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

A committee Of the British Parliament
has been taking lessons in the art Of adul-
teraung vine, and from valuable article
on the subject, originally published in Tait's
Magazine, the following is selected
The Select Committee on Impor, Du-
ties Oh Wines" which sat last session, col
lecied large mass of evidence, much Of it
OF a highly interesting aud valuable charac-
Ter. Fouy-two witnesses were examined,
of whom thlrtywe5e wine .rowers, shippers,
imF orers, or agents Of ltucn experience III
the business; two we're British manufacture
ers, Two were licensed yctualers, and the
remainder were gentlemen who had pecu-
liar opportunities, either official or private,
of making themselves acquainted with the
subject under investigation. The witness
es seemed all 10 have delivered their minds
pretty freely, both on matters OF opinion
aud on matters OF fact A good deal Of in
formation was obtained that probably would
not have been elected by any other means
A careful review OF all tins information
leads 10 the rather startling conclusion that
very liule of the wine consumed IN tins
country Is in natural or wholesome coudl-
ton. Nearly the whole OF 1t Is aduliera,ed,
aud usually with some noxious ingredient,
the most common and the most de,eleuous
being brandy. Before proceeding TO adj
Guce some of the remarkable evidence
bearing upon this point, It will be requisite
TO explain Ia few words the injurious eff
feet of the present import duties, and espe-
cially the manner in which they operate TO
exclude the light aud pure wines from the
English market.
1t Is we'll known historical fact, that
two centuries ago, much more VINE was
drunk ia the country than at present, in
proportion TO the population, aud, at the
same time, much smaller quantity OF
spirits was consumed Wine and beer were
then the ordinary beverages of all classes of
the people. The importation Of wine into
the country, in the year 1863, for popula-
ton of 5,000, 600 was 10000 pipes Of all
descriptions, including 10000 pipes of
French wine. This would be at the rate
of two 9allaus, or twelve bottles reckoning
six bottles TO the gallon) per head of the
population The duty was then only four
pence per gallon. la the year 1851, the
total Importation Of wine, for population
of21 100000 was but sc, 600 pipes, or not
quite two-thIrds Of the Importation of 1869 ;
and Of this quantity only 1900 pipes were
French wine. The annual consumption Of
wine, is, therefore, at the present, only
about three teuihs of a gallon, or one bot
te aud halfper head of the whole Popula-
tion-just one eighth Of what 1t was IN
1869. The daty is at present IS. 3d. per
gallon. Let not the sincere advocate OF
total abstinence imagine that TINS surprls-
ing decrease IN the consumption OF wine
has resulted from, or contributed to, the
growth of temperate habits IN the country,
The exact contrary Is unfortunately the
fact Two hundred years ago, as has been
already stated, though light wines and beer
were consumed IN much larger quantities
than at present, distilled spirits were COM
paralively little known. They were drunk
IN coffee houses and In the lobbles of thea
tres, under the name of "strong waters y
IN fact, much as " liqueurs" are now taken
on the continent. About the commence
ment of last century, the duties on all wines
we're raised for revenue purposes; and, at
the same time, from desire to favor our
Portuguese allies at the expense of our
French opponents, the duty on the light
French wines was made more than double
that on the fiery vines of Porlugal-the
later paying p. and the former As lOd.
per gallon. These duties were increased
from time to time, until. IN the year l1e2,
French wines paid duty of IS. Cd. per
gallon, and Portuguese As. l0d. The con
sequence was, that in the last mentioned
year the consumption of all wines had fall
en- to about IL, 900 pipes, being just iii.h
part o. what II was in 1869. Blu, the con-
sumption of spirits had in the mean time
irightlulIy increased. The common peo-
pie, debarred by the high price from the