chiefly from the crops of barley growing in the year one
thousand seven hundred and fifty-seven, the sale of which was stagnated;
that the petitioners being informed the house had ordered in a bill to
continue the prohibition of corn exported, they begged leave to observe,
that, should it pass into a law, it would be extremely prejudicial to
all, and ruin many farmers of that county, as they had offered their
corn for sale at divers ports and markets of the said county: but the
merchants refused to buy it at any price, alleging, its being unfit for
the London market, the great quantity of corn with which that market was
already overstocked, and their not being allowed either to export it
or make it into malt for exportation. They therefore prayed this
prohibition might be removed, or they the petitioners indulged with some
other kind of relief. Although this remonstrance was duly considered,
the bill passed with the amendments because of the proviso, by which his
majesty in council was empowered to shorten the date of the prohibition
with respect to the exportation of corn during the recess of parliament;
but the temporary restraint laid upon distillation was made absolute,
without any such condition, to the no small disappointment and
mortification of the distillers, who had spared no pains and expense
by private solicitation, and strenuous dispute in the public papers, to
recommend their cause to the favour of the community. They urged that
malt-spirits, when used in moderation, far from being prejudicial to the
health of individuals, were in many damp and marshy parts of the kingdom
absolutely necessary for preserving the field labourers from agues and
other distempers produced by the cold and moisture of the climate; that
if they were debarred the use of malt-spirits, they would have recourse
to French brandy, with which, as they generally reside near the
sea-coast, the smugglers would provide them almost as cheap as the
malt-spirits could be afforded: thus the increased consumption of French
spirit would drain the nation of ready money to a considerable amount,
and prejudice the king's revenue in the same proportion. They observed,
that many distillers had already quitted that branch of trade and
disposed of their materials; that all of them would probably take
the same resolutions should the bill pass into a law, as no man could
foresee when the prohibition would cease, should it be continued at
a time when all sor