g ' J)r. Blagden’s Report 
ter are mixed together, how much their bulk would be dimi- 
nifhed ; or, what is called by the dittillers the concentration. 
From fuch a table the diftiller could learn, what quantity of 
water he muft mix with fpirit of a given ftrength, m order to 
reduce it to proof fpirit, or any other ftrength ; and likewife 
what quantity of proof fpirit, or fpirit of any other ftrength, 
he may obtain, by adding water to fpirit of a given ftrength; 
both circumftances very neceffary to be known in the trade, 
and which feme of the Aiding rulers now in ufe proiefs to 
UUim. UUL. 
It may appear odd, that no mention has been made tul now 
of proof fpirit, the ftandard to which moft of the regulations of 
the excife have hitherto been referred. The reafons for not 
adopting this ftandard are : firft, that the ftrength of fpirit to 
be called proof is a mere arbitrary point, and by no means fo 
exactly determined as could be wiflied ; and, fecondly, that it 
feemed moft convenient to take for the ftandard the higheft 
ftrength of fpirit ufually found in commerce, and beyond 
which it cannot be rectified without a procefs of tome ex-, 
pence, fo that all the other degrees of ftrength might be 
reckoned one way, without the intervention of a middle point, 
inducing the neceflity of denominating fome above and otheis 
under. If, however, Government fhould find it expedient to 
pre-ferve the reference to proof ipirit, ■fiom th p tables given in 
this Report others may be conftruded, in which all the oid 
terms of over and under proof fhould be retained, and have a 
precife meaning, as foon as the ftrength to be called proof fliall 
x be finally fettled. By the A ft of 2 Geo. III. it is ordered, that 
the gallon of brandy or fpirits of the ftrength of one to fix 
under proof, ftiail be taken and reckoned at 7 lb. 130s., which 
is underftood by the trade to mean at 55’ of heat. Hence, 
& taking; 
