ON COLONIAL WINES. 245 
Post Office, is entrusted to do for the patient what in 
chanty, let us suppose, oily pure fine wine could do 
I am writing no imaginary story. More than 22 
yews of sack rooms and hospitals, have taught me 
something™ this matter of "Medical comforts and 
restoratives in Victoria." 
A gentleman now no longer in business, Mr. James 
Phi hps, formerly my neighbour in Lonsdale-street, at 
that fame a wine merchant, always had in his cellar 
• pipe of the best port wine for the convalescent, 
and none others. And though he would at that time 
more than fifteen years ago, sell one dozen to a Z- 
valescent patient for the small sum of 30s. or 35 8 
dozen to the same patent. This was real nnpretending 
chanty, and I regret that this catholic practice is Z 
universal among US here in Victoria. 
BBITISH-BBED LADIES IN RELATION TO WINE. 
Ever since 1862, when colonial pure wine began to ' 
be pretty generally talked abont, the lady portion of 
our community made no pretence of disguising the* 
totr ^ taSt ^ been 0 acc u :tonS 
to take a small glass or two of port or s herry, with 
fruit or a sweet cake, it did no doubt taste thin poor 
and sonr • ; and as long as it is so used it will taste thin 
poor and sour to British-bred ladies, and to not a few 
gentlemen as well. 
In the case of ladies, there are two obstacles in the 
way to be removed before they will take to the pure 
wholesome beverage ; and these are first and strongest 
by far, the custom or fashion of British Society, arising 
