76 ON THE HABITUAL USE OF OPIUM 
tire revenue, the former must turn a deaf ear to his entreaties and 
consult the moral and physical welfare of the people. 
Having prepared the reader by these preliminary remarks for my 
suggestions as to the best means for remedying this general evil, I will 
step at once to the point by proposing that, first, having farmed the 
monopoly of the Opium at the highest rate short of encouraging smug¬ 
gling, Iwould propose the enacment of a law to limit the number of 
Opium shops in town say to 10, and in the country to 20, further that 
this law enact that no Opium shall be consumed in any other house 
public or private, and that no Opium shall he sold in these shops, but 
what is consumed on the premises ; second, that this law enact that the 
Farmers shall not sell any Opium less than one chest, saving what is 
to be used in the 10 shops in town and 20 in the country ; third, that 
these shops shall be conspicuous, distinct, and detached from all others, 
accessible to all, and under the surveillance of the Police. By these 
means the facility for procuring Opium will be materially diminished, 
and depend upon it, the quantity used will be proportionally diminish¬ 
ed. If a man who has not yet given himself up entirely to the vice, 
finds that instead of stepping next door to get a whiff, he has to walk 
half a mile, he will think twice of it and perhaps remain, and let him 
break the spell once or twice, he is saved. The workman who lias 
toiled all day, when he finds he has some distance to traverse ere he 
can indulge in his love for the pipe may remain and try to take his sup¬ 
per, or be induced to listen to the prattle of his children until wearied 
with his daily labour he draws around him the curtain of repose. In 
fact it is well known to all those who have studied the question that 
the temptation to sin is as the facility of being tempted, hence the 
strictness which actuates an active, honest, magistrate at home, not to 
allow the number of spirit licences to be increased, and when numerous 
o have them diminished. Under this law I would prevent the intro- 
' n r or; of females into Opium shops, where at present they abound ; 
S themselves to the sin, they are a powerful means of making 
i v of others, fins terminates my proposed legislative interfer¬ 
ence with the Opium Farmer and smoker, the gist of which consists in 
raising the price of Opium to as great a height as possible and ilimi- 
