PUBLIC FAVOUR OF ADULTERATION. 357 



nevertheless has long had, and still enjoys, the public 

 preference. A palpable instance of this I personally 

 witnessed, more than half a century since. The 

 brewer of genuine ale, whom I have already cited, 

 had a publican in his vicinity, a man of property, 

 who had a constant great draught for ale. The 

 brewer, in course, solicited his neighbour's custom, 

 and the favour was promptly granted, on condition 

 that the commodity should suit the taste of his cus- 

 tomers. A trial cask of ale was forthwith sent, and 

 a supper for a few friends ordered at the house by 

 the brewer. The result in the end was, that not one 

 of the publican's customers would drink the pure ale, 

 and thence he kindly agreed to use it in his own 

 family. I tasted, but did not swallow, the favourite 

 ale, and a more damnable composition never entered 

 my lips. Salt and sweet, bitter and bite, or stimulus 

 to intoxication, seemed to contend for the mastery in 

 this potent drug-broth ! On the whole, it was a rare 

 infusion of lollipop for grown children. As a modern 

 instance several years past, I observed in a daily 

 paper, the oath of a brewer before the Lord Mayor, 

 to the genuineness of his ale. In consequence, I 

 immediately ordered a cask, and could discover in the 

 beer no symptom of adulteration. I have heard 

 nothing of this brewer since, and do not apprehend 

 that his plan has succeeded with the public. 



A singular action at law has lately been brought 

 by a Burton ale brewer, against the publishers of the 

 Library Economical Pamphlets, for a statement in 

 one of them on the Brewery, of the adulteration prac- 

 tised in the manufacture of Burton ale. An affidavit 



