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there is something in human nature that causes great reluctance to abstinence in this case. I have met with instances of men being willing to take money in lieu of drink; but, from the perverseness of the master or the foreman, this commutation has been refused. In one case, a young man poured out his glass of spirits on the ground; but the only result was, that he did not get the offer of a second. Upon another occasion, a temperance workman was pressed, by a lady, to take a dram, and it was in vain he pleaded that his obligation and pledge did not permit him to drink spirits; the glass was forced into his hands; he took it up; and, amid the astonishment and indignation of this true daughter of Eve, he emptied the contents under the grate.

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Treating.-A young gentleman, possessed of a large fortune, which he uses to the misery of society, came into Tuesday morning, and assembled a number of blackguards who were ready to do his bidding. He made them drunk at a public-house in the town, when they began breaking all the glasses, pots, &c., and when they had finished these, they deliberately broke the furniture of the house. The landlord, having failed in preventing this outrage, sent for the police, when a general row began, and the blackguards attacked the officers in the most furious manner, until the blood completely stained the room; nor were the rioters content until they had left one of the officers for dead on the floor. Thus the blood of those anxious to preserve the peace of society has been shed for the pleasure of one rich fool.

At Salt Works, a regular allowance of drink is sometimes given to the men each day; this has a great effect in preventing them from Teetotalism: if masters saw their own interest, they would throw no obstacles of this kind in the way of what would so greatly further it.

Whitesmiths. The apprentice footing ranges from 10s. to 1. 1s. according to the circumstances of the parent. If not paid, the boy is "knocked here, shoved there, and kicked about." There are here also various fines and customs usual in other trades.

Blacksmiths. A journeyman (sledge-hammerman) pays for footing 2s. 6d.; a smith, 5s. In the club, each pays 3d. for the room, for drink. All members pay this 3d. whether they come or not the happy few who come drink the whole. Scenes of great disgrace ensue, quite contrary to the nature and dignity of man, and unparalleled in the actions of the lower animals.

With regard to Apron-stamping among Farriers; it is of importance to avoid a holed or ragged apron. Men have been thrown down by a restive horse withdrawing his foot, which had caught the hole of an old apron. But workmen are often prevented from buying a new one, because the drink stamp is more expensive than the apron itself.

Chain Cable Manufacturers.-Apprentice footing 10s. 6d., backed by 1s. each. An informant has seen a boy return the liquor, being unaccustomed to it, and unwilling to drink it, but was encouraged to do so: "You'll never larn to be a smith else." The payment on expiration is from 10s. to 20s. according to the circumstances of the parents. A journeyman's footing is 5s., to which 6d. a piece is added by the others. Marriage 5s. with 6d. each of backing. An informant has seen a person who refused to give the journeyman's footing, hung up to a beam by a chain. The birth of a child occasions a certain drink. Shifting fire 1s.

Saints' days are regularly kept by drinking. Christmasboxes are claimed from dealers who furnish to the establishment. The coal-merchant pays 5s., the iron-merchant 10s. 6d. The furnishers of blacking and chisels so much. There are drink fines as usual, such as for dirty shirt, and beard, and others.

Curriers. Apprentice footing 10s. 6d. to 1l. 1s. Expiration according to means. Journeyman's footing 2s. 6d. to 5s; in both cases others back. On a man leaving there is a contribution of 6d. each for drink. On marriage, birth of child, and own birth-day, so much, with backing. One informant has seen a person forced to leave the shop who declined to pay footing. When an apprentice first works at the bean he pays 1s. for drink; the same at the table, at first scouring and at first stuffing; all the rest back these with pints a piece. The penalty for non-compliance is being kept in ignorance of the trade as much as possible. The constable of the shop puts down on a slate what ale is wanted, which a boy fetches. The shop score must be regularly paid, else a fine of 2s. 6d. for drink is incurred.

Leaving candles burning, forfeits 2s. for drink. Way-goose, 1s. to each operative. Birth-day, if found out, half-a-gallon of ale on the day. Christmas-boxes are exacted from the tanner, dry-salter, and iron-merchant, from 2s. 6d. to 15s.

Joiners and Carpenters.-The apprentice footing is 17. to 20s., backed with 6d. each; journeyman's footing, 2s. 6d. to 4s., backed with 6d. or 1s. each. In some cases the "loosing"

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is signalized with drink. On the building of a house, the claim upon the owner for "rearing money" varies from 17. to 51. All the men who have been employed, previous to putting on the roof, enjoy this festive occasion; but not those whose work comes afterwards, such as plasterers. Each man backs the rearing-pot with 1s. The men next claim certain sums, varying according to local custom, from the lath-render who has furnished for the house, and from the stone-mason, brickmerchant, and lime-merchant. These last sums are obtained in the manner above-stated, denominated in some places "kicking," and they are drunk the day after the rearing-pot has been disposed of, in order that the parties may enjoy hair of the dog that bit them." Those who happen to spoil work, called in cant language "buttoning," will be informed upon by the others, unless they bribe with drink (mug the witnesses). On obtaining a new bench or station in the work, 4s. for drink must be paid; this is given to benchmen exclusively. Unless an apprentice pays something for drink at making his first window-sash, or other difficult operation, he will not be assisted in his work, and no explanations regarding business will be given to him. In the same way drink is demanded in the wheelwright trade, at the first fastening of spokes in the centre of a wheel. If fines be delayed to be paid, they will be added to according to the period of delay. At marriage and at birth of a child, 5s. to 10s. is demanded for drink, with backing from each. Wages are generally, though not universally, paid on Saturday night; many do not receive their own net wages, but are "linked with others." Sometimes, according to one informant, ten to twenty men are clubbed together, with bank notes to obtain change where they may nothing can exceed the tyranny and folly of masters in this respect. On non-compliance with drink fines, or footings, the clothes or tools of the individual will be pawned, (put up the spout); he will be sent to "Coventry," and otherwise maltreated. Apprentices are "cobbed for non-conformity, by having the posteriors beat with the flat side of a saw. New tools and clothes must be "wetted."

Besides what is above stated in building houses, there are also, in general business, Christmas-boxes demanded from the nail-maker, timber-merchant, and ironmonger. In some cases, when an apprentice has learnt to use his implements so well as that he can draw out a shaving as long as his master's door, he becomes entitled to a drink treat from his employer, by a rule of trade. National saints' days are the period of a

drinking bout, according to rule. If any man inform on another to the master (called "sucking" the master), the case is brought before the trade club, and decided; if any penalty ensue, it is generally a drink fine. If an apprentice neglects to watch the fire properly, he incurs a drink fine. When a man is made foreman he must pay 5s. for drink. One leaving a candle in the workshop, without asking some other to take charge of it, incurs a drink fine of 1s. In many cases, the smaller fines are collected till they amount to 1l., when a 66 spree "takes place. Dirty shirt and long beard on Monday, incur drink fines. One informant had not only to pay fines, but was struck and maltreated for not partaking of the liquor. If fines and footings are not paid, tools are hid; particularly the special tools required at the time. This is called "making an old woman of one." If the recusant acquaints the master, the fine is just doubled. There is an occasional way-goose, but it is not universal. The same informant mentions, that if fines and footings were not paid, after all other schemes fail, a strike would ensue, and the employer be forced to dismiss the operative. As we before had occasion to state, with regard to the regulations of various trades in Ireland and Scotland, there is here a tribunal for the purpose of trying all questions which infer drink fines. A man is said, under these circumstances, to be tried under the Strong Beer Act. Sometimes the court is formed of men in the same workshop, at other times, of persons selected from various shops. One informant has seen a man fined in four gallons of ale; and a foreman in eight gallons, on such an occasion. Another case of penalty for non-conformity has been thus recorded:-" Domestic quarrels were a natural consequence; and even these very miseries, the immediate and certain offsprings of drunkenness, were made a means of obtaining ale. One instance forcibly strikes my memory. There was in the workshop a beastly drunkard -a perfect monster; he was the most debased wretch I ever knew. He and his wife had frequently separated. Consultations amongst his shopmates were held how they could make this man's depravity and misery a means of getting ale. At last a law was made that should a man live apart from his wife he should be fined; and, to make the thing as good as possible, another law, the counterpart of the former, was made, that in the event of a reconciliation, the 'marriage fee' of 2s. 6d. should be paid. Quarrels were actually fomented, and separations produced, in order to get ale, and reconciliations were effected to gratify this disgusting appetite. Upon one

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occasion, I well remember, this very man, whose bestialities were so conspicuous and hateful, refused to pay the fine of 2s. 6d. His shopmates were hard up for guzzle. They were determined to enforce payment. He was perseveringly obstinate. They resolved to bottle' him. I was ordered to procure a rope. Being a boy, and never having witnessed this novel process of enforcing payment, I was most prompt in bringing the required instrument. Each of his wrists was secured to an end of the rope. The bend of the rope was then thrown over a lofty beam in the shop. His legs were tied together. He was then drawn up, suspended from his wrists. Bottles of cold water were poured in copious quantities down his shirt sleeves, until it ran from his breeches knees. Every part of him was saturated with water. The place of execution was filled with men, women, and boys, even a few children, whose laughter and derision were like a display of wild exultation on the part of an uncivilized people, making him nearly black in the face with rage and madness. Nothing made them relax; swearing and foaming only excited them to further exertion. They proceeded until the half-dead victim consented to pay the 2s. 6d."

Sail-Makers. The apprentice's footing is generally 17.; he must also give something to the men to drink when he first begins to sew, and afterwards to rope, i. e. sew the rope round the sail. When the oldest apprentice is first employed to take the measure of work, he must "mug" the journeymen for this honour. The drink at expiration, or "loosing," is optional; one informant has known it range from 10s. 6d. to 57. Marriage is 5s., backed with from 2d. to 6d. Birthday is from 1s. to 2s. 6d., backed with from 2d. to 3d. The trade club meets, in general, in a public-house; men drink 2d. a-piece for the use of the room; and the usual results of this are visible. Christmas-boxes are demanded from the rope and canvas-manufacturers, from 10s. to 20s. The drink-fines and penalties are much the same as in other trades.

A respectable informant, originally of this business, made to me the following narration the first time it was divulged out of his own family: his father having been a drunkard, his mother could only with the utmost difficulty bring up the children. He, when a boy, earnestly desired to be a sailmaker, and was after some obstacles bound apprentice. The footing was claimed, and although the circumstances were affecting, it was persisted in, for stimulation and drink usage have nothing in common with generosity or mercy. As, how

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