The Sun.
London, England, 1868-10-15 00:00:00

THE ADULTERATION OF BEER

At the annual dinner of the Freshwell Labourers' Friend
Society, held at Grs at Bonifield, Essex, a day or two
back, Mr. H. Selwyn-Ibbetson in the chair, Lord Eustace
Cecil, M.P., in propcsing one of the toasts, entered into
the question of the adulteration of beer. His lordship
observed that statistics informed them that every year a,
large number of the people of this country, not only of the
agricultural class, died from drunkenness. This was a sad
fact ; but they could not possibly tell the numbers who
suffered in their health by imbibing bad liquor. Not long
ago, as a member of the Malt-tax Committee, he could,
not help saying that he listened with very great con-
cern to the recital of the malpractices of beer-sellers. The
national drink—the drink that the labourers looked upon
as both meat and drink—was systematically poisoned. He
had taken the trouble to look into a few of the ingredients
that were commonly put into liquors, he did not say
by whom, for that was not his purpose ; but,
among other articles, there were cocculus
grains of Paradise, and copperas, the latter being
nothing less than green vitriol. He would leave it to those
he saw before him to calculate how much harm such
things as these must do to the physical strength and,
health of the labourers. As employers of labour it was a
serious question for them to consider, for it not only depre-
ciated the value of their labourer, but it also depreciated
his whole capital—his health and strength. It was commonly
said at meetings of this kind that the great curse to the
country was the beerhouses, but he believed a much greater
curse was the stuff that was sold in them. Pure beer was
undoubtedly an invigorating beverage, and he did not
think they had greater proof of this than was afforded by
that great beer-drinking nation the Germans. The inha-
bitants of Germany were mostly robust people, but then
it must be remembered that their beer was pure, which he
was afraid could not be said of the English beer. What
was the remedy for this state of things ? They could not
do what some Eastern nations had been said to do to the
defaulting baker--nail him by the ear to the door, nor
could they do as the French police officers did when they
found any person had adulterated their milk—viz., empty
the can of milk into the street. The true remedy
was some change in the law. The law was too merciful
to people who adulterated drink or used false weights
and measures. He thought, too, that some change, he
would not say what, was undoubtedly necessary iu the beer
licensing system, and he hoped before another Parliament
had ceased to exist the question would have been tho-
roughly considered, and some good motion, either from
the Government or the Opposition, have been brought
forward and carried, unless there was a still further change
—a change in public opinion. They might depend upon
it that until men habitually adopting such a custom as he
alluded to, until men who had been convicted of adulterat-
ing liquors and using false weights and measures were
looked upon as convicted criminals, they would never have
any real and effectual chance.

LYCEUM THE NTRE.-
E. T. Smith, Lessee.—THE RIGHTFUL HEIR—The
great success of this Play on Saturday night, the enthusiasm
with which it was received, and the ovation to the distinguished
author, was one of the greatest triumphs that has occurred in the
dramatic world for years. The principal artistes were several
times called before the audience to receive their hearty congra-
tulations. The play will be produced EVERY EVENING, at a
givuter to 8 o'clock, until further notice. Principal characters:
Mr. Bandmann, Miss Palmer. Mr. G. F. Neville, Mr. Basil Potter,
and Mr. and Mrs. Hermann Vezin.