: C wo ; 
-) So early) as ,1678, Cornelius ‘Bontekoes, @ Dutch phyficiim, 
publithed a treatife, in his own language, on Tea, Coffee; and 
Chocolate"... In this he thews himfelf a very zealous advocate 
for ‘Tea, and denies the poflibility of its. injuring the ftomach, 
although taken to the greateft excefs, as far/as one or. two hun- 
dred cups in a day... To what: motive, we are to’impute the par- 
tiality of Dr. Bontekoe, i 4s uncertain at this. period; but as he 
was firlt phyfician. to the Elector of Brandenburgh, and proba- 
bly of confiderable eminence and. character, his eulogium might 
forded: the Citizens abundant inatter for atlimadverfion, in which they indulged 
themfelves fo much to his diffatisfaction, and that. of: his cabal, miniftry, 
that a proclamation was iffued December 20, for thutting up and fuppreffing 
all coffee-houfes ; ‘* becaufe, in fuch houfes, and by occafion of the” meeting of 
difaffected perfons in them, divers falfe, malicious, and fcandalous reports were 
devifed and read abroad, to the defamation of his Majetty’ S government, and to the 
difturbance of the quiet and peace of the realm.” ‘The opinions of the judges were 
_ taken on this ‘great point “of ftopping people’s tongues, when they fagely. refolved, 
-*¢ that retailing: of Coffee and Tea might be an innocent trade; butas it was ufed to 
nourifh fedition, fpread. lies, and fcandalize great men, it might alfo be a common 
nuifance.””. In fhort, on a petition of the merchants and retailers of Coffee and Tea, 
permiffion was granted to keep open the coffee-houfes until the 24th of June next, 
under an admonition, that the mafters of them fhould. prevent all fcandalous papers, 
books, and libels, from being read in them ; and hinder every perfon from declaring, 
uttering, c or divulging all manner of falfe or fcandalous reports againft government or 
the minifters thereof. -Thus, by a réfinement of policy, the fimple manufacturer of 
a dith of Coffee or Tea was conftituted licenfer of books, corrector of manners, and 
arbiter of the truth or falfehood of political intelligence, over every, i ROE he en- 
tertained ! And here the matter ended. Chap. 15. _ 
In May 1784 an a& was paffed, called the Commutation AG, « ete repealing the 
feveral duties on Tea, and for granting to, ‘his Majefty other duties j in lien sheseols 
ind al: > feveral duties on inhabited houfes.” | 
ee ond edition was publifhed under the title of Van The, pe oo en. 1 Cho- 
colate. - 1685. 8vo. The late Baron. Van Swieten. cenfures this phyfician for 
| ‘able bias in favour of this exotic. Comment, Vol. V« p-587., Eft modus 
in a rebusy ase “be as ae = to Dr. Bontekoe as to Dr. Duncan. : 
: ‘tend 
