1827 Wine and spirit adulterators unmasked

124

this Treatise can only point to the cheap Ad- vertisers and Placarders of Wines and Spirits, who, by plausible assertions, and high-sounding 1 pretensions, (as empty as they are pompous,) en- orders are issued, and before the man has, perhaps, been in the house twelve months, (if it so happen), his goods are seized by the warrant of attorney; his lease retained possession of by the deed of assignment; the other creditors are cheated out of llieir just claims, of a share in the proceeds of the estate; ami the poor man, who has lost his all, is sent to prison, irretrievably ruined. Whe- ther an alteration is not required here, and by what other title, as truly applicable, the majority of this class of Dealers can be dis- tinguished, I leave to the judgments of my Readers. It is quite time, some remedy should be proposed in the House of Commons, and in a way, in which it could be uninfluenced by the Brewers, who are members of that house, to diminish an evil of so gross a nature. Independently, however, of the hardships which this system enforces on the poor Publican, he is subject to others, by no means, less severe in their operation as regards his interests, nor less unjust to his situation as a member of society. One of these hardships, in particular, it becomes necessary to make known to the Reader, as it, in a great measure, comprehends and points out the difference which exists between what are termed Public- houses, and such as are distinguished by the appellation of Gin- The original intention of all Inns, Public-houses, Liquor- shops, &c. was, that they should be houses for accommodating travellers, and labourers, with rest and refreshment. Our modern Gin-shops, however, and particularly those on a large scale, pos- sess no qualification of the kind, nor do they offer any, but from the temptations, which are held out by their proprietors, for the subversion of the morals of tlie lower classes, by facilitating the sale only of Spirits, to the exclusion of the more wholesome be- verage of Porter, the means of doing which, (as they are compelled to have the latter article in stock), they attain, by keeping; it so bad, or sour, as to be quite undrinkaMe ; not only is the end, al- luded to, fully accomplished, but the Publican, who is, or ought to shops.