life is not great); Copenhagen, 302; Vienna, 287; Brussels, 271; Dresden, 240; St. Petersburg, 206; Florence, 180; Berlin, 170; New York, 144; Genoa, 135; London, 87; and Rome, 74. London thus occupies a very advantageous position in the list. With regard to New York, it is said that the majority of the suicides in that city are Germans. DRINK AND INSANITY. - According to the thirty-seventh Annual Report of the Commissioners in Lunacy, the total number of persons of unsound mind registered as being under care on the 1st of January, 1883, was 76,765 (34,482 males and 42,283 females), or an increase of 1,923 over the return of the previous year, which is largely accounted for by the diminished death rate. The number of insane persons to every 10,000 of the population is 28-68, the males being 2648, and the females 30-77. The new admissions during the year numbered 13,621, in the proportion of 6,665 males, and 6,956 females. The number of cases attributed to excess in drink was 1,779, or 131 per cent. of the cases in which the causes of insanity were ascertained, 196 per cent. being males and 6-8 females. As the cause of insanity was not traced in 2,858 of the new cases, and as intemperance was doubtless a predisposing cause in many of them, the foregoing percentage would probably have been higher had the full facts been ascertained. A YEAR'S RAILWAY ACCIDENTS.-The total number of persons returned to the Board of Trade as having been killed in the working of the railways during the year 1882, was 1,121, and the number of injured 4,601. Of the above numbers-127 persons killed and 1,739 persons injured were passengers; but of these only 18 were killed and 803 injured in consequence of accidents to or from collisions between trains; the deaths of the remaining 109 passengers killed, and injuries to 936, were due to a variety of other causes, but more especially to a want of caution on the part of the individuals themselves. Of the remainder 553 killed and 2,576 injured were officers or servants of the railway companies, or of contractors; 441 persons killed and 286 injured were trespassers, suicides, and others who met with accidents at level-crossings or from miscellaneous causes. In addition to the above, the companies have returned 42 persons killed and 4,367 injured from accidents on their premises, which cannot be considered as "railway accidents," as they were not connected with the movement of railway vehicles. INSANITY IN THE UNITED STATES.-One of the results of the last census, as shown in the recently-issued compendium, shows a very startling increase in the number of insane and idiots of late years; and that, while the population during the last decade increased by 30 per cent., the apparent increase of the insane was a little over 155 per cent. The exact figures may be thus tabulated : 50,155,783...38,558,371...31,443,321 ..23,191,876 37,432... 24,042... 15,610 1880. 91,997... Although these numbers are undoubtedly very great, they do not necessarily imply that the increase has been so great; and though it is believed that the figures of 1880 are correct, it is quite possible that those of previous censuses do not accurately state the case. It appears that the accommodation in the whole of America is for 40,942 in hospitals and asylums, 235 in sundry institutions, 9,302 in almshouses, and 417 in gaols, leaving the large balance of 41,101 to be cared for, more or less, at home; while out of the 76,895 idiots, 76,200 are to be found in their families. It is felt, therefore, that there is a great need for additional accommodation. -Times. CONTINENTAL WINES.-Our indefatigable friend, the Rev. Dr. de Colleville, of Brighton, who has been so honourably distinguished by his international Temperance labours, has compiled the following statistical table in relation to the Continental production of what is known as "natural wines," i.e., wines containing only the alcohol generated by fermentation prior to the fortifying process adopted for the English market. The waste of natural productions thus occasioned every year is prodigious. Mean annual production of natural wines in Europe for the five years ending with 1882: Total for one mean year... 2,535,779,375 Production of wines for the five years, 12,678,896,875 gallons, to which are to be added that of artificial and adulterated wines (minus the natural wines thus adulterated)—a production going on since 1868, at an ever-increasing and enormous rate. TEMPERANCE LEAGUE, 337, STRAND, LONDON. OBJECT. The promotion of Temperance by the practice and advocacy of Total Abstinence from intoxicating Beverages. MEMBERSHIP.-The League consists of persons of both sexes, who have subscribed their names to a pledge or declaration of abstinence from all intoxicating beverages, and who contribute to the funds of the League not less than 2s. 6d. per annum. Contributions are gratefully accepted from all friends of Temperance, whether abstainers or not. AGENCIES.-The League's agencies are comprehensive and unsectarian. It assists local societies and individual workers, and seeks to accomplish its great object by means of public meetings, lectures, sermons, tract distribution, domiciliary visitation; conferences with the clergy, medical practitioners, schoolmasters, magistrates, and other persons of influence; deputations to teachers and students in universities, colleges, training institutions and schools; missionary efforts amongst sailors, soldiers, the militia, the police, and other classes. RESULTS.-The operations of the League have been largely instrumental in awakening public attention to the necessity for effective measures against Intemperance, as well as in promoting distinctive Temperance action amongst Clergymen and Ministers of different denominations, the Medical Profession, teachers of youth, and other influential bodies; and a very gratifying degree of success has attended its efforts to advance sobriety in the Army and Navy. FORM OF BEQUEST.—I give and bequeath to the "National Temperance League" the sum of Pounds sterling, to be raised and paid for the purposes of the said Society out of such part only of my personal estate as shall not consist of chattels real or money secured on mortgage of lands or tenements, or in any other manner affecting lands or tenements; for which Legacy the receipt of the Treasurer for the time being of the said Society shall be a sufficient discharge of my executors. President. SAMUEL BOWLY, Esq., Gloucester. Vice-Presidents. Rev. Canon BABINGTON, M.A., Brighton. Rev. JOHN CLIFFORD, D.D., London. HANDEL COSSHAM, Esq., F.G.S., Bath. Rev. Canon FLEMING, B.D., London. Rev. ALEXANDER HANNAY, D.D., London. Rev. HUGH HULEATT, M.A., London. CHARLES J. LEAF, Esq., London. ROBERT MARTIN, Esq., M.D., Manchester. W. B. ROBINSON, Esq., Southampton. The Very Rev. R. PAYNE SMITH, D.D., Dean of Canterbury. Major R. C. STILEMAN, J.P., Winchelsea. Rev. SIMON STURGES, M.A., Wargrave. Admiral Sir B. JAMES SULIVAN, K.C.B., Bournemouth. WILLIAM WHITE, Esq., Birmingham. BENJ. WHITWORTH, Esq., M.P., London. Rev. Canon BASIL WILBERFORCE, M.A., Southampton. GEORGE WILLIAMS, Esq., London. OFFICES, LECTURE HALL, & PUBLICATION DEPOT, 337, STRAND, LONDON. CATALOGUE OF NEW TEMPERANCE BOOKS AND TRACTS. DECEMBER, 1883. 5/ Boons and Blessing. Stories and Sketches to illustrate the advantage of Temperance. With illustrations by first-class Artiste. By Mrs. S. C. HALL. Demy Svo, cloth, gilt, 282 pages. 3/6 Brief Notes for Temperance Teachers. By B. W. RICHARDSON, M.D., F.R. S., &c. Demy 8vo, 208 pages, cloth, gilt. N.B.-This is also issued in Nine Separate Sections, each Section being complete in itself, at 4d. each. Booth; or the Factory Boy who became a Gospel Temperance Evangelist. Cloth boards. Illustrated. By Uphill Paths; or Waiting and Winning. By E. VAN SOMMER. Cloth. Illustrated. Legion; or the Modern Demoniac. By WILLIAM GILBERT. Cloth lettered. Out of the Way. A Temperance Tale by H. L. TAYLOR. Cloth, gilt. Illustrated. Study and Stimulants; or the Use of Intoxicants and Narcotics in Relation to Intellectual Life, as illustrated by personal communications on the subject from Men of Letters and of Science. Edited by A. A. READE. Cloth boards. Shakespeare on Temperance. With brief annotations selected by F. SHERLOCK. Cloth boards. Temperance Arrows. A Selection of Facts, Figures, and Illustrative Anecdotes. Reprinted from Home Words. By F. SHERLOCK. Crown Svo, handsomely bound. Victor or Victim; or the Mine of Darley Dale. By JoпN SAUNDERS, Author of "Abel Drake's Wife," "The Tempter Behind," &c. Illustrations by R. C. Woodville. Crown 8vo, cloth gilt. 2/6 Dick's Fairy: A Tale of the Streets, and other Stories. By S. K. HOCKING, F.R H.S. Cloth, gilt. Drink Problem and its Solution, The. By DAVID LEWIS, J.P., Author of "Britain's Social State," &c. Second Edition. Demy 8vo, cloth, gilt. Our National Drink Bill, as it affects the Nation's Well-being. A series of Letters to the Times and other newspapers, together with original Articles. By WILLIAM HOYLE, Author of "Our National Resources, and how they are Wasted," &c. Crown Svo. 200 pages. |