m
INTEL J J ' T IAL
UC NRLr
GIFT OF
Prof P.J.Teggart
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THE '-' : '''J" : *V ' *' ' '*
INTELLECTUAL TORCH;
DEVELOPING AN ORIGINAL, ECONOMICAL AND
EXPEDITIOUS PLAN FOR THE
UNIVERSAL DISSEMINATION
OJT
KNOWLEDGE AND VIRTUE;
BY MEANS OF
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARIES*
INCLUDING ESSAYS OV
THE USE OF DISTILLED SPIRITS.
i
Br DOCTOR JESSE TORREY, Jun.
Founder of the Free Juvenile Library, established at New-Let*
anon, in the year 1804; and Author of " A Portraiture
of Domestic Slavery in the United States," &c.
EDITION', PEVISED BT THE AUTHOR;
Selections being- omitted and original matter added.
JULLSTON SPA :
PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR.
J. COMSTOCK, PRINTER.
1S17.
the People of the United States,
THE Author of this brief desultory publication,
begs to be understood that he has not written for the
purpose of acquiring literary popularity, but \vith the
hope of popular utility ; regarding the quality of the
matter itself, ralher than the garb in which it is clothed.
fie has lon cherished a decided confidence that if the
community would appropriate as much wealth to the
instruction of the rising generation, as is now devoted to
the punishment of crimes, the desired object would be
attained, and human misery averted, to a much greater
extent.
The plan here proposed, for the general diffusion dl
knowledge through the medium of FREE LIBRARIES,
has been submitted to the consideration of several of
the most eminent statesmen and philanthropists in the
United States, and feceived their unanimous and cordial
approbation.
Mental improvement is relied on as the most effectual
antidote to the prevailing temperate and intemperate in-
dulgence in the use of spirituous liquors.
Having sought with intense diligence, to detect the
origin of the various calamities, which afflict Society,, I
feel urged by a sense of fraternal duty, to promulgate the
result, of my enquiries and experience; and solicit cf my
fe!lTV' citizen?, only such share of their approbation anil
reward as they may find niy humble efforts entitled to.
August 6th, '1?17.
& ~?r# ..F-Z T-
THE
INTELLECTUAL TORCH.
M in s general ignorance, eld a$ thejtood t
For ages on ages has steeped him in
NOW LEDGE is essentially necessary to the \ve-U
. *clug unu fcsp-r *- of every memner of the hv<
family, whether ai;iie or female, rich or poo/.
-To ignorance may be traced, the origin of most of Jhe
vices, crimes, errors and follies that distract and destroy
mankind* It is Hie mother of misery ;- a mazy labyrinth
of perpetual night* Knowledge! on the contrary, IP a
torch perpetually darning, which enables its possessor, to
:v;<- (-)em'iy urnf uiuleratftnd every k':\w$ tiMi
him. It affords certain eonaolfctien, in all oaiat
cully and danger. Besides the iuieSlect?iai pl^a^yrcj d-
rived from the pos$cp$i.o.n of knowledge, v/hich far ex-
ceeds that of animal sensuality, the vrell informed i^aa,
(mechanic, farmer, or of whatever profession) being ac
qaainted with the laws of nature with moral and physi-
cal causes and effects, i capable of providing, generally
\\irh certainty, for the prosperity and security of himself
and his family.
Confucius, the anc'i3at Chinese Philanthropist, who
disseminated virtue jind happiness over a vast Empire,
and is there venerated as a messenger from God, to this
day, says, " Human nature came to us from Heaven pure
and perfect; hut in process of time, ignorance, the pas-
sions and evil examples have corrupted it. All consists
in restoring it to- its primitive heau'y ; and to be perfect
we must ascend to that point from which we have fallen.
Obey Heaven and follow the orders of him who governs
552.176
it. Lore your neighbor as yourself.*" Bad as the times
are I shall do all I can to recall men to virtue ; for in vir-
tue are all things."
While our generous Legislatures are imitating the pol-
icy of European Monarchies, by making liberal appropri-
ations for enlightening the few> by the endowment of
Colleges and Universities, would not the many (\vho, in
this country, supply their legislators with power as well as
money) cordially cherish a policy, calculated, at the same
lime, to diffuse a small portion of the accumulated treas-
ures of intellectual light of the present era, amongst them-
sejvea and their own children.*
Joseph Lancaster has discovered a method, which
give3 incalculable facility to the universal dissemination
of the preliminary rudiments of science; and is rapidly
gaining general assent in the United Slates. But the ed-
ucation of youth should not cease with the expiration of
their attendance on public school*. The chasm between
this period and that of their corporeal matuiity, contains
many stumbling blocks and dangerous snares. ' The art
of reading, without hooks to read, is to the mind, as is a set
of good teeth to the body, without food to masticate; they
Kill alike suffer the evils of disease, decay, aud eventual
rnin.
The priating press is the main engine, and books are
the rapid vehicles far the general distribution of knowl-
edge . Yet notwithstanding the prodigious difference be-
tween the cost of book* within the last 400 years, and
the whole anterior space of time, but few comparatively
C3.E:.et the expense of private libraries. Computing
the leasure of every y out ft to n* t ,ro hours dally from the
age of ten to twenty-one years,, independent of the requi-
site time for labor, sleep, eating, recre:ir!'>n, to. and if te
s i* T.cierU for reading a library of seven h-.indred voluirrra
* The la*" enthusiastic OVfnv^on of the ri<rht of man, Samuel
AcUxms, i a letter to IMS verier <b!.c; friend, John Ad mis, exerting
his utmost eloquence to convince him of the superiority of the
representative system of legislation, exclaims "In order to se-
cure the perpetuation of our excellent form of government to fu-
ture generations, let Divines and Philosophers, Statesmen and
Patriots, unite their endeavors to renovate the age, by impress-
ing the minds of the people with the importance of educating
tti f --ir Uttle Boys and Girls,*' &.c.
duodecimo, of 300 pages each. This only season for lay-
ing the foundation of a virtuous and happy life, to the
greatest portion of mankind, is totally lost. It is only ne-
cessary to oifar knowledge to the voluntary acceptance
of youth, in a proper manner, to produce an ardent appe-
tite for it.
Intellectual cultivation is the basis of virtue and hap-
piness. As mental improvement advances, vice and
crimes recede. That desirable happy era, when the
spiritof peace and benevolence shall pervade all the na-
tions which inhabit the earth, when both national and
personal slavery -shall be annihilated; when nations and
individuals shall cease to hunt and destroy each other'*
lives and property; when the science and implements of
human preservation and felicity? shall be substituted for
those of slaughter and woe; will commence, precisely at
the moment when the rays of useful knowledge and wis-
dom, shall have been extended to the whole human fam-
ity. By useful knowledge, I mean, not only an acquain-
tance with valuable arts and sciences, but also an
understanding of our various moral and religious duties,
in relation to our creator, to our neighbor, and to our*-
.;il\vs. By wisdom, I mean that kind ofsftgacity, which
i:ri!H-:ii*es us to regulate our passions and conduct, m
*ic?nformify to the precepts of knowledge, reasoa and re-
in. Until an approach towards such a state of thing*,
h effected, the names of peace ^liberty, and security, on this
earth, will differ but little from an ignis fatuus, either to
monarehs or their vassals. At present, violence bears
universal and imperial sway; and ignorance is the ma-
gic spell which sustains is sceptre. This dense ra^t
which enshroud? nearly the whole human race, can be
penetrated and removed, with much greater certainty
and facility, by the mild but invincible rays of intellect?!-
,-:i ii'jfht, than by opposing violence with violence, ami
ev'.l to evil. The countryman in ^s-op's Fables, was in-
duced to throw off his cloak, by the gentle but melting
rays of the physical sun, after the wind had exerted its
fury in vaia. What a boundless empire of glory and WM-
alloyed bliss, might the monarehs am! governments of the
different nations, and all possessors of wealth attain, by
causing their numerous subjects and brethren, perpetual-
ly encompassed by the snares of ignorance, vice, and op-
pressicm, to le instructed ; thereby elevating poor de^ra-
A 2
ded aflicted humnn nature, to that scale of dignity in in?
creation, which was evidently assigned tail by the su-
preme parent of the universe. Incur country, particu-
larlj', instruction ought to be universal. For virtue only
can sustain and perpetuate our political organization
" With knowledge and virtue the united efforts of ignor-
ance and tyranny may he defied." (Miner, governor of
]SJorth Carolina.) '* In a goverurfttafc where all mny as-
pire, to the highest offices in the state, it 'h essential that
educatioa should be placed within the reach of ail.
Without intelligence, self government, our dearest privi-
lege cannot he exercised." (Nicholas, governor of Virgin-
ia.) " Without knowledge, the blessings of liberty can-
not be fully enjoyed or long preserved,,'' (President Mad-
: V->
Genera! Washington, in h;s valedictory address to the
people of the United State?, 883*3, *' Promote then, as ob-
jects of primary importance, institutions for the general
diffusion of knowledge, in proportion as the structure of
the government gives force to public opinion, it is essen-
tial that public opinion should be e\?. lightened."
But it has been questioned whether our conslitution
authorises the adoption of measures for the -diffusion of
knowledge and science. If our constitution does not
BOW authorise measures which are likely to produce the
greatest possible benefit to the country, and security to
its liberties, it ought without dzky to bs so amended that
it should.
Let American Legislators, both national and section-
al, perform their duty to their country, and its posterity ;
and to mankind, by listening to the v; be counsels of ma-
rry conspicuous living sages, and pursue without hes'ta-
the inestimable "parting advice' 9 of George Wash-
irigton, Benjamin Riish,Saniuel Adams, and oilier de-
parted friends and patrons of man ; and establish public
schools, and judiciously selected free public circulating
libraries, in every part of the Republic. And as all
men are vitally interested in the universal dissemination
of knowledge and virtue, let all classes combine their in-
fluence and means, in aiding the cause of human happi-
ness.
* s Postpone, O ye Sages all meaner debates
Convinced that 'tis lig-ht, must establish our states ;
Dispense and diffuse it gild empire like day,
Convinced that with freemen full knowledge is sway i' 5
' 'Tis Ignorance mainly feirvls people in chains,
"TisS this oo' 1'ia ctrnpivc o' F^llv maintains !
Vice shrinlvs from insn'iicliou like Ghost from the light ;
And Dcspou shun, noon-tide and cjvjt the right."
Tbe discovery of the art of printing and of manure
L;^ a vast ascendency over oar ances-
tors ia the i ion of knowledge. Dr. Darwin very
'!y, and very ei^ganiiy. c.-'hs the " PR! NTiNG
F R E > ; o # ^ y ; e f j I o f /n o . ! a r n lave n I io n s ; t h e c a-
pacioiK reservoir '.{' ljj-rs;iii knowledge, whose branching
strea: ices, arts and rao.'ality, ih rough ail
nation -3 rjjfi ap:es. 5)
Let us suppose Confucius, Socrates and Seneca, were
permitted to resume the possession of their former bodies
am! estates; arid rcfiia'non the earth for five years.
Would they not be transported \vith ecstacy,on behold-
ing a paper-mill and a printing press. And yet would
they not ween with regret and wonder, to find how few
of the inhabitants even of civilized and apparently en-
lightened portions, of the earth, are in possession of the
inestimable moral precepts which they had, with so much
labor and solicitude, prepared and bequeathed to mankind?
Seneca possessed an imneeij.S9 quantity of we^l-h. Would
he not seize the opportunity with rapturous avidity, and
invite his two benevolent colleagues to share with him the
happiness, of enlisting, with his* treasure?, every paper-
mill, printing press, type- maker and printer, that they
could find, and devote the Sve years, totally, to the prop-
agation of their wisdom to the remotest regions of the
Globe.
" It is a truth which cannot he too strongly impressed,
that of all our exe'tions for the benefit of our fellow crea-
tures, the education of the poor is the most efficacious."
[Motr,]
Finally, that ignorance is generally the radical source of
vice and poverty, with their consequent train of compli-
cated catamites ; and that intelligence generally produ-
ces results directly the reverse, are truths no longer prob-
lematical. Facts have shown their claims to the consid-
eration of the legislator and the moralist. It now only
remains to ascertain the most expeditious, economical,
and practicable method, by which the universal diffusion
of useful knowledge can be accomplished.
In the early period of my youth, a gentleman of ihe
law, who resided in the vicinity of my father's house,
at New- Lebanon, (N. Y.) kiudly invited me to make 7
as much use of his excellent library as I wished, ob-
serving that he was pleased to see youug. persons attach-
ed to reading, and glad to encourage them in the im-
provement of their minds. I accepted the privilege
with gratitude, and improved it t\ ith persevering assidu-
ity, as far as my leisure permitted, for several years. I
also purchased shares in two public social libraries. At
the age of 17 years, convinced of the inestimable bene-
fits of reading useful books, I anxiously desired that
they might, if possible, he extended to the great mass of
the human family ; and endeavored to discover some ef-
fective plan for this purpose.. Indigence, which in mosi
nations involves the majority, appeared to present the
greatest obstacle. Hence the suggestion occurred that
governments, or associations of individuals, might pro-
mote the object, by establishing in various districts, free 2
circulating libraries > to be equally accessible to all class-
es and sexes without discrimination. With a view to
confirm the practicability of She project, as well as to ben-
efit the youth of the vk-inify, I commenced a subscription
of money and books, for the establishment* of a free juve-
nile library.* The association consisted of the youth of
both sexes, from the age of 12 to 21 years, under the title
of" The juvenile society far the acquisition of knowledge.**
As there~ is seldom a youth in that district of country,
that has not been taught the art of reading, the acceptance
of the privilege was unanimous, and its effects evidently
* Dr. Moses Yoimglove, of the city of Hudson, patronized
the library by a donation of about a dozen volumes of books, and
addressed to me an encouraging 1 letter, dated at Hudson, 19Ji
September, 1804, which he concludes thus :
" I am much gratified t> find your endeavors promising* of u-
tility, so far beyond what I anticipated when you first consulted
me ; for considering your youth and inexperience, I then feared
your sagacity would be insufficient, but I must do you the justice
to acknowledge the contrary result,
'* From vour friend,
M. YOUNG-LOVE."
9
salutary. The society and library contln^edl to accumu-
late for several years. The permanent} 7 of the institu-
tion has, however, been since interrupted by the frequent
rotation of the -office of librarian, and by the difficulty of
enforcing a compliance, \vith the bye laws. These in
conveniences might be avoided by locating the libraries
permanently in school-houses or academies, or in the
care of so:ne civil magistrate, ami by having the bye laws
confirmed by the legislature. The choice of suitable
books to be purchased or admitted in donation*, ought
to be decided by a competent committee. Wei! selected
free public libraries, it is believed, would forrrs a very
. important auxiliary of public instruction, in all our
schools, academies, hospitals, alms houses, ca!ottfjients,
bridewells, goals, state prisons, penitentiaries, workhou-
ses, &c. &c.
The utility of this method of promoting moral im-
proremcnt might be rendered {teen!? extensive if govern-
ments, or societies were to procure the execution, upon a
large scale, of several of the most essential books on the
conduct of life, and furnish them to all free library corn-
pfcnies, at prime cost.
Having been at the ci'y of Philadelphia at the time
the " Pennsylvania society for promoting public Econo-
rny," was instituted I communicated a sketch of the above
plan, in a letter dated the 4th June, 1817, to Rohens
Yaux, Esq. one of the members of the Common Council
of the city, who was the chairman of a coinrnitte, ap
pointed by the society, on public schools. lie inform-
ed me that the committee considered the idea new and
valuable, and had irwtrucfed him to introduce it in his
report of a system of public education which it was con-
templated to adopt. He said they considered the plan
particularly adapted for the benefit of numerous apprenti-
ces, v. ho are prevented, during several years of 'their ser-
vice, from attending public schools, by their occupations.
Having formerly published a sm.'ill volume of anony-
mous Essays under the title of the " Inldlectual Flambeau,' 3
treating principally on morals and the diffusion of know-
ledge, (from which, part of the materials of this pamphlet
is derived,} the following! letters were addressed to rrm,
which, as they contribute to elucidate the subjects now
under consideration, I think useful to insert,
10
From S&muel L. Mitchell, L. L. $, &c.
NEW-YORK, June 12th,
Bit,
The mail brought me,^ short time since, a copy of vour
Intellectual Faimbeau. I find thereby that you have
exerted year mind zealously and long, in favor of benefi-
cence and knowledge. It is agreeable to see y oar detach-
ed essays and fugitive pieces collected into a book. It
was fine saying, " gather up the fragments that none he
lost."
His a peculiar feature of our social condition in the
Fredtsh dominions, that information is so generally spread
arnon^ the people. There is another trait of character,
of no less importance, the disposition to do what is right,
The theory of those articles of our political constitutions,
u derived from the consideration that our citizens, in the
exercise ofib ekcJiye. franchise, are wise to understand,
jyVq virtuous to do, their outy. /inu vume tins state con-
tinues, we shall he the haprpie&t nation on earth* But. a
being possessed of knowledge without virtue is a terrible
creature, and comes up to my d*5niikm of a devil.
You hav done. wl! to oppose the torrent of distilled
spirits that is overwhelming the land, and threatening
ruin to it* human inhabitants. The broking of the lev-
#a at New-Orleans, or the dykes in Holland, is not half
fee dreadful or destructive to the prospects of the proprie-
tors respectively, as the breach oT the barriers of tempe-
rance, by whiskey aiul rn:ii. They are the torment and
poison of the moral world. Great indeed will be the
merit of him who can apply an effectual antidote. In
the distribution of praise in this world, sufficient credit
is not given to the author of Mahometan religion forhav-
ins forbidden ihe use of vinous liquors. But the effects
f;f ardent spisiis are hy no rreans cpnnrteil to the moral
v. orld. They extend* to the physical part of man's con-
stitution, and cause palsies, apoplexies, dropsies, drunken-
ness, rand-ness, and a number ?f>?her woes.
Goc;n an* 1 , be not weary in weft loing. Be not
aged : hut conOotie io render ^
to K-ett- -?..
A c c e r. til. c a - u r r n c t o f rn v ^ s t e c ir
SAMUEL L, UlTC
Jc Toiiiisv, Jtin. Esq-
11
From Isaac Briggs> of ike Society of Friends.
WILMINGTON, Del. 6 mo. 12, 1816.
Esteemed Friend,
With pleasure and approbation I have read thy little
book entitled, "The Intellectual Flambeau; 5 ' and if this
declaration from me be deemed by the author of any im-
portance, it is freely at his service.
It has long teen my settled opinion that knowledge dif-
fused among the people, is the best foundation for civil
liberty and happiness; and the more extensively it is
diffused, the broader and more firm is the foundation,
and the more glorious the superstructure.
To perpetuate the blessing of liberty, let the education
of youth be considered an important and honorable em-
ployment let these who have plenty assist, gratis, those
who have but little let one youth be taught by precept
and example, that in using our reasoning powers, truth is
the only legitimate object, and that candor is always due
to an opponent in argument.
Thus a soil may be prepared in the yonthfal mind, from
-vhichwiil readily spring useful knowledge and the sweet
charities of society and envy, malice, hatred and party-
fpirit would have little or no room to grow.
Collections of useful and instructive books in different
neighborhoods would, in my opinion, powerfully promote
all these valuable ends. A very light contribution from
the purses of the rich and honorable would, in every
neighborhood, without expense to the poorer classes,
place much useful knowledge within their reach, and e-
ven invite them to partake of it. The sclienae appears
to me fully worthy of an experiment, fairly made ; and I
am glad to find that my friend, the author of the Intellec-
tual Flambeau, has devoted some of his time and talents
to objects so interesting.
ISAAC BR1GGS.
DR. JE*SE TORREY, Jun.
From Simon Snyder, Gov. of the stale cf Pennsylvania,
feir,
Ignorance is the dark fcut broad foundation, upon which
the tyrants of the bodies and souls of men erect (heir
thrones. The general diffusion of knowledge is OE the
12 -
Oilier hand the most efficient means of ttebtroymg the
power of moral and political despotism. Few of mankind
comparatively speaking, have the means of procuring
and sQli fewer have the requisite leisure to study and di-
gest extensive systems of ethics or politics. Small tracts
are best sailed for the perusal of the generality of man-
kind. Your little volume entitled " The Intellectual
Flambeau" appears to me well calculated to diffuse im-
pressively, correct knowledge on the subject of morals,
and the political rights of man. Much light on those ia-
teresiittg subjects, is condensed into a small compass,
and is within the reach of almost every man, however
limited his means or his leisure. Persevere in your lau-
dable work, and may your success equal your wishes, as-
sured that you will reap that reward which results from
a consciousness of having endeavored to promote thepre-
seat ?ntf future happiness cf your fellow men.
Accept assurances of
personal regard from
SIMON SNYDBR.
Da. JESSE TCRREY, Jun.
Hdrfisfurg, 3th Nov. 1816,
Trow N. B. Bcileau, Secretary of ike state of Pcnutvlvfr
ma.
EARRISBURG, Nov. Slh, 1816.
Sir,
I cordially agree wfth the sentiments expressed by the
governor, and join with him in wishing your sucaess may
be equal to your philanthropic desire that your little
book may have its due effect in correcting the habits of
intemperance the too predominant and prevailing vice
of the present day and that you may enjoy the high sat-
isfaction which springe from an approving heart, and from
the evidence that your labor Iras not been in vain.
With best wishes for your personal welfare
your ob'L ser'fc,
N. B. BOJLEAU.
DR. JESSE TORRBY, Jun.
13
A SERIOUS ADDRESS,
To the Rising Generation of the United States.
Eminently Favored Youth,
CONTEMPLATE calmly and attentively, the sa-
cred legacy which must soon be committed to your
charge, in trust tor your successors anil eventually for
the who!e human race ! You constitute the only insula-
ted Arrarat, on which the Olive Branch of Peace, and
the *' glad tidings" of Freedom and Happiness, can be
deposited and preserved to a groaning World, drowned
in fears ! ! Prove yourselves, then, deserving of the ex-
alted office which Providence has assigned you. To do
this, it is indispensable that you cultivate your understan-
dings, and store them with the golden treasures of know-
ledge, philosophy and wisdom. Where these abide Ty-
ranny cannot exist no more than darkness in the midst
of sun beams. Know also that these will preserve you,
infallibly, from a species of slavery, much more odious
and destructive to human happiness, than the most bar-
barous political despotism that exists,
OF ignorance, vice, and all the ven'mous passions ;-
Of intemperance, crimes, and a host of idle fashions.
Virtue and wisdom are the offspring of knowledge;
and "human happiness, says Seneca, is founded upon
wisdom and virtue." And further, that " philosophy
gives us a veneration for God, a charity for our rieigbor;
teaches us our duty to Heaven, and exhorts to an agree-
ment one with another; it arms us against all difficulties;
it prompts us to relieve the prisoner, the infirm, the ne-
cessitous; it is the health of the mind; shines with an 9-
riginal light makes us happy and immortal* In pover-
ty it gives us riches or such a state of mind as makes thei#
superfluous."
My young friends remember that you possess within
yourselves, the innate germ of wisdom, virtue, happi-
ness the spirit of God in your hearts, constantly pleading
for your own welfare. You have only to listen, to Una
friendly monitor, and feed the sacred spark with the light
yf instruction and wisdom.
Si Wisdom, says Seaeca, instructs uz io the way of
nature; to live happily; teaches us what things are
4ood, what evil, that no man can be happy, hut he that
needs no other happiness hut what he has within him-
self ; no man to be great cr powerful, that is not master
of himself. That this is the felicity of human life ; a
felicity that can neither he corrupted or extinguished.
Kay, says he, so powerful is virtue, and so gracious is
Frovidenee, that every man has a light set up within
himself for a guide, which we do all of us both see and
acknowledge, though we do not pursue it * That a
good man is happy within himself, and independent upon
fortune : kind to his friend ; temperate to his enemy : re-
ligiously jv.$t , inde fatig-ably laborious, &c. That there
is not a duty to which Providence has not annexed a bles-
sing".
Finally, without taking up the discussion of future
rewards and punishments, I must declare my conviction
that in our present stage of temporal existence, every de-
viation from the path of rectitude and duly, is as cei-
tainly punished wiih its appropriate penalty, as that
pain is the inevitable consequence of thrusting our hands
into fire, and indicates an equal deficiencj 7 of wisdom and
common sense.
Therefore exert yourselves without delay, to secure
the means of enlightening your understandings with in-
struction. For this purpose form yourselves into socie-
ties in your respective neighborhoods, an<l establish free
libraries, by means of subscription?, and contributions of
books.
" Take fast hold of instruction ; let her not go ; keep
her ; for she is thy life,"
[SOLOMON.]
I am not inclined to advise you to restrain yourselves
from a rational indulgence in innocent athletic amuse-
meets, but fail not, if you prefer gemdne happiness to
misery and repentance, to devote the most of your eve-
nings and leisure hours to mental improvement and read-
ing" Read the life of the celebrated Franklin and fol-
low his advice. But beware of the Syren snares of
* I know the right, and I appro\ r e it too j
Condemn the wror.tr, and yet the wrong- pursue."
POPE*
NOVELS. Is not a beautiful garden, in a state of liv-
ing verdure, and native bloom both more entertaining and
instructive, than a heap of counterfeit artificial flowers
made of paper, yielding fruits the most pernicious ?
Let yoar library commence with the following books ;
making about 20 volumes. A contribution of 25 cents
each from 100 persons would probably defray the cost of
the whole of them. The youth, not already trained t$
depravity, that can read merely these few books, without
being fascinated with the pleasures of science, wisdom,
benevolence, and moral rectitude, must be a prodigy of
stupidity and worthlessness.
The Looking Glass for the Mind, The Newtonian
System of Philosophy Explained, Burton's Lectures to
Young Ladies, Lady's Library, Mayor's Abridgment bf
Natural History, Historical Grammar, Blair's Grammar
of Chemistry, Joyce's Scientific Dialogues, Seneca's
Morals, Translation of Xenophon's Socrates, Priestly'g
Considerations for the use of Young Men, Baron Knig*
ge's Practical Philosophy of Social Life, or the Art
of Conversing with Men, Beauties of History, History of
San ford and Merton, Universal Geography, &c.
While in health, taste not a single' drop of distilled
spirit, for except as a remedy for some diseases, it is a
positive vois on to man or any other animal ; this import-
ant fact is demonstrated, not only by chemical analysis,
which proves that ia the process of fermentation the ma-
terial of spirit imbibes from the atmosphere a substance,
called oxygen^ the internal application of which is well
known to be noxious to animal life ; but also by its ef-
fects upon brute animals, some kinds of which, it kills*
instantaneously, and impedes the growth of others t
Accept, beloved youth, these counsels of your sincere
friend. Heed them with fidelity ; and peace, content-
ment, good will, and gladness shall be the companions of
your iives.
*An individual who was formerly addicted to the use of distil-
led spirits, stated that he compelled a fowl to swallow a table
spoonful of rum, which produced immediate dealh !
16
TO PHILANTHROPISTS.
yJ^SK
In the hope that the impulse of a disposition " to do good*
may influence, some magistrate, physician, tutor, preach-
er, attorney, private citizen, or generous youth, in ev-
ery district in which these sheets may be circulated ; to
volunteer his exertions for the institution of a free libra-
ry, and reading society, I have procured fr publication,
a correct copy of the Constitution originally adopted by
the Juvenile Library Society at New- Lebanon. It was
composed by the writer of these pages, at the age of 17
years. The language or plan can be varied as may be
found expedient.
THE CONSTITUTION
Of the New Lebanon Juvenile Society for the Acquisition
of Knowledge.
NEW -LEBANON, March 13, 1804.
WHEREAS we the youth of New-Lebanon, are
fully convinced that it is indispensably necessary
for our happiness and welfare, that we cultivate our un-
derstandings, improve our morals, and acquire useful
.knowledge while we are young, and while our minds are
susceptible of improvement. And therefore we do here-
by agree to associate, and form ourselves into a Society,
for the purpose of establishing a Library, improving our
minds and acquiring useful Knowledge. And we do a-
gree ordain and determine :
1. That this Society shall meet together every first
Monday in March, and choose fom among themselves, a
President, Librarian, Secretary, and a committee of five,
T/ho -shall transact the business of the Society and contin-
ue io office until others are duly elected.
2. The President, or in hi* absence the Librarian
and three others of the committee, shall form a board
"Ofnuetent to transact ;iH business of the Society ; or in
the absence of the President and Librarian, four of the
comrnitteej who- shall choose a chairman for the present
meeting.
3. U shall be the duty cf the President to preside at
the* meetings and superintend the concerns of the Socie-
ty ; and to give advice as to the purchase of suitable
becks, &c
17
4. It shall be the business of the Librarian to keep the
books caref.ily that belong to this Society, and write on
each of them, that it belongs to " The Library of the
New- Lebanon Juvenile society for the Acquisition of
Know ledge;" to receive all contributions of money or
book* that may be made by the friends of knowledge
and virtue for the encouragement aud benefit of the Soci
ety ; to receive all books that may be lent to the Socie-
ty : to keep a separate catalogue of them, and an account
of the fines received upon them, which shall be paid to
the owners of the books ; to collect fines and money sub-
scribed, which money he shall lay out for books and
such other articles as he shall deem necessary to promote
the interest of the Society ; to keep a record of the
books drawn, and an account, of receipts and expenditures,
and to keep all the papers and writings belonging to this
Society.
6. It shall be the office of the Secretary to write a
record of the proceedings and resolutions of the Society.
Aad as this association is formed with a vieiv to diffuse
useful knowledge, aud promote virtue as extensively as
possible, the Secretary shall exhibit on the meeting house
of New Lebanon, once in every six months, an adver-
tisement, inviting all the youth of New Lebanon, be-
tween the age of 12 and 21 years, to join this Society :
and the Librarian is authorised to admit all such youth an
members of the Society, on signing these articles; but no
person shall be a member of the Society, who is not be-
tween the aforesaid ages.
U. It shall be the duty of the committee to examine
the books reiujned at each meeting ; and on all
books damaged by ill usage, they shall lay such
fines as they shall deem just and reasonable : tearing}
greasing, dirtying, and turning leaves down to be con-
sidered as damages done by ill usage.
7. The stated monthly meetings of this Society shall
be held at the house of the Librarian, on the first Monday
in every month in the year, at six o'clock in the after-
noon ; when every book before drawn out, shall be re-
turned, in order that they may be inspected and that a
new drawing of books may take place. And anj r mem-
ber that draws a book and neglects to return it before the
stated time aforesaid, shall pay a fine oi six cents, and
B 2
u
one cent per day thereafter until it is returned ; and \i
not re.unied within two months after it was drawn out,
tne delinquent shall pay for the book at the appraisal of
the committee.
8. Any memher that is indebted to the Society for
fines or otherwise, and neglects to pay the debt within
one month after it becomes due, shall be prohibited the
use of the Library until it is paid.
9. A ay member returning a book, before drawn, to the
Librarian, before another meeting, may draw any other
one found in the library.
10. The members of this Society shall be divided into
six classes, alphabetically, according to the first letters of
their sir names, the beginning of the alphabet to draw
first, the second class to draw next, and so on at the first,
meeting; at the next meeting the first class to draw last,
and the second class first, and so on from time to time,
by just rotation, each class agreeing among themselves
wh0 shall draw first.
1 1. This Constitution may at any time hereafter be a-
trended or altered if found necessary, by the agreement
and consent of two third parts of the members of this
Society and not otherwise.
12. The Librarian may, if he shall see fit, hire out
books to persons not members of this Society, at the rate
of six cents per week for each book.
13. We do agree lo pay to the Librarian, the sums of
money or its value in such books as he will accept, set
against our names, which money he shall lay out for
books for the use of the society.
We whose names are subscribed do solemnly engage to
conform ourselves to this Constitution, in \vitness
thereof we have hereunto set our names."
, > JESSE TORREY, Jan.
Sl S ne(1 >$ and by 147 others.
The following form of an instrument for subscription,
is as nearly similar as I can recollect, to the one which I
prepared and circulated among the citizens of New Leba-
non, during the winter evenings in 1803 and 4. The a-
mount generally subscribed by each was fifty cents;
some subscribed a dollar and some 25 cents; others con-
tributed books. The young persons of both sexes, who
were possessed of means 3 also, generally subscribed from
19
12 cents to a dollar, on signing the articles of the consti-
tution. But many were admitted who contributed noth-
ing.
Form of Subscription for Free Libraries.
**The subscribers, impressed with the belief, that the
general dissemination of useful knowledge and instruction
among the rising generation, would tend to the promotion
of virtue and happiness, agree to contribute and pay to
the amount, or its value in useful hooks, set
respectively against our names; to be appropriated to the
institution of a free circulating library.
And whenever twelve youth, of either sex, between
the age of 12 and 21 years, shall have associated for the
purpose of mental improvement, the aforesaid
is authorised to deliver the money or books by us subscri-
bed and paid, to such agent or committee as shall be ap-
pointed by the society to receive, and purchase books
with the same."
ESSAYS
On the pernicious effects &f the habitual intemperate or
temperate use of Spirituous Liquors.
Verily and sincerely is my conviction of the notorious
fact, that, independent of all the other infernal marshals
that annoy mankind under the banners of Ignorance, the
grand head traitress, (making the brain her head quarters)
Intemperance, her commanding chief, directing a fiery,
deathly army of assassins, consisting of millions cf battal-
ions of half gills, gills, half pints and pints of whiskey,
gin, rum, brandy, &c. &c. treacherously and rfiurderously
betraying their poisoned arrows, (with a smile and a kiss)
into the sangiiem cordis (heart's blood; of their dearest
lovers and friends; commits, annually, greater and more
irretrievable depredations on the lives health, wealth,
domestic harmony, virtue and morals, and physical pow-
er of the aggregate population of the republic of the li-
nked Statfs, than a numerous hostile army could inflict
by a perpetual warfare I
20
A few days after having written the above paragraph,
looking over d bundle of old pamphlets, 1 met with an ac-
count of the proceedings of that benevolent association
of people generally styled Quakers, <k for promoting the
improvement ami civilization of (he Indian natives."-
ft ere 1 found a speech addressed to the committee of
Friends, at Baltimore, by the Indian Chief called the Lit-
tle Turtle, in 1 802. I consider it a still m;>re superb and
moving specimen of Indian eloquence than that of Lo-
gan It is a pathetic sermon or epitaph oa thousands of
im poisoned brethren ! As short as it is, before 1 could
go througn it, I was several times compelled to pause, un-
til I could suppress the sympathetic emotions which it
excited, and recover iny interrupted vision froai irresiti-
ble suffusions of moisture. Who, that has not a heart of
flint and an eye of horn, can view this picture, drawn by
an unlettered savage, and then wheel his eye over the
frightful portraiture, (as large, and no less real than life)
which exhibits the present assimilated condition of us ci-
vilized white men, with apathy ? Here is the speech : .
" Brothers and friends When our forefathers first met
on this island, your red brethren were very numerous.
But since the introduction amongst us of what you: call
spirituous liquors, and what we think may be justly called
POISOW, our numbers are greatly diminished. It has des-
troyed a great part of your red brethren.
" My Brothers and Friends We plainly perceive, that
you see the very evil which destroys your red brethren ;
it is not an evil of our own making,- we have not placed
it amongst ourselves; it is aa evil placed amongst us by
the white people ; we look to them to remove it out of our
country. We tell them brethren fetch us useful things j
bring goods that will clothe us, our women and our chil-
drr'.n, and not this evil liquor that destroys our reason,
that destroys our health, that destroys our lives. But
all we can say on this subject is of no service, nor gives
relief to your red breH'ren.
' My Brothers and Friends I rejoice to find (hat you
agree in opinion with us, and express an anxiety to be,
if possible, of service to us in removing this great evil
out of our country; an evil which has had so much room
in it, and ha* destroyed so many of our lives, that it cau-
ses our young eaen toeaj, " we had better be at war with
21
the white people, this liquor which they introduce into
aur country, is more to be feared than the gua and the
tomahawk. There are more of ua dead since the treaty
of Greenville, than we lost by the six years war before.
It is all ovfing to the introduction of this liquor amongst
us."
" Brothers When our youna; men have been out htm-
tiiig, and are returning home loaded with 8kiis and furs,
on their way, if it happens that they come along where
gome of this whiskey is deposited* the white man who sells
it, teils them to take a little drink; some of them will say
no, I do not want it; they go on till they come to anoth-
er house, where they find more of the same kind of drink ;
it is there offered again; they refuse; and again the
third time; but finally the fourth or fifth time one accepts
of it and takes a drink, and getting one, he wants another;
and then a third and fourth, t411 ids senses have !**ft him.
After big reason comes oack again to him, when he gets
up and finds where he is, he asks for his peltry the an-
swer is "you have drank them" where is my gun? " It
is gjoae ;" where is my blanket;? ' It is gone; 1 ' where is
ray shirt? "you have sold it for whiskey!!**- Now,
Brothers, figure to yourselves what condition this maa
must be iu. He has a family at home; a wife and chil
drett, who stand ia need <>f the profit* of his hunting.*
What must be tteir wants, when he himseH'is even with-
out a shirt !"
One of the most prominent advantages of civilization
over the savage state, is considered to be the protection
of the rights of the soci;U com. met and it members, by
equitable laws, from aggressions of individuals. Let us
inquire whether the habitual drinker of distilled spirits
does not, first by anticipation, and eventually in reality,
plunder the public treasury ? \ rich man, or a poor
man, no matter which, for Intemperance, like its legiti-
mate successor, Death, soon bevels all distinctions as to
fortune, and the farmer d.-i^s ?I?o. in dignity and res port-
ability) and perhaps honest, except his fatal mistake, of be-
in?? willing to sacrifice Iris health, life, propertv, reputa-
tion, his wife and ch:l'lren, together with almost every
source of social enjoyment to the heathenish God of stills,
swallows daily the worth of a ^iven amount in distilled
spirits, exceeding the collateral ioconae of fass trade,
farm or labor, exclusive of what is required for customa-
ry family expenses. Hence, if mathematical computa-
tion tells the truth, this unfortunate man, together with
his family, so far as any or all are incapable of labor, with-
in one, two, four, eight or sixteen years according to the
case, are inevitably pushed into a situation that demands
the compassion and charity of the public and of his more
prudent neighbors. It is an ancient and established
truth, that a stitch iu time saves nine, although but lit-
tle heeded, and that an ounce of prevention is worth 'a
pound of cure. General knowledge is the only infallible
remedy for this moral pestilence. To American Sages,
therefore,
The aggriev'd Genius of America appeals ;
To apply the SOVEREIGN BALM, and relieve those Ills.
A statement has been communicated to me, from SB
authentic source, that one ,of our most distinguished
statesmen, having been a candidate for a seat in one of our
State Legislatures, disdained to dishonor himself and his
country, by purchasing the suffrages of his fellow citi-
zens, with distilled spirits; the consequence of which ob-
stinacy was, that an ignorant grog-seller, who could nei-
ther read nor write his name, not being over nice about
"honor, by distributing whiskey profusely amongst the c*
lectors, obtained the appointment.* With much pain I
have also lately learned the following alarming fact, from
credible authority : A philanthropic member of the Le-
gislative Council of one of the capital ciMes of the United
States, ciearly recognising the calamitous consequences,
proceeding from the existence of the great number of
tippling shops, sanctioned by the public authorities, in
vain exerted his efforts fora reduction of the number of
these whirlpools of destruction and woe, for two years,
when, being discouraged, he withdrew from that employ-
ment with chagrin. One of the members was so in-
*This method of quickening the senses of American citizens to
an understanding of their interests, has been successfully prac-
tised for many years in several of the states, by candidates for
seats in Congress And yet we pompously and justly too, style
ourselves the most enlightened, virtuous, free and ha^py nation
on earth.
23
genuous as to acknowledge, that the reason why he couli!
not unite with him in effecting that object was, that he
obtained his living by selling distilled spirits to the retail-
ers by the barrel, and that the retailers got their living
by selling it to others in smaller quantities ! On hearing
this, - 1 exclaimed, " if there be a city in the United
States, the public agents of which are governed in their
proceedings by such motives, then the Lord have mercy
on that city,"
The dawn of this day had not commenced, when the
preceding thoughts and facts glanced thro' my mind in
instantaneous succession.
As the sun began to ascend and diffuse its golden radi-
ance over the American hemisphere; while I alternate-
ly beheld this majestic agent of the Creator, and the
venerable walls of the last and only solitary castle,* in
which the persecuted Genius of Liberty is permitted to
dwell throughout this vast Globe, the following ejacula-
tion sprang spontaneously from niy melted heart : " God
of the Universe, enlighten my soul with the fire of thy
spirit; permit me to be the humble organ through
which a spark thereof may be transmitted to (he souls of
men in the United States of America, that a bright Same
may be thereby kindled in their minds, that shall display
clearly to their senses, a view of the fatal and inextrica-
ble vortex into which they are gradually and unwarily
plunging themselves and their posterity t" I then" yiel-
ded to an irresistable impulse, which enjoined it on me
to devote the preceding day to the execution of this es-
say, which, if it prove the means of protecting a single
innocent female, and her babes from the venomous jaws
f the most cruel hydra that is permitted to enter our
dwellings and receive our voluntary embraces and cor-
dial hospital ities ; to me, it will afford a superior com-
pensation to that of possessing all the diamonds of all the
Monarchs of Europe.
NOTE. Having written the above essay, white at the City of
Washington in 1815, it was published originally in the National
Intel tig enccr.
* The Capital of the United States,
2-*
PHENOMENON
Of extracting the greatest Good from the worst EtiL
I shall employ this opportunity to announce to the cit-
izens ot the United States my determination to eirculatej
as extensively as possible, throughout the country, me-
morials to the Congress, and also to Ike state Legisla-
tures, t>rayiRg that sufficient funds may be raised, by a
liberal system of duties on ARDENT SPIRITS, lor
the universal establishment of FREE LANCASTRI-
AN SCHOOLS, AND FREE PUBLIC LIBRA
HIES.
Spirituous liquors ought to be answerable for the mis-
chiefs which they produce.
" From a report of an association in Portland, called ibe
?.loral Society, it appears that out of 86 persons subject
to the public charity in that place, 71 had become go
from their intemperance, and that out of 1 IB supplied at
their own houses hy the town, more than half are of that
description. The expenees of the town in its charities
exceed 6000 dollars, and more than two thirds of that
sura went to support such persons as were made poor hy
their vices. Of consequence, 7000 persons are taxed
4000 dollars hy the vices of their neighbors. From
these well known facts the report proceeds to calculate
almost bi-if a million of dollars paid in the same way in
this state only, and if in the same proportion in the U-
nited States, the whole amount must be millions. We
all enquire what can be done. We cannot take away
personal liberty. We cannot prohibit spirituous liquors.
We cannot punish persons not convicted of any breach
of the laws. We cannot distinguish in the business of
life, because the rich are sometimes as blame-worthy as
their less wealthy neighbors. We can say that when any
persons are committed to the public charity, they shall
be properly guarded against temptations. That their hab-
its shall be considered, and all restraints \\ hich can con-
sist with health, shall be laid. We might hope that some
laws of education and life might obtain. But as no love
of fame, no great talents, or public trusts, can be said to
have been sufficient to prevent men and nationsTrom the
guilt and the sbat*>e of intemperance we have a right SB
25
*h<? administration of charity to regard not en] y the health
and hopes of the sufferer?, but the safety and the economy
of civil society."
The report of the Mora! Society exhibits the ravages
of intemperance on properly. The foHavving; lines, which
I cut out of one of the Philadelphia newspapers a year
ago, depict its barbarous inroads upon domestic felicity ;;
in comparison with \\hich money is " trash"
DISSIPATION.
KOT the jaws of Charybdis nor the hoarse rocks in Scylla*
Not all the fell dangers that lurk in the deep,
Not the earthquake's deep yawn, nor the volcano's lava,
Not the pestilence's breath, or the hurricane's sweep*
Not all the dread monsters that live thro* creation
Have caused such destruction, such mis'ry and woe,
As from that arch pest of man-kind, Diss'pation,
Through the civilized world incessantly flow,
Tis a vortex insatiate on whose giddy bosom
The victim is whirl'd till his senses are gone,
Till, lost to all shame and the dictates of reason,)
He lends not one effort to ever return.
Ah ! view 011 it surface the ruins of genius,
The wreck of a scholar, the Christian and friend 1
The learning, the wit, the graces that charm'd us,
In the mind-drowning bowl meet a premature end,
Al* ! hear, drown'd in tears, the disconsolate mother^
Lament the lost state of a favorite son,
Hear the wife and the child, the sister and brother
Mourn a husband, a tatbtff, a brother undone.
One tf the, principal funnels to the insatiable vortex of
intemperance is the generally prevailing popula< error,
that the temperate use of ardent spirits is innocent and
even healthful aiui necessary. I \va-s chilled with sur-
prise and almost with despair, to hear several of the cho-
sen guardians of our national welfare, standing in theijr
places ia the House of Representatives, proe;aim (heir
sentiments (hat. u distilled spirits had become one of ike ne-
cessaries cf life, that the farmer ecu-Id not do without it in
his agricultural lalcrs, and that to impose heavy taxes on
C
it would he cppressivc to induffiry.*** But 1 wa? much
gratified however, to see that a majority, (lliough a very
small one) were of a different opinion. It was strongly
urged by one gentleman that whkkey is an important ar-
ticle of manufacture; that it adds to the wealth of this
nation, and ot:gU to be encouraged by our government.
The eye thai cannot perceive that the reverse is the fact
pust he both morally and politically blind. For a com-
munity to permit or encourage the importation or manu-
facture of disiillcd spirits, for the sake of the revenue de-
rived therefrom, is precisely the same policy as it \\ouhl
be to institute premiums for the construction of daggers to
Liab it? own vitals with.
Extract from Darwin's Zoonomia See. 30. '-When
the expediency of laying a further tax on the distillation
of spirituous liquors from grain was canvassed before the
House of Commons some years ago, it was said of the dis
tillers, with great truth, kl they take the KHEADfrom the
people and convert it into POltiOfi' I" Yet is this manufac-
tory of disease permitted to continue, as appears hy its
paying; into the treasury above/. 900,000, f near a million
of rnoae}' annually. And thus, under the names of Rum,
Brandy, Gin, Whiskry, usquebaugh, wine, cyder, beer,
raid pcrJer, alcohol is become the baae ol the Christian
World, as opium of the Mahometan.
Evoe ! pnrce, L.iber,
Parce, gravi metuende thyrso ! HOR."
O ! from grievous sling 1 of Bacchus' fatal dart,
Be preserved : defend yourself with all your art !
But it is almost as useless t expostulate with veterans
in the ranks of Bacchus, as with those who are confident
that they are under tiie power of witchcraft. This
fact is rrel! illustrated by the reply of a boozy tipler to a
Quaker of Baltimore, who informed me that he was rep-
* ^wt ;t not be said ardent spirits have become necessary from
habit in harvest, and in other seasons of uncommon and hard
labor. The habit is a bad one, and may be easily broken. Let
but half a dozen fanners combine in a neighborhood to allow
higher wage 3 to their laborers, kc." DK. RUSH. The farm-
era in ore of the c<*v,niits of Pennsylvania have lately adopted
public resolutions to suppress the use of distilled spirits amongst
<heir laborers, at all seasons.
f About 4,006,000 dollars.
27
resenting to him the terrible consequences of intemper-
ance, " I have no doubt, said he, but that all you say is
true, but you might as well sing psalms to a, dead horse as
to talk to me.*' Yet let us not forget that these unfortu-
nate victims of their own weakness and imprudence are
still mm; and claim our sympathy and comrnisseratlou
far their want of discretion. And if warnings and entrea-
ties will not prevail, let us resort to more efficacious means
for their relief, as well as for the protection of the com-
mon interest against the effects of their conduct. Re-
proachful denunciations, however, are not only useless,
but injurious and uncharitable. lt We all enquire what
can be done ? We cannot takeaway personalliberty."ce.
What is liberty ? Does it permit one individual to deprive
another, directly or indirectly of the fruits of his toil and
prudence? What is the difference, except in a criminal
point of view, whether my neighbor picks my pocket or
places his weeping starving wife and children in such a
situation, that I must either empty my pocket myself to
relieve them, or see them perish ? It is lamentable, ,;g
well as astonishing that so fesv of our citizens have granted
this subject its lawful weight either io the scales of policy,
morality, physics or religion. Is there an individual who
is not no\v affected, more or ICSF, in some shape or othrr,
from the immense deficit in the national wealth, occasion-
ed by the appropriation of 20^000,000 dollars annually du-
ring the last twenty years, to a threefold worse (Purpose
than annihilation? Twice we have bravely resisted and
spurned political, despotism , and at length we have pros-
trated our necks under the sceptre of king ALCOHOL .
With an incredible infatuation we have sacrificed the gol-
den presents of Ceres on the hissing copper altars of cra-
zy Bacchus. Were I allowed the privilege of oblitera-
ting the two greatest scourges ef man kind, I would select
the art of distilling food, and the art of war. I am not
disposed to attach any degree of moral turpitude, to man-
ufacturers or sellers of ardent spirits ; but it does seem to
me that if they would revolve and scrutinize the subject
in its real genuine cnaracter, they would not hesitate to
renounce an employment which involves in its develope-
ment, the propagation of so much human misery and
wretchedness.* But the nation must take this matter in
hand, or nothing essential can be done.
* fk. merchant of Virginia by the name of Scholfleld, listened to
23
The safety of the nation is at stake ! Lot the- question
be fairly stated:- it is, \vhetherReason or AJco-feol shall
predominate? Or,
Reason, Virtac 9 the Lives,
Health, Wealth,
Morals and Mappiness
of our citizens ! !
versus
Alcohol, Intemperance^
Pice, Poverty and
Mistry, Crimes and Infamy,
Disease and Death ! !
Let the tribunal consist of the inhabitants of the Uni-
ted States, male and female, eld and young, of whatever
condition, as jurors : and their legislators as judge?.
Let every one that can speak say yea or nay, and record
it with his or her name or mark. We know women and
children are not allowed a voice in making laws, but in
this case particularly, their fate is seriously concerned,
and their voices ought to be listened to, and duly regar-
ded. Let the public will be called forth by meetings
and memorials. Let it he ascertained whether the ma-
jority prefer self-preservation or self-destruction. Dr.
Rush says, " let good men of every class unite and be-
siege the general and state governments with petition?
to limit the number of taverns; to impose heavy duties
upon ardent spirits, &c."
Another writer who has given a lively picture of the
devastations of distilled liquor?, says, " lot men who
wish well to their country, unite in petitions to govern--
Kient, to impose still heavier duties upon imported spir-
its, and our own distillers; and to regulate taverns and
retailers of spirits , and to secure the property of habitu-
al drunkards, for the benefit of their families."
There has been " much speaking," much writing, much
printing, and much preaching, on this subject, ami but
little benefit seems to result from the whole, it ia time
his conscience, and bternt all his distilled liquors publicly on the
summit of a mountain. Another in Delaware, beat in tha heads
of his casks. A respectable French gentleman having purchased
an estate at Buffal ,e (N. V.) on which was a distilling- establish-
ment, demolished it immediately on taking- possession, gay'm-*? he
"^ had done on? go yd deed"
29
to try a Hftle doing. This will accomplish much more
than talking. ik Therefore whosoev r er heareth taese say-
ings of mine, and docth them, I will liken him unto a
wise man, which bull this house upon a rock." [JESUS.]
Let our ' good men,** of whom the- number is undoubted-
ly great, adopt the beautiful maxim of the late Cotton
Mather, author of t; Etsays to do good" u that a power
and an apportunity io do good, not only gives a right to
the doing of it, but makes the doing of it a duty." The
inducement for doing good, ought to be further strength-
ened by the circumstance that it carries with it its own
reward; or AS I once heard a public speaker of th
Friends' Society elegantly express the sentiment, " that
while you are plucking thorns from your neighbors breast,
you are strewing your own path with flowers." It is in the
power of men of affluence to be the most active in effec-
ting a reformation of the public morals, ami in point of
interest they are also most concerned.
I have prepared the following forms of memorial?,
which it is my intention to offer for signature as widely
as it may be in my power ; and I do most ardently hope
they may be transcribed and presented in every house
occupied by human inhabitants, in the United States,
Preachers, School-masters, Post masters, and others to
whom it may be convenient and agreeable, are respectful-
ly invited to cooperate in this exceedingly necessary
work. Let us not shrink from the task, on account of
its magnitude, and the fear of its impracticability. And
if we even fail to accomplish all that we would, there is
still a self satisfaction, anil must be some utility, in doing
ail that we can.
Memorial of Sundry inhabitants of the United States
of America, to the President, Senate, and House of Rep-
resentatives;. praying that laws may be enacted for the
suppression of the unnecessary use of spirituous liquors,
and for the general diffusion of knowledge.
Whereas we the subscribers view with deep concern, the
alarming and increasing extent of the moral, political and
physical calamities produced by the vast consumption of
spirituous liquors in our country. The reality of the evil
is s ocons-picuous and palpable, that it would he a waste of
ink and paper to delineate its specific features. The ab-
stract principles of liberty, and the relative rights of mm,
authorise and demand legislative interposition. The
citizen who wantonly destroys hi* property ; his health $
C a
his meatal faculties ; by drinking spirituous liquors; and
thereby thrusis himself or a helpless family upon the pu})-
lie bounty, commits a trespass on the rights of the com-
munity. We consider it the duty of government to a-
dopt measures for preventing such aggressions no less?
than for the security and recovery of ordinary debts.
And whereas we are fully convinced that the early in-
struction of the rising generation in the moral duties of
life } would contribute materially io avert the evils under
consideration. We therefore implore and request the
government of these United States, to provide for the
education of every youth, whose education is not other-
wise provided for, within the jurisdiction thereof. For
this purpose, as well as to discourage intempe.ance, \ve
earnestly recommend that a duty of fifty cents per gallon
be imposed upon all spirituous liquors manufactured within
the United States ; and one dollar per gallon upon ail
wines and spirituous liquors, phich shall be imported : .
the monies accruing from the duties on domestic liquors,
to be appropriated to the establishment of free Lancas-
trian and common schools, and free circulating libraries,
in the respective districts in which the taxes shall he,
levied and collected : and the duties on imported li-
quors to be applied to the same purpose, in such manner
and place as the wisdom of Congress shall suggest.
Memorial 'of the inhabitants of the State- of
to the Governor, and Legislature thereof, praying that
effectual laws may be enacted for the suppression of the
unnecessary use of spirituous liquors, &c.
Whereas the subscribers behold with fearful concern,
the alarming ravages of spirituous liquors on the health,
lives, property, morals ?nd domestic happiness of the
people of this State. Self-defence, and the equal rights
of man authorise legislative interposition.
The citizen who destroys the products of his labor,
his health, his mental faculties, by drinking spirituous
liquors, and thereby thrusts himself or a helpless family
upon the public bounty, commits 'a trespass on the
rights of the community. We consider it the duty of gov-
ernment to adopt rnef sures for preventing such aggres-
sions, no less than for the security and recovery of ordi-
nary debts. We therefore implore and request the legis-
lature of this state to enact laws for placing the prop-
erty of habitual drunkards, in the care of trustees, for the
benefit of their families; to be restored again whenever
31
such mentally diseased persona shall have recovered
their reason, and discretion-: To restrict live licences
for selling distilled spirits by drams, solely to such
Inns as shall be considered requisite for the entertain-
ment of travellers : To impose a tax of one cent upon
every half gill of distilled spirits vended by Innkeepers;
and 1212 cents per quart upon all distilled spirits, l.y
whomsoever sold, in quantities exceeding one gill, and
less than ten gallons : And to appropriate the monies
thence accruing, to the establishment o! free Lancastrian
and common schools, free circulating libraries ; Alms
houses, Asylums and Infirmaries for tke benefit of indi-
gent victims of intemperance ; houses of employment ;
and to such^other purposes as may be found expedient,
It is the more indispensable to obtain (he sentiments
of the people at large, on this momentous national ques-
tion, in the manner here proposed, on account of a pre-
judice indulged by many, (^ legislators in particular, with
whom I have frequently discussed the subject,) that le-
gislative restrictions upon the distribution and use of
spirituous liquors, would excite disaffection and rebellion-
Such is my confidence in a contrary result, even with
respect to the captives of Intemperance themselves ;
and such my impressions of the imperious necessity and
duty of combatting the progress of that unmerciful ty-
rant and murderer; that I feel willing to devote a large
proportion of the subsequent time that my life may be
preserved, to the purpose of ascertaining the fact. I am
not a fanatic ; but I confess my solicitude and zeal OR
this subject, approach nearly to enthusiasm. The case
surely demands the concurrent enthusiasm and persever-
ance of all who possess the least sympathy for the suffer-
ings and woes of their fellow-men. And the very suffer-
ers are not so indifferent as has been -generally supposed.
Many have addressed their supreme Parent, with suppli-
cations to rescue and protect them from the fascinating
charm, and twining gripe with which that cunning serpent
Alcohol inveigles its prey. And they are not wholly a-
verse to coercieve means of relief. Several have sought
their emancipation, in oaths of abstinence for a given
term. Some have offered premiums for a remedy to the
habit of drinking ; and one individual of this descrip-
tion, declared to the writei of these essays, that he
65 wished government would impose a lax upon whiskey of
32
five dollars a gallon, and then he should stop drinking it."
OQ the whole, the ptobability is, that a more fo iiHtU-
ble resistance to the taxation of spirituous liquors, will
spring iVom the manufacturers, importers and sellers of
them, than from the consumers. This conclusion is au-
thorised by the fact, that so many fortunes have been ac-
quired by those occupations; by the acknowledgment of
the Alderman, as narrated in the preceding essays,
(page 23) and decisively by the late remonstrance pub-
lished by the grocers of the city of New- York. So that
the business at length resolves itself into this great mor-
al and political problem ; \TITETHEH THE MAJORITY OF
'Oi R CITIZENS FROM WHoM ALL POLITICAL AUTHORITY
ORIGINATES, SHALL FIND IT TO BE JUSTICE AND COR-
KECT POLICY, TO GRANT ONE SECTION OP THE COMMU-
NITY, THt; PRIVILEGE OF " GETT ING THEIR LIV-
ING." OH ACCUMULATING ESTATE-IS, THROUGH THE
BANKRUPTCY AKD MORAL AND PHYSICAL DESTRUCTION
OF ANOTHER MORE NUMEROUS, BT I M PUL'DE^T SECTION ?
THE HABITUAL TEMPERATE USE OF SPIR-
ITUOUS LIQUORS, A VIOLATION OF
MORAL PURITY, AND RELI-
GIOUS DUTY.
So far as it is in our power to understand the de-
signs and laws of our Creator, for ihe regulation of our
conduct, it is botii our duty and interest to ybid perfect
compliance. The preservation of health and life, is un-
questionably one of our most palpable and explicit duties.
Every act therefore which impairs our health and dimin-
ishes the period of our livts, is a violation of the express
command of God. I shall endeavor to demonstrate by
physiological facts, that both these effects are produced
more or less, by the application of distilled spirits to the
stomach, in whatever quantity. AH our food, whether
Yegetable or animal, is -originally derived from the vegeta-
ble kingdom. The materials from which vegetables re-
ceive their nutriment generally exi^t in an oxided state.
Thus water contains nearly sevea eighths of its weight oi :
oxygen; carbonic acid nearly three fourths, and all de-
caying vegetable and animal matter is found highly satu-
rated with it. The great process of vegetation appears to
Consist in decomposing the various substances \\hlch mp-
33
ply the rudiments of its food, and in expelling the exees*
of oxygen, with which they are always combined. The
first product of vegetation is sugar, which contains 8 parts
hydrogen, 28 carbon, and 64 of oxygen, and being the
crudest and most abundant article of food that exists, is
probably designed for the support of the gramenivorous
races of animals; as the various grasses*, including the su-
gar cane, yield more of it than any other plants. Wheth-
er a digression or not, I must here announce the impor-
tant fact that sugar is an improper and deleterious article
of diet for man, and a prolific source of disease, which, if
my life is spared, I shall at a future time, attempt to de-
monstrate both from facts and the physical laws of nature,
The second stage towards the perfectability of the nutri-
tive principle, is that of gum or mucilage, which contains
only half its quantity of oxygen; 14 parts in a hundred
less than sugar. Feeula or starch is a fraction finer, and
s the product of those seeds which constitute the princi-
pal aad propably the most appropriate food for men. Su-
gar is found in the most common juice or sap of plants
and trees, while gum is confined chiefly to the bark, root,
or heart, and fecuia and oil, to the seeds and nuts. Oil is
still farther refined, containing 77.243 carbon, 13.36
hydrogen, and only 9.427 of oxygen. Gluten the most
nutritive substance with which we are acquainted, is
composed, according to Accum, entirely of hydrogen,
carbon and nitrogen. It is afforded in greater quantity
from wheat, than any other vegetable.
Now in order to obtain alcohol, ('or whiskey.) from any
of the seeds used for bread, it is necessary that they
should be subjected to the recontamination of oxygen,
so as to reduce them back to their crude saccharine
state. Then the vinous fermentation, imparting still
raore oxygen, must be applied and continued until those
once nntritive milky materials have become sensibly acid
or sour. From this loathsome leaven (or yeast) of de-
pravity .disease and death, the serpentine alembic,with the
aid of the furnace, disgorges a liquid fire, which consumes
the health, happiness and lives of thousands and millions
of unthinking infatuated men. The literal chemical
term for this fluid would be the oxide of nutriment : and
it is in /his state that most poisons exist; being indebted
Ibr their activity to oxygen ; as the oxides of arsenic cop-
per, antimony, lead, silver, quicksilver, &c. The com
34
position of alcohol is as follows : Oxygen 37. 85, Car-
bon 43.65, Hydrogen 24.94, Azote 3.52, Ashes 0.04,
-= 100.00. Composed of very inflammable materials,
in a disengaged state, and mingled with more than one
third of its weight of oxygen, the cotimon vehicle of fire,
it commences a kind of smother^d-combustion instanta-
neously on its reception unto the stomach; corrodes the
organs of digestion, excites an unnatural heat and violent
circulation of the biood; attended with delirium, and suc-
ceeded by a loss of strength, proportioned to.tlie excess of
excitement produced by the irritating agent. Several
other poisons produce similar effects. It is an infallible
axiom in the physical organization of man, that every ex-
citement of his vital powers beyond the point to which
his Creator has adapted him, which is the uniform effect
of alcohol, diminishes his capacity for repeating like mo-
tions from like means. Hence it may be safely inferred
that every drain of spirituous liquors of any description, is
a check upon the capital stock of strength and life> and has-
tens the approach of ike hour of dissolution, in proportion
to ike indulgence. Each dram increases the appetite for
another, and the necessity of an increased quantity, to
produce an equal effect, multiplies in a progressive ratio.
Thus it follows, unavoidably, that the habitual temperate
use of ardent spirits is a pernicious and vicious practice.
Besides its consumption of vital power, it will be found
an unjustifiable and immoral habit in another point of
view. It is a wanton and unnecessary waste of proper-
ty, which ought to be religiously preserved, even by those
who possess it, in ever so great profusion. Dr. Frank-
lin says whoever draws a fish from the sea, draws up a
piece of silver. Whoever swallows two gills of distilled
spirits daily, annihilates 20 ounces of silver a year, or 20
bushels of rye; for the want of which many of his own
posterity may eventually starve to death. In this way,
it has been estimated by a late writer that the people of
the United States, destroy 33,385,629 dollars annually.
Considering this, and the many other useless and superflu-
ous modes of diminishing the common stock of
Rational wealth, there is no reason to be surprised to
iiear the present universal re-echo of " hard tiuws?
"dull times? "scarcity of money? " scarcity and high
price of bread corn? ' sales by 'execution? *' difficulty
of collecting debts? " insolvencies? u pauperism? &c> &c.
35
APPENDIX.
AMERICAN POLITICS.
The reason why the citizens of the U. States are separa-
ted into two great contending political parties, calumnia-
ting and provoking each other with vollics of corrosive
epithets and abuse, is to me inexplicable. ; Ask every
citizen indiscriminately his political creed, and 99 him-
dredths will give synonimous answers. Both parties
cling to the same standard, the federal constitution, and
yet reproach each other with the i$rm& federal, democrat^
<T. without reflecting on the meaning of either. The
word federal signifies nothing more than united, and has
no concern with modes or systems of government, what-
ever. The word democracy signifies government by the
people^ and composes one of the most essential and admi-
rable qualities of our political system. Any other mode
of government must originate from usurpation, violence,
and oppression. It is very plain that no man is born
marked by the Creator above another, " for none comes
into the world with a saddle on his back, nor any booted
and spurred to ride him." With rare exceptions it is
the unanimous political theorem of the citizens of the li-
nked States, of both parties, that the people are the only
source of legitimate power, and that legislators are only
public agents, or servants, dependent on the confidence
of their employ era for the continuation of their term of
service. All claim and assume the title of republican,
the literal meaning of which is public affairs^ general
interest, common good, &c. Whence then all this sense-
less clamor about Toryism and Democracy, Federalism
and Republicanism, British Influence and French Influ-
ence, &c. &c. ? Can it spring entirely from pure patriot-
ism on either side ? Does not a great proportion of it
proceed from self-interested aspirants for office, and publish-
ers of news- papers ? Let every one examine and decide
for himself. In selecting candidates for public trust, be-
ware of the imperious haughty Aristocrat or tyrant, what-
ever party or title he may assume. Without distinction
of party names, let the indisperipable qualifications, be in-
tegrity, capacity, wisdom, moral rectitude and patriotism.
But the most lamentable and mischievous prevailing 1 political
errors, after all, and which are confined to no specific party, are
the customs of sending to the other side of the globe annually,
several millions of silver dollars^ to be exchanged for tree leaves^
which produoe an injury seven fold greater than the cost of them,
so
in promoting the general epidemic of indigestion aaL ncrvoss
complaints ; of sending to Europe several millions more for con-
temptible trifles for the gratification of a vain and ridiculous fan-
cy ; several millions more to the West Indies for n:m, sugar,
molasses, coffee, and tobacco, which co-operate in their effects
Disjoint allies with the said shrubbery, first mentioned ; of sacri-
ficing- 20,000,000 more for whiskey the worst commodity of all,
in our own country; and lastly of paying many millions more to
the numerous distributors of those various seeds of moral and phy-
sical contathination three fourths of whom might otherwise, be
employed in augmenting the national wealth, in a variety of use-
/,/ occupations.
Soon after having finished the foregoing work, the au-
thor was presented, by a friend, wiih the following mourn-
ful dirge ; with a request to insert it, if thought appropos to
the present subject.
THE LOVERS OF RUM.
I've mus'd on the mis'ries of life,
To find from what quarter they come,
Whence most of confusion and strife,
Alas ! from the Lovers oi' Rum.
I met v/ith a fair one clistress'd. ;
I ask'd from whence her sorrows could come ..
She replied, " I am sorely oppressed,
" My husband's a Lover of Rum."
I found a poor child in the street,
Whose limbs by the cold, were all numb.,
No stockings or shoes on his feet,
His father's a Lover of Rum.
I went to collect a small debt,
The master was absent from home ;
The sequel 1 need not relate,
The man was a Lover of Hum.
I met with a pauper in Rags,
Who ask'd for a trifling sum :
I'll tell .you the cause why he begs,
He once was a Lover of Rum.
I've seen men, from health, wealth and ease s
Untimely, descend to the tomb,
I need not describe their disease,
Because the) were Lovers of Rum.
Ask prisons, and gallowses all,
Whence most r.i" their customers como :
From whence they have most ot their calls,
Thev'll tell you, " from Lovers of Rum."
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