Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1853-03-24

previously accustomed were driven to sup
ply its place by various preparations of ar
dent spirits, all about equally pernicious to
health as well as TO morals. " 1t was
given IN evidence before a committee Of
the House Of Commons, in l743, said Mr..
Porter, "that the quantity Of sprltuous
liquors made for consumption IN England
aud Wales was, in 1913. l0,500 600 gals;
in 1874, 10 5000 gallons in 1910, 49,
2j0 GOO gallons IN i74I, 1000 GOO gall
Ions and in l743, 10000, 600 gallons.-
These quantities were consumed by pop
ulation not exceeding 100000, giving
three and one-sixih gallons for each indi-
yidua in l7I2. There were then more
than 20, 600 places within the bills Of NOR
tality in which gin was sold by the gass.-
About that period there we're very stringent
laws passed for the prohibition Of the sale
of spirits, which were evnded by a variety
OF means in fact, il was found impossible
to enforce the Gin Act, as it was called
Within less than two years from that meas
ure passing, namely in March, 1913, there
was proclamation to enforce the Gin Act.
Within less than those two years 10000
people had been convicted under the Act
within the bills Of mortality; Of these, 1000
had been sentenced to pay each penalty
of 600, aud 5000 others had paid go
each to excuse their being sent to Bridewell
House Of Correction. But these proceed
lngs entirely failed, and, subsequent to,
and including that period, the consumption
Of spirits was as | have stated to you. 1t
was considerably greater in l7il and l742
than II had been IN l13S, when the procla-
nation was issued"
Such were the consequences which fol-
lowed the imposition of duty upon wine
so high as to Withdraw it from the cousump-
ton ofthe mass of the people. At tie pres
eut day, owing to the improved habits which
prevail, and more especially, TO the intro
duction of tea and coffee into common use,
the consumption OF spirits Is less than II
was IN the middle Of the last century
But it is still disgraceiully large, amounting
to nearly one gallon per annum for every
man, woman and child IN the United KING
dom. This is five times the quantity Of
wine that is consumed and each gallon of
spirits, It must be recolected, contains at
least seven times the quantity OF alcohol
which is contained in a gallon of tie light
wines Of France. The effect produced by
the nigh duties which place these wines out
of the reach of the common people, IN ex-
tending the consumption OF spirits, has been
especially marked in the case Of Scotland.
That portion Of the United Kingdom, has,
al this time, bad preemince from the
quantity Of distilled liquors consumed by its
population. Yet, in former days, previous
to the union with England, this was not the
case. When the French wines were admit
ted at low duty, they were abundanuy
impored, aud wete largely ccuaumei ty
the very parties VINO, when prevented from
INDUCING their taste for tins tayorlie cordial
betook themselves to spirits as the only
substitute that was TO be had There was
time when 1t was common to sec, IN the
mansion of country laird, the cask of
claret on tap and free to all corners, like
the ale barrel in an old-lashioned English
farmhouse. Mr.. Reddlng says that he was
" told by the late poet, Thomas Campbell
(hs father was born IN l1lO, and, cunse-
quenty the statement goes back great
wuy.) that his father told him they fenced
in garden, field and paddock, with claret-
slaves" Those who deprived the Scottish
people of what was once their national
beverage are responsible for the serious de-
lerlorailon OF the national morals IN point
OF temperance which afterwards took place.
Another consequence of the imposition
of these high duties Is that the consumption
OF wine in the United Kingdom has been
directed almost entirely to the very strong
and sprtuous descriptions, such as highly
branded ports, sherrles, Madeira, and Mar
sala The reason IS obvious enough
When wine is made costly, people must buy
that kind which will ego iar,hesl." A SIN
gle bottle of strong port or sherry will serve
for four or five persons, who would con-
sumo half dozen bottles Of ordinary
French wine. The latter quantity, under
the present duty, would cost twenty or thir-
ty shIllugs, while the bottle of spurious
/ vine would be obtained for lour or five
OF course, most persons prefer the stronger
wine, not as a matter of taste, but as a mat
ter Of economy, l. The light French wines
could be obtained 10 this country, as at
Hamburg aud other German seaporis, Tor
eighteen pence or a shilling bottle, they
would certainly be preferred to the fiery
compounds which are now consumed under
/ the names of port and sherry.
! We are thus brought TO the causes which
/ lead to such extensive adulteraton of wines
I for the English market. So long as vine
is dear It must be had strong. Consequent
| ly wherever, in any part of the world, dis
trict Is discovered producing wine which is
naturally OF great strength 1t is appropriate
ted to the supply Of British consumers.-
] There is one such district IN Portugal, IN
the valley watered by the upper Doura ;
another IN southern Spain, around thetown
of Heres de la Frontera; third IA Madel-
"a, and fourth on the western coast OF ST.
ciiy. OF course the greater the natural
strength Of the wine, the larger viii be the
infusion Of alcohol which Il will bear
! Wine-growers aud wine dealers, finding
/ that the demand IN Great Britain Is for very
strong wine-slmply because such VINE Will
go farlhest, and thus be cheapest to the
buyer-are accustomed 10 add large quantl-
ties of spirits, both before and after the
wines are imported into this county
/ Then, to disguise the flavor of the spirits,
other ingredients are added. And, finally,
20 supply in some measure the demand for
cheap wines, various other mixtures are
manufactured, in which the genuine juice
a remarkable example Of the effect produced b. the