spersed with encomiums on wine, and their conduct frequently exhibited a pitiable want of moral correctness and strength. Ion, the tragic poet, according to Elian and Euripides, was noted for vinous indulgence. Philoxenus declared that he longed for a neck like a crane, that he might the longer enjoy the taste of wine, of which he was immoderately fond. Ennius, and Alceus, rank also in the class of notorious topers. The former poet died of the gout induced by habits of gross intemperance. Timocreon, of Rhodes, a comic poet, also was addicted to the same debasing vice. Athenæus informs us, that the following epitaph was inscribed on his tomb : "Multa bibens, et multa vorans, mala denique dicens The lays of Anacreon* are chaunted by every votary of Bacchus, and the verses of Homer (who is described as having been temperate in his habits) teem with the praises of wine. The poets in ancient days are said to have met together once a year, in the month of March, to celebrate a festival in honour of Bacchus and wine. Ovid, in particular, alludes to this practice :— "Illa dies hæc est, qua te celebrare poetæ, Si modo non fallunt tempora, Bacche, solent, Inter quos memini, dum me mea fata sinebant, Non invisa tibi pars ego sepæ fui."—OVID, Trist. v. 3. It is unnecessary to refer to additional examples in illustration of the present position; those already adduced are sufficient proofs of intellectual degradation, where we should have expected the highest examples of mental cultivation, issuing in the purest principles of moral rectitude. On the contrary, however, it is evident that the amount of moral evil influence, thus exhibited by men who were looked upon as superior beings, must have been productive of pernicious results among the inferior ranks of mankind. In more recent times, men of intellectual eminence and mental strength, have displayed a similar fondness for strong drink, and want of moral restraint. Pitt, according to a recent writer, would retire in the midst of a warm debate, and indulge to the extent of a * Pausanias informs us, that when at Athens, he saw the statue of Anacreon which represented the poet as drunk and singing. couple of bottles of wines. "The quantity of wine that would have closed the oratory of so professed a Bacchanalian as Sheridan, scarcely excited the son of Chathain."* His friend, Lord Melville, (Henry Dundas) was also much addicted to vinous indulgence. Of Fox, a similar statement may be made. The habits of Sir Richard Steele, Addison,† Porson, Sheridan, and Burns, are too well known to require further detail. To this catalogue of illustrious topers, might be added, if necessary, others distinguished in the pages of modern literature. Those already cited, however, are amply sufficient to establish the point at issue. They present to our notice melancholy examples of exalted genius, closely connected with this most debasing vice, in too many instances, to the utter extinction of moral excellence in their brilliant characters. The influence of intemperance on the character of the literary productions of celebrated men, forms an interesting subject of inquiry. Many writers, both in ancient and in modern times, are described as having composed under the influence of strong drink. Eschylus is said never to have composed but when in a state of intoxication. It is stated, that the imagination of the poet was strong and comprehensive, but disorderly and wild; fruitful in prodigies, but disdaining probabilities.§ His style was peculiarly obscure. Horace thus speaks of Ennius : : Of Alcæus also, it is said, that he never sat down to compose tragedy, but when in a state of intoxication. Horace makes the following bold assertion. It is entitled to rank among other of his poetical fictions: "Nulla placere diu, nec vivere carmina possint, * Rede's Memoir of the Right Hon. George Canning. It is recorded of Addison, that on one occasion, when in company with Voltaire, he drank to such excess as to vomit, on which that French writer remarked in a sarcastic manner-that the only good thing that came out of Addison's mouth in his (Voltaire's) presence was the wine that had gone into it. It is related, that when he composed, his countenance betrayed the greatest ferocity; and, according to one of his scholars, when his Eumenides wer represented, many children died through fear, and several pregnant wollen actually miscarried in the house, at the sight of the horrible masks that were introduced.-Lemprière. § Lemprière, Art. Eschylus. || 1 Ep xix. 7. How far intemperance may have impaired the genius, perverted the morals, and thus influenced the tone of the writings of ancient and modern authors, is a subject well worthy of investigation. Many examples might be adduced from the records of modern times, where eminent writers have composed under the influence of strong drink: Lord Byron presents a remarkable instance.* It may be stated, on the authority of Leigh Hunt, that "Dou Juan" was written under the influence of gin and water.t The influence of strong drink on individuals may be discovered in its effects exhibited in the various active conditions of life. Man was intended to possess feelings of personal and national independence. The demoralizing and impoverishing influence of strong drink, in diminishing from personal independence, may be traced in the innumerable applications for relief from the various charitable institutions of this country. Thousands of intemperate characters in the present day apply to these benevolent establishments, for the support of those families whose wants ought to have been supplied by their parents' own industry, had it not been rendered abortive by habitual intoxication. Were it not for intemperance, few persons, comparatively speaking, would be necessitated to apply for relief from our public charitable institutions, and the various private feeding and clothing associations now in active operation, would, in all probability, be done away with, because the savings of the temperate poor would be reserved for occasions of extraordinary necessity. No state of things can be more dangerous to national welfare, than the decay of personal independence. When men are ordinarily in duced to apply for support to public or private charities, they are in danger from the degradation to which the mind is thereby more or less subjected of losing that spirit of personal freedom, which is both a powerful and honour *Of the gifted but unhappy Byron, Mr. Macauley thus speaks in the Edinburgh Review for 1831: "Byron had fixed his home on the shores of the Adriatic, in the most picturesque and interesting of all cities, beneath the brightest of skies, and by the brightest of seas. He plunged into wild and desperate excesses. His health sank under the effects of his intemperance. His hair turned gray. His food ceased to nourish him; a hectic fever withered him up. It seemed that his body and mind were about to perish together. Midnight draughts of ardent spirits and Rhenish wines had begun to work their ruin of his fine intellect. Shame and sorrow had done the work of seventy years upon his delicate frame. The hand of death was on him; he knew it; and the only wish which he uttered was, that he might die sword in hand."-AM. ED. † Lord Byron and some of his Contemporaries. By Leigh Hunt. able stimulus to industry and perseverance. Let an examination be made of the great mass of persons thus applying for relief, and there is every probability that a large majority, will be found to have been brought to that degrading condition, from the direct or indirect influence of intemperance. Man is evidently intended to be both a benevolent and a social being. His nature requires the endearing bonds of human sympathy and reciprocal aid. Strong drink uniformly exercises a selfish influence over its votaries. It detaches a man as it were from his natural disposition, alienates him from his social attachments and duties, paralyzes his sense of benevolent obligation, and creates a centre of feelings and sympathies in his vitiated affections, purely selfish and personal. A principal source of human happiness in our present state of existence, is to be found in the endearing relations of social and domestic intercourse and enjoyment. A slight review of the effects of intoxicating liquors, will show that their habitual use is opposed to these truly rational and exquisite pleasures. Inebriating liquors not only make man a selfish being, but they form strong inducements for him to seek the pleasures which society affords from home. The irritability of mind occasioned by stimulating liquors, forms an insuperable obstacle to domestic happiness, and hence the flight of their wretched victims from the bosom of an affectionate family to the savage haunts of intemperance and vice. The domestic scenes of many of our celebrated lovers of strong drink present convincing examples of these dreadful results of intoxication, upon the social and domestic relations of life. PART II. CHAPTER VII. MORAL CAUSES OF INTEMPERANCE. Is it a custom? Aye marry is 't: But to my mind, though I am native here And, to the manner born, it is a custom More honoured in the breach than the observance. This heavy headed revel, east and west Makes us traduced and taxed of other nations; They class us drunkards, and with swinish phrase Soil our addition: and, indeed, it takes From our achievements, though performed at height, A INTEMPERANCE has been shown to exercise a baneful influence on national and individual welfare. An investiga tion, therefore, of the causes which have produced and fostered this injurious vice is of paramount importance, especially to those who suggest remedial measures. primary cause of intemperance will be found to consist in the desire to alleviate bodily pain, or assuage mental anguish. Heedless of the consequences, the temporary relief which they afford has induced mankind, almost on every occasion, to resort to the use of alcoholic stimulants. Ă prominent cause of intemperance is discovered in the delusive notions which have obtained, in all ages of the world, about the beneficial properties of intoxicating liquors. These notions are not only materially strengthened by, but in a great measure depend upon, the immediate and agreeable effects which they produce on the animal powers. Like the waters of Lethe, they have been supposed to impart oblivion to the soul, and freedom from the anxieties and cares of life : |