T. I really must confess, John, you have almost made me a Total Abstainer, and I do now consider it my duty to give nae langer ony countenance to thae vile drinks; but I think we hae rather gaen aff the point a wee; we were talking about dull trade, and the causes o’t: ye surely dinna think that drinking has been the cause o’ sae mony bankruptcies amang us, to crack our credit, derange our business, and cause sic an unparalleled stagnation o’ trade.

J. Deed Thomas, I dinna think we were the least aff the point about the cause o’ our dull trade, for I hinna the least doubt in my mind, but drinking is the cause o’ a’ this wretchedness we’re labouring under; for, independent o’ the great sums o’ money squandered awa’ on guzzling, and drinking, and gambling, which sums micht hae keppit mony a Back Bill, I hae nae doubt but mony o’ ane o’ thae Win’ Bills were drawn and accepted under the influence o’ the Bowl; and I am quite satisfied that if a’ our trading men had been teetotalers for ten years back, there would neither have been dull trade nor bankruptcies amang us; and our present sufferings are only a just judgement for a’ our sinfu’ drinkings and horrid abominations that spring from that source; and so wide is the evil effects of the drinking system, that it has seized upon almost every fibre of commerce, and so long as Alcoholic drinks are encouraged and countenanced by the upper ranks of society, and by our Ministers and Magistrates, I never expect to see things much better, for all classes sink under its demoralizing influence. Our Cabinet Ministers, our Pulpit Ministers, our highest gifted Literary Men, down to our humblest Artisans, all have suffered, all have gone astray through strong drink. I wish you a good night, Thomas—I hope you’ll go to-morrow and sign the Pledge, and I trust we’ll soon see better times.

T. Good night John.