large towns, and in the immediate vicinity of these, that the change has become as yet alarmingly perceptible: there, a Sarful resemblance to the inebriation of Scotland is becoming a prevailing feature.

Although in 1829 I felt myself so ignorant of the drinking usages, and peculiar modes of inebriation of South Britain, that I declined, for that reason, to commence a series of lectures on the subject of Association for Temperance in England; yet I was satisfied, from the analogy of the case, that a similar artificial and compulsory system was likely to prevail on both sides of the Tweed. On making application, by letter, to friends in the South, this was denied; and even as late as 1834, when called to attend the parliamentary investigation on drunkenness, I found great difficulty in persuading some of the most anxious friends of the temperance cause in England, that there was any necessity for an investigation on this point; and although I had established a somewhat extensive correspondence on this subject, it was only in 1837, when I had opportunity of making a wide personal examination, that I was enabled to satisfy some of the principal friends of the cause in the three kingdoms, that a pernicious system of usage and compulsion prevailed throughout, to a large amount; and to which it was necessary to apply effective remedies.

We shall examine these customs, as regards South Britain, without much regard to the order in which they may be taken keeping in mind our former division of them into those connected with handicrafts and trades, including the new series of those instituted in the trade clubs and unions; and then the usages chiefly connected with domestic life.

We shall commence with the case of

Shipwrights.-The apprentice footing amounts, in general, to two guineas. The penalty for non-payment is flogging with a handsaw, from time to time; and this and other maltreatment is pursued till the usage money is paid. In some building-yards, it is only about a dozen of the oldest apprentices that enjoy this treat: it frequently is the occasion of two or three days' idleness and drunkenness. One informant has seen a boy's head laid open for non-compliance with this dangerous usage; and has known a wedge thrown at another, from behind, that laid him senseless on the ground. At the expiration of the apprenticeship, or "loosing," a sum varying from one to five pounds is expected, though this is less compulsory than some other usages. At launching there is from

five to ten pounds given by the owners of the new ship. Besides this, in some cases, the apprentices are in use to wait upon, and receive drink-money from, dealers who furnish articles for the vessel; such as the block-maker, painter, plumber, glazier, joiner, and others. The whole is expended in a supper and drink, by the older apprentices, each bringing his sweetheart, or a friend. Disgraceful scenes of drunkenness often occur in consequence of this usage, which frequently end in jail or bridewell. Such methods of amusement and recreation must, further, have a very deteriorating effect on the female friends of this class of workmen.

The caulking footing is 10s., given by the owners to the men to drink. When the keel of a new vessel is laid, the employer gives a certain sum for drink; and every pair of sawyers in the yard gives 3s. of "chip-money." This, with the addition of other tribute, is spent in drink. One informant has seen several days' drunkenness the result of this usage. When the lower-deck beams are got in, the owners of the vessel bestow from 21s. to 42s. and the employer 20s. for drink to the men.

At marriage, a man gives 10s. to the others to drink: this generally causes a "spree," as it is called.

If men come to the yard on Monday with dirty shirt or shoes, or unshaved, they are fined 1s. for drink. This is a regulation of most trades in England, but not in Scotland, showing the greater advance in the healthy luxury of cleanliness made in South Britain. Such a law of trade might be expected also in Holland; but scarcely in France, Spain, or Italy. It seems, at first sight, a useful regulation, evincing a laudable regard to neatness and purity; but, in point of fact, it is used in practice, according to my information, merely as an excuse to "start a drink.' Some men in a workshop make quite a trade and business of suggesting and enforcing such usages. My informants in this case have known two or three days' drinking arise from such a trifle: thus it appears that even the superior cleanliness of the English nation is made a highway for the triumphant passage of inebriation. And here I am tempted to diverge, and relate a story, illustrative of a similar instance of strong drink intermeddling with matters in which, at first sight, it seemed to have little connexion.

In a certain town, in 1836, an individual was accustomed to deliver lectures to a limited number of artisans and others, on some departments of moral science. Part of these being

shopmen to grocers and others, found it at last impossible to continue attendance, although the meetings were held between eight and ten o'clock at night. A scheme was set on foot to retrench shop-hours, which, after considerable trouble, proved at the first effectual. A great number of shopkeepers agreed to shut at an hour certain. The magistrates allowed the large town-bell to be rung at the set time, in order to facilitate the measure. On the first night, in three minutes after the bell sounded, all was dark in the principal streets, save what light came from the town lamps. This continued for some time. All the retail trade in the place was full of gratitude to those who had adjusted the measure: life, they said, was now comfortable; they were slaves no longer; men got home in good time to their families, to read, converse, or otherwise amuse themselves: some accounted it a great privilege to be in time to have family worship leisurely and cheerfully performed, without sleep or weariness. Part of the apprentice class rejoiced that they could attend the above-mentioned lectures; the number of the audience increased about six-fold; and the subjects were, to suit the case, changed into remarks on history, and other less abstruse topics than had been discussed before. But, by and by, those grocers who held spirit licenses found that their best harvest was during the later hours; and that their rivals in the public-houses were encroaching upon their gain. They, therefore, broke through the adjustments of the short hours' scheme. On this, the other grocers found that the publican-grocers were gaining ground from them, for purchasers are often as dilatory as possible in making their "shoppings;" so the grocers in a body departed from the short-hour plan, and things were left in the same uncomfortable state as before, in order to permit a fair and free rivalship in the sale of whisky.

To resume; a shipwright's apprentice is expected to pay 2s. 6d. for drink money at his first caulking. The penalties for non-payment of usage money are various: sometimes the jacket is nailed to the board with large nails; or the clothes or hat mopped with tar. When the foreman, or others connected with the building-yard, keeps a public-house, it has frequently been stated to me by operatives, that it is ruinous to the men, and contrary to the interests of the master. the eyes of such a foreman," say they, "he who drinks most is the best man."

"In

Foundries.-Among engineers the apprentice footing ranges from 17. to 21. 2s. At expiration, or "loosing," there is 31.

to 41. for a supper and drink to the men; the employer sometimes gives towards this also. To the apprentice footing, each man adds 6d., which makes the usage comprehend the whole of the parties, and thus ramify its power. The first time a man carries melted metal in the hand ladle, it is, for drink, 1s.; in the double ladle, 2s.; in the crane ladle, 5s. Seventeen other occasions of doing work for the first time were stated; and a drink fine for each time. A journeyman's footing is 5s., to which the other men add 6d. apiece. This practice is sometimes called "backing." Shifting vice or lathe, moving to a better situation in the work, draws 1s. for drink money; the others "back" with 3d. each. Coming on Monday with dirty shirt, or unshaved, incurs 1s., backed by the rest at 3d. each. Marriage is 10s. 6d., backed by rest with 6d. each. A birth, 1s. to 1s. 6d., backed with 3d. each. If not of the trade club (in some places), a man pays 10s. for drink, in order to be free of the particular shop. At Liverpool, it is usual to fine workmen in the sum of 1s. for drink, who have been, for the first time, a pleasure sail round the Black Rock, in the Mersey.

With some pleasing exceptions, wages are generally paid in this trade on Saturday night, in a public-house; or the men are clubbed together (it is sometimes called " linked"), and sent to obtain change where they may; which, of course, leads direct to the public-house. If the day of a man's birth can be discovered, he will be pestered continually to give drink. On national saints' days, in England, the following drink regulations have place in this and other trades: on St. George's day each Englishman pays 1s., and each Scotch, Irish, and Welsh man, 6d. On St. Andrew's day, the Scotch pay double; on St. Patrick's, the Irish; and the Welsh on St. David's. The employer gives what is denominated a waygoose, at lighting of candles; the men "back" this gift, and hold a supper. Brass-money is claimed at Whitsuntide, from the brass merchant; and, at new year's day, from the iron, coal, timber, and tin merchants.

The penalties in this trade for non-conformity to drinking usage are much the same as in others. Apprentices will not be taught by the men. A general strike and turn-out, it is stated, would be the consequence of a man failing in coming forward. In some cases, the "wetting" of new clothes is usual. When working out at a job, and all night, there is sometimes an allowance for drink, besides wages. If “shot be not paid fair," that is, what has been drunk during the week by a

man, at the general house of rendezvous; in this case there is a fine of 3d. On giving or receiving notice to leave, 5s., backed by each of the others in 3d. If put into bridewell, a gallon of ale; rest of the men back with a pint each. A workman going abroad, 20s., rest back with 6d. each. Returning is 10s. with the same backing. A man starting a steamengine for the first time, pays 2s. of drink fine, which is backed with 18. from the rest. Starting an engine without leave, incurs 2s. of drink fine. An operative being made a foreman, incurs 10s., backed by rest with 6d. each. If a master gets a wife, he treats the men, who back with so much each. The same if the master's son be married.

Mugging. This is the reward in drink, given by the merchant, dealer, or furnisher, to the foreman of any work, or to any servant who patronizes him by procuring his master's custom. The term is also used when an operative, in order to obtain a place or work, bribes with drink a foreman, upper servant, or some one who can assist him in his object. It is obvious that this is a most pernicious custom, in every aspect, and that it produces a great variety of injustice and treachery, as well as intemperance, among the lower orders. One informant knew of a steam-boiler that was, on purpose, burst with over pressure, in order to revenge the want of due mugging.

Foremen.-Any one making inquiry into drinking usage will frequently have occasion to receive information on the wide and deep misery that is caused by foremen keeping public-houses. These individuals have so much in their power, it is so much their interest to encourage free and unlimited use of spirituous liquors; there are, through their means, so many indirect attractions to inebriation; that it were greatly to be wished that public opinion should lay a restraint and interdiction upon foremen becoming publicans, under any circumstances.

Allowances of Ale and Spirits.-Where this is given by way of refreshment, or in order (however mistakingly) to strengthen men for their work, it does not strictly come under the definition we have given of a compulsory usage, unless in so far as it is so on the employer who pays for it. It were greatly to be desired that sound medical views were propagated on this subject, when it would be found that liquor not only does not fortify the human frame, but the reverse; and the evils that masters, unwittingly, are the means of occasioning in this practice, are incalculable. It is extremely difficult for a man who gets a regular allowance of drink to withhold from it: