TEWPERAMENT, in music, the ac commodation or adjustment of the itnper feet sounds, by transferring a part of their defects to the more perfect ones, to reme dy in parr the false intervals of instru ments of fixed sounds, as the piano, organ. &e.
Tam PEI1ANCE SOCITTIES. The evils of intemperance have long been the subject of much anxious observation in civilized nations, more especially in the United States ; and the idea of concen trating public sentiment upon it, in some form, to produce important results, seems to have been first conceived in coun try; a meeting, called the General Asso ciation of Massachusetts Proper, having been held in 1913, l'or the express object of "checking the progress of intempe rance." The first attempt of the society teas to collect facts tewarck a precise ex hibition of the nature and magnitude of the existing evil with the view of drawing public attention to it, and Of directing endeavors for its removal. The reports presented from year to year, embraced statements and calculations which were found to make rut a ease of the most appalling nature, such as to amaze even those whose solicitude on the subject had been greatest. In 1830, from data care fully collected, the Massachusetts society stated in their report, that the number who die I annually victims of intempe rance was estimated at above 37,000; and that 72,000,000 gallons of distilled spir its were consumed in the country, being about six gallons on an average for every man, woman, and child of the whole popu lation. It also stated that about 400,000
of the community were confirmed drunk ards; and that there appeared-reason to believe that. intemperance teas responsi ble for four fifths of the crime committed in the country, for at least three quarters of the pauperism existing, and for at least one third of the mental derange ment. By these exposures, and an un relaxing perseverance in the course they had commenced ; by the circulation of tracts and the addresses of travelling agents ; by the formation of auxiliary associations, and by obtaining individual responsiltility for the performance of a variety of ditties tending to promote the great object in vie•,—publie notice was attracted, and it led to an imitation of the practice in Great Britain and Ireland. Of late years the cause of temperance has made great progress in all parts of the United States.