524 British Poisons: [Nofi^f^ 



When we consider the immense sums that are annually spent by the 

 working classes in the purchase of beer, the great benefit which would 

 be conferred, by letting them have a cheap and wholesome beverage, 

 must be quite obvious. The present state of the law prevents the great 

 monopolists, and even the common brewers or victuallers, from supplying 

 this beverage at a low price, although it does not prevent families, how- 

 ever numerous, brewing for their own use with any material they may 

 find most advantageous : — we are therefore strongly impressed with the 

 immense advantages that may be derived from resorting to the good old 

 plan of every family becoming their own brewers, in preference to 

 individually wasting their time and money at beer houses, where they 

 are nine times in ten supplied with a bad or indifferent article, at a com- 

 paratively enormous price ; and we repeat, that the benevolent will 

 essentially benefit their poorer neighbours by teaching them to adopt 

 the plans pointed out. 



With regard to the distilleries, we had formerly occasion to notice* 

 the complete monopoly of their own, and the greater part of the Eng- 

 lish market, acquired by the Dunlops, and other great Scotch distillers ; — 

 who, by some means or other, have hitherto contrived to supply about 

 one half of the corn spirit annually consumed on this side of the Tweed, 

 This circumstance, and their manner of managing the malt draw-back, 

 has, we believe, attracted the attention of government, and it is ex- 

 pected, that in future the English and Irish distiller will have something 

 like fair plar/. This wiU not, however, benefit the British West Indian 

 distiller, so long as, by a most unjust and impolitic distinctive duty, he 

 is prohibited almost entirely from vending his rum in the Scotch and 

 Irish markets. The consequence of this most oppressive extra duty of 

 six shillings the gallon of rum, is, that while about 15,000,000 gallons of 

 British spirits are consumed in these markets, the total quantity of rum 

 used is only about 170,000 gallons ! or about one-ninetieth part of the 

 whole, although it is a more wholesome liquor ; and now, when the 

 West Indians ask for the trifling boon, that their molasses may be used 

 in the breweries and distilleries whenever that can be done to advantage 

 and without injuring the British barley grower, the Scotch distillers (for 

 they are the most active,) backed by a few interested landlords, raise 

 the usual outcry, that "the landed interest is in danger, and if you admit 

 the use of molasses in the breweries and distilleries, you are ruined," — al- 

 though it is shewn that the utmost quantity will not be more than equal 

 to some 100,000 or 120,000 quarters of foreign barley, or not more than 

 a tenth part of the average annual importation of foreign grain during . 

 the last ten years ! It is not, however, to benefit the landed interest, 

 or the people either, that these spirituals are seen poking their noses into 

 every corner and cranny of the tAvo houses of parliament, neither do we 

 blame them for their exertions to maintain their own monopoly — no, it 

 is the landed interest and the legislature which are blameable, for listen- 

 ing to these individuals, instead of studying, and firmly pursuing, that 

 line of policy which is for the general benefit. 



Mr. George Dunlop, one of the large Scotch distillers, being asked 

 to state whether he objects to such an arrangement of the duty as would 

 practically admit of the introduction of molasses into the distillery, re- 

 ])lies — " Most decidedly. Beside our distillery, Ave have large farms, 



• Vide the Monthly Maijuzinc for June, 1830, (Vol. IX. No. 54.) 



