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BACCHUS.

DIVISION THE FIRST.

progress of time, however, new and unlawful sources of enjoyment were discovered, luxurious customs began to prevail, intoxicating liquors were produced, diseases were generated, and vicious habits followed in their train.

Luxury, in its early approaches, has, in general, been characterized by its slow and insinuating progress. Virtuous habits gradually yield to the forms and practices of sensual gratification. A deterioration of the moral sense, invariably follows concessions to sensual indulgence. The history of the nations of antiquity, and in particular of the Greeks and Romans, demonstrates the truth

1 Introductory Observations, &c.-II. Definitions of moderate drinking in various ages of the world. -III. The free use of strong drink by those who denominate themselves sober and temperate members of society.-IV. Difference between me- of this statement. dicinal substances and articles of diet.-V. Distinction between intemperance and drunkenThe effects of strong drink were known ness. VI. Opinions of eminent medical men on to the ancients as inimical to freedom and the physical evils consequent on moderate national prosperity. To prevent intem

drinking.-VII. Definitions of temperance.-VIII.

The USE of a bad thing distinguished from the perance, laws were framed against the imABUSE of a good thing.-IX. Characteristics of portation of wine. The ancient Suevi, for intemperance.-1. The use of intoxicating liquors example, prohibited its introduction into an acquired habit.-2. Fascinating influence of inebriating liquors.-3. Intemperance not contheir country, believing it to be pernicious to fined to climate.-4. Intemperance common to the vigour, both of the body and of the savage and civilized nations-to the illiterate mind.* Similar laws are found among the and the educated.-5. Effects of strong drink primitive regulations of other nations.

on various temperaments.-6. Modifications produced by various kinds of intoxicating drinks.7. Changes effected in the temperament by the use of inebriating liquors.

I. THE term INTEMPERANCE, according to its general signification, is indefinite and unsatisfactory. In the present day, however, it is almost exclusively and universally employed in reference to excess in the use of intoxicating liquors.

Until influenced by impure motives, these sanative enactments were rigorously enforced. As an increased taste for luxury, however, began to prevail, the primitive aversion to wine gradually wore away. The deadly enemy became a cherished friend. Those admirable laws which had once been the safeguards of national virtue and prosperity were finally modified, relaxed, and virtually annulled. The consequences were degradation and ruin.

The limits of lawful indulgence have, in all ages of the world, been variously defined. In a primeval state, man had few wants. It is manifest, that in every period of the His occupations were simple in their cha-world, the prevailing notions concerning the racter and influence. The produce of the nature of temperance and intemperance, field, and the fruit of the trees yielded him have arisen and taken their tone, from the suitable nourishment; water supplied him moral condition of the existing age. The with a refreshing and innoxiously inspirit- inclinations and appetites of mankind ining beverage. Lucretius thus adverts to the simple food of primitive times :— "Quæ sol atque imbres dederant, quod terra crearet, Sponte suâ, satis id placebat pectora donum."

In this state of virtuous simplicity, man had few temptations to lead him astray.

B

sensibly influence their opinions, and from such a source, has the world too frequently

* Vinurn ad se omninò importari non sinunt, quòd ea re ad laborem ferendum remollescere Homines,

atque effeminari arbitrantur.-CESAR DE BELL In Gall. lib. 4.

derived its notions of the subject under con- |of wine. Dr. Trotter, who adverts to this sideration. circumstance with somewhat of astonishThe language of our poets precisely ac- ment, records it as an honour to the British cords with the popular and crude notions of Navy, that in his time, the commanders in the times. The moderate use of intoxicating chief never allowed more at their tables than liquors (a vague and unsatisfactory mode of half a bottle to each guest.* expression), receives unqualified commendation-excess alone incurs blame. In the words of one of our most valued writers, they advocate

The writings of distinguished authors of the present day, assign curious and certainly untenable limits, to what some persons are pleased to denominate moderate drinking.

“The rule of not too much—by temperance taught." Dr. Sigmond, Professor of Materia Medica

Every inordinate cup is unblessed, and the ingredient is a devil."

Armstrong, sometimes denominated the Poet of Health, exclaims

to the Royal Medico-Botanical Society, in
his Essay on Tea, recommends to those who
are "engaged in occupations which do not
demand any very extraordinary exertions,
either of body or mind," "a gentle stimulus
of three or four glasses of wine during the
"" a practice which
great meal of the day;'
he further states does not "trespass on the
limits of moderation," and is moreover
productive of a general state of health as
well as longevity.
"After the meal," says

"We curse not wine;-the vile excess we blame." Rarely do any of our writers refer to the nature of these liquors, and the tendency to excess which inseparably connects itself with moderate indulgence. Unfortunately, inthe same writer, "when some little time deed, for the interests of mankind, the effu- has elapsed, two or three glasses of port sions of not a few of our poets too frequently produce no ill effects!!" &c. It is but contain sentiments at variance with the sober realities of experience, and too little proper, however, to state that opinions like those propounded by Dr. Sigmond, alike in accordance with the pure principles of unphilosophical and contrary to experience, morals and religion. are less entertained by medical men in the II. Democritus wrote a volume, with the design to show that no person ought to present day than they were at a more remote exceed four or six glasses of wine. Epictetus period, and ere long, it is. to be hoped, that as the light of truth diffuses its influence, advances the following opinion: :-"That man is a drunkard who takes more than they will be altogether discarded from the medical profession. three glasses; and though he be not drunk, he hath exceeded moderation."*

Panyasis, however, a Greek writer, allows indulgence in two cups only; those, he remarks, who proceed to a third cup, dedicate it to lust and strife.†

Athenæus preserves the following verses
of Eubulus, a writer of Greek Comedy.
Bacchus thus speaks:
:-

"Only three cups for prudent men I mix:
For health the one, which first they quaff: the second
For love and pleasure; and the third for sleep;
Which they, who are by reason's name distinguish'd,

No sooner drink, but home they bend their steps.
A fourth would ill become us, 'tis the cup
Of contumely; the unseemly din

Of uproar marks the fifth; debauch the sixth;
Blows and black eyes the seventh; with the eighth
In comes the constable; the ninth engenders
Fell rancour; but the tenth is madness 'self,
Whose desperate fury prompts to deeds of blood."

The formation of Temperance Societies in this country and in America, in the present century, forms a striking illustration. Many of these institutions had merely an ephemeral existence. Of those established, one class had for its object the advancement of temperance, by inculcating the moderate use of all kinds of intoxicating liquors. Another class, still in operation, has for its fundamental regulation the moderate use of fermented liquors, but abstinence from ardent spirits. These societies evidence the existence, not only of erroneous notions concerning the nature and effects of intoxicating liquors, but the very general and deep-rooted appetite which exists for artificial and stimulating drinks.

The members of one of these short-lived societies were required to pledge themselves In comparatively modern times, striking to abstain altogether from the use of ardent examples are presented of the morals of the spirits, and to confine themselves to the use age, influencing considerations concerning of "one quart of beer, porter, or ale, or three the nature of temperance. A society, for glasses of wine per day," which quantity instance, established about the sixteenth was to be so partitioned as not to be taken century, for the promotion of temperance, at one and the same time. The secretary had its fundamental law constituted on the of this society, states that this pledge was principle, that none of its members should instituted with the view to yield to the drink more than fourteen glasses of wine prejudices of those persons who advocate daily. A certain general, in one of his the moderate (!) use of intoxicating liquors. regulations, ordered, that no officer who III. An examination of these facts, irredined at his table should exceed two bottles sistibly forces the conviction upon all unprejudiced minds, that the inclinations and

* Fragments, No. 3. Carter's Transl. 1758. p. 112. + Archæologia Græca. Vol. 2, p. 396.

* Trotter's Essay on Drunkenness, p. 157.