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4-page letter written by Sir William Fletcher Barrett (1844-1925) and sent to Silvanus P Thompson, 3 April 1915. The letter is on Sir William's personal headed paper which has the embossed address, '6 De Vesci Terrace, Kingstown, Co. Dublin'. The letter says; "Mr dear Thompson, turning over & destroying heaps of old documents I cam across the enclosed which I thought might possibly interest you. My friend Millard, a great classical scholar, returned it to me - (he is dead long since); you may be acquainted with the extract. I was lecturing on the history of science & asked Millard for the references he sends me. Destroy if no use to you. I hope you are all well. This awful war may bring good out of evil if it leads to a national [.] of the evils of the drink habit. Over here some ladies (disguised) have visited every public house in Sutton & Kingston & have just reported their results. They are absolutely appalling. Soldiers & sailors & loose women mostly half drunk & served with drink when in this state crowd these public houses. Women openly say they hope "the war will last for ever" as they were never so well off for money to drink. Unless some stringent steps are taken soon, the nation will suffer terribly and the vast numbers of young bar men employed might well become recruits. [.] Dickinson's paper (and chart movements) are well worth reading. Ever yours sincerely W F Barrett."