II ^5 J 



But It is worthy of confideration whether an 

 equal confumption of malt may not be obtained by 

 a different ufc of breweries from that which pre- 

 vails at prefent, and the nation, including the bulk 

 of the poor, for whofe advantage we are now con- 

 cerned, be better, that is more generally and ufe- 

 fblly, fupplied with malt liquor. On the prefent 

 fyftem, in country towns and diftridls efpecially, the 

 alternative is nearly this : ftrong beer, or no beer at 

 ailj for any thing below the defcription of ftrong 

 beer is with difficulty to be procured. Hence 

 water, for a common beverage, is frequently drunk 

 in poor families, where ftrong beer, on account of 

 the man's irregularities, cannot be afforded. And 

 perhaps a hankering prevails in him after ftrong 

 beer, beyond what might be the cafe if a fupply of 

 frefh and palatable fmaller beer could be readily ob- 

 tained. This hankering after a favourite liquor is 

 augmented by the difficulty of procuring it in 

 common. And when a poor man once breaks out 

 of his bufinefs, and gets to the alehoufe, he is fre- 

 quently ftimulated with a defire of an immoderate 

 quantity, incurs an expence equal to what might 

 fupply his whole family with good table beer, lofes 

 Jiis time in drunkennefs, (which lofs of time is alfo 

 a publick lofs to the community) injures his health 

 and morals, and prevents the poffibility of harmony 

 R3 4a 



