own markets, and undersell them;
which we certainly could do, by making our liquors good, and giving them
the same age. The transportation would of consequence improve them in an
equal degree, for the only advantage their liquors of the same age have
over our good liquors, is the mildness acquired by the friction in the
warm hold of the ship in crossing the ocean.

And moreover as liquors will be drank by people of all standings in
society, I flattered myself I could improve our liquors, render them
more wholesome to those whose unhappy habits compel a too free use of
ardent spirits, and whose constitutions may have been doubly injured
from the pernicious qualities of such as they were compelled to use. For
there are in all societies and of both sexes, who will drink and use
those beverages to excess, even when there exists a moral certainty,
that they will sustain injury from such indulgence, and as an evidence
of my hypothesis, I offer the free use of coffee, tea, &c. so
universally introduced at the tables of people of every grade.

The wise Disposer of worlds, very happily for mankind, permits the
exhibition of genius, mind and talents, from the peasant and lower
order, as well as from the monarch, the lord, and the opulent. To Europe
they of course are not confined--Genius has already figured in our
hemisphere--The arts and sciences are becoming familiar, they rise
spontaneously from our native soil, and bid fair to vie with, if not
out-shine accomplished Europe. In possession, then, of all the necessary
materials, ingredients and requisites, I would ask why we cannot afford
ardent spirits and wines equal to those imported; and thus raise our
character to a standing with other countries, and retain those millions
of dollars at home, which are yearly shipped abroad for those foreign
liquors, so common, so universally in use, and much of which so
adulterated, as to be followed, when freely used, with unhappy
consequences. Would men of capital and science, turn their attention to
distillations, from the produce of our own country, preserve the liquor
until age and management would render it equal, if not superior to any
imported; is it not probable that it would become an article of export,
and most sensibly benefit our country at large.

Considerations such as those have combined to determine a publication of
my work; fully apprised of the scoffs of pedants, kicks, bites and
bruises of critics--but I hope they wil