. 234 
an eminent chemift, is their “ Genuine Hollands 
NEAT as imported !”* 
Yet fuch is the rage for this deteftable potion, 
that thoufands of poor half-famithed creatures 
daily {wallow it with infatiable avidity. Though 
fupported, together with their helplels families, at 
the expence of the publick, they have been often 
known to pledge their allowance of bread, their 
clothes, nay, the very beds they hie on, to procure 
their accuftomed dole of gin! 
If we defcend into their comfortlefs abodes, what 
an affecting fcene do we behold! Difeafe, poverty, 
and wretchednefs, pourtrayed in their ftrongeft 
colours ! 
This deplorable abufe of {pirituous liquors, then, 
is a national evil of the firft magnitude, and is cer. 
tainly more malignant in its nature, and more fata} 
in its confequences, than is commonly imagined. 
It not only difqualifies men for activity, and habits 
of induftry, but totally deprives them of that honeft 
fpirit of independence, which ought to be their 
pride as Englifhmen. The time misfpent in riot 
and debauch, occafions a vaft lofs of labour, ruins 
the peace of families, and ftrikes at the very root 
‘of population. Men addicted to this vice have no 
idea of making provifion for a family, or ambition 
a ae 
* Boyle Godfrey’s Mifcellageous Experiments, p. 35. 
of 
