The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1841-07-13
Dublin 10th of 4th Month, Is4I.

DEAR FRIEND.-A few DAYS since | wrote
long letter to my valued and energetic friend
Edward c. Delavan The main tenor of it
was TO urge you to make all the use YOU can of
Heldnd-to hold her up as a living present
example Of what total abstinence has achieved :
as population of nine millions who, freed
from The soul destroying. deadly, unexpressble
curse of strong drink and drunkenness, are 60
ing on vigorously in The march of improvement,
without for moment looking behind, or indul.
ging even the idea of returning. like dog 10
its vomit, TO their old selsua! debasement -
Yes ! total abstinence, or its success, is now no
debatable poin, in l:eland-the battle is gained
the victory is won. The great mass of the
people in Leinster, Hunster and Connought
are tetotaers; our jaiIs are comparatively
empty; Ireland needs but few soldiers 10 keep
her in order; excuse me, 10 my opinion she
needs none our police in Dublin have sine.
cure; drunken man is rarity. Such is Ire.
land now! Compare it with what she was,
out a short time since-famous for aldny things
but most of oil, for drunkenness. Think, my
friends. of disturbed portions of the country be-
ing now very models of peace-think of an
Irish Fair without drunken man to be seem
think of our public houses, now in hundreds,
either ito be let" closed, or opened in other
trades-Ihink of our dstleries honestly declar.
ing that their property is all but lost--lhat it
has deprecated from so to 10 per cent, and
that they have now no hope of is improving,
that the potter brewery would be enough for
Dublin, aye and too much that the large
Dublin disillery is now an oat meal mill, and
many others in Ireland are either closed or
next door 10 it-yet these are all facts, and no:
a little of what could tell. Oh what mag
ni6cent sight it is TO be present at the scene of
Theobald Mathews abors. During a visitI
paid him, when he was last in Dublin admin.
islering the pledge, he told me of his visit to
Carlow. a short time since. Such overwhem-
ing crowds as there we're! A gentleman who
had been a distiller lent large field in which
the people assembled. He IT. M. said he
thought there could not have been less than
$4,000 present; all intensely anxious to take
the pledge and 10 get near the great apostle
Of Temperance. AT whatever side of the field
ii was reported he was coming, there moved
the vast mass. rolling like the waves Of the sea
But so great was the pressure, that he dared
not show himself. After creeping round the
hedge looking for an opening in which he
could get amongst them, with some chance Of
dividing the mass, he thought il most prudent
10 slip away. lie did SO and sent word that he
would administer the pledge in an inclosed
ward, where the crowd would be divided and
the pledge be administered with safety. The
tens of thousands focked down. we re ad-
mitted by degrees, and returned TO lheir homes
with happy hearts, and with no mIsgivings,
about solemnly UNFOLDING their pledge.
observe by the "Freman's Journal of
Yesterday morning. shat not single case of
tipplipg was before any of the head police of
five divisions on The previous morning" And
this is Ireland This is Dublin with its popu.
lation of 25O,000 and upwards, and with a Wig
liant day and nigh, police looking out for
drunkards. Then again look at our Savings
Banks; in January lS4o the receipts exceeded
the payments $500. Is not this proof posi-.
tive of what is going ont Amongst st. Math.
ew's" latest iriumphs were 100000 members
at Bells in the Co. Of Meath, and Is, 900 at
Carllidenot.but these are common matters now.
Thus could 60 on, but my paper warns me.
cannot 60 much further.
find we printed too many Reports of last
year. As il is, think, well drawn up doc.
ument. and may be useful 10 you, avail myself
of the kindness of friend to send few of
them, you can distribute as you approve. With
kind regards and wishing you every success in
your arduous, labors' ! am sincerely your
friend.
RICHARD ALLEN.
r. s. Blu: must tell truth. however painful.
While The working classes are so nobly forego.
ing their once priced qualification there is
little of corresponding sympathy in the mid.
die classes. Shame-shame upon them. If
the movement fails. heavy load of guilt will
be at their doors! Awful is their responsibility.
am glad to state however, that lare. numbers
of respectable persons have taken the pledge.
and that amongst the best Informed Temper
ance circles, the assertion is. that the movement
is onward.