It was the only way in which he could properly acknowledge his obligation, or express civility and gratitude, in conformity to the manners of that class of people to which he belonged."

We have stated that all drinking usages are debts of honour; the regulations, therefore, of Temperance Societies that do not reach the point of honour, will not perfectly meet and cover the whole case of this country. The arguments on the evils of inebriation may be most cogent, and it may be demonstrated that ardent spirits are by no means a defence against cold, heat, wet, or fatigue, but the reverse; all this, and a hundred times more than this, may be enforced; yea, it may be absolutely and positively and unfeignedly admitted by the auditors; yet the point of honour not having been satisfactorily adjusted, a usage intervening next day, will neutralize the most weighty reasons that may have been heartily acceded to the night before, at a Temperance meeting. Let us attend for a moment to an analogous case. Perhaps there are few situations, in which more solemn or satisfying argument can be used, than with a friend who has become implicated in some honourable mesh and noose of fashionable life, which may draw into a duel. It can with truth be represented to him that wounds, blood, and decrepitude for life, may be in the sequel. It can be unanswerably demanded, what is to become of his amiable wife and beloved children, who are dependent on his professional exertions for nurture and maintenance? Or, if his own sad case do not move him, will not the mournful state of his

adversary prevail upon a generous mind—a man with ten young boys and girls, and an estate, perhaps, critically involved; a man, whose premature death may all around strike terror, and entail disaster? And if these mere earthly claims penetrate the very heart, what shall be thought of the vindictive frown of Heaven? In short, in few cases can argument of more genuine weight and temper be brought to bear than in this; and no man is, in fact, more assured of its truth than the party himself to whom it may be directed. But it does not reach his case the point of honour is unredressed; he goes forth with all his convictions weighing on his soul, receives the fire of his antagonist, and dies. In like manner, all the arguments on the subject of temperance, reach not the case, to whatever height of validity the expostulatory reasoning may attain. The imperative usage intervenes, and like a shield in the hand of a dexterous" Athleta," turns aside with ease the keenest and most barbed arrows of conviction.

CHAPTER XIX.

DRINKING USAGES COMMON TO THE THREE
KINGDOMS CONTINUED.

Maltreatment for non-compliance with Usage-Principle of Imitation as a Rule of Conduct-Trivialness of Sacrifice proves unfavourable to Anti-usage-Small Combination sufficient to destroy Usage-Circumstances generally favourable to Abrogation -Courtesy will not thereby be infringed-Case of a Strike to enforce Usage-The artificial Connexion with Liquor must be disputed-Teetotal Pledge not to "give or offer"-Plans of Antiusage Operations-Collateral Combinations-General Estimate of the Case-Stated Prayer-Conclusion.

WE might have entered greatly more at large into the unworthy treatment which those receive, who refuse to conform to the absurd and dangerous customs which have been detailed; but regret our deficiency in this respect the less, that we continue assured that it is only a slight investigation that is wanted to satisfy every intelligent person on this head: and we have had constantly before us the fear of tediousness, being aware that we live in a generation who will not endure prolixity, and who for the most part prefer skimming to scanning. In our endeavours to condense, therefore, we must have often been unintelligible and obscure, and to

brevity may perhaps have sacrificed perspicuity. The author of "Will and Jean" has said

"What! break through custom? at whose stern command
All bend the knee in this obsequious land;
Who, armed with terrors, lays down stated rules,
That fetter wise men equal with weak fools."

Total abstinence, which is the only safety of the drunkard, is interrupted almost every hour of the day, by the intrusion and interference of some of these stated customs; and these it is falsely judged impossible to avoid or controvert. The fatal usages are supposed to be natural evils, to which Britain and Ireland are destined, and, as we have already said, to predominate like the thunderbolt and the tempest, which no power can turn aside. Whereas, when men's minds are duly prepared for it, there is nothing more easy to commute and change; indeed, as we have before observed, nothing is so changeable as custom.

There are two motives which may induce a community to adopt particular usages; the first, a consideration of their propriety and usefulness; the last, the sheer imitation of their metropolitan leaders of fashion. In such matters as dress, or the pronunciation of language, no great moral harm can result from following the last ground of action, although not one of very dignified rank; and, therefore, we by no means would propose to head a rebellion to determine the wide or narrow sleeves of the ladies, or the swallow-tails of the other sex. We leave the public to settle with the artist and statuary, how far our ever-changing costume corresponds to the philosophy of embellishment, or to the line of beauty. But in such a critical subject

as drinking usage, we must be seriously excused, though we resist the gliding into the submissive principle of mere imitation. It is apparent, that here the case is worthy of the admission of a higher element; and in the particular instance before us, it does happen that the modes of the supreme haut ton, of the most refined and courteous portion of the nation, are favourable to non-drinking usage. But it is singular, that the very minuteness and inconsiderableness of the specific changes that we propose should be prejudicial to our case; and that the trivialness of the sacrifice we demand should militate against general acquiescence in our terms. There are men who would freely risk life and fortune, were they fully persuaded that such an offering, however costly, would prove the cure of national intemperance; but we have no such exaction to require-nothing so interesting or sublime.

When the late ruler of France lay encamped at Boulogne, encircled with the wide array of the columns and divisions of the army of invasion; all English hearts were alive to a species of joyful danger, and waited with throbbing delight till the French should first put foot upon our shores. The peril of the case proved its grand allurement

"Rous'd at the menace, straight the haughty isle
Took fire, and vibrating with proud alarms,
Swells every heart, and stirs the very soil:

And the bright sun applauds a realm in arms.

"One voice, one soul! and darkly now has frown'd
Majestic Nore; old English counties wield
The might of centuries; with rapt'rous bound
The Highland glens rush to th' indignan field."