place, the most dreadful scenes occurred. The city of Rome was the arena of all the calamities attendant upon slaughter and dissipation. While the soldiers of Vitellius and Vespasian were butchering each other, the people were at one time savagely exulting in the bloody exhibition; and at another, actively engaged in riot and debauchery. "The whole city seemed to be inflamed with frantic rage, and at the same time intoxicated with bacchanalian pleasures." Tacitus further remarks, that "Rome had thrice seen enraged armies under her walls, but the unnatural security and inhuman indifference that now prevailed were beyond all example." At a later period, we find the same attachment to strong drink existed among the Roman people. Ammianus Marcellinus, in the life of Constantius and Gallus, relates that seditions not unfrequently took place in the city during a scarcity of wine.* The inhabitants of Tarentum are celebrated for their excesses in Bacchanalian pleasures.† Their frequent intercourse with Greece enabled them to gratify their luxurious desires, insomuch that the ، Delights of Tarentum," became a proverbial expression. The Parthians, a celebrated people inhabiting a part of Asia, are described by ancient authors as having been addicted to numerous vices, and none more so than that of drunkenness.‡ The Tapyrians, according to Ælian, indulged to great excess in intoxicating liquors. § The Illyrians also are said to have been an intemperate people.|| The Carthagenians and Lydians were both, according to Athenæus, much attached to drinking. The Cambrians were a fierce people, unaccustomed to eating flesh dressed at the fire, or drinking intoxicating liquors. Florus relates, that after their expedition over the Alps, and subsequent to their indulgence in these hitherto unknown luxuries, they lost their ferocity, and became more easily conquered by Marius.** * Seditiones sunt concitatae graves ob inopiam vini. Hist. Aug. Script. ed. 1609. exp. 425. + Vide Elian, lib. xii. : Erasm. Adag. || Lib. ii. c. 15. f Ibid. x. c. 10. .13 .Elian, lib. iii, cap ؟ The Byzantins, and other nations of less importance among the ancients, might be here mentioned in the catalogue of those whose habits were intemperate.* # The examples presented in this chapter, sufficiently prove that intemperance existed to a considerable extent among the ancients, and that it was attended with the most deplorable consequences, affecting both individual and national welfare. * Ælian. Lib. iii. cap. 14. CHAPTER III. HISTORY OF INTEMPERANCE CONTINUED. "Righteousness exalteth a nation; but sin is a reproach to any people."-PROVERBS XIV. 34. A KNOWLEDGE of the manners and customs of the aboriginal inhabitants of the British Islands, can only be acquired from some of the Roman historians, and the well-known practices of other nations, similar in their habits and descent. They have been described as frugal in their diet, possessing much personal beauty, and great hardiness of body. The ancient Britons were not, however, proof against the influence of luxury and refinement. "From using," says Tacitus, "our language and dress, they proceeded, by degrees, to imitate our vices and luxuries; our porticos, baths, and sumptuous entertain ments."* It has been seen, that the Celtic nations were in the habit of indulging freely in intoxicating liquors; and it may reasonably be supposed, that the British, who were of the same descent, indulged also in this injurious practice. These barbarous nations, in particular, were in the habit of holding great feasts, on every important occasion. Pelloutier, thus alludes to this practice." Among these nations, there is no public assembly, either for civil or religious purposes, duly held; no birth-day, marriage, or funeral, properly celebrated, no treaty of peace or alliance rightly cemented, without a great feast."+ These feasts generally lasted several days, and Athenæus records one which continued for the period of twelve months. The most important affairs were transacted at these festivals; and it has already been shown, in the instance of *Tacit., vita Agricolæ, c. 21. + Pelloutier. Hist. Celt. b. ii. c. 2. p. 2277. the Germans, that not unfrequently they were the scenes of bloodshed and murder. Diodorus Siculus, describes the Gauls, in particular, as being passionately fond of intoxicating liquors. "Of wine," says he, "which is imported to them by merchants, they are fond to distraction, and drink it to excess, until they are either overpowered by sleep, or inflamed with madness."* At one of these feasts, two British princes, in a state of inebriation, quarrelled, and fought with such virulence, that they both died by the wounds they received. Attila, the cruel King of Hungary, at his marriage feast indulged so freely in intoxicating liquor, that he was found at night, suffocated. This happened, A.D. 453. With the death of Attila, terminated the important empire of the Huns. The ancient custom of pledging healths, by some writers, is said to have been derived from circumstances which occurred during the invasion of England by the Danes. These haughty conquerors, would not permit an Englishman to drink in their presence, without special permission, death being the penalty of disobedience. Their cruelty so intimidated the English, that even when permission had been given, they would not take advantage of it, until the Danes had pledged themselves not to endanger their lives while partaking of the liquor. The intimate intercourse which, afterwards took place between the Anglo-Saxons and Danes, and the frequent festive meetings which they established, became a fruitful source of intemperance. Henry remarks, that the laws of these times, strongly corroborates this fact, for they did not prohibit excess, but rather encouraged it, and only restrained the commission of certain abominable crimes, which were the result of excessive drinking. William of Malmsbury adds his testimony to the excessive drinking habits of the Anglo-Saxons and Danes. "The nobility were much addicted to lust and gluttony, but excessive drinking was the common vice of all ranks of people, in which they spent whole nights and days, without intermission."+ * Diod. Sicul. lib. v. c. 29, 30. + W. Malmsbury, b. iii. Many instances are recorded, of bloodshed occurring at their feasts; it was at one of these that King Edmund I. perished by the hand of an assassin. His courtiers were in such a state of intoxication, as to be unable to render him any assistance. The long continuance of peace, during the reign of Edward the Confessor, was, according to William of Malmsbury, marked with the luxury and vicious manners of the English. Much pains were taken in the preparation of their drinks, which principally consisted of Mead, Ale, Cyder, and similar fermented liquors. The conquest of England by the Normans appears to have been less owing to the prowess of arms than to the effects of intemperance. Previous to the battle of Hastings, the victorious Normans passed the night in fasting and prayer; the Anglo-Saxons devoted the same period to drunkenness and debauch. The Norman soldiers were as inferior to the English in numbers, as the latter sunk in comparison with their invaders in point of temperance. "For," remarks a quaint writer, "the English, being revelling before, had in the morning their brains arrested for the arrearages of the indigested fumes of the former night, and were no better than drunk when they came to fight." In succeeding reigns, there is sufficient evidence upon record, that the English did not lose their relish for intoxicating liquors. Wines in particular, became important articles of commerce; and a considerable revenue was derived from their importation. The marriage of Henry II. with a French princess, who possessed extensive vineyards in the south of France, contributed not a little to the increase of this branch of commerce. In the reign of King John, it had become so important, as to cause the appointment of Officers in every town, to regulate the prices of wines, and other matters connected with their sale. Hoveden, the historian of those times remarks, that "by this means, the land was filled with drink and drunkards."‡ The Norman conquerors of England were, it appears, *Fuller's Church History of Britain. B. iii. sect. 1. + Manè adhuc ebrii contra hostes incunctanter procedunt.-M. PARIS.. Hoveden Annals. |