, 1874-03-29
WINE DRINKING IN MASSACHUSETTS 200
YEARS AGO.

In the April NUMBER OF Ot0 ana Neto l8 = H1oet
entertaining history OF the liquor trade OF
Massachusetts two hundred years ago. written
by Henry a. Miles, the facts Of which are as
follows: The first trade Of Boston Vas with
the wine countries. These countries, which
were Roman Catholic, wanted fiah, and casks,
staves and hoops in which TO ship their wine.
In ten yea1s after the settlement Of Boston,
there was brisk trade with the Canaries,
Azores, Madeira, Cadiz, Lisbon, and Malaga
carrying out fab and slaves and bringing back
wine. As early as 1642, q law was enacted ap-
pointing gaugers. In 1916, the General Court
OF the Colony made en- order which, after recit-
ing that complaints had been received from
"divers forrain ports" in regard to the insult
hciency Of the stAves and with respect to their
having "worm holes" in them, directed
the appointment OF "viewers OF all pipe
staves" intended for expectation, and to
bo used "for making Of tyte casks"
This order, to bo made OF general notoriety.
WAS to be set up in two places in each town.
the meeting house door and post On the wharf
most used. The trade in fish vas 80 large that
all persons were forbidden to use cod or bass for
manure. and fishermen were exempted from
trainings. In 1642, ten ships sailed from Boston
with fish and staves, and MI returned laden With
wine. Wine was so abundant and cheap that
the best c1aret aold for fourpence gallon.
With the increase in the trnde came the difficult
ties Of enforcing the laws regulsting it. H1645.
there WAS q ta1 Of ono-twenty fourth part OF the
value LAID on all imported wine. This I'D Ualore7n
duty had its drawbacks, and was changed to =
tax per gallon. The uecond tax was On the re-
taller, who Vas required to pay for every butt Of
wine the twentieth part Of the value thereof.
The third tax Has the license tax for retailing.
In each town men we're licensed to draw vine,
paying twenty shillings for every butt Of sack
drawn, and so in proportion for larger caBks.
AL these Laws we're more or less evaded,
and the General Court Was kept busy
In 1646, officers we're authorized to enter
ali houses and cellars in which wine was kept
that had not paid the imposts, aud seize the
wine. Later, the Court offered to abate the
duties one-haH to all importers who made true
entry Of what they had landed. Still later, in
164s, the collection Of the duty was farmed ont,
the farmer to pay E120 to the Government. In
the meantime the use Of wine was universal,
and it Was having its effect upon the people. In
1916, in preamble to a law, ii was recited that
s sforasmuch as drunkenness ia vice to be ab-
horred Of all nations, especially Of those who
hold out and profess the Gospel Of Christ
Jesus" etc. Still the Use OF wine Was so gen.
eral that the legal 1esarainta we're Of q hnd that
would be considered mild At this day. In 4
record Of provisions for the supply Of 200
soldiers, the list Of articles reads as follows:
"peas, 8 3hogsheads; beet, hogsheads; fish.
u quintals; oil, 10 gallons; vinegar, hogs-
head; beor, tun; butter, s drldns urine al
you,. pleasure This was in 1645. In the SINE
year the General Court found it necessary
to protect laborers from Being compelled to
receive their wages in wine. There we're thote
who wanted to make vine legal tender. The
law on this subject made by the immediate
descendants cf the passengers Of the Maydower,
will sound curious to many in thus day. It re-
cites: "]Vhereas, it is found by too common
aud sad experience in al parts Of the Colony
that the forcing Of laborers and other work1nen
to taks wins in pay for their labor Il great
nurss11 It pfsrar1Aon 10 dxrnfanuesa Ind ati4