L I V E S Jhortened by TEA. 
237 
From what caufes can fuch an effedt arife, in a country where 
the climate is temperate, the air pure, the earth plentiful, the 
people supposed to be civilized, and reputed humane ? The 
air of London not being in every dreet fo pure, nor the manner 
of life fo fimple as in fome parts of the country, we may con- 
clude, that we ought to fend children where the air is good, 
and free from confinement ; and confequently mod proper for 
their health. But we mult not dop here; the evil is moft obvious 
in town, but it reaches to the country alfo. One of the caufes 
of this calamity arifes from the nurle, who throws away, upon 
tea and gin, her flender allowance, which fiiould purchafe the 
bed meat, milk, and bread. And what kind of tea do you 
imagine they drink ? I have told you, that fome tea which is 
run in upon us, cofts only fifteen pence a pound. Befides 
AMSTERDAM and EMBDEN, in GOTTENBURGH, COPENHAGEN, DUN- 
KIRK, bologne, and other ports, they feldom fell their ordinary 
tea for above twenty- pence a pound. Tea, which fhould not be 
expofed to the air, being fold out of wheelbarrows, or brought 
over in the packing of porcelain, as faw-dud is ufed, you 
may imagine mud make a mod delicious liquor 1 This run 
tea is fold amongd us from between two and three findings a 
pound ; but the fmugglers bring over no fmall quantities of a 
higher quality. Coarfe tea will certainly tinge the water deep, 
and give a bitter tade ; and the tea- drinkers, of w’hom I am 
fpeaking, defire but little more. You have alfo heard that 
your maids dry your tea-leaves, and fell them : the indudrious 
nymph, who is bent on gain, may get a finding a pound for 
fuch tea. Thefe leaves being dyed in a folution of japan. 
EARTH* 
