84 Review of Middle/ex Survey, Jan. 



* There are fome perfons wlio do not drink malt liquor at all ; 

 moft people of fortune and fafhion drink it very fparingly ; while 

 great numbers of the lower orders, particularly coalheaver?, anchor- 

 fnniths, porters, &c. drink it to great excefs, even, it Is fuppofed, 

 to the amount of five hundred, or one thoufand gallons a year each. 

 ^TJpon the whole, I apprehend the quantity of malt liquor confumed 

 in the county, would almoft average a hundred gallons per head of 

 all ages and conditions. ' 



One thoufand gallons per annum, is nearly, on an average, 

 about 14 bottles of ale or porter per day, and is almoft equal 

 to what is pafTed through many drains, made to carry off the 

 faperabundant moifiure from the earth. 



In another part of the work, when treathig of vi6tualling 

 houfes, Mr Middleton fuppofes, ' that upwards of three 

 millions of money are expended by the labouring people, upon 

 ale, porter, gin, and compounds, which is 25I. per family of 

 that defcription of perfons. ' If wages, on an average, be i2s. 

 per week, the amount per ann. is 32I. 4s., which leaves only 

 7I. 4s. for purchafing bread, butcher meat, vegetables, and 

 clothes ! t^ 



The different public markets in London are well dcfcribed, 

 though it appears the Lord Maj'or (Watfon) affedled want of 

 knowledge when applied to for information. Accounts taken 

 from the Cuftomhoufe books are likewife given ; which {how, 

 in a clear light, the different quantities of corn imported into, 

 and exported from London and other parts of the kingdom. 

 Mr Middleton fuggcfts, that it would be an ufeful meafure to 

 licenfe and fwear the Smithfield falefmen ; and likewife, that 

 they fhould be obliged to find fecurity for faithfully executing 

 their officie. The latter might prove of advantage to the pub- 

 lic ; but if a perfon is determined to play the rogue, liceafing 

 and fwearing will hardly prevent him. 



When treating of ManufaBures^ Mr Middleton, with great 

 propriety, ranks Agriculture in the higheft clafs. He ftates 

 the farming capital in South Britain at 5I. per acre, or 200 

 millions, and that the annual produce is 65I. per cent, or 139 

 millions. From thence he deduces, that agriculture muft be 

 allowed to furpafs all other manufadlures that can be brought 

 into competition, not only as to the grofs amount, but alfo as 

 to its fuperior ufefulnefs. 



We perfeftly agree with Mr Middleton in his conclufions, 

 but differ widely from the premifes he affumes. In the firjl 

 place, we do not confider the quantity of arable land in South 

 Britain to be fo great as he ftates it ; and we apprehend the 

 commons and waftes to be more extenfive. In the fecond 

 place, no agrictltural capital is required for the land occupied 



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