( 198 ) 



MAKING SUGAR FROM BEET-ROOT, 



AS PRACTISED IN FRANCE DURING THE WAR. 



DURING the whole of the late war with France, but more particularly 

 the latter part of it, that country was altogether deprived of the means 

 of obtaining sugar from the West Indies, and indeed from any other 

 quarter, excepting with great difficulty and at an enormous expense 

 compared with the price at which it could be obtained from us. It 

 is true, that the French privateers occasionally picked up in the 

 Channel, or near its mouth, a West Indiaman that stress of weather or 

 other circumstances had separated from the fleet ; but this was a 

 matter of rare occurrence, as the men-of-war appointed as convoys 

 made the best possible arrangements and kept a sharp look out ; still, 

 however, they did occur, but so rarely and at such distant intervals, 

 as not ta,afford even one thousand part of the supply of sugar required 

 in France. In the northern part, with which I was more par- 

 ticularly acquainted at the period in question, the usual substitute 

 adopted for sugar was a piece of sugar-candy placed between the lower 

 lip and the teeth, a small portion of which was dissolved at each 

 succeeding sip of coffee. Many indeed got into the habit of drink- 

 ing it without any sweetening a practice which had the powerful 

 sanction of fashion for its adoption.* Sugar, however, was still in 

 great request, as it was used not only with tea and coffee, but was 

 also mixed with cold water, which is considered a very pleasant and 

 cooling beverage. The want of a sufficient supply of sugar was se- 

 verely felt throughout the country, and to supply the deficiency 

 several speculative persons proposed to make sugar from beet-root. 

 The experiment was tried on a small scale, and was found to succeed 

 perfectly. Amongst those who embarked most largely into this spe- 

 culation was a Mr. Le Dreux, a gentleman of considerable landed 

 property, who set about his new occupation with all the ardour of a 

 man who felt persuaded that he must in a few years realize an im- 

 mense fortune. In order that nothing should be wanting to carry his 

 objects into effect, he disposed of a considerable portion of his pro- 

 perty, and raised money by mortgage on the remainder to such an ex- 



* It is quite true that after the passing of the Berlin and Milan decrees, pro- 

 hibiting all intercourse between the continent and Great Britain, licenses were 

 granted to favoured individuals in certain quarters, under which British pro- 

 duce might be imported into even France herself in neutral bottoms, but this 

 only to a limited extent, and under certain restrictions. For instance, for any 

 number of tons of British goods sent to France, an equal number of tons of 

 French produce must be taken back in exchange. But the folly of this restric- 

 tion soon became apparent on this side of the water, for the English merchants 

 being only limited to ton for ton, without regard to quality, took care to ex- 

 port to the continent their most valuable and profitable articles, whilst in return, 

 they brought back the poorest and lowest wines, at that time a mere drug both 

 there and nere. There is no doubt that some of the superior French wines did 

 find their way into this country in the course of this intercourse, but the for- 

 mer was by far the more general practice. 



