The Sun.
London, England, 1822-11-27 00:00:00

ILLICIT DISTILLATION.

GLASGOW.---Another detection of that fraudu-
lent system of distilling spirits from sugar water
and molasses has been Made: in this city, within.
these few days. A very active Excise Officer
having received some hints that a spirit deal-
ing concern, in one of the most public streets
in this city, was engaged in that traffic, was
on the alert. He soon observed one of -these
women in duffle cloaks, whose 'appearance
indicates that they are " far advanced," and
well known to be in such employ, as to
bring her very frequently into the same state,
made her entrance into the cellar, and`proceeded
with the owner into the Sanctum Sanctorum,
where extraordinary deliveries take place. He
set a watch upon the premises, and the lady came
out lightened of her illicit load, and reduced to
her natural size. The officer entered the door as
she went out, proceeded resolutely to .the back
shop, and there found one five gallon stoup full
with spirits, 19 per cent. over proof—one gallon
measure nearly full, and about a pint in another
vessel, quite new from the still,' and scarcely
paid for, the produce of the preceding accouche-
ment. The whole was carried off amidst the con-
fession and supplication of the transgressor, and
no doubt the penalties of the law will be inflict-_I
e.d on the delinquent.—ln fact, it is high time
that severe examples should be made to check a
system whichis tending so rapidly to demoralize
Multitudes of our population, destroy the Reve-
nue, and cover the fair trader with ruin ; and
when we hear.of whining lamentations about the
severe and ruinous consequences which the in-
fliction of legal penalties have upon the .persons
and families of the. detected fraudulent dealers,
we do hope that it will be taken into considera-
tion, the ruin, which such infamous proceedings
tend to bring, and do bring, on the heads of
many honest dealers and traders. and their fa-
milies. The extent to which
.these proceedings
are carried on, is scarcely credible. The spi-
rits thus produced, are either mixed with rum, or,
with a little colouring, sold as rum, and exten-
sively sold to houses of bad fame and other places,
the resort of profligate characters. The extent. to
which illicit distillation is at present carried on all
over-Scotland would hardly be believed, and were
we inclined we could lay a good deal of it be-
fore our readers. The honest distiller and trader
cannot possibly contend against such a system.
We learn, however, with satisfaction, that the
Country Gentlemen in this neighbourhood are
in every case rignrously enforcing the law, and
we cannot help recalling to the memory of the
Country Gentlemen every where, that the con-
tinuation of this system, so fatal, to our popula-
tion and the interests of the country, is at the
same time the grand argument used against ex,-
tending'the Scotch system I to England, and lay-
ing open ' that market. - Also, we would entreat
them, if they wish to see a population happy,
contented, industrious, obedient to the laws and
submissive to their rulers, and respecting and
loving their superiors around them, to strain every
1 nerve to put an end to this trade. To trifle
with such offences is folly. It is an inducement
Ito continue them. The dealer or trader detect-
ed in them, and convicted of them, should, beside
the legal fine, be subjected to lose his license,
and be incapacitated from ever receiving another.
The obdurate illicit distiller should be treated
in the American way ol.reforming rogues and
vagabouuds, by being immured' in solitary con-
finement, and at the same, time compelled to la-
bour for a number of years, according to t e
magnitude of the offence. Collect thein into the
old depots for French prisoners, and there, un-
der rigid surveillance, compel them to labour for
their food and raiment, and for the public ad-
vantage, and we are mistaken if illicit distillation
would not soon be put an end to. Any officer,
also, who did not do his duty, should be joined
to the company, and be doomed to act as a
menial servant to the others.—(Glasgow Courier,
Nov. 23.)

UNFORTUNATE MISTAKE.—It is said that this
unpleasant affair did not go so far as stated in the
papers. The version of the story now current is,
that only one of the grooms was shewn into the
wrong chamber through the devilishness of
" Mrs. Flora," otherwise the chambermaid. The
brides, having retired in due time, each to their
respective apartment, were followed, after a
short internal, by only one of the happy grooms
—a gentleman said to be of a very serious
tur❑ of mind, and meeting Mrs. Flora, was
shewn,
,as already stated, into the wrong
apartment. He, unconscious of the mistake,
proceeded, as was his custom, to prepare him-
self by prayer . previous to his retiring to
his repose, and accordingly, without creating
noise or disturbance, went upon his knees. The
bride, after waiting for a considerable time, at
last determined to have ocular demonstration of
what was passing; and, peeping through the
opening in the curtains, beheld, not a ghost, bu
a man, who 46 was not Mr. CASEY !" -Her sur-
prise, terror, and fright, may easily be imagined;
her'screams immediately undeceived the gallant;
not gas, Lothario, who instantly fled, and the
room was soon filled with friends, relatives,
chambermaids, &c., all anxious to ascertain the
cause of so much alarm. An eelaircissement im-
mediately took place.—(Dublin Evening Post.)

DREADFUL ACCIDENT IN A NOBLE FAMILY.—
A most distressing and painful event took place
at Dunbar House, the residence of the Earl of
LAUDERDALE, on -Wednesday evening (20th inst.)
Some time after the son of Mr. 13ALFoun, of
Whittingham, who is married to one of the
daughters of. the Noble Earl, had been, put to
bed, the bedclothes, by some. unaccountable ac-
cident, took fire ; and before it was discovered
the poor boy, a fine infant of abput four years of
age, was so dreadfully burnt that he expired in
about two hours. The unhappy parents were at
hand ; their state of anguish and distress is not to
be described.. It, is a singular coincidence that
a very short time ago a false and most distressing
report found its way into almo.st all the Loudon
Papers of the Countess of LAUDERDALE having
been burnt to death.—(Caledonian Mercury.)