EXPERIMENT HOME-MADE FOREIGN. 417 



in the vineyard speculations of Surrey, though the wine 

 was said to be far superior to any previously made in 

 England. Correctly speaking, the juice of the grape, 

 solely, is entitled to the denomination of wine ; but 

 from the uncertainty of the grape crop in this 

 country, both the necessity and the profit compel us 

 to manufacture wines from a considerable number of 

 our other fruits, a plan of national economy which 

 has proved hitherto successful, and which will be 

 found more so in proportion to the improvement 

 which may and ought to take place in the manufacture. 

 On our home manufacture of foreign wines, I have 

 borrowed the following curious particulars from the 

 statement of Mr. Blackett, which affords an ample 

 catalogue of the numerous articles from which they 

 select, who are engaged in the honest and profitable 

 speculation of originating or improving foreign wines 

 and spirits, in our own country. This ought to act 

 as a caution to us in the purchase of foreign wines, 

 and in the material consideration of whom we pur- 

 chase them : and as this fraud is an ancient and in- 

 veterate disease in our country, and as we are ever said 

 to evince a preference and attachment to sophisticated 

 and adulterated articles of all kinds, it behoves the 

 minority of pure wine lovers, to countenance and 

 patronize the manufacture and consumption of 

 home-made wines, and their improvement to the 

 highest possible degree of perfection. The immediate 

 fatal effects of these adulterated foreign wines, have 

 been experienced by individuals at various periods ; in 

 one memorable and well known instance, some years 

 since, at a tavern dinner in the country, not many 

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