“If my attendance is required you know where to find me――at the ‘Carved Lion.’” And, with these words, he left the chamber of death. An inquest was held on the body, and the conclusion arrived at was that the unfortunate man had stumbled, and fallen head foremost on a heap of granite. Blood was found on one of the pieces of granite. He had evidently afterwards crawled to the end of the lane, where it was assumed that he had sunk from exhaustion and loss of blood. He must have remained in a helpless and senseless condition for some hours. Death resulted from injuries to the head and exposure, joined to a shattered constitution, the effects of drinking to excess. The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death.” Unhappily for society, John Bristow’s is not a solitary case of the but too frequent indulgence in this fatal propensity. Within the last week or so the papers have recorded a fatality at the Alexandra Palace which, in most of its features, resembles the wretched end of John Bristow. The increase of intemperance in this country in the present day is an inexhaustible theme for moralists, economists, and philanthropists. Drunkenness is the parent of crime, of pauperism, and of misery and degeneracy. It is not possible to calculate the evils that ensue from the pernicious and demoralising effects of a maddening propensity for drink. The wretched and careworn doubtless fly to it as their only solace. For a time their spirits are raised, but a reaction soon takes place, and at any cost they must procure more stimulants. The end of this may be readily imagined. How to deal with this gigantic national vice, on which, as yet, no impression has been made, is a question not so easily answered. If there is one thing more certain than another, it is that, as wealth outstrips culture, sensuality outstrips refinement. The illiterate millionaire who feasts his guests on turtle and champagne is about the counterpart of the ignorant artisan, who, out of his week’s earnings, treats a less fortunate comrade to a bottle of whiskey or gin. England for many a day has been brought up in the worship of Mammon and Bacchus, and we are afraid, despite the efforts of the Legislature, intemperance is a vice which we must lay to our account for many years to come. This, it must be admitted, is very sad to reflect upon. A return, which was moved for by Mr. Henley last session, has recently been issued, showing the population and number of persons taken into custody for drunkenness and disorderly conduct in each city and town in the United Kingdom, for the years 1851, 1861, 1871, and 1876. The number of arrests in each of the three countries shows a steady increase in the years named. In England, in the year 1851, 70,097 persons were taken into custody, of whom 44,520 were males and 25,597 females; and each successive period shows a marked increase, until 1876 the total was 104,174――67,294 males and 36,880 females.