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 LETTER FROM THE ARCHBISHOPS. 
 
 The following letter from tde two Archbishops and the Bishoji of London has been posted 
 to the !'>ishops of the British Colonies and Dependencies : — 
 
 Lambeth Palace, S.E., Auji^usf, 1887. 
 
 My Loru,— The attention of the Church has been recently drawn to the widespread and still 
 growing evils caused by the introduction of intoxicating liquors among the Native Races in the Colonies 
 and Dependencies of the British Empire, antl in other countries to which British trade has access. 
 
 Part of the mischief is certainly due to other traders than the British, but British trade, as exceeding 
 in volume that of many other countries put together, is mainly responsible. 
 
 This mis( hief cannot be measured by what we witness among our own countrymen. The Intem- 
 perance is far greater; the evils consecpient on Intemperance are far worse. Uncivilized people are weaker 
 to resist, and are utterly unable to control temjitations of this kind. The accounts given of the numbers 
 that perish from this cause and of the misery and degradation of those who survive are painful in the 
 extreme. 
 
 .And besides the grievous wrong thus inflicted on the Native Races, reproach has been brought on 
 the name of Christ. The English missionary who preaches the Gospel, an^' the English merchant who 
 brings the fatal temjUation, are inevitably associated in the minds of the heathen people, and by many not 
 only associated, but identified. 
 
 It is asserted by travellers of repute that in many parts of the world ihe moral character of the 
 natives gains more by the ])reaching of .Mahommedanism than by the preaching of the Gospel, for the 
 former tends to make them sober. 
 
 The evils of Intemperance in the British Islands have, as you are well aware, long engaged the 
 attention of the Church at home. The report of the Lower House of Convocation of the Province of 
 Canterbury in 1869, and that of the Province of York in i^Jt,, in each of which a lirge mass of evidence 
 from every class of society was got together, had a painful effect on the ])ublic mind at the time, and they 
 have served as trustworthy manuals on the subject ever since. 
 
 The formation of the Church of England Temjjerance Society has organized and concentrated the 
 efforts of those Churchmen who h-ive been deeply impressed with the necessity of combating Intemperance 
 and that Society is daily growing in numbers and in influence. Owing to these and similar endeavours 
 made by both Churchmen and Nonconformists, drunkenness has been, and is still being, diminished in 
 these islands And there is every reason to believe that before long public opinion will demanil of the 
 Legislature that steps should be taken to remove, wholly or partially, the temptations which now make it so 
 diflicult for weak men to lead sober lives. 
 
 his not for us nor tor the Bisho])S at home to suggest to your Lordship or your Clergy the best 
 means for dealing with similar evils in our colonies and dependencies and in the heathen countries in your 
 own parts of the world. But we have felt it our duty to bring to your notice the painful accounts that 
 have reached us. and to assure you of our warmest and most earnest sympathy with any etitbns that you 
 may see fit to make to deal with the serious difficulty. You may have the means of influencing your 
 Legi.slature : you may do much to form public opinion; you can at least make it plain to all men that the 
 Church is not and never can be indifl^erent to this great sin. 
 
 In whatever you may be able to do in this matter you may be assured that the Bishops at home are 
 sui)i)orting your ai lion with their earnest prayers and, where co-operation is found possible, with their 
 most hearty co-oj)eration. 
 
 EUW. CAN rUAR. 
 W. EBOR. 
 F. LONDIN.