On the Strevgtlis and Values of Spiritimis Liquors. SOU 



among ideas each as uncommon as the other; but.it is only 

 by rejecting what is absurd and impossible that we can adopt 

 what at first would have appeared incredible. 



LVI. Of the general Relation hetween the Specif c Gra- 

 vities and the Strengths and Values of Spirituous Liquors, 

 und the Circumstances by luhich the former are influenced, 



[Continued from p. 211.] 



Of Over-Proofs and Uhdei--Proqfs, and the Modes of 

 appreciating them. 



§ 21. X HE first idea respecting the denomination of the 

 relative values of spirituous liquors appears to have been that 

 of Mr. Clarke, the inventor of the hydrometer now known 

 by his name, which was founded on the supposed respec- 

 tive proportions of water which would be requisite to reduce 

 an over-proof spirit to proof, or proof to an under-proof : 

 the quantity of water was, however, considered as invaria- 

 ble, being always one gallon ; whilst that of the spirit was 

 regarded as variable, and as being so modified as to produce 

 the required ratio between the two. Thus, a liquor which 

 >vas so strong as to be supposed to require the addition of 

 half its measure of water to reduce it to proof was called 

 " one to two over proof," indicating that one gallon of 

 water added to two of the spirit would make proof spirit of 

 it ; a spirit, with respect to which it was conceived that 

 one-third of its measure of water would render it of proof 

 strength, was called " one to three over proof," and so on. 

 With regard to such liquors as w ere beiu v ihe proof strength, 

 an analogous mode of denomina'aou was used. Thus, a 

 liquor which was considered as being of equal strength with 

 a mixture of one gallon of water with three of proof spirit 

 was called " one (0 three," or more commonly " one m 

 four under proof." This latter denomination became at 

 length almost generally employed by those who used 

 Clarke's hydrometer ; so that " one to four" was regarded 

 as signifying that a liquor was 25 per cent, over proof ; and 

 *' one i/i lour," that it was 25 per cent, under proof, with- 

 out the use of these epithets themselves. 



§ 22. It was impossible, however, not to feel the incon- 

 venience of a system of denomination which was so corn- 

 flex aiKl Indefiuitc. Every series by which successive quan- 

 UUes, qualities, or values of any description are defined, 



.Vol. XVI. No. 64. U ' ought 



