2 70 
Calculation of the Expence of Tea. 
This may be confidered as a trifling calculation 
to thole who fee and feel how much greater an ex- 
pence of fugar is made in families on account of 
tea ; but it is intended to be rather under than 
above the mark. 
I will fuppofe only one million of fervants, me- 
chanics, and labouring people, who lofe their time 
by drinking tea. I will calculate only 280 days in 
the year, and one hour in twelve loft in fuch days. 
I will fet their labor fo low as fix pence a day, then 
tea cofts the nation, in this inftance only, the 
fum of — — • — — 
583,3 33 
I pafs over the article of time of fine ladies 
and fine gentlemen as invaluable. If out of nine 
millions of people in great Britain we have only 
two millions of tea drinkers, at ftx in a family, 
thefe make 333,333 families, their tea equipages 
can hardly coft lefs than five fhillings, is — — 83,333 
To this we muft add the expence of tea-kettles 
and coals, &c. confidering what numbers make fires, 
at fome feafons of the year merely on account 
of tea, the annual charge muft be at leaft fifteen 
fhillings each, is — — — — — 249,999 
Thus I compute the amount or annual expence 
to be — — — — — —£2,691,665 
I 
5 
