On the intemperance of our country - Revision history

TCDE-Team at 18:49, 6 June 2026

2026-06-06T18:49:30Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:49, 6 June 2026
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	: "Who, when his task is o'er,		: "Who, when his task is o'er,
	: "Can say that he has done his best,		: "Can say that he has done his best,
	: "Angels can say no more." <ref>[[Arthur Conan Doyle]] invented these lines as he wrote in a letter (source: ''Arthur Conan Doyle: A Life in Letters'', by J. Lellenberg, D. Stashower & C. Foley (HarperPress, USA) p. 69-70).</ref>		: "Angels can say no more." <ref>[[Arthur Conan Doyle]] invented these lines as he wrote in a letter (source: ''Arthur Conan Doyle: A Life in Letters'', by [[Jon L. Lellenberg\|J. Lellenberg]], D. Stashower & C. Foley (HarperPress, USA) p. 69-70).</ref>

TCDE-Team at 17:00, 27 January 2026

2026-01-27T17:00:33Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:00, 27 January 2026
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	''On the intemperance of our country, the cause of its prevalence, and the means to be adopted for its suppression'' is an essay written by [[Arthur Conan Doyle]] in 1878 intended to be published for print, but never published.		''On the intemperance of our country, the cause of its prevalence, and the means to be adopted for its suppression'' is an essay written by [[Arthur Conan Doyle]] in 1878 intended to be published for print, but never published.

	The manuscript is held at the ''Toronto Public Library'' (~~Object Number~~: [https://digitalarchive.tpl.ca/objects/373780/essay-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-the-cause-of-its-p?ctx=b6a5b1c062a2689210c6ee7fc411cf4af6e0d708&idx=4 37131055014799D]).		The manuscript is held at the ''Toronto Public Library — Arthur Conan Doyle Collection'' (object number: [https://digitalarchive.tpl.ca/objects/373780/essay-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-the-cause-of-its-p?ctx=b6a5b1c062a2689210c6ee7fc411cf4af6e0d708&idx=4 37131055014799D]).

	__TOC__		__TOC__

TCDE-Team at 16:54, 27 January 2026

2026-01-27T16:54:01Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:54, 27 January 2026
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			[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p01draft.jpg\|thumb\|250px\|right\|Manuscript (p. 1) ''draft version'']]

	''On the intemperance of our country, the cause of its prevalence, and the means to be adopted for its suppression'' is an essay written by [[Arthur Conan Doyle]] in 1878 intended to be published for print, but never published.		''On the intemperance of our country, the cause of its prevalence, and the means to be adopted for its suppression'' is an essay written by [[Arthur Conan Doyle]] in 1878 intended to be published for print, but never published.
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	== Essay ==		== Essay ==
	~~[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p01draft.jpg\|thumb\|150px\|right\|Manuscript (p. 1) ''draft version'']]~~
	[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p01.jpg\|thumb\|150px\|right\|Manuscript (p. 1) ''final version'']]		[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p01.jpg\|thumb\|150px\|right\|Manuscript (p. 1) ''final version'']]
	[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p02.jpg\|thumb\|150px\|right\|Manuscript (p. 2)]]		[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p02.jpg\|thumb\|150px\|right\|Manuscript (p. 2)]]

TCDE-Team at 16:53, 27 January 2026

2026-01-27T16:53:14Z

TCDE-Team at 16:49, 27 January 2026

2026-01-27T16:49:33Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:49, 27 January 2026
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	[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p42.jpg\|thumb\|250px\|right\|Manuscript (p. 42)]]		[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p42.jpg\|thumb\|250px\|right\|Manuscript (p. 42)]]

	On the intemperance of our country, the cause of its prevalence, and the means to be adopted for its suppression. <ref>the first page ~~draft~~ had a the following ~~first line~~ : "On the intemperance of our country, the cause of its prevalence, and the means of suppressing it."</ref>		On the intemperance of our country, the cause of its prevalence, and the means to be adopted for its suppression. <ref>The draft of the first page had the following title: "On the intemperance of our country, the cause of its prevalence, and the means of suppressing it."</ref>

	: Unless above himself he can,		: Unless above himself he can,
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	It is a more difficult matter to know how to deal with the social causes of drunkenness. These, as we have shown, are the outgrowths of centuries, and are, I fear, not to be swept away in a few years. They are not to be carried by assault, but rather to be undermined, and slowly crumbled away. The temperance party must first express its opinion earnestly and loudly until it influences the tone of society, and causes it to treat the subject in a more befitting manner. Then with the aid of such legislative improvements as we have sketched we may hope to see 'nipping' and kindred customs as obsolete as bullbaiting or prize fighting. One essential for success however is that the advocates of temperance should not content themselves by merely refraining from these customs themselves; they must speak out fearlessly and endeavour to prevent others from yielding to them. A thankless task it is, and per chance we may never behold the fruit of what we do; we may sow the good seed and pass away before it sprouts, but sprout it will; it will not all fall on sandy soil, neither will the birds of the air devour it. It may be that our children's children will look back with gratitude on those who left them a legacy more precious than gold, and be proud to find their forefathers fighting in the van of civilization, promoting what their consciences told them was a righteous cause, regardless of the difficulties in the path. At least we may rest assured that in another world, to whatever creed we belong, we shall find our resistance to this crying evil registered to our credit, and receive full measure and over-flowing to atone for any inconvenience we may have suffered from it in this.		It is a more difficult matter to know how to deal with the social causes of drunkenness. These, as we have shown, are the outgrowths of centuries, and are, I fear, not to be swept away in a few years. They are not to be carried by assault, but rather to be undermined, and slowly crumbled away. The temperance party must first express its opinion earnestly and loudly until it influences the tone of society, and causes it to treat the subject in a more befitting manner. Then with the aid of such legislative improvements as we have sketched we may hope to see 'nipping' and kindred customs as obsolete as bullbaiting or prize fighting. One essential for success however is that the advocates of temperance should not content themselves by merely refraining from these customs themselves; they must speak out fearlessly and endeavour to prevent others from yielding to them. A thankless task it is, and per chance we may never behold the fruit of what we do; we may sow the good seed and pass away before it sprouts, but sprout it will; it will not all fall on sandy soil, neither will the birds of the air devour it. It may be that our children's children will look back with gratitude on those who left them a legacy more precious than gold, and be proud to find their forefathers fighting in the van of civilization, promoting what their consciences told them was a righteous cause, regardless of the difficulties in the path. At least we may rest assured that in another world, to whatever creed we belong, we shall find our resistance to this crying evil registered to our credit, and receive full measure and over-flowing to atone for any inconvenience we may have suffered from it in this.

	Before concluding this essay a tabulated condensed résumé of what we consider the chief causes of drunkenness and their antidotes, will not be out of place.		Before concluding this essay a tabulated condensed résumé of what we consider the chief causes of drunkenness and their antidotes, will not be out of place:

	Causes		{\| class="wikitable"
			\|-
	Love of excitement		!style="width:50%;"\| '''Causes'''
	Want of selfrespect.		!style="width:50%;"\| '''Antidotes'''
			\|-
	Natural joviality		\|style="vertical-align:top;"\| Love of excitement<br />Want of selfrespect.
	Gregariousness		\|style="vertical-align:top;"\| Education which increases one's self-respect, and gives facilities for spending spare time
	Fear of ridicule		\|-
			\|style="vertical-align:top;"\| Natural joviality<br />Gregariousness<br />Fear of ridicule
			\|style="vertical-align:top;"\| Temperance clubs, cocoa houses, and other such associations.
			\|-
			\|style="vertical-align:top;"\| Pernicious social customs and moral influences<br />Hereditary causes
			\|style="vertical-align:top;"\| Must be gradually ameliorated by the exertions of the temperance party, aided by the good sense of the people and such legislative measures as:<br />The Permissive bill.<br />The Habitual Drunkard's Restraint act.<br />Limitation of public houses by population.<br />Careful selection of publicans. Stringent penalties for their misbehaviour.
			&c.
			\|}

	~~Pernicious social customs and moral influences~~
	~~Hereditary causes~~

	~~Antidotes~~

	~~Education which increases one's self-respect, and gives facilities for spending spare time~~
	~~Temperance clubs, cocoa houses, and other such associations~~

	~~Must be gradually ameliorated by the exertions of the temperance party, aided by the good sense of the people and such legislative measures as~~
	~~The Permissive bill.~~
	~~The Habitual Drunkard's Restraint act.~~
	~~Limitation of public houses by population.~~
	~~Careful selection of publicans. Stringent penalties for their misbehaviour.~~
	~~&c.~~

	And now that I have come to the conclusion of this essay, and look back I ask myself "have I carried out that which I originally conceived?" Though painfully aware of its imperfections, I cannot but answer that I have. Written as it has been during the short intervals of leisure enjoyed by a medical assistant, it is necessarily somewhat disjointed; it has however been to me no task, but a labour of love. It is said that a mother ever loves best the most distorted and deformed of her offspring, but I trust the saying does not hold good as to the feelings of an essayist towards his literary child, otherwise it bodes ill for this poor foundling. I cannot conclude better than by those cheering lines:		And now that I have come to the conclusion of this essay, and look back I ask myself "have I carried out that which I originally conceived?" Though painfully aware of its imperfections, I cannot but answer that I have. Written as it has been during the short intervals of leisure enjoyed by a medical assistant, it is necessarily somewhat disjointed; it has however been to me no task, but a labour of love. It is said that a mother ever loves best the most distorted and deformed of her offspring, but I trust the saying does not hold good as to the feelings of an essayist towards his literary child, otherwise it bodes ill for this poor foundling. I cannot conclude better than by those cheering lines:

TCDE-Team at 16:41, 27 January 2026

2026-01-27T16:41:25Z

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TCDE-Team: Created page with " ''On the intemperance of our country, the cause of its prevalence, and the means to be adopted for its suppression'' is an essay written by Arthur Conan Doyle in 1878 intended to be published for print, but never published. The manuscript is held at the ''Toronto Public Library'' (Object Number: [https://digitalarchive.tpl.ca/objects/373780/essay-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-the-cause-of-its-p?ctx=b6a5b1c062a2689210c6ee7fc411cf4af6e0d708&idx=4 37131055014799D..."

2026-01-27T16:26:57Z

Created page with " ''On the intemperance of our country, the cause of its prevalence, and the means to be adopted for its suppression'' is an essay written by Arthur Conan Doyle in 1878 intended to be published for print, but never published. The manuscript is held at the ''Toronto Public Library'' (Object Number: [https://digitalarchive.tpl.ca/objects/373780/essay-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-the-cause-of-its-p?ctx=b6a5b1c062a2689210c6ee7fc411cf4af6e0d708&idx=4 37131055014799D..."

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← Older revision		Revision as of 18:53, 27 January 2026
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	== Essay ==		== Essay ==
	[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p01draft.jpg\|thumb\|~~250px~~\|right\|Manuscript (p. 1) ''draft version'']]		[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p01draft.jpg\|thumb\|150px\|right\|Manuscript (p. 1) ''draft version'']]
	[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p01.jpg\|thumb\|~~250px~~\|right\|Manuscript (p. 1) ''final version'']]		[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p01.jpg\|thumb\|150px\|right\|Manuscript (p. 1) ''final version'']]
	[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p02.jpg\|thumb\|~~250px~~\|right\|Manuscript (p. 2)]]		[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p02.jpg\|thumb\|150px\|right\|Manuscript (p. 2)]]
	[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p03.jpg\|thumb\|~~250px~~\|right\|Manuscript (p. 3)]]		[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p03.jpg\|thumb\|150px\|right\|Manuscript (p. 3)]]
	[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p04.jpg\|thumb\|~~250px~~\|right\|Manuscript (p. 4)]]		[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p04.jpg\|thumb\|150px\|right\|Manuscript (p. 4)]]
	[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p05.jpg\|thumb\|~~250px~~\|right\|Manuscript (p. 5)]]		[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p05.jpg\|thumb\|150px\|right\|Manuscript (p. 5)]]
	[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p06.jpg\|thumb\|~~250px~~\|right\|Manuscript (p. 6)]]		[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p06.jpg\|thumb\|150px\|right\|Manuscript (p. 6)]]
	[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p07.jpg\|thumb\|~~250px~~\|right\|Manuscript (p. 7)]]		[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p07.jpg\|thumb\|150px\|right\|Manuscript (p. 7)]]
	[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p08.jpg\|thumb\|~~250px~~\|right\|Manuscript (p. 8)]]		[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p08.jpg\|thumb\|150px\|right\|Manuscript (p. 8)]]
	[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p09.jpg\|thumb\|~~250px~~\|right\|Manuscript (p. 9)]]		[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p09.jpg\|thumb\|150px\|right\|Manuscript (p. 9)]]
	[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p10.jpg\|thumb\|~~250px~~\|right\|Manuscript (p. 10)]]		[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p10.jpg\|thumb\|150px\|right\|Manuscript (p. 10)]]
	[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p11.jpg\|thumb\|~~250px~~\|right\|Manuscript (p. 11)]]		[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p11.jpg\|thumb\|150px\|right\|Manuscript (p. 11)]]
	[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p12.jpg\|thumb\|~~250px~~\|right\|Manuscript (p. 12)]]		[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p12.jpg\|thumb\|150px\|right\|Manuscript (p. 12)]]
	[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p13.jpg\|thumb\|~~250px~~\|right\|Manuscript (p. 13)]]		[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p13.jpg\|thumb\|150px\|right\|Manuscript (p. 13)]]
	[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p14.jpg\|thumb\|~~250px~~\|right\|Manuscript (p. 14)]]		[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p14.jpg\|thumb\|150px\|right\|Manuscript (p. 14)]]
	[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p15.jpg\|thumb\|~~250px~~\|right\|Manuscript (p. 15)]]		[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p15.jpg\|thumb\|150px\|right\|Manuscript (p. 15)]]
	[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p16.jpg\|thumb\|~~250px~~\|right\|Manuscript (p. 16)]]		[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p16.jpg\|thumb\|150px\|right\|Manuscript (p. 16)]]
	[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p17.jpg\|thumb\|~~250px~~\|right\|Manuscript (p. 17)]]		[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p17.jpg\|thumb\|150px\|right\|Manuscript (p. 17)]]
	[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p18.jpg\|thumb\|~~250px~~\|right\|Manuscript (p. 18)]]		[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p18.jpg\|thumb\|150px\|right\|Manuscript (p. 18)]]
	[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p19.jpg\|thumb\|~~250px~~\|right\|Manuscript (p. 19)]]		[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p19.jpg\|thumb\|150px\|right\|Manuscript (p. 19)]]
	[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p20.jpg\|thumb\|~~250px~~\|right\|Manuscript (p. 20)]]		[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p20.jpg\|thumb\|150px\|right\|Manuscript (p. 20)]]
	[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p21.jpg\|thumb\|~~250px~~\|right\|Manuscript (p. 21)]]		[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p21.jpg\|thumb\|150px\|right\|Manuscript (p. 21)]]
	[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p22.jpg\|thumb\|~~250px~~\|right\|Manuscript (p. 22)]]		[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p22.jpg\|thumb\|150px\|right\|Manuscript (p. 22)]]
	[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p23.jpg\|thumb\|~~250px~~\|right\|Manuscript (p. 23)]]		[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p23.jpg\|thumb\|150px\|right\|Manuscript (p. 23)]]
	[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p24.jpg\|thumb\|~~250px~~\|right\|Manuscript (p. 24)]]		[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p24.jpg\|thumb\|150px\|right\|Manuscript (p. 24)]]
	[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p25.jpg\|thumb\|~~250px~~\|right\|Manuscript (p. 25)]]		[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p25.jpg\|thumb\|150px\|right\|Manuscript (p. 25)]]
	[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p26.jpg\|thumb\|~~250px~~\|right\|Manuscript (p. 26)]]		[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p26.jpg\|thumb\|150px\|right\|Manuscript (p. 26)]]
	[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p27.jpg\|thumb\|~~250px~~\|right\|Manuscript (p. 27)]]		[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p27.jpg\|thumb\|150px\|right\|Manuscript (p. 27)]]
	[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p28.jpg\|thumb\|~~250px~~\|right\|Manuscript (p. 28)]]		[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p28.jpg\|thumb\|150px\|right\|Manuscript (p. 28)]]
	[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p29.jpg\|thumb\|~~250px~~\|right\|Manuscript (p. 29)]]		[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p29.jpg\|thumb\|150px\|right\|Manuscript (p. 29)]]
	[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p30.jpg\|thumb\|~~250px~~\|right\|Manuscript (p. 30)]]		[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p30.jpg\|thumb\|150px\|right\|Manuscript (p. 30)]]
	[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p31.jpg\|thumb\|~~250px~~\|right\|Manuscript (p. 31)]]		[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p31.jpg\|thumb\|150px\|right\|Manuscript (p. 31)]]
	[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p32.jpg\|thumb\|~~250px~~\|right\|Manuscript (p. 32)]]		[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p32.jpg\|thumb\|150px\|right\|Manuscript (p. 32)]]
	[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p33.jpg\|thumb\|~~250px~~\|right\|Manuscript (p. 33)]]		[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p33.jpg\|thumb\|150px\|right\|Manuscript (p. 33)]]
	[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p34.jpg\|thumb\|~~250px~~\|right\|Manuscript (p. 34)]]		[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p34.jpg\|thumb\|150px\|right\|Manuscript (p. 34)]]
	[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p35.jpg\|thumb\|~~250px~~\|right\|Manuscript (p. 35)]]		[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p35.jpg\|thumb\|150px\|right\|Manuscript (p. 35)]]
	[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p36.jpg\|thumb\|~~250px~~\|right\|Manuscript (p. 36)]]		[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p36.jpg\|thumb\|150px\|right\|Manuscript (p. 36)]]
	[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p37.jpg\|thumb\|~~250px~~\|right\|Manuscript (p. 37)]]		[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p37.jpg\|thumb\|150px\|right\|Manuscript (p. 37)]]
	[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p38.jpg\|thumb\|~~250px~~\|right\|Manuscript (p. 38)]]		[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p38.jpg\|thumb\|150px\|right\|Manuscript (p. 38)]]
	[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p39.jpg\|thumb\|~~250px~~\|right\|Manuscript (p. 39)]]		[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p39.jpg\|thumb\|150px\|right\|Manuscript (p. 39)]]
	[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p40.jpg\|thumb\|~~250px~~\|right\|Manuscript (p. 40)]]		[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p40.jpg\|thumb\|150px\|right\|Manuscript (p. 40)]]
	[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p41.jpg\|thumb\|~~250px~~\|right\|Manuscript (p. 41)]]		[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p41.jpg\|thumb\|150px\|right\|Manuscript (p. 41)]]
	[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p42.jpg\|thumb\|~~250px~~\|right\|Manuscript (p. 42)]]		[[File:manuscript-on-the-intemperance-of-our-country-p42.jpg\|thumb\|150px\|right\|Manuscript (p. 42)]]

	On the intemperance of our country, the cause of its prevalence, and the means to be adopted for its suppression. <ref>The draft of the first page had the following title: "On the intemperance of our country, the cause of its prevalence, and the means of suppressing it."</ref>		On the intemperance of our country, the cause of its prevalence, and the means to be adopted for its suppression. <ref>The draft of the first page had the following title: "On the intemperance of our country, the cause of its prevalence, and the means of suppressing it."</ref>