Statistics. 321 



as it was found to be at the enumeration of 1841, the consumption 

 per head in the year was — 



In England .... 0-569 gallons. 

 Scotland .... 2*647 ... 

 Ireland .... 0-853 ... 



These proportions are such as would fall to the share of each man, 

 woman, and child, throughout the land; but it must be evident that 

 many, and efspecially the women and children, can count for very 

 little in the calculation, if indeed they should not be wholly discarded 

 from it. Adopting this latter view, and dividing the quantity con- 

 sumed among the adult males in all ranks of life, as they were ascer- 

 tained in 1841, the following portions would fall to the share of 

 each — 



In England 2-330 gallons, or about 2^ gallons. • 



Scotland 11-168 11| 



Ireland 3 469 3^ 



Brandy is for the most part drunk by persons not of the working 

 class, as that term is generally, but somewhat arbitrarily, under- 

 stood. The quantity consumed in 1849 was 2,187,500 imperial 

 gallons — 



The first or wholesale cost of which was about £546,875 

 And the duty paid amounted to . . - 1,640,282 



Together . . £2,187,157 



The system of distribution is, for the most part, quite different from 

 that used with respect to British and colonial spirits, — a large pro- 

 portion being purchased in quantities of two gallons and upwards for 

 use in private families, so that a much smaller rate of gross profit 

 will be required by the dealers. Some part is, however, sold at inns 

 and public houses by the glass, and for this portion a very high profit 

 will be received, so that it cannot be considered an over-estimate if 

 we assume that each gallon costs, on the average, to the consumers, 

 30s. or 50s. per cent, advance upon the import cost and duty. This 

 would exhibit an expenditure for brandy of £3,281,250, which, 

 added to the sum formerly stated, gives a total expenditure within 

 the year for ardent spirits of the enormous sum of £24,091,458. 

 The data at command by means of which to estimate the money 

 spent for beer in its various forms, is not so satisfactory as that used 

 in regard to spirits, but is sufficiently precise to enable us to approxi- 

 mate to the truth within a reasonable degree of accuracy. The 

 number of bushels of malt subjected to duty in 1849 was 37,999,032, 

 or 4,749,879 quarters, but of this quantity only 3,719,145 quarters 

 is set down as having been used by licensed brewers. Of the remain- 

 ing 1,030,734 quarters, the greater part was, no doubt, used by 

 VOL. XLIX. NO. XCVllI. — OCTOBER 1850. X 



