Bridgeton pioneer., 1888-01-26
A CURIOUS BOOK.
Once Owned by Chief Justice
Brearley.

tice David Brearley, Of this State, after
whom Brearley Lodge, No. 2. ATM,
OF this city, was named. 1t has his
name written on one Of the leaves.
It is curious volume, full OF curious
literature. The book was published
in 1884, by Hall and Sellers, Phila. It
was also sold by Isaac Collins, printer
in Trenton, Thomas Redman, in Had
| donfeld and John Redman, ia Salem.
1t is full Of interesting Information.
a reference TO its pages shows that
the Temperance question was just as
much discussed then as now. Under
the caption of AN Enquiry into Pub
lie Abuses, Arising for Want of Due
Execution of Laws. provided for the
suppression of Vice, in the State of
New jersey" John Cooper Esq, de-
votes the first part of the book to
discussion of the evils arising from in-
temperance, and asks that the laws be
enforced. He gives "a number of the
laws which were in operation in those
days. from which we quote as ap-
pended
New Jersey Laws-17S4- person
or persons within this Province shall
sell by retail any rum, brandy, wine,
or spirits of any kind. under the guam
beer, metheglin, or other strong or
mixed liquors, directly or indirectly,
under five gallons. except thereinto
| licensed as herein directed, under the
penalty of forty shiliings for the first,
| and five pounds for the second and
every other offence, to be recovered,
| etc.
No license shall be granted by any
Justice of the Peace within this Pro-
vince, to any person whatsoever for
| retailing of strong liquors, save only
| in open sessions, held in the county
where such a tavern is kept; and to
such person Or persons only, as shall
come to them well recommended. by
at least six free-holders of the neigh
| borhood, where the tavern is to be
kept, certifying that the person re-
commended is of good reputs or hon
esty and temperance, and lawn to
the peFsonsreeommendin to be pro-
vided with at least two good spare
| feather beds, more than is necessary
for the family's use, and is well ac-
commodated with house room, stab
| ling and pasture; and if any person
signing such recommendation shall be
convicted OF having imposed on the
| Court, either by signing to an unde-
Served character, or by describing
situation not true. or in any other
manner. every member so imposing,
and being legally convicted, shall be
| hV in hD of iGrc1
pounds, for the use of the poor, etc.
Further on in the law Coustahles are
commanded to visit each of the taverns
four times in every year, and see that
| the laws are enforced.
One of the most peculiar sections of
the law is that which fixes the price of
liquors, &c It says
The Justices, at every Spring and
Fail sessions, shall fix the prices of
| liquors, meat and entertainment for
man and provender stabliug and pas
turage for horses And every person
so licensed shall obtain aud affiX up IN
the most public room in his or her
house, in ten days after said ses
sions, a list of the rates aforesaid, under
the penalty of twenty shillngs for
every day he or she shalt omit the
| same.
The law also contains tho following
resolution:
And, whereas it has been too often
| observed. to the great grief and con
cern of all sober and well disposed per
sons, that many of the inhabitants Of
[ this Province, of mean and low for
| tunes, do make it their constant prac-
| tice to frequent taverns, and there
| spend much of their time and sub
stance in gaming, tippling, and often
| drinking to excess, to the great dam
| age, affections and distress of their
| poor families, and destruction of them
| selves:-Therefore be it enacted by the
authority aforesaid, That, after this
act shall take place, if any tavern
keeper shall suffer any person or per
sons to spend his or their time in an
idle manner at his or their house, or
supply them with more strong liquor
| than is absolutely necessary for his or
her refreshment, upon proof made by
Constable or freeholder at the sessions
held for the comfy, the tavern-k Keeper
so convicted shall be fined by the
Court for the first offence ttcentY shil
ipgs, the second forty shilings and
every other offence fre pounds.
The volume contains considerable
quaint matter, among other things a
play called ''Inkle Yarigo, an Opera as
performed with great applause at the
Theatre Royal-London,n y also Midas;
an English Burletta, as performed at
the Theatre Royal, in Convent Gar
den, Dublin. and a play entitled THE
Earl of Essex" together with an arti-
Gle called The Prompter," Songs,
Duets, sc, in Comic Opera.
The California papers boast that the
crop of oranges IN that State on 30, 900