lower class of people, but would
raise such a bar to the exportation thereof, as to deprive the nation of
a great influx of money, at that time essential towards the maintaining
of an expensive war, and therefore highly injure the landed and
commercial interests: they therefore prayed that the present prohibition
of distilling spirits from corn might be continued, or that the use
of wheat might not be allowed in distillation. This remonstrance was
corroborated by another to the same purpose, from several merchants,
manufacturers, and traders, residing in and near the city of London; and
seemed to have some weight with the commons, who made several amendments
in the bill, which they now intituled, "A bill for preventing the
excessive use of spirituous liquors, by laying additional duties
thereon; for shortening the prohibition for making low wines and spirits
from wheat; for encouraging the exportation of British-made spirits,
and preventing the fraudulent relanding or importation thereof." Thus
altered and amended, it passed on a division; and, making its way
through the house of lords, acquired the royal sanction. Whether the
law be adequate to the purposes for which it was enacted, time will
determine. The best way of preventing the excess of spirituous liquors
would be to lower the excise on beer and ale, so as to enable the poorer
class of labourers to refresh themselves with a comfortable liquor
for nearly the same expense that will procure a quantity of Geneva
sufficient for intoxication; for it cannot be supposed that a poor
wretch will expend his last penny upon a draught of small beer, without
strength or the least satisfactory operation, when for the half of that
sum he can purchase a cordial, that will almost instantaneously allay
the sense of hunger and cold, and regale his imagination with the most
agreeable illusions. Malt was at this time sold cheaper than it was in
the first year of king James I. when the parliament enacted, that no
innkeeper, victualler, or alehouse-keeper, should sell less than a
full quart of the best ale or beer, or two quarts of the small, for one
penny, under the penalty of twenty shillings. It appears, then, that in
the reign of king James the subject paid but fourpence for a gallon
of strong beer, which now costs one shilling; and as the malt is not
increased in value, the difference in the price must be entirely owing
to the taxes on beer, malt, and hops, which are indeed very gr