distance from the equator towards the pole, and that the law of Mahomet was one of climate suited to that of Arabia, as the law mentioned by Plato, Aristotle, and Eusebius, (which forbade the Carthaginians to drink wine,) was a law of a similar description. Ample testimony of the melancholy effects of drunkenness may be found on reference to the minutes of evidence taken before the Committee of the House of Commons, which was appointed in June, 1834, to inquire into the extent, causes, and consequences of intemperance among the labouring classes of the United Kingdom. Before this Committee were laid scenes of the most appalling nature, arising from the habitual and excessive use of ardent spirits, and it appeared that most, if not all, of the desperate atrocities which had been committed were chiefly owing to its influence. It is worthy of remark, that during the Irish rebellion in 1798, there was one-fourth of a greater proportion of spirits used than in either of the two preceding or succeeding years. It has been estimated that in England, fourfifths of all the crimes in the country have been committed under the excitement of inebriating liquors. During the year 1832, there were taken into custody by the London police, 32,636 persons for drunkenness alone, not including any of the numerous cases in which assaults, or more serious offences, had been committed under the influence of drink. This statement relates merely to the suburbs of London, without any of the numerous cases that occurred in the city itself. It is, moreover, alleged, that more than one-half of the insanity amongst the population is occasioned by inebriety-of 405 patients admitted into a lunatic asylum, at Liverpool, 257 were known to have lost their reason by this vice. From the preceding facts and observations, it must be obvious that the assumption, which has been urged by some, of a high duty on spirits leading to excess in its indulgence, is contrary to experience and actual practice. Yet it cannot be affirmed, that to the operation of a low duty, the great bulk of the irregularities which take place, is to be attributed. It is not in the management of distillerylaws, or their adaptation to the suppression of smuggling, either in public or private distilleries, that we are to look for the causes, which have produced in Ireland those acts of wickedness and bloodshed, that have so much disgraced the character of a country yielding to no other in fertility of soil, in beauty of scenery, or in the valour and ingenuity of its inhabitants. By a more general diffusion of knowledge, the inculcation of sound religious principles, and a complete participation in all those privileges, which the union with Great Britain must ultimately produce, aided by the meliorating hand of time, and an impartial administration of the laws, the character of the Irish may be rescued from the imputations, which, in some instances, have been wantonly, and, in others, but too justly cast upon it. The establishment of manufactories-the encouragement of industry-the opening of markets in remote districts—the draining of bogs-the cultivation of waste lands—the formation of canals connecting our great lakes and navigable rivers-and the construction of railroads, effecting a more ready communication with the populous cities, towns, and villages, together with a judicious and well-managed poor-law, would tend much to the improvement of the people; and by thus giving them employment, serve to eradicate many of those causes of discontent, which have too long proved destructive to the happiness and prosperity of the empire. Besides the advantages which these various sources of improvement would introduce, they would be the means of elevating the mind, and raising man to a more dignified station in the scale of his being. He would look around him with more complacency and satisfaction on his fellow-mortals, who, with himself, would be in the enjoyment of those comforts, which habits of industry, united to religious practices, necessarily produce. ADDENDA. A Tabular View of the Opium Trade of Great Britain, including that of our India Settlements, with China :-[see page 136.] Table of the quantities of Arrack exported from Ceylon, as noticed The duty on Batavia arrack, in 1826, was 4s. 6d. ; in 1827, 7s. 6d. ; 1828-9, the same; 1830, 5s. ; 1831, 4s. 6d. ; 1832, 4s. 6d.; 1833, 4s. 3d. The duty charged, in 1834, on the importation of this commodity into Great Britain from the East Indies, was 15s. per gallon, and 9s. from the Colonies; and on other foreign arrack, £1. 2s. 6d. Exports from the Mauritius, vide page 190: Years. Colonial Rum. Brandy & Geneva Colonial cordials. Arrack Wine. Table of the Exports from Great Britain to the East Indies and China, alluded to in pages 163 and 231 : An Account of the Wine imported into Great Britain from the Cape of Good Hope, referred to in page 274 :— Exports from the United Kingdom to the Cape : Beer & Ale in tuns. 1827. 1828. 1829. 1830. 1831. 1832. 1833. 1834. 99 138 48 68 62 112 174 90 8,933 26,993 23,843 13,131 6,190 7,952 9,089 17,458 .39,949 119499 46,073 62,739 36,112 35,307 52,392 82,583 |