COBDEN ON EVIL SPIRITS.
Mr. Cobden has written another of those pithy letters on great principles that—some day—will make a very charming little volume of Cobdeniana. He is solicited to give his opinion on the best mode of "Opening the trade in spirits?"
"The best way," replies sagacious Richard, "of dealing with the monopoly of spirits is to abstain from drinking them, which for upwards of twenty years I have done."—Spirits make felons, lunatics, and suicides, says Mr. Cobden. Hence, the Bottle might surmount Newgate and Bedlam. Mr. Cobden does not drink spirits; but, moderately, he drinks wine—wine that cheereth the heart of man? Will he, then, do his best that the masses of his countrymen may take a glass with him? The wine-growers of France want to sell us pure, cheap, healthy wine—wine that would soon destroy burning gin, inflammatory brandy. France needs iron, England claret. Will Mr. Cobden, if only as an apostle of peace, help us, that we may exchange British metal for Gallic grape? We should like to drive the English "pig" into the French vineyard.
Nothing—a new Definition.—That portion of a lady's head on which her bonnet rests.