ACTION AT LAW. 309 



tised in the manufacture of Burton ale. An affidavit 

 was made in court of that beer's entire purity, as the 

 genuine and exclusive produce of malt, hops, and 

 water. Now, although I have lived too long in the 

 world, to give unhesitating credit to oaths of busi- 

 ness, whether of a jury, military, clerical, customs, 

 or excise, I will allow of exceptions to general rules, 

 and suppose this oath correct. Granting thus much, 

 I think the prosecutor would have acted a more 

 modest and discreet part, by simply appealing to 

 the public in defence of his commodity, than to the 

 rigour of the law, considering tne known and proved 

 universality of the practice of adulteration. This 

 candour of mine, however, shall not prevent me 

 from stating what I know in the premises. Years 

 ago, I always understood that Burton ale, Ring- 

 wood beer, and others, were highly drugged ; and, 

 as I had not tasted Burton ale lately, I repaired to 

 a hotel and coffee-house which professed to sell the 

 finest and purest drink of that name. On tasting, 

 I immediately found it most amply improved by the 

 brewer's druggist, and thence in high condition to 

 win the public favour. It contained salt to insure 

 thirst, sugar in plenty to gratify the sweet tooth, 

 and of g. p. and probably coriander a full q. s. to 

 give it a stirring spirit. I am far from making the 

 assertion that the ale was brewed by the party above 

 alluded to, or even that it was born at Burton, 

 though christened BuRTotf ale. 



I have attended to the denouement in the public 

 prints of that notable suit, Rex v. Baldwin and 

 Cradock, so felicitously and facetiously convenient to 



