^^O On the Analyjls of Wine, 



and carefully cooling the worm. By thefe means thfe vi.- 

 pours efcape from the ftill with greater facility, as they are 

 admitted into the worm by the fpeedy condenfation ot thuie 

 which preceded them. 



Thefe different improvements began to be introduced into 

 Languedoc about fifteen years ago. The brothers Argand 

 greatly contributed to make them be adopted. They firft 

 eflablidied ftills according to thefe principles, and found them 

 attended with fo much faving, in regard lo time and fuel, 

 that from the refults of comparative experiments it has been 

 cflimated at four-fifths. 



I have niyfelf fuperintended feveral eflablifliments of this 

 kind, where the fame principles were adopted. In my opi- 

 nion, it is hardly poffible to carry improvement any further ; 

 and it is to be widied that this method of diftiUation fliould 

 become general. 



But it is not fo much to the form of the apparatus as to 

 the conftruclion of the fire-place, and the proper manage- 

 ment of tbe fire, that thefe extraordinary effects are to be 

 afcribed. The pofterior edge of the grate ought to corre- 

 fpond to the middle of the bottom of the boiler, that the 

 flame may fall upon and heat the whole bottom in an uni- 

 form manner. The diftance between the boiler and the 

 grate ought to be from i6 to i8 inches when coals are em- 

 ployed ; and the chimney ought to be fpiral. 



Befides faving in regard to time, fuel, labour, &c. this 

 form of apparatus has an influence on the quality of the 

 fpirit. It is far fweeter than any other, and has no empyreu- 

 matic tafte; which is a fault almoll infeparable from the com- 

 mon fpirits ufed in commerce : this quality, which renders 

 fpirits of this kind fo fuperior to others, had almofl: become 

 caufe of their being rejected, becaufe the inhabi'tants of the 

 north, whofc principal beverage this liquor is, found it too 

 Iweet. It was therefore neceflary to mix it with burnt fpirit, 

 in order to give it a good name. This fiery tafte may be 

 eafily communicated lo it by maintaining the diftiUation be- 

 yond the ufual time. The liquor which pafles over towards 

 the end of the operation has evidently a burnt tafte. 



In the arts, it is neceffary to humour the tafte and even 

 the caprice of the confumer ; and what among us is rejefted 

 lu confequence of its bad tafte, may appear exquifite and de- 

 licious to an inhabitant of the north. Burning liquors, 

 which in the north n)ight be accounted weak, are too pow- 

 erful for the fenfible nerves of the inhabitants of the fouth. 

 Montefquicu has obferved with great ingenuity, that to give 

 a Mufcovite ft-nfibility vou niuft flay him. 



By 



