Delavau, Edward C., Ballston Center, New York, to Bishop Anthony Blanc, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1843 January 1

Sensible to the influence which Catholic bishops and clergy exert in the furtherance of the Temperance reformation, Delavau addresses to Blanc a few remarks on the change in favor of total abstinence from intoxicating liquors in the United States. Previous to 1829 intoxicating liquors were in use as a common beverage. During that year societies were formed which resulted in ascertaining that in the United States there were 500,000 drunkards, that 3/4 of the pauperism and 5/6 of the crime was owing to the use of intoxicating liquors. An appeal was made, responded to by the enrollment of 2 million pledged to abstinence from distilled liquors. It soon became apparent that beer was being substituted in place of whiskey. The friends of temperance substituted in place of a pledge of abstinence from distilled liquors a pledge of abstinence from intoxicating liquors of every sort. At this time the wine used at the Communion was the common wine of commerce containing 100 per cent more alcohol than pure wine. By this the reclaimed inebriate was endangered. This led to the enquiry whether the fruit of the vine in some other form could not be substituted. To the discussion of this question, the Enquirer is devoted, the second number of which is forwarded to Blanc. :: V-4-n L.S. 3pp. folio