To this declaration not less than one hundred thousand of your Majesty’s loyal subjects have already subscribed their names, some thousands of whom had previously been drunkards. And could we convey to your royal mind the incalculable benefits resulting from the simple means of total abstinence from intoxicating liquor, we would with humble confidence earnestly entreat your Majesty to condescend to patronise our endeavour to wipe away from Britain the plague-spot of drunkenness. In the treatment of this period, we have to confront an apparent anomaly, viz. the largest drink bills on record, and the most strenuous efforts to get rid of drink altogether. That the Statute Book bristles with legislative interference, is sufficiently accounted for by these two circumstances. In no period has legislation been to the same extent an index of the precise situation. Let us at once address ourselves to its salient features. By the 2nd and 3rd Victoria, called the _Metropolitan Police Act_, operating within a circle of fifteen miles from Charing Cross, all public-houses are to be shut on Sundays until one o’clock P.M., _except for travellers_: and publicans are _prohibited_, under penalties of 20_l._, 40_l._, and 50_l._, for the first, second, and third offences, _from selling spirits to young persons under sixteen years of age_. By the 3rd and 4th Victoria a licence can only be granted to the _real_ occupier of the house; and the rated value to be 15_l._ in towns of 10,000 inhabitants; 11_l._ in towns of between 2,500 and 10,000; and 8_l._ in smaller places. The hours for opening and closing within the metropolitan boroughs are 5 A.M. and 12 P.M.; but 11 o’clock in any place within the bills of mortality, or any city, town, or place not containing above 2,500 inhabitants. In smaller places 10 o’clock P.M. On any Sunday, Good Friday, or Christmas Day, or any day appointed for a public fast or thanksgiving, the houses are not to be opened before one o’clock P.M. Licensed victuallers and keepers of beer-shops who sell ale _to be drunk on the premises_, may have soldiers billeted on them.