made by the above notices is not in accordance with the facts. Dr. Beecher's sermons had no influence in the formation of the American Temperance Society. It was not then known, by those who formed the American Temperance Society, that those sermons had been preached, though, after they were published, in 1827, they exerted a powerful and extensive influence in aiding its operations.

F. (p. 23.)

"It ought to be mentioned, to the honor of the bar of Berkshire, that they have, I believe unaniinously, entered into a compact which they strictly execute, to promote the cause of temperance by example and otherwise. They have banished all ardent spirits from their houses at home, and their lodgings when at court, making literally no use of them. They have also discarded the use of wine, which, at first, I thought might be carrying the thing too far, because extremes generally cause revulsions; but, upon hearing their reasons, I am satisfied they are right. They do not object to wine, as, of itself, used in moderation, hurtful; but the use of it in a great measure destroys the power of example, and tends much to defeat the effect of any remonstrance they may have occasion to make to those who are destroying themselves and families by hard drinking. The poor man, when urged to refrain, is apt to retort, Why, if we could afford to drink wine, as you do, we certainly would not drink rum; but we must have something, as well as you; and rum is the cheapest thing we can get.' It is necessary to show such people that there is no need of any stimulants." (Judge Parker's letter to Dr. Warren.)

G. (p. 32.)

ry Guise, of Stark county, Ohio, was, on the 12th of Octo ber, 1830, elected to the office of sheriff of the county. His election was contested on the ground of his having treated the electors with ardent spirits. The following, delivered by Judge Hallock, is the decision of the court :

"The Court here find, that the said Guise, on the 12th day of October, 1830, it being the day of holding the election in Stark, for sheriff, at the tavern of Henry Husser, in the town of Canton, in said county, did give, by himself and agent, to divers electors

of said county, between two and three gallons of spirituous liquors, to wit, whiskey, brandy, and rum, with the intent to procure the election of said Guise to the office of sheriff of said county; he, then and there, being a candidate for said office, at said election.

"Whereupon the Court do now here adjudge the said election of said Guise to said office void; and the office of sheriff of said county vacant." (Pitts. Her.)

(Report of the Secretary of War, Feb. 22, 1830.)

Ardent spirit should be discontinued, in the army, as a part of the daily rations. I know from observation and experience, when in the command of the troops, the pernicious effects arising from the practice of regular, daily issues of whiskey. If the recruit joins the service with an unvitiated taste, which is not unfrequently the case, the daily privilege and the uniform example soon induce him to taste, and then to drink his allowance. The habit being acquired, he, too, soon becomes an habitual toper." (Adjutant Gen. Jones's statement.)

"The proceedings of courts-martial are alone sufficient to prove that the crime of intoxication almost always precedes, and is often the immediate cause of desertion. And I am, moreover, convinced, that most of the soldiers, who enter the army as sober men, acquire habits of intemperance principally by falling into the practice of drinking their gill, or half gill, of whiskey, every morning. I have known sober recruits, who would often throw away their morning allowance, but whose constant intercourse with tipplers would soon induce them to taste a little, and, in time, a little more, until they became habitual drunkards. I am therefore decidedly of opinion, that the whiskey part of the ration does, slowly, but surely, lead men into those intemperate and vicious habits, out of which grow

desertions and most other crimes. In support of this opinion, 1 will only advert to one other document. It is the subjoined extract of a letter from one of the most excellent and exemplary officers of the army, which contains little or nothing more than the verbal statements which I have received upon the same subject, from many other meritorious officers." (Maj. Gen. Gaines's statement.)

"I have served extensively as the recorder of regimental courtsmartial, and do not hesitate to say, that five out of six cases of the crimes which are proved before these courts, have resulted from intemperance; and nine years' experience in the army has convinced me, that no inconsiderable proportion of the desertions occur in consequence of intemperate drinking, either of the deserters themselves, or others; I say others, because bad treatment from petty officers, while under the influence of ardent spirits, has caused many to become disgusted with the service, and finally to desert.

"I have known cases like the following, and think them not uncommon. A non-commissioned officer, either inebriated or not, oppresses a young soldier, who complains to his commander; the subject is investigated by him; and the witnesses upon whom the complainant relied to sustain his charge, either from fear of the displeasure of their non-commissioned officer, or from being bribed to hold their peace, by whiskey, "know nothing." The petty officer produces his witnesses, bought with spirits, to exculpate himself, and perhaps cast blame upon the complainant. The accused, thus cleared, is prompted by revenge to render the situa tion of the soldier as irksome as possible, who, despairing of redress, deserts." (Lieut. Gallagher's statement.)

I. (p. 34.)

Letter from Thomas Sewall, M. D., of Washington, to John C. Warren, M. D., of Boston.

DEAR SIR,

WASHINGTON CITY, December 29, 1830.

You will rejoice to learn that the cause of temperance, for which so much has been accomplished at the North, is extending its influence over the South and West. For several weeks past, the Rev. Dr. Edwards, General Agent of the American Temperance Society, has been with us, and has given a powerful impulse to the subject in this District. He has proceeded on the plan of addressing the different religious congregations, and of formning a

Temperance Society in each. He has already constituted several on this principle. Last Sabbath evening, he delivered a discourse to a large and crowded audience, in the Foundery Chapel in this city, embracing the head of the War Department, the MajorGeneral of the army, and other distinguished citizens and strangers. On this occasion, he came forth with an array of facts and arguments altogether overwhelming, to which the audience listened for more than an hour with the most intense interest. At the close of the discourse, he proposed that a Temperance Society should be formed. A paper was passed through the congregation, and in a few moments upwards of one hundred names were enrolled; and, what we regard as highly important, no door was left open for the use of ardent spirit as a medicine,-no permission to use it when indisposed. The following is the form of the pledge given:"Believing that the use of ardent spirits is not only needless, but hurtful; that it is the cause of forming intemperate appetites and habits; and that, while it is continued, the evils of intemperance cannot be prevented; we therefore agree that we will not use them, that we will not provide them as an article of entertainment, and that we will, in all suitable ways, discountenance the use of them in the community."

While we are convinced that there is no case in which ardent spirit is indispensable, and for which there is not an adequate substitute, we are equally assured, that, so long as there is an exception allowed, and men are permitted to use it as a medicine, so long we shall have invalids and drinkers among us. Only let our profession take a decided stand upon this point, and intemperance will soon vanish from our country.

Among other cheering indications which present themselves, it gives me pleasure to be enabled to state, that the members of Congress generally manifest a deep interest in the cause, and avail themselves of every opportunity to procure such publications on the subject as are calculated to impart information or excite to action, and are disseminating these among their constituents. The Secretary of War and the Major General of the army appear fully sensible of the evils of intemperance, as known to exist among our soldiers, and are ready to adopt every suitable measure to eradicate it. An order has already been issued for suspending the rations of ardent spirit to the soldiers, in order that a fair experiment may be made, to ascertain whether its disuse in the army be not practicable, an experiment which, I doubt not, will demonstrate the utility of the measure, and constitute a new era in the history of military life.

DR. WARREN.

Very truly, your friend,

THOMAS SEWALL.

Remarks by Dr. Warren.

The information contained in Dr. Sewall's letter appears to me to be of great importance to the morals and happiness of our country. If the heads of departments and members of Congress take an interest in discouraging the use of ardent spirits, the amount of misery which will be prevented, must be great beyond calculation. -The suspension of the rations of spirituous liquors to the army is a measure that may be very useful. Its good effects will, I fear, be much diminished by the permission to sutlers to sell spirits to the soldiery, under permission of an officer. The consequence of this arrangement will be, that come officers will grant this permission, while others will refuse it; and in this way discontent will arise, and the most valuable officers in the army become unpopular and obnoxious.-The way seems to be open for a total prohibition; and certainly an order to this effect would greatly increase the efficiency of the army. The opinion of great bodies of physicians, given in the most solemn manner, is unfavorable to the use of spirits; and 1 cannot find language strong enough to repeat and impress the fact, that these articles do not give strength, but weakness. A momentary flush of power may be excited under their first impulse; but this is soon followed by a moral and physical failure of strength, and a loss of that steady, unyielding courage necessary to the support of a regular engagement.

The necessity of using ardent spirits in medicine is extremely limited. Now and then a solitary instance presents itself, in which there seems to be some reason for preferring alcohol to other articles. In the greater number of cases of disease requiring the use of stimulant liquids, wine is to be preferred to alcohol; and the importance of this is much less than was thought a few years since.

In the year 1827, the Mass. Medical Society passed a resolution to discourage the use of alcohol and its preparations in the treatment of diseases. Since this was done, the use of brandy as a medicine has been greatly diminished; and the spirituous preparations or tinctures are almost banished from the prescriptions of the physician, excepting where the quantity employed is so minute as to be of no consideration in regard to its alcoholic properties. A highly respectable apothecary stated to me that, since the passage of the resolution alluded to, the amount of tinctures sold by him had diminished in the proportion of five parts out of six.

The reservation of the use of alcohol for cases of sickness appears to be of little importance in a medical way, and, if it leads to practical abuses such a reservation should not be made.