But is it necessary for his health, that this change of scene should be found in a close tap-room, within a few yards of his home, where he drinks to a ruinous excess till a late hour,--breathing all the while a hot atmosphere of tobacco-smoke?
Is it not possible to obtain the change of scene, and the relaxation of social converse, by mutual visits amongst friends similarly situated,--by a ramble to the suburbs,--or, in cases where the daily occupation affords too little opportunity for exercise, are there not places established for gymnastic exercises,--and might not others be formed for the like purposes?
Certain I am that the abolition of public-houses, in large cities, as places of daily resort for the adult labouring poor, would be attended with the most salutary consequences.

I know of nothing that must so certainly tend to their improvement both in character and circumstances.
No man can witness the scenes, and doings, of many persons who attend the new beer-houses, without pain and regret, that ever an act of parliament was passed to legalize such places.

I have visited some hundreds of such, throughout the country, and can positively assert that the demoralising tendency of too many is awful! Our magistrates must be more careful in granting licences, or the efforts of the wise and good will be neutralized, by the evils concocted at such places.
The old inkeepers had a character, and capital at stake.

The new beerhouse-keepers, I should say, a majority of them at least, have neither, and consequently are less cautious, having less to lose.
Whatever the end of the legislature might have been in enabling the poor to procure a good and cheap article more easily, to be drunk on or off the premises, the thing has not answered the end, and no one can deny, who will take the trouble to visit such places in different counties, that the _Act_ has been a miserable failure, and has been the fruitful source of crime and immorality.

What a lesson is this for speculative, short sighted legislators?
Another measure should then be adopted, I would say--destroy the facility of spirit-drinking, by laying on a heavy duty.