time to time be pretty certainly calculated upon. Almost every workman now-a-days is at the mercy of a system of mercantile gambling, carried on by parties over whom the operative class of men have no kind of control: it therefore behoves the persons so situated to exercise such an economy of means, and enter upon such arrangements, as may be calculated to relieve them from the occasional humiliation of requiring eleemosynary aid on behalf of themselves and little ones.

In reciting a few of the advantages which may result from the saving of money, small as the saving may at first be, we have not adverted to one of the main benefits to be obtained. This is the advantage of having money to lay out when a great bargain is to be had. Occasions are perpetually arising in this changeable world of objects of value being to be had for a small price, but it is necessary that that price be paid in ready money. The necessities and follies of the rash and extravagant part of mankind are continually throwing advantages into the hands of the careful. How often are poor persons heard to say, "I wish I could but command ten, or at the utmost twenty pounds; such a sum would completely set me on my feet!" But as these sums cannot possibly be mastered, the persons so unhappily situated must submit to go on for ever in poverty. It is by the possession of such sums that the early steps of rising in the world are planted. The first footsteps once accomplished, and a good character being established, all the rest is a matter of easy acquisition.

WHERE TO DEPOSIT SAVINGS.

The most convenient and secure place for the deposit of small sums which can be spared from ordinary outlays, is the National Security Savings'-Bank, of which a branch is established in almost every town in the United Kingdom, and open at certain hours several days in the week. The interest given on deposits, though not large, helps to increase the accumulation; and on this account, as well as from the perfect security afforded, the Savings'-Bank is preferable as a place for receiving regular or occasional deposits. The money can be withdrawn, wholly or in part, at any time, along with the interest. The principal use of the Savings'-Bank to a working-man is, its affording a convenient place of deposit for sums which will be required at certain seasons to pay for rent, clothing, and other things. As a means of providing for sickness and old age, it is also available; but in this respect it is excelled by the Friendly or Provident Society.

Friendly Societies are a union of individuals, who mutually assist each other. Each contributes a weekly or monthly payment, which is so much money sunk in order to insure a return during sickness, or after a certain age. Money deposited in a Savings'-Bank may be speedily exhausted by draughts during

illness; but after certain weekly payments are made to a Friendly Society, the member is secure of succour, however long his sickness may continue. By this arrangement, which is that of general insurance associations, the fortunate, or those who need no assistance, pay for the unfortunate, or those whom sickness happens to overtake. No one can tell to which of these classes he may belong; but it is known, by long experience, how many men in the hundred will be sick in the course of a year; and this affords a proper basis for calculating what should be received and paid out. Many Friendly Societies are established on principles of erroneous calculation, and their constitution is likewise defective. Those who trust their money to these societies, run the greatest risk of never receiving a farthing back, in the event of sickness. Essentially insolvent, these societies are constantly on the brink of ruin. We could point out several wide-spread associations of this dangerous class, by whom the working-classes will one day suffer immense spoliation. On this account we recommend very great caution as to becoming members of friendly insurance fraternities. There are four marks by which a properly instituted society may be known:-First, Has the society had its rules authenticated by the proper government officer? Second, Has it a charter of incorporation? Third, Are its directors known and respectable men? And fourth, Does it publish clear statements of its affairs? If it possess no charter, there can be no legal recourse against it, unless by summoning every individual member; and it would be somewhat difficult to summon perhaps twenty thousand men, scattered over all parts of the country.

One of the safest and most approved Friendly Societies is that established in Edinburgh in connection with the School of Arts. It has three separate schemes-namely, a sickness fund, deferred annuity fund, and a life-assurance fund. Much or little can be paid in, the payments out being in proportion. For a general explanation of the principles and rules of this society, we refer to the sheet "Social Economics of the Industrious Orders," in our "Information for the People." Special information on the subject may be obtained from F. Burke, Esq., accountant, York Place, Edinburgh.

Latterly, Building Societies have been established in different parts of England, for the purpose of assigning property or houses to members. We believe that where these are under proper regulation, they are likely to be useful, and prove worthy of support. Unfortunately, the law of England, as well as of Scotland, by giving heritable property to the eldest son in the event of the owner's death, and in case of a will not being made devising the property otherwise, must tend to defeat the operation of this social improvement. Independently of this, the enormous cost, at least in Scotland, of transferring house property, will very much lessen the advantages which a working-man expects to realise by becoming the proprietor of his own dwelling. Where

men have no decided prospect of living and working always in the same spot, it will be preferable for them to rent, instead of owning property; for nothing should ever stand in the way of removing to new fields of labour, when such seems desirable.

We have, however, a better opinion of Building Societies generally, than of a scheme lately set on foot by a society for assigning an acre of land to its members, in requital of certain payments. There is every reason to believe that this community land-buying project will eventually break up, with loss to the greater number of the parties concerned; and we earnestly discommend any one from joining it. Even if successful, the idea of a mechanic removing from a town where he is well employed to a rural district, there to commence living by the produce of an acre of land, wrung with difficulty from the soil, would seem too insane to be gravely entertained, did we not know that, allowing themselves to be carried away by clap-trap oratory, too many of the operative orders give credence to all sorts of fallacies.

INTEMPERANCE.

Recommendations to save money will, we fear, be of little value where habits of intemperance require to be subdued. In alluding to the prevalent appetite for intoxicating liquors, we may be said to touch the grand sore which eats into the vitals of the manual labouring-classes. How sorrowful and humiliating the reflection, that be the times good, or be they bad, a large portion of all the earnings in the shape of weekly wages is consumed in purchasing intoxicating drinks! In the United Kingdom, annually, upwards of fifty millions of pounds sterling are spent in the purchase of wines, spirits, and malt liquors-the bulk of which is believed to be consumed by the humbler classes generally. The money so spent is in amount far beyond what is paid for supporting all the churches, chapels, and clergymen in the country.

The statistics of intemperance need not here be dwelt upon, for they have already engaged attention in the Tracts (No. 23); it will be sufficient to draw attention to a few facts. We would in all friendliness invite the working-classes to consider whether, as a body, they can possibly rise to a more respected position so long as this monster vice is so extensively practised by them. Tavern drinking by the higher and middle classes, once so common, may now be said to be unknown, except in places where habits of a mean order still happen to linger. The practice of resorting to public-houses, or of getting tipsy, is now almost entirely confined to the humbler classes. A hundred years ago, it was nothing wonderful to see a lord reeling home drunk; and duchesses were occasionally seen going away tipsy from places of public entertainment. The increasing refinements of a century have banished these sights. The only persons now seen

drunk in the streets are-how melancholy is the confession!working-men, or at least individuals whose earnings are paid in small or weekly sums. Look at the number of gin-palaces, public-houses, and taverns in the commoner streets of London, Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and other large towns! In one street, about a mile in length, in Edinburgh, there are a hundred spirit-shops or taverns. In Glasgow, there was lately a public-house for every fourteen families. In reference to this latter city, Sheriff Alison observes, in the course of an examination before a committee of the House of Commons:-"I am sure there are eighty thousand people in Glasgow who are just as completely heathens, to all intents and purposes, as the Hottentots of Africa. Of course they have all heard there is a God; but as to any practical operation of the influence of religion upon their minds, they never go to church, or to any place where moral or religious instruction is carried on. I should think there are ten thousand men in Glasgow who get drunk on Saturday night-who are drunk all Sunday, and are in a state of intoxication, or half-intoxication all Monday, and go to work on Tuesday."

Evidence of this nature is most appalling. It appears that in the parish of St David's in Dundee, there were lately but eleven bakers' shops, and one hundred and eight for the sale of liquors. In the parish of Lochwinnoch in Renfrewshire, three or four times more money is spent in this way than is required for the support of religion and education. The value of ardent spirits consumed in the parish of Stevenston in Ayrshire, with a population of 3681, exceeds the landed rental by £3836. Warrington in Lancashire raises £3200 per annum for all its religious, benevolent, and literary institutions, including schools, missions, Bible and Tract Societies, and Ladies' Charity; and spends £68,000 on intoxicating drinks. It is also stated, that in this town there were lately fifteen hundred drunkards; and that in one street there were more than forty drunken women. Finally, that the sum of £1460 is spent in the detection and punishment of crime; while upon the education of the poor, no more is expended than £300. In the small town of Peebles in Scotland, there is a public-house for every fifteen families, or every twenty-two males. These, it is computed, spend each £10, 18s. yearly for strong drink, or £5602 in alla sum four or five times the amount of what is paid for the religious and educational establishments.

It is unnecessary to multiply examples of the universal expenditure on this one hideous vice-intemperance as to liquor. In vain do prosperous times arrive, when men are well employed: prosperity brings with it no blessing: money, with increased reckle klessness, is squandered in the lowest species of public-house debauchery. Every Saturday night, when wages are usually paid, becomes a saturnalia. Taverns and pot-houses are thronged; and men skilled in their profession, and animated with no deli

berate wickedness, by a strange infatuation deliver themselves up to a practice to the last degree impoverishing and demoralising. The loss of money, though enormous, is perhaps the least of the evils of intemperance. The mind is vitiated, the health ruined, and the family reduced to a state of misery. But far too appalling are the horrors, to be closely scanned. Every workman may see in his own neighbourhood, and perhaps in the persons and families of acquaintances, what dire disasters are wrought through an abandonment to the mean and despicable vice of dram or beer drinking.

Smoking is only a variety of intemperance. The fumes of tobacco act as an intoxicant on the nervous system; and for this cause, independently of the loss of money, smoking should be relinquished, or, more properly, never be begun. It is ascer tained by medical inquiry, that smoking, like the drinking of stimulants, is injurious to health. It produces disorders in the mucous membranes of the larynx and palate, seriously deranges the stomach, and affects the action of the heart and lungs. On the nervous system its effects are usually more fatal. Like all mean indulgences, smoking demoralises the feelings, and creates and confirms dirty and idle habits.

BORROWING FROM PAWNBROKERS.

Want of economy leads to the dangerous habit of resorting to pawnbrokers for loans. On this subject we extract the following useful observations from a small pamphlet, called the "Poor Man's Four Evils."

"The bulk of the business done in pawn-shops is in articles pledged on Monday and redeemed on Saturday. On the latter day they are taken out for use on the Sunday, and having answered this temporary purpose, are put in again on the Monday, in order to procure means for getting food during the week. Why is there this want of means? Because Saturday night and Sunday have been spent in improper, wasteful, if not guilty pleasures; or because some thriftless people are always in arrears; living on the wages of the week to come instead of the week gone by. Then how frequently is an article pledged in order to get a shilling wherewith to purchase ardent spirits! For the pawn-shop and the dram-shop are twin-brothers of darkness; they support each other, and combine to ruin thousands. In 1843 there were in Manchester one hundred and sixty pawnshops. Say their profits were, on an average, £300 a-year each. Here is another half a million of money with which the people of that one town taxed themselves for no purpose, yet of their own free will. If they wished to enrich others, while they brought themselves to poverty, shame, and ruin, people could not take more effectual means. To avoid a little self-denial in getting a few shillings ahead, or to procure a momentary pleasure which leaves a sting behind, you make your children's backs bare, and