I have prolonged this chapter perhaps unduly. But the subject of the Drinks of Dickens is too important a one to slur over. The man who cannot appreciate _Pickwick_ has never yet come my way. There is a peculiar charm about the book, a broad hospitality, an unbounded love of the good things of this life which must endear it to the hearts of true sons of Britannia, who will revel, on occasion, no matter what obstacles may {226} be placed in their way. And this is the method of procedure, the potation being occasionally varied, which succeeded all the troubles of the friends:— “So to keep up their good humour they stopped at the first roadside tavern they came to”—this was after the punch and pound incident—“and ordered a glass of brandy-and-water all round, with a magnum of extra strength for Mr. Samuel Weller.” {227} CHAPTER XX SWORN OFF! Introduction of temperance into England — America struck it first — Doctor Johnson an abstainer — Collapse of the Permissive Bill — Human nature and forbidden fruit — Effects of repressive legislation — Sunday closing in Wales — Paraffin for miners — Toasting Her Majesty — A good win — A shout and a drink — Jesuitical logic of the prohibitioners — The end justifies the means — A few non-alcoholic recipes — Abstainers and alcohol — Pure spring-water _v._ milk-punch — “Tried baith!” The first temperance society in England was formed at Bradford, Yorkshire, on the 2nd February 1830, the chief mover having been Mr. Henry Forbes, who had signed the pledge at Glasgow. But the use of ardent spirits was condemned by many medical practitioners early in the seventeenth century, although the United Kingdom does not seem to have abstained from strong waters any the more. Repressive legislation, in order to inculcate sobriety, was tried in Massachusetts, U.S., early in the present century, but a few years before a society had been formed at Moreau, New York State, in order to prohibit the consumption of both wines and spirits, except {228} medicinally, or wine except at public dinners or in the Lord’s Supper.