68 
but he might not be able to make the experiment himself, and 
hoped it might be done by some one more competent to the 
task. 
SECTION FOR STATISTICS AND SOCIOLOGY. 
March 12th, 1861. 
A Paper was read by Mr. Thos. R. Wilkinson, furnishing- 
statistics connected with the sale of beer and spirituous liquors, 
with a view to enquire whether such sale had any effect on 
the criminal returns, and how far the legislature would be 
justified in a further interference with it. 
The number of licensed victuallers in the United Kingdom 
in 1860, was 107,024, and the number of beer sellers, 45,198. 
The licensed victuallers represent interests which directly 
concern £50,000,000. worth of property, and maintain 
1,000,000 of people. 
The revenue derived from beer and spirits in the year 1832, 
was £15,000,000., or 29*4 1 per cent, of the whole revenue. 
In 1858, this revenue amounted to £21,000,000., or 31*34 
per cent, of the whole revenue. The increase of this revenue 
had been 40 per cent., whilst the increase of the population 
was 25 per cent. 
In 1831, the amount derived from licenses for the sale of 
£. £. 
Beer amounted to ...273,871 And the year 1859 to... 384, 178 
Spirits ,, ...395,697 ,, ,, ...563,400 
Wine „ ... 73,026 „ „ ... 88,238 
£742,594 £1,035,816 
An increase of 39*62 per cent. 
An Act for closing public houses, from Saturday night at 
Twelve o’clock, until One o’clock on Sunday, came into 
operation in 1847-8. 
For eight years before the passing of that Act, the annual 
average number of persons taken into custody by the Man- 
chester police was 10,658, whilst after the Act was passed the 
annual average was only 5,371. 
