not grace to withstand, and I received the unwelcome intelligence that they had abandoned total abstinence. On visiting them to expostulate, they informed me they considered they could drink moderately, "take a pint of beer," as they expressed it, and yet be sober. From their previous habits I could not but regard them as very dangerously positioned, and told them my impression that great evil would be likely to result from the step they had taken.

Both continued to drink moderately for some considerable time, but suddenly they burst out into drunkenness in the most awful manner. Debauched for days and days, day and night, the goods were sold, the furniture pawned, destitution and misery ensued, and when sober enough to survey the dismal wreck they had made of their home and their happiness, they lay and quarrelled, and cursed, and swore all night, and about daybreak, to ease his fiery rage, the husband rose penniless from the side of his wretched partner, and paced the streets to cool his aching head and conscience-stricken heart. A young man who slept above them, and who had over-night heard their fierce quarrelling, was awoke, or after he had awoke, heard a gurgling, choking noise in the room below; he listened for awhile, and became fearful something was wrong; he accordingly, to relieve his apprehensions, came down stairs and knocked at the door. Receiving no answer, he burst into the room, and discovered poor Mrs. suspended to the bed's head, by which she had hung herself in remorse at past excesses and consequent destitution. He immediately cut her down, and in time, I rejoice to add, to save her life.

A few moments later, and she would have

passed into eternity in her sins. So soon as I was informed of the affecting circumstance, I called, to endeavour to persuade them to rejoin the Temperance Society, and found they had anticipated my request. They are again improving in circumstances, and I have exhorted them, of course, to cease from all self-righteousness, and to live "a life of faith in the Son of God." May it be so with both!

The most vehement resolutions made in our own strength are not to be depended upon.

The mere signing of a pledge is very far from sufficient. I am cognizant of this fact from many years' experience in the temperance movement. This noble reformation has suffered much scandal from the unconverted within its ranks, and however eminent their position, is likely to suffer much more from such persons. Embracing as it does amongst its leaders the choicest evangelical spirits of the day, its hopes under God are with such. To the excellent Society of Friends it is under lasting obligation. From other advocates than Christians, however eloquent or distinguished, its expectancy can be but small.

From the effect of the ligature and coagulation, Mrs.'s throat swelled enormously for some weeks after this narrow escape, which was indeed providential.

The following case presents an instance of the enormous sums spent in these baneful articles by labouring people.

The subject of this notice was born on my district. The following conversation with him on his return to England, diseased and penniless, after between twenty and thirty years' absence, affords an affecting view of the effects of drunkenness. The poor fellow, it should be premised, was very respectful in his demeanour, and appeared keenly to feel his past sinful follies :

MISS.- "Where did you go when you left England ?"

STEPHENS.-"To the United States, in an American, your reverence. Then I went whaling." M."Where did you return to from your whaling voyage ?"

S.-" To New Bedford."

M.- "How much did you bring back as wages ?'

S.-"About sixty pounds."

M.-"How long did that last you?"

S.-"Not long, (jerking himself up,) I may as well tell the truth. Oh yes!-about a fortnight."

M." What did you drink chiefly ? "

S.-"Brandy and rum. I liked champagne--treated everybody."

M.-"Did you go to New Holland from the United States ?"

S.-"Yes, and went from there to the coast

of New Guinea for sandal-wood and tortoise-shell in a cutter; capital wages, first-rate. We went ashore for water, and the sailors left aboard thought they'd like to come ashore too, so they left the vessel at anchor; when we come back she was gone swamped."

M."How did she get swamped?"

S.-"Oh! the natives watched us all ashore, and went and plundered her, and swamped her. They're very treacherous, them New Guineans; they is cannibals, too; they killed one of our men." M.-"Have you been shepherding in Australia ?"

S.-"No, not shepherding, but hut-keeping. At that time the wages to a single man was thirty-five pounds per annum and rations."

M.-You used to come down to Sydney to take your wages, I suppose, as usual. How often?"

S." Once a year."

M. "How long would your wages last

Sydney?"

S." Not long," (shaking his head.)
M.- "How long did your money last
S.-"About a fortnight."

you at

you?"

M.- "How did you spend it ?-in drink?

S.-"Oh yes! and the publicans, when you was drunk, would score you two for one. I wasn't robbed of it-oh no! I've laid in the mud in Sydney streets all night, with notes in my pockets. I wasn't robbed, though. Drank it up."

M.-"Did you stop ashore for many years ?" S." Oh no! Went trading to the Cape, to Isle of France, and from port to port in New Holland, Sydney, Adelaide, Hobart Town, Van Diemen's Land, and to New Zealand."

M.-"Why you might have saved at least £800. Drank it all? "

S.-"Oh yes! When I was ashore, I went to the public-house and stopped maybe till eleven at night; sometimes went back again by three in the morning-treated anybody-drank till it was all

gone."

M.-"How came you back to England ?"

S." Why we went to the Isle of France, and there I was seized with this here complaint in my side. Went to the hospital; Dr. said there was nothing the matter with me, but Dr. showed him better; he examined my side, and squeezed it, and him and the other doctor talked together in their lingo, in course I didn't understand it, and then he see what it was. I'd nothing the matter with me till I came to the Isle of France (Mauritius.) It's a shocking

unhealthy place, always people being buried at Port St. Louis. They asked me which I'd like to come to, England or go back to New Holland. I said for England; so they made an inscription as I wasn't able to work my passage, and I came home in the Carnatic,' (a fine ship;) but I didn't know what a poverty-struck place London had become."

M.-"Why did you come to England ? "

S.-"Why I wanted to see my old mother and my friends; and when I come I found her dead, and my relations dead too."

M.-" You should have written to see if they were alive."

S." So I did, but I never got no answer." M.- "Did you get your letters back ? " S.-"Oh no! I didn't put them in the post. They plays such tricks with the letters.

I used