The influence of intoxicating liquors on national prosperity, deserves the most profound attention of the political economist. It is inseparably connected with the stability and welfare of nations. The subject has, indeed, more or less, occupied the attention of philosophical moralists, but unfortunately, until a very recent period, it did not receive that degree of even local attention which its vast importance demanded. Indeed, the British Government has never actively interfered for the suppression of this vice; but on the contrary, the immense revenue arising from this iniquitous source, has operated as a passport to the patronage of the legislature, in favour of the more extensive consumption of those pernicious poisons.

Louis XII. of France, was the monarch who first allowed spirits to be manufactured in that kingdom on a large scale. The consequences to the nation were so terrible, that in twenty-two years afterward, Francis, his successor, was necessitated, for the safety of his subjects, to enact severe laws for the suppression of drunkenness. Sweden presents another instance of this kind. Previously to the year 1783, that nation had been comparatively free from the evils arising from the use of strong drink. In that year, however, their king Gustavus, to increase the revenue, not only permitted the manufacture of ardent spirits, but actively encouraged the establishment of houses for its sale, in all the villages and towns of his kingdom. The object he had in view was attained, but the consequences soon became frightful in the extreme. Crime, poverty, disease and mortality, so fearfully increased, that the same king was eventually obliged to pass severe enactments to restrain the use of what previously he had been so active in promoting. Had these measures not been put into operation, the kingdom of Sweden was in imminent danger not only of universal demoralization, but actually of becoming extinct among the nations of the earth.

The history of Ireland, during the last century, forms another most lamentable example of the same awful evil. In the sixteenth century, the sale of alcohol was discountenanced as "a drink, nothing profitable to be daily drunken and used." In the early part of the eighteenth century, however, through mistaken views of national weal, great encouragement was given to the manufacture and sale of ardent spirits. The consequences of this short-sighted and erroneous policy are manifest at the present time. The habit has become national, and many years may elapse,

pregnant with every kind of misery to that unhappy country, before the evil can be effectually eradicated.*

It can scarcely be expected that a people will long continue virtuous, when not only the means of sensual indulgence are placed within their reach, but also inducements to it, are actually held out by the rulers of the land. A high authority has thus expressed his opinion on the system of licensing houses, for the vending of intoxicating liquors, and by that means increasing the facilities for their sale: "I am aware of the law, but am decidedly hostile to the revenue acting upon it-the interest of which is, to facilitate the sale of spirits under proper regulations."

In 1803, the recorder of Dublin, in his examination before the Privy Council, (after the partial insurrection which took place that year,) made some remark on the consequences of the excessive use of spirituous liquors. Its importance to the revenue was urged, "Of what use," he replied, “is that revenue, if it produces an insurrection every twenty or thirty years."

The consideration of this important subject leads to a general inquiry into the real sources of national prosperity. The accumulation of what is called wealth, certainly does not constitute national prosperity. Industry and health are essential to the acquisition of riches. These qualifications moreover, are, in a great degree, dependant on a certain amount of knowledge or skill. In addition to which, mankind are endowed with feelings termed motives, which spur them on in their various enterprises. National prosperity also more or less depends on other causes which may subsequently come under our consideration, such as security

But a few months has elapsed since these remarks were penned, and in that period, more than a million of Irishmen have pledged themselves to abstain from all intoxicating drinks, and not 100 have as yet been known to break it! But a year ago, and Ireland consumed 23,000,000 gallons of ardent spirits annually, at an expense of $40,000,000. She had 40,000 spiritshops, and 2,500,000 of her inhabitants were without the means of subsistence. But a revolution has taken place, such as is unknown in the annals of time-a nation has literally been born in a day. The Rev. Theobald Mathew, a Roman Catholic clergyman has been the honoured instrument in the hand of Providence of working this mighty change. Within a few weeks, 76,000 in Limerick, 60,000 in Dublin, 50,000 at Gort, 12,000 at Tullee, 50,000 at Wexford, received the pledge, and so on in proportion through the prin cipal cities of Ireland. To show that the pledge is not easily violated, Father Mathew lately stated in a speech in Dublin, that at the races at Thurles, a gentleman went round the course with a purse containing 30 sovereigns, and offered it to any tee-totaller who would break his pledge, but no person could be found to do it.

Those best acquainted with the Irish character, predict that the reforma tion will be thorough and permanent, AM. ED.

of property, when acquired, and the possession of individual and national freedom. All of these exercise greater or less degrees of influence on the prosperity and happiness of nations, and form an interesting as well as important subject of investigation.

1. National Industry and Wealth.

Intemperance has ever been ruinous in its consequences to national industry. On careful investigation, it will be found that national idleness and poverty have been the uniform concomitants of free indulgence in the use of intoxicating liquors.* The injurious effects of intemperance on industry were found by the late Parliamentary investigation to be "extinction of DISPOSITION for practising any useful art or industrious occupation." Such indeed will be found to be the universal tendency of this vice. Those who indulge in strong drink, have little inclination, or even capacity for improvement. Selfishness and apathy predominate in the character of the drunkard, and feelings of amendment, however frequently they may arise, are quickly dissipated in the love of sensual gratification.

Loss of time is another lamentable result of indulgence in intoxicating liquors. It is impossible to estimate the amount and value of this loss. Time is the means by which labour can be accomplished, and money earned, and is therefore the loss of labour and of wealth.

A medical writer in the "Christian Observer," has made some calculations, by which he attempts to prove that the drinking of one glass of wine only in a day, is attended, on an average, with the loss of one hour of time. If it were possible to calculate the value of all the loss of time thus occasioned, there is reason to believe that it would amount to a sum sufficient to prevent much, if not the whole of the poverty which at present exists in the land.

Loss of labour is a natural consequence of the vice of intemperance. Wealth has been said, by an eminent writer, to consist of all that man desires as useful or delightful

* Drunkenness is the parent of idleness; for no man can apply himself to the business of his trade, either while he is drinking, or when he is drunk. Part of his time is spent in jollity, and part in imbecility; when he is a midst his companions, he is too gay to think of the consequences of neglecting his employment, and when he has overburdened his stomach with liquor, he is too feeble and too stupid to follow it. Poverty is the offspring of idleness, as idleness of drunkenness; the drunkard's work is little, and his expenses are great, and therefore he must soon see his family distressed, and his substance reduced to nothing.-Johnson's Debates, 1742-3.

to him.* Labour is especially the property of the workingman; everything, therefore, which injures this property, must very greatly impair the condition of the working classes. Intemperance not only causes positive loss of time, but induces physical debility, and renders its victims unfit for active and continued exertion. "The loss of productive labour, in every department of occupation, through intemperance, is equal to one day in six throughout the kingdom, or to one million pounds sterling out of every six that are produced;" this, however, appears to be a small portion only of the actual loss which the nation sustains from the use of intoxicating liquors, an amount, which, from a moderate calculation, "may be fairly estimated at little short of fifty million pounds sterling per annum."‡

Loss of capital is another result of intemperance. Capital, or rather money, is the proceeds or fruit of labour. "Labour was the first price, the original purchase-money which was paid for all things; it was neither by gold, nor by silver, but by labour, that all the wealth of the world was originally purchased."§ Labour procures wealth, but economy increases it.

Capital is that by which mankind lay the foundation of additional wealth. The use of intoxicating liquors, with few exceptions, prevents the accumulation of capital. To the poor man capital is in particular to be desired, as a

Lord Lauderdale's Inquiry into the Nature and Origin of Public Wealth, chap. ii.

Previous to the commencement of the Temperance Reformation in this country, in 1828, the annual cost of the intoxicating liquids consumed, was estimated by good judges to amount to one hundred millions of dollars. If to this be added, the taxes and expenditures, consequent on their use, the expense incurred annually by the use of alcoholic drinks, must have reached 150 millions of dollars. This has probably been reduced more than two-thirds, with a correspondent diminution of crime, poverty, and suffering. According to the certificates of the clerks of the boards of supervisors of the fifty-five counties in the state of New York, as published by Mr. Chipman, there was raised by county tax for the support of pauperism and criminal justice, six hundred and fifty-three thousand, seven hundred and eighty-five dollars; four-fifths of which was ascertained to be attributed to intemperance. At this rate, the tax for the whole United States would amount to four millions of dollars annually, exclusive of town paupers, and private charity to drunken paupers, and their helpless wives and children: nor does it include state prisons, houses of refuge, orphan asylums, &c. The sums appropriated from the public treasury bear but a small proportion to what is given in private charity. And after all, we can never estimate the amount of wretchedness, disease, poverty, and death occasioned by alcohol; and were the sum total to be stated, probably but few persons would be found to believe it.-Aм. ED.

Parliamentary Report, p. 5, 6. § Smith's "Wealth of Nations."

means of elevating his condition in life. If the drunkard has at times an inclination to increase his worldly possessions, his general improvidence deprives him of those advantages which he would otherwise possess."

Loss of employment is a common effect of intemperate habits, and operates in various ways in producing national poverty and distress. Crime is the frequent result of poverty, occasioned by intemperance. In a vitiated state of the morals, the means of enjoyment are too generally attained by unlawful expedients.t

The loss of skill and intellect will subsequently be taken into consideration as materially influencing national welfare. All of these causes, not to mention others of minor importance, are mutually connected and inseparable in their general results.

The past and present experience of nations, fully testifies the correctness of the facts and views here advanced. The present condition of the inhabitants of Siberia forms a striking instance. The city of Tomsk has a population of about eleven thousand, and is thus described by a recent traveller: "With few exceptions, the city is very mean, and the inhabitants wretchedly poor; the natural indolence of the people, and their being greatly addicted to drunkenness, tending, of course, to increase the evil; for every sensible man knows, that strong drink, instead of drowning the ills of life, only adds to them, and is in itself the greatest evil of all, because it leads to so many others. Throughout every part of Siberia, the evil is prevalent, but in Tomsk it is carried to the greatest excess, a considerable quantity of spirituous liquors being made in the neighbourhood, and forming one of the principal articles of commerce. Though greatly fatigued, and in need of rest, the wretchedness of the place made us glad to pursue our dreary journey."‡

* The improvidence of the English operative in the beginning of the eigh teenth century, is thus described by De Foe. The description is equally ap plicable in the present day: "They are the most lazy-diligent nation in the world. There is nothing more frequent than for an Englishman to work till he has got his pockets full of money, and then to go and be idle, or perhaps drink, till it is all gone. I once paid six or seven men together on a Saturday night, the least ten shillings, and some thirty shillings, for work, and have seen them go with it directly to the alehouse, be there till Monday, spend it every penny, and run in debt to boot, though all of them had wives and children. From hence comes poverty, parish charges and beggary."

† Dr. Crumpe, of Dublin (1793,) speaks of intemperance as one of the "most serious obstructions to industry and employment."-Essay on the Best Means of Providing Employment for the People.

Travels in Asia, by Captain Blisset, R. N. p. 124.