1827 Wine and spirit adulterators unmasked

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amongst them ; to preserve which, from the invasion of competitors they have introduced the practice of fixing- a stated price for their goods, (from which none of them depart,) and of periodically, or according to circumstances, raising and lowering those prices, to the whole of the trade of Rec- tifiers indiscriminately. This Spirit is sold by the Malt Distiller, at a certain definite overproof strength, to the Recti- fier, who, by a second distillation, deprives it of its essential oil; and then again, by a third process through his still, (with the addition of Juniper Ber- ries and other ingredients,) he converts it into the article called British Gin. In consequence of this system, the Rectifiers, into whose hands the Spirit next passes, and who make it into Gin, are obliged to adopt the same course ; and, therefore, set that price to their Gin-shop cus- tomers, and others of the trade, which will yield them a fair profit, and at which no competitors can undersell them, except at a partial loss. nopoly, is this: no sooner does any Rectifier attempt to undersell the stated price which has been given out, than he is immediately refused any further supply of Spirit from the Malt Distiller; and should he evade the obstacle thus thrown in his way, by manufac- turing his Gin from Scotch or Irish Whiskey, or Rum, the whole of the trade immediately lower their prices to a standard considerably below that at which he is selling, (however great the sacrifice may be at which they do it,) until he is compelled, from the pros- pect of either losing the whole of his connexion, or suffering him- self to be totally ruined, to give up the contest, and return to the old price.