olent individuals, in Providence, had two or three hundred
copies of the above pledge printed to circulate in the State of Rhode
Island. One of the principal clergymen in P. said, a member of his
church, a trader, told him that the money paid for tobacco in the city
was sufficient to support the public preaching. A gentleman there, who
has recently given up tobacco, said he would not go back to its use for
a thousand dollars, although it cost him a great effort to refrain from
it. A young man, after receiving a private lecture from an anti-tobacco
friend, committed to the flames half a dozen cigars he had by him, and
signed the pledge.

I have conversed with very many addicted to the use of tobacco, and
nearly all express regret at having formed the habit.

A few days since in a town not far from Providence, as I was sitting in
the stage about starting for the city, up came a reverend gentleman, a
very fine man by the way, with a big cigar about half burned. He had too
much good breeding to get into the stage with it, and to all appearance,
disliked to part with so good a friend; he accordingly stood outside
and puffed away like a steamer, at the same time keeping an eye on the
driver; when all was ready, he scrambled in, and we drove off. What an
example, for a clergyman to stand in a public street and puff a cigar
like a loafer or a blackguard!

Rev. Mr. C., in a village adjoining Providence relates, that a brother
clergyman called to preach for him. He was in the habit of chewing
tobacco, and Mr. C. took the opportunity to speak to him on the subject.
At first the brother remarked that there was nothing wrong or injurious
in it; but on Mr. C's pressing the matter and asking how he could preach
"righteousness, temperance" and good habits in all things, when he was
himself addicted to such a practice, the brother frankly acknowledged
that he knew he was setting a bad example, and that tobacco was
poisonous, injurious to health and shortened life, but he excused
himself by saying he _could not_ give it up, for he found it
_impossible_ to write a sermon or preach it with any success, without
taking tobacco. Sermons and preaching inspired by tobacco! What better
is this, than the inspiration of brandy?

Rev. Mr.----, now of Boston, formerly of a neighboring city, is a most
excessive smoker and chewer, so much so that it was a matter of
notoriety and remark among his congregation and acquaintances of his
former residen