that an additional bounty
should be granted under proper regulations, upon the exportation of
all spirituous liquors drawn from corn in Great Britain. A great
many accounts being perused, and witnesses examined, relating to the
distillery, a bill was brought in to prevent the excessive use of
spirituous liquors, by laying an additional duty thereupon; and
to encourage the exportation of British-made spirits. Considerable
opposition was made to the bill, on the opinion that the additional duty
proposed was too small; and that, among the resolutions, there was
not so much as one that looked like a provision or restriction for
preventing the pernicious abuse of such liquors. Nay, many persons
affirmed, that what was proposed looked more like a scheme for
increasing the public revenues, than a salutary measure to prevent
excess. The merchants and manufacturers of the town of Birmingham
petitioned for such instructions. The lord-mayor, aldermen, and
common-council of London presented a petition by the hands of the two
sheriffs, setting forth, that the petitioners had, with great pleasure,
observed the happy consequences produced upon the morals, behaviour,
industry, and health of the lower class of people, since the prohibition
of the malt distillery; that the petitioners, having observed a bill
was brought in to allow the distilling of spirits from corn, were
apprehensive that the encouragement given to the distillers thereof
would prove detrimental to the commercial interests of the nation;
and they conceived the advantages proposed to be allowed upon the
exportation of such spirits, being so much above the value of their
commodity, would lay such a temptation for smuggling and perjury as no
law could prevent. They expressed their fears, that, should such a bill
pass into a law, the excessive use of spirituous liquors would not only
debilitate and enervate the labourers, manufacturers, sailors, soldiers,
and all the lower class of people, and thereby extinguish industry, and
that remarkable intrepidity which had lately so eminently appeared in
the British nation, which must always depend on the vigour and industry
of its people; but also its liberty and happiness, which cannot be
supported without temperance and morality, would run the utmost risk of
being destroyed. They declared themselves also apprehensive, that the
extraordinary consumption of bread corn by the still would not only
raise the price, so as to oppress the