~~ 
454 
manufactory of beer, so universal, so 
fiscally productive. On the topic of 
invasien, honest John Bull has always 
been accustomed to shake his sage nod- 
dle, with the accompaniment of “* Pshaw, 
no, no, they will never come here !” 
So the labouring part of his family were 
_ used to exclaim, “ Shew us the minister, 
or parliament, that dare lay anew tax 
en beer, or the publican that dare raise 
the price, we ‘ll soon shew them what an 
old house they have brought over their 
heads.” The thing, however, was done, 
and effectually too, and even the grum- 
bling of peor John scarcely endured a 
week; but the add:tional tax has been 
somewhat more permauent. 
Before I quit this part of my subject, 
let me enter my earnest protest against 
indirect, or multiplied taxation, an im- 
mense engine, im my firm opinion, more 
surely caiculated to eiiect the slavery, 
oppression, and beggary. of a people, 
than a numerous standing army; and 
supported by sophisiry equaliy vile, 
futile, and contemptible, with that which 
props up religous fanaticism. QO, most 
assuredly, the operation of taxes on con- 
Sumptien is not perceived, nor is the 
invisible hand of the minister felt, in 
the pockets of his paymasters and sup- 
porters. Nor is—but let me not make 
ill-maunered comparisons im this age of 
‘ courtiers. In the mean tme,! am well 
aware of the difiiculty of removing that 
which has been long interwoven in our 
habits, and identifed with the interests 
of so many of us. I am also weli aware 
of the universal penchant to that which 
is plausible, spurious, and sophisticate ; 
and yet how eagerly we rush down the 
declivity of prejudice, into the abyss of 
the greatest diieuity! To deliver Eu- 
rope was a pure pastime—bet what a 
long labour the old lady has had, and 
down-lying stil! 
To discharge the cld and superadded 
burden of taxation, and to allow the 
brewer his old profit, and his new whack 
with the mmister, namely the trader’s 
rider of profit on every fresa tax, one 
of the best proved beuefits of taxes on 
consumption, it was absolutely necessary 
not solely to 1atse the price of beer, but 
to increase the lenzth per barrel drawn 
from a quarter of mait, im other words 
to brew the beer considerably weaker, 
and in order to conciliate, at least, the 
palate and brains of Mir. Bull, the willing 
alliance of the druggist was demanded. 
But there is a certain boundary to every 
thing, and even sweets may be cloying, 
and altbeough the bife im the beer whe- 
On the Common Brewery. 
ther of yeast or G. P. tickled the lewd 
&. 
relish of the people; yet a broth, de- 
cocted from drugs and water, with In- 
deed. the addition of some malt and 
hops, did not well pass muster either 
upon the palate or in the bowels. Much 
grumbling at iirst of all, and loud bor- 
berygmi were the consequence; but 
even those passed off, and the good peo- 
ple. of England; iasoued by the spint 
both of malt and mandragora, proceeded 
heartily in their favourite: pursuit, the 
deliverance of Europe. —— - ' 
The loyalty of the brewers was most 
conspicuous ; and not only the drags for- 
merly in use, in the common brewhouse, 
were heavily increased in quantity, but 
every pharmacopeia, old and new, was 
ransacked for fresh specifics, which 
might be put in requisition for the ser- 
vice of the fiscus. I dont pretend to 
a knowledge of every brewer's nostrum, 
but the following articles, as imgredients 
in Londen porter brewing, have been 
published by authority.—Grains of Para 
dise, coriander seed, coceulus Indicus, 
guassia, liquorice, molasses, tobacco, cop- 
peras, alum, alkali, thyme, salt, glue or 
- white leather size, erpiment, opiam. The 
draggist’s bill ef a certain great house, 
which, true or false, was said te pay the 
groats of more imprisoned debtors, then 
any other house in England, itwas averred, 
cn what authority I am ignorant, amoun- 
ted, communibus annis, to nearly two 
thousand pounds per year. But a few 
Pan it 
ay 
‘ 
months since, an Edinburgh brewer was - 
detected with having in his possession a 
package of the weight of three hundred 
pounds upwards, consisting of nine 
different species of drugs, and in con- 
sequence fined two hundred pounds by 
the Court of Exchequer. I accuse no 
individuals. I produce faets of public 
notoriety, the objects of public taste. I 
have tasted no Lendon porter of late 
years, that of the new breweries excepted, 
which has not snaffered- the new and 
additional adulteration. Unfortunately, 
sometimes the bottom of the cask must 
come to one’s share; and whenever that 
is my case at supper time, I am sure 
to be ailected in the urinary passages, 
and with disturbed sleep, startings, and 
terrible dreams in the night, and by heat 
in the stomach, and. nausea in the mor- 
ning> I douht not, het many patients. 
are affected in a similar way, without 
entertaimmg the least suspicion of the 
cavse. But I have suffered still more, 
and more permanently, from acciden- 
tally drinking of the beer of a certain 
cauatry brewhouse, in which, [ could 
plainly 
