358 ACTION AT LAW. 



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 the 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 under- 

 stood that Burton ale, Ringwood beer, and others, 

 were highly drugged ; and, as I had not tasted Bur- 

 ton ale lately, I repaired to an 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 con- 

 tained 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 BURTON 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 both parties. The following passage in Mr. 

 Brougham's speech could scarcely fail of affording 



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