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16 Experiments with the Leaves and Prunings of the Vine. Aug. 14 
benevolence would disown. The times 
are truly critical; perils on every side 
surround us; but fortunately for the 
friends of toleration the danger of a revo- 
tution so insidiously insisted on before by 
a late great and inconsistent minister, as 
the sufficient reason for our acquiescence* 
in measures destructive to national liberty, 
cannot be apprehended now by the most 
timid, as a consequence likely to result 
from their virtuous endeavours in favour 
of the rights of conscience. Whatever 
danger may justly be apprehended to 
arise in the prosecution of this discussion 
lies allon the side of jntolerance. If the 
clamours of bigots and the calumnies of 
corrupt politicians should too long pre- 
vail over the pleas of sound poucy and 
humanity, and against the Christian rule 
of justice, to do to others as we would 
that others should do to us, then indeed 
Jet the fawning sycophants of power, who 
support that injustice which they con- 
demn, look with fearful apprehension to 
Treland; for therethey will have much 
to dread ; then let this misguided nation 
tremble at the near approach of that re- 
volution, which may with reason be ex- 
pected to explode from the rage of dis- 
appointed millions. May God in his 
mercy avert those dreaded eviis: may his 
providence ordain that far better, far’ 
wiser dispositions shall be found to influ- 
ence, before it be too late, those who go- 
vern and those who are governed; and 
may that conduct which is calculated to 
conciliate our exasperated brethren, to 
secure this widely extended empire from 
internal convulsions and from forgign sub- 
jJugation, and at last to establish Chris- 
tian peace, benevolence, and liberty. for 
ever among us, be the happy result of 
those better and wiser dispositions. But 
should the event prove far otherwise; 
should every attempt to promote the be- 
nign disposition of the gospel too long 
prove unsuccesstul, should repeated dis- 
appointments and repeated insults at last 
goad the Irish to desperation and mad- 
ness, and should confusion be the unhappy 
consequence in their part of the empire ; 
in that situation of extreme peril and dis- 
tress, it would be the utmost  con- 
solation to the early declared friends of 
unlimited liberty of conscience to reflegt, 
that their conduct as churchmen engaged 
* The laws alluded to were not acquiesced 
ry . ot 
in by the nation; by the minister, at that 
time, they were suffered to expire; and it 
may be hoped that sweh measures will not 
again be resorted to. 
in the support of that cause had been 
uniformly marked by a truly Christian 
spirit; by tbe constant candour of their 
controversia) writings; and by their im- 
partial endeavour that justice might be 
done to all who differ from the religion of 
the state. And should their virtuous ef+ 
forts be assisted in the course of this dis- 
cussion by any considerable proportion 
of those persons who adhere with them 
tu that religion, the generous zeal of 
chnrchmen hike themselves co-operating 
with them to diffuse the true principles 
of gospel benevolence and Christian li- 
berty, would afford to tKeir then-distracted 
country the best or only ground of hope, 
that wiser counsels and a happier tem~ 
per might even then prevail; that the 
impending revolution, and dismember- 
ment of Treland, with their inseparable 
train of crimes and calamities, might even 
then be averted by a perfect reconcilia- 
tion with their Irish brethren. 
a 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
Y the last Number of your Maga- 
zine, | find that Mr. Hall has made 
a number of experiments respecting the 
prunings of the vine, and the economi- 
cal purposes to which they may be ap- 
plied. Iwas just about to prune mine, 
when your highly useful Miscellany ar- 
rived; and having for these eight days 
past tried a variety of experiments, I be- 
lieve there is a good deal of truth in what 
Mr. Hall says. Indeed, as the idea is sa 
natural, [am surprised that the discovery ~ 
was not made sooner. The flavour of 
the tea of the vine Jeaves is, however, to 
some, I find, not quite agreeable: but 
flavour, it is well known, is, in ninety- 
nine instances out of a hundred, alto- 
gether an acquired idea. Your readers . 
will find that rather more than «an ordi- 
nary quantity of sugar is necessary to tea 
made of the vine-leaves; and thatit is a 
high improvement to put sugar among 
the juice of the bruised prunings, whe- 
ther it be intended as a substitute for 
beer, or for distillation, The sugar tends 
much to correct the natural acidity of 
the juice proceeding both from the leaves 
and the whole prunings. The juicey I 
easily see, will make excellent vinegar, 
without the least mixture of any other 
ingredient. Several of my acquaintances 
are also trying experiments. I would 
have sent my name in full, but that the 
excise officers, some of whom know little 
more of*politeness, and the laws of their 
country, than a cow does about coining a 
. shilling, 
hd 
r 
