Excerpt from The Earliest Days of the Teetotal Movement: Dialogues on Drink and Physiology for the Young

Over the Cockpit was a spacious room, in which was held a Young Men's Temperance Academy. There are some men still living [1892] who were members Of that academy, and who derived great benefit from the instructions they received there. Each member had a key, and was at liberty to enter the room at any reasonable hour. On a table in the centre of the room we had a number of newspapers, periodicals, and books of reference. One night a week John Brodbelt, whom I have previously named as one Of the early T eetotallers, and who took a great interest in literary pursuits, taught a grammar class and instructed us in composition. All Of his pupils owe much to the efforts of this gentleman. Among those who attended the class I may name Mr. Hornby, Mr. Hargreaves Cockshott (father Of Mr. J. J. Cock shott, solicitor, Of Southport), Mr. John Bromley, Mr. Logan, Mr. George Gregson, and myself. I was treasurer Of the academy when it closed. Five of the young men connected with the academy went to America, and some Of them did well. On certain nights we had a sort Of mutual improvement class, and held discussions on various questions. The class was highly appreciated, and its work was lasting. In his brief notice Mr. Walmsley appears to have thought that the Preston people were so well acquainted with the names of the most prominent and active members of the Academy that he needs not to name them such must have been the case, otherwise he would certainly have mentioned Edward Grubb, Myles Pennington, Henry Bradley, George Toulmin, John Sergeant, W. Livesey, &c. Mr. Sergeant, like many other of the members Of the Academy, became, in after life, a prominent public man, though not in Preston; for after a quarter of a century's earnest and energetic work in the furtherance of teetotalism he fixed his residence at Southport, and at the time Of his decease he was an Alderman Of that Borough. Referring to Mr. Sergeant's earlier days, Mr. Vvalms sley says At an early age he was a member Of the Committee of the Youths' Temperance Society con nected with the Old Cockpit, and it was there he first blossomed forth into an acceptable and eloquent public speaker. He made his first speech in the Cockpit when a Youth. He received much encourage ment from the veteran pioneer, Mr. Livesey, who was quick to discern any special faculty, and to appro priate to good uses the bent of a mind so constituted as that Of the youthful John Sergeant In contemplating the life of Mr. Sergeant I am impressed with the great number of working-men who have become public speakers and lecturers, whose first attempt at speaking was at a temperance meeting. These latter remarks ought to encourage aspiring young men to become temperance speakers, and by way of encouragement we may name that John Bright, one Of the greatest orators of our day, made his first attempt at public speaking with a speech on temper ance. Speaking of Mr. Bright's temperance Speeches Dr. Burns says It is certain that these addresses.

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