benefit. Any publiIcations on this subject, which you may wish to send into my district, I will cheerfully forward."

Similar was the testimony of others, and their readiness to circulate information on the subject.

There is no object, said they, of more importance than this, to the welfare of the country.

From a number of the principal boarding-houses in the city of Washington, ardent spirit was excluded; and many of the members of Congress used none during the session.

The President of the United States gave it as his opinion, that, through an extensive region of country where he had traveled, the quantity used had been diminished more than half.

The Secretary of War stated, that, of more than one thousand desertions from the army, during the last year, nearly all were occasioned by drinking.

From January 1st, 1823, to December 31st, 1829, the number of desertions was 5,669; upon an average, more than eight hundred; nearly one seventh part of the whole army (which consists

* APPENDIX, G.

of about six thousand) every year. The loss to the country by desertions in these seven years, exclusive of the expenses of convening courts-martial, and several other items, was $471,263; or about $70 to a man; and during six years, ending December 31st, 1828, the number of soldiers tried by courts-martial, was 7,058. In five years, ending December 31st, 1827, there were 5,582; being nearly one to each individual in the army, during one term of enlistment. And a great majority of the whole resulted from the use of ardent spirit. And if to this we add the cost of the liquor, the expenses of a great increase of sickness, and numerous premature deaths, the loss, from the use of this poison, in the army, the whole tendency of which is to injure the soldier, and unfit him for the defence of his country, must have been very great. *

A distinguished officer of the army declared, " Nearly all the trouble we have with the men arises from drinking." And in a letter which our Secretary lately received from him, he says, "Since I last wrote you, I have visited a military post; and, on looking over the sick list, with the acting surgeon and hospital steward at my elbow, to tell me the cause of each man's sickness, I was assured that, out of forty-six cases, the diseases of more than forty had their origin in intemperance. Probably more than five sixths of all military offences tried before our courts-martial, result from intemperance." The same officer gave it as his opinion, that, since his acquaintance with the army, which has been for many years, more than three fourths of the deaths among the soldiers were occasioned by ardent spirits. And he says, "The Secretary of War has, in my opinion, done incalculable good to the army, by withholding the whiskey part of the rations. We want now a few temperance preachers to visit from post to post, and bring the subject of temperance before the troops; for Societies; furnish them with addresses, essays, and periodicals; and I doubt not that a happy reformation would be witnessed in the army."

And his anticipations seem to be justified by facts. In a number of cases, Temperance Societies have been formed at various military posts, and with the most cheering results.

From one of them, a correspondent writes, "Ardent spirit had been, as was customary, dealt out to the soldiers. The consequence was, the majority were in a state of degradation, and were going the broad road to ruin, as fast as the wheels of time, and the ruinous consequences of irregular living, would carry them. About one fourth, on an average, were unable to do duty on account of drunkenness; which caused sickness, punishments, and desertions, not a few. In consequence of the visits and efforts of individuals, a change has taken place, so great, that the officers

APPENDIX, H.

cheerfully acknowledge, that the Lord hath done it. One hundred and sixty-nine, out of two hundred and ten soldiers, signed a petition to have no ardent spirit brought to the garrison. The petition was granted. With their grog-money, they have purchased a library of more than five hundred volumes; and it is now a shame for any man to drink or be drunken. The Sabbath is spent in reading and attending public worship. The Sabbath school is taught by the officers and others, and conducted in an orderly and a useful manner."

The regulation above referred to, adopted by the war departmeut, together with the remarks upon it of a gentleman connected with the army, and of distinguished medical gentlemen, will be found in the Appendix ;* and should sutlers and all others be proLibited from furnishing ardent spirits, and the troops from purchasing them, the result to the army and to the country would be in the highest degree salutary. It would prevent a great portion of all the desertions and courts-martial; of sickness and premature deaths; and would save annually more than half a million of dollars.

The use of ardent spirit has done more than every thing else to deteriorate the character of the soldier, and unfit him for the defence of his country. And so long as the cause is continued, whether it is kept in operation by the government or by individuals, the effect can never be done away.

The Secretary of the Navy also expressed his conviction, that the use which is made of ardent spirit is one of the greatest curses; and declared his intention to recommend a change with regard to the navy. A distinguished officer gave it as his opinion, that nine tents of all the difficulties which the cfficers have with the men arise from ardent spirits; and expressed his strong conviction, from what he had witnessed on board his own ship, and others, which had made the experiment, of the practicability and great utility of entire abstinence throughout the navy. He said, "If Congress would pass a law, prohibiting the use of ardent spirit in the navy, and giving to the men the value of it in money, there would be no difficulty; and it would be one of the greatest blessings that could be conferred upon them." There is now a provision that all who will voluntarily relinquish it, shall be allowed six cents per ration, as a substitute. But what is needed is, that the government should cease to furnish it for any.

On board the United States sloop of war Falmouth, in her late cruise, seventy of the men abstained entirely from the use of ardent spirit; and between forty and fifty on board the Brandywine; and they were among the most healthy, cheerful and orderly in the

ship. "During the cruise," said the chaplain, "I never knew a complaint against one of them; and the total disuse of spirit is increasing in the navy generally. The inquiry, Can seamen advantageously and comfortably dispense with spirituous liquors, while at sea?' is satisfactorily answered, by a cloud of witnesses. Both in our navy and in our merchant ship, the question is at rest." A later communication, from the Mediterranean squadron, states, "That, out of the whole ship's company of the frigate Brandywine, amounting to four hundred and eighty-six souls, only one hundredi and sixty men drew their grog."

Since January 1st, 1830, more than one hundred and fifty vessels have sailed from the port of Boston, which do not carry ardent spirit; and it is believed, that there are now afloat on the ocean, more than four hundred of this description. The longest and most difficult voyages are made without it; and greatly to the health, comfort and safety of the men. Of seven hundred sailors, who have called for a supply of books, at one office, more than two hundred abstain from the use of spirituous liquors; and should this course be adopted by all seafaring men, it would prevent, according to the opinion of experienced navigators, more than half of all the shipwrecks on the ocean.

A captain, who had just arrived from Europe, said to our Secretary, "I took seven men from a wreck just before my arrival, in a state of almost utter starvation. When wrecked, they took a keg of whiskey, but never thought of victuals; and had it not been for a timely discovery, they must all have perished. And this habit of drinking is the cause of a great portion of all the shipwrecks. The moment sailors become frightened, they begin to drink, soon despair, give up all for lost, and drink till they are lost. Had they held on, and not touched the poison, they had out-rode the storm, and been safe."

So say the facts. A vessel, lately coming from Virginia to New York, with a number of passengers on board, was overtaken with a storm, which raged with great violence, and continued a long time. All the sailors on board who drank ardent spirit, from intemperance, fatigue, or despair, gave up, and ceased to labor. But one man on board drank no ardent spirit; and although he, with the rest, had buffeted the storm, he took the helm, and stood for hours after the others had ceased to make exertion; and the whole crew were saved. Had it not been for him, long before the storm abated, they had all probably been at the bottom of the ocean.

Said a distinguished navigator, "The great day of account will bear terrible witness, when the sea shall give up the dead that are in it, of the vast and unsuspected extent of the sacrifice of life among seamen, from shipwrecks, and other catastrophes occasioned by drunkenness. One distressful instance, among the numbers that