The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1819-07-23 00:00:00

THE BEER KErour.

Extract from the Minutes taken before the Com-
mittee of the House of Commons on the Petition
of several inhobitatits of London and its vicinity re-
specting the price mud tittolity of beer.

[Continued front our Paper of Wednesday fart•)

Do you mean its a similar manner that the article you
have been speaking of would affect?—l really cutout say
with certainty.
Are yon sere, in your owe mina, that the appearance
of which you have spoken, dues wed arise from 60pr-colour-
ins, Waived of the article you have spoken of ?—1 cannot
give a decided answer to that; I know the article to be
used, sod I believe for the purpose of giving a head.
Are you sure the appearance yew have seen is not to be
ascribed to slit colouring sanctioned by law, sod not to the
ingredient you have alluded to ?—lt may be to either ; but
use analysis will easily discover that.
The Committee understand your °pintails to have been,
that this was clialybeate ?--1 uuderstood it was for that
purpose.
But when you observed the froth upon the pot of porter,
dial you conceive it was owing to the preterite, of calyheate ?
—1 did, but nut from experiment ; I must say, I have sold
that also fur mixing with porter to b►ewes.
Within six yearn?—No
Within seven ?—lt is more than that.
Did you sell it in auy quantity?—Yes, in hundred-weights,
put up in poised parcels.
Can you account for the meatiest of the demand withia
the last six yesirs?.-10 my own ewe, I may account for the
cessation of demand by my premises being smaller; sod it
does not suit me to nianufaciere things of that kind. Ido
nut wish to go beyond ■ certain hoe of experiments. and
serving families; slut any thine in the wholesale way. Ido
uut say I refuse selling it, bet I rather think the sale was
withdrawn, because they could get it cheaper from the large
manufactories.
Du you know whether neanufactories now exist for pre-
paring those ingredients for brewers?—l donut hewn of any.
Have you the occupation now of the premises yea had at
the time of selling these ingredieets? —Yes ; bet 1 never sold
it iii any large quantities; if it is used it must be used in
large quantities.
Are your premises sot applied to any purposes different
from those to which you applied them at the time yrs did
deal in this in large quaiiiities?—My premises are small, I
imagine; but at that time, I got it prepared is the city,
where there were manufactories of it; they did rut kuow
the purpose of course for which it was mooed, I desired a
quantity of this to be sent in to me.
In what nominee du you account for the cessation of the
demand which has induced you to suspend your orders to the
persows in the city?—The sale was wit Witmer from me with-
out say mete, I did not encourage it ; this is some years
ago; so that I cannot speak with certainty. 1 mouldier
osakiag it myself at home, but it did nut suit me to make
such a common article, anal I got it made in the city.
Du the Committee rightly understand you to say. that it
is *either from the decrease in the size of your premises, nor
from any &Acidly you alight now have to forward the or-
ders to the city, Gum which the cessation of deemed ham
aritien?—l du not know from what cause the cessation of the
deemed has arisen, it may be from a cessation of the use of
the article.
If there were a present denoted for this article to which
• you have already referred. could you not supply the trade
with it as heretufore?—l may say yea; but I had rather nut ;
It wool/ lot suit ase tie de it, nneiring no kind of 'time',
but WWI Inhume; and I am sure it could be got Emelt
ebreffer at ether plates.
Has nut yorsubssisesa changed its character of late years;

. ,
has it not been ettit4htisimilithwillies ',melbas forieleety
It is • mixed Widnes% ammo in the selmetific way. sad seer-
lug families. I shall hendleglatrffifeelleamow,.perhaps, to
give evidence where' persists hoe lidempoltiosted with arseuic,
that is peculiarly in day way.
What do you think would hide effect of a beverage is
which the sulphate of iron ii Word open persons of • full
habit of body, and of sedentary prersaital—l could glee my
snorer. hat it is a 'medical question : I apprehend it is very
improper to people of a full beide., This I have in my hand,
a white powder, is chiefly A:orbited. of lime, when 11.4 w
carbonate of lime, chalk is a ea/homage of lime, oyster-shell
is a carbonate of lime.
Fur what we can that he applied is beer ?-I'have oleo
sold this formerly in pound pnicels.
To brewers?—Yes; what I sold was the simple oyster.shell
powdered.
For what rupeee was it used ?—1 believe it is added
when beer is what is called bawd, whets the acetone fermen-
tation begins; this I have made an analysis of, sod I led
sea salt in it ; hat whether the salt, fur there is not muds,
he an sdveneithoss ertiele, or pot in purposely. I cannot
tell this salt, if it had any effect at all, would prevail
You lo fare it to be • very innocent ingredient ?-1f it be
injurious at all. it is from being ilieriolved by the arid; it
becomes an acidate of lime, and that may he injuriosis. The
commenteraent of the hardness of beer is an approximatioa
to viwegar, and that may dissolve the lime. sod it would be.
come • soluble salt; there is not much of salt in it, bat
there is egunigh to taste. This [producing • wall bladder],
contains very common honey.
Of what use is honey in beer?—Like all saccharine
things, it may increase the intoxicating qnslity of beer
without injuring the health; sugar will du the same. Souse
of three dry things seem to have been exhausted of their
virtue, and perhaps what remains is after SW imfosiou or de-
coction, and many of them are such mixtures that it is ime
possible for me to state what they are. This [producing a
small parcel] has the taste of pettifog., of Spars, sir mew-
reign, or toaster-wort; I du nut think there is any thing de-
leterious in that.
What quality world that give to the beer ?—1 ass not
aware of what use it would be. This [producing switther
parcel] appears to be liquorice. powder, the rout of liquorice
dried and powdered.
For what purpose is that used !--I do not know for what
purpose; I have no evidence or suspicion that it is seed.
This [producing smother bladder], if I may judge from the
smell, contains either opium or poppy ; the only way to
discover that it is deleterious is to give it to some animal,
that is the only way that I should attempt it.
Can it be the extract of oxides indices ?—I am not sere
that it can.
For what purpose is that used in beer ?—With a view to
increase the intoxicating or accelerating quality; small
dusts will have that effect; large doses will psoduce sleep.
This [producing another paper] is marked quassia, and It has
all the appearance of estasia, but it seems to nee to have
been divested of every thing water would take out of it; •
decoction or infusion may have been taken from it.
For what purpose is that used in beer?—Ain a substitute,
if it can be used at all, foe hops.
Is it injurious at all to the stomach ?—I aim not prepared
to say it is; bid I think I have heard ma Cattalos of it is
used for killing flies, but I do sot know that.
You have not sold it to brewers?—Na; this parcel, as I
before stated, I conceive to be qemeria; I have brought with
me • sample of quassia; it is intensely hitter; this sample
I have brought bas nut been boiled, or infused. This ap-
pears to be an extract of gentles, with gentian powder in it;
but I beg leave to say I only guess at that; it would nut be
proper fur me to vouch my character that it is.
For what purpose is that used ?—As • substitute for hops.
Is that prejudicial at all?—Nu. This [producing ammiser
parcel] is wormwood.
Whet is that for?-1t may be used, and I as. confident it
his been used in the country; I sot sure of it. If I may
rely upon sty friend's, it is used largely instead of buys.
Is that injurious ?—1 do not think it is at ell.
Of what period and place are you speaking?-1 think of
the Isle of Those; it may be about *even years ego. I
should not object to it if the things were agreeable; indeed
the queerer has been pot to me' what is the use of hops in
beer, or any bitter, it is believed to give the clearing qua.
lily to it. I have made many experiments for brewers, but
always for the best of purposes. I made this experiment for
Messrs. wbi t br tad& fur the best of poirposer [produciug a small
phial coutaitrug the mondial oil of hops] for the purpose of
getting the smell of hops by welt', which otherwise evaporates
in the proem's. This [producing a little galliput] contains
the extract of hope. 1 have brought these separately to shew
that the same fining may happen to all other vegetables, and
to shew the difficulty of examining vegetables. Here are
three specimens of those oils [producing three] they confirm
merely she smell; the licit is the essential oil of camomile,
another of wormwood, and the other of angelica. This
[producing another paper] contains Grimm pepper.
What is the use of that in beer ?—1 do use know the use
of it; some of the lower class of people have • perultsr
taste; molting is so disgusting to me as toliacco, and es.
thing is so pleasant to • man who chews it ; and therefore
people who frequent gio•shups are fordo( things which have
something of that flavour.
Is it seed by brewers ?—Not to my knowledge; I do rot
believe that it is; I do reit see any ass in it. This [pro-
ducing another panel] which is 'marked oraugeliewiter, I
am not prepared to my what it is; it is sargethieg of the
nature of turmeric.
Do you know whether that is used in beer ?—1 do not
know that it is.
For what purpose can it he metal ?-.-Only fee eidallelult, if
it Can be used. Taking it for granted it is emelllmlllmmish
it is orange-peel ground into powder; I do not knew of
what use it Is.
Would et not give a particular flavour to beet ?—Yen;
but it must be used in very large quentities, end it week,
be very expensive. This (producing another paper] 1 cams
sot say what it Is. This [proJecing arasher parcel] its
marked 111UllUel, it may he egioniam indeed; because it is
bitter; suppers', it is • decoction of condos indices, 111,
have nu mode of decompusire it; it is impossible to erg
what it is; I do nut know any thing that it is like.
From whom did you receive the different articles you
hove given a description of? ...They were brought to me
by a messenger of the House of Commove, of the name of
Junes.
You have stated that you have made experiments for
different brewers; have you ever been entoloyed In analyse
Messrs. Barclay's porter, with a view of discovering what
there was peculiar in it that was so aecepishle to the pub.
lie had been desired by owe peons, out one of the su-
perior brewers, to examine Memos. Barelay'a beer as to
the cause of the flavour which made it Fame saleable than
others.
When ?—lt may ben year or my age; amid as to soieljels,".
I can only go by my judgment, sod I did eutind any Wolf.
particular in it at all respecting the flavour; mid I suggested
probably it might omit by pelting an additional bewail of
hops into each cask, that may give the flavour to the beer,
because the ft f the hops is dissipated in the usual
way of brewing, by exhaling Guns the vessels. I made the
experiment at Mr. Whitbread's, with glow best intender to
preserve the flavour of the Mips, not merely the bitter of the
hope, bat the oil. • . .
If any mineral had beets deed le 'Mews. Iliarelay's beet"
you must have discovered 1t ?—1 might perhaps; hetet,
reperintrats were of the flavour of the bear; osioerale do
rut give flavour.
Title in fact you did mil analyse it ?—ilet ; It mead be
absurd to analyse for taste.
By anslysing yen might have diaeogrered sibether them
had been any =lucent subetaares?—Yee; hot I did met sac
hae it to discover thee; it is impossible is divide .Shure,

&witty lee the 1106141112=-
y
owl, given Wiens is
making analysis.
As far 1111 mends the ispiesims Mr. Howie has given re-
specting the quality of the different articles which have bes•
produced, do you concur with him !—I do generally.
Is what do you ito rliffer?—With rtyard to mineral sub-
sluices; nothlog is easier that& to deter.* he in malt limier,
or any other substautes. With regard to vegetable cab-
alists% mixed in the., it is extremely difficult, to any cam,
fur a chemist to detect them, awls its ~any cases quite im-
possible, because there are • for common protriples of
which most vegetable sulistaners are made up; sod it ii
impossible to say that such a portiere of gum, fur example,
is produced from such a substamee or soother; there are
certain peculiar principles which are to be found in peculiar

vegetables. . -
In that you agree with Mr. Hume; in what do you dif-
fee ?—Mr. Hume seemed Is be of opinion, that in scarcely
any ease it was possible to deice( vegetable principles Ohm
they had been dissolved in water, or in iithi:r tinnier mew-
stenos's; is several cases yea certainly may ; tint 'here are
many principles which are common to a great many veg..-
table rubilasees ; moat of the deleterious plants. the peru.
liar imbalance in each, in which their activity resides, has
out been made lint satisfactorily by elirmist4; it dor a not
appear to what peculiar principks they are owing in suite
cases, fur in opium, is she last two or three years, i• pets-
liar principle has been discovered, which is call. d 11$01.
phsean, and which seems to be open to all the ilifferest va-
rieties of opium, whether frogs puppies art here, or say where
else, to which she warcutic qiialiiy is oaring , and it is pro.
babk the active qualities idoliser vegetables may reside in
peculiar principles, but they have not been as yet discovered.
Wish regard in the substances Mr. Home has described sit
deleterious is wise cases, %INV operating as medicines, do
yea agree with him is opinion?—Yes, I think I do; with
regard to the properties of the asolphaie of iron, I shoals'
think that where it is mixed in au small a proportion s•
stated, the sixteenth of an miser to a butt or porter, it
would produce little if any effect, excepting id very lamellar
constitutions; and with regard to the acetale sir time, pea-
disced by mixing carbonate of lime with some beer, I shnvld
suppose, unless it was in so large a proportion es to le
sensible to the taste, that would also produce very hit c
effect. . .

Have you seen the liquid described to be the extract of
opium?—[The witness examined it 3—lt appears to me to
have the smell uf poppy; het mixed up, I should stook,
with souse sweet extract, either of liquorice or sager; it
appears to have that II also, bat l think I or dials,-
pooh mho the peculiar odour of opium in it.
Would such a liquor infused in beer be injurious to I: e
constitution ?—Unquestiotiably it would.
Would it affect paralytic and apoplectic person'. ?—Tes ;
it would have all the effect opium produces, modified by the
proportion in which it is contained.
Would it be more injurious to persons having that tee.
dewy in their constitution?—Certainly.
Cam the niorphieao, or the narcotic principle, hr extracted
from the narcotic dreg by • chemical process, so as to be
condensed into a very small contra..., in comps. iron with
the article in its gross form ?—%lorpharan has only hitherto
been found in the juice of the puppy, tither in its natural
state, or precipitated into opium ; it is capable of bet. g
separated by chemical means, and ien it contains obe active
principles of opium in a very small space ; but this disetereo y
is comparatively of eery rereut date, and thereto e them
could be no tittle to have prepared any (pewit, of it.
Have you ever made any gcnrral observation upou the ap-
pearance of the porter sad beer in this noire poles ?—I have
visited several very large tweweriesocessiottally, soil from
my pevauoal acquatiataaire with the late Mr. Whitbread, and
some of the present partners, I have been its that brewery
inure than once; 1 was there very lat. ly.
Have you had say reason to suppose that other ingredient*
than malt, hops, sad isinglass, were used is beer ?—I have
never catered tato any examination of that beer, ur of auy
other, and therefore I cannot say.
Gehl you be led, from looking at the froth of the beer,
to faun any °pinkie whether any ingredient had bete in.
fused jut° it, except malt sad burs ?—When Ilse wort has
bees boiled with the hops, and put to ferinent along with
the usual quantity of yeast, it (milts up a large qtraittiss o •
froth : that froth, if it is minutely isapected, will he f and
le consist chiefly of whitish bobbies, interspersed ran
brownish grains, something like very minute particles of
sawdust, ur as if nutmeg had been powdered saver it ; that, I
conceive, arises (ruin the quantity of yeast in the liquor,
end its separation in consequence of its attaching Roca to
lbe babbles of air as they ascend, and form the bead or
the froth which is wee ha all malt liquor in a state of high
fermentation.
Then you do not think the presence sat brown spots in the
froth is • proof of the mixture uf the solidi:tie of won is the
beer?—Not when the first feemetilatioo is going ; be.
cause if you were to add sulphate of iron in test state,
it would probably stop the fermentation, at keel it +wale
very much relax it ; the object of the putter Wrote' is to
produce the most highly feruseutrd tiqeur that it is puesiab :
that I conceive to be the essential distinction between ale
and porter ; ale always has a certain clamminess and sweet.
nese, which shows that the fermentation is stopped before at
has reached its natural height; it is in the state of those
wines which are called sweet wines ; but in putter the fer•
turitiation is better managed, sad is carried on to great.
perfection; sad the porter is to common ale what thy
wines are tosottt wises.
Should you consider the presence of Hiner spots in Ilia
froth of porter, when poured out, as evidence of the WM-
lure of any mineral 'imbalance at all in the liquor?—hut
without a chemical proof of it, certaioly, because I should
coercive it very possible that the palliate of yeast might
1.441 remain in the liquor, sad produce that appearauce.
Su far, in a degree, you differ from Mr. Hew ?—Tes ;
do not consider the appearaure of those spots a proof or
presumption that there is iron its it.
Are peva porter drinker yourself?--Sometimes.
Within these lest six or seven years have you bees able to
form soy judgsiest, from drialtiog beer, whether that liquor
is.sedubsented is any seaamer?—The porter I hare from
people in London appears to war, generally speaking. reels
Or OM saws quality; I do suet perceive, teems its elects ova
Nair, Asa it esstains may neeert•: dregs, or any other sob.
which is particularly wowlitil-- -w. I have, esi:e
rce, sort with porter fa • which hoe -
dossed a very iliferimat "feet hut
pereflosof • it is irvy lankly aged
iola* teat opus Noe 111"1.4
greet' That se frevaemly, that sow,
I eirold arisskisft porter.
". (Yet amtfassest

is the cosnetry which bee IN to-
frees what the Lattelime prefer
awe ireesiestiag, pasokorsag •
moth owl bowels. I have met 4 I
sew, "boo I am es • isogon,.
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