THE PUBLIC BREWERY TAXATION RESULT. 291 



same time their commodity at the fair standard of 

 quality, without a rise of price too considerable for 

 the ability of the great body of consumers. Other 

 measures must then be resorted to. 



Recourse has, in consequence, been had to scien- 

 tific and chemical aid, in order to enable the brewer 

 to find substitutes for the prime material, and so 

 draw a greater length from the usual quantity of 

 malt : in plain terms, to produce a factitious or com- 

 position beer, from the least possible quantity of 

 the most precious article. Of late, the process of 

 adulteration seems to have been in the hands of the 

 publicans of the metropolis ; great numbers of whom 

 have been detected by the excise officers within the 

 present year, and fined one or more hundreds of 

 pounds each,without any hope of mitigation. Bay-salt, 

 sugar, treacle, colouring, copperas and water, were 

 the chief articles detected. Thus taxed, malt has 

 given place to less salubrious and substantial articles, 

 and to untaxed and potent drugs ; and, unfortunately 

 for the health and habits of the people, the beer of 

 commerce has been, too generally, an intoxicating 

 and stupifying, instead of an exhilarant and nutri- 

 tious drink ; and to crown the evil, the public taste 

 has been vitiated, and ADULTERATED beer has long 

 since obtained a decided preference over the genuine 

 and simple product of malt and hops. The nature 

 of this composition has generally depended on the 

 skill or ability of the brewer. With some, it has 

 proved a liquor of luscious flavour, impregnated 

 with a fiery, inebriating spirit ; with others, a vile, 



