1892 Drinks of the world

DRINKS,

133

resolved itself into a committee on Feb. 23, Sir Joseph Jekyll moved the following resolutions : (i) That the low price of spirituous liquors is the principal induce- ment to the excessive and pernicious use thereof. (2) That a discouragement should be given to their use by a duty. (3) That the vending, etc., of such liquors be restrained to persons keeping public brandy- shops, victualling houses, coffee houses, ale houses and inn-holders, and to such apothecaries and surgeons as should make use of the same by way of medicine only ; and, (4) That no person keeping a public brandy-shop, etc., should be permitted to vend, etc., such liquors, but by licence with duty payable thereon. These Resolutions were agreed on without debate. On March 8, Mr. William Pulteney affixed a duty of 205. per gallon on gin, on the grounds of ancient use and sanction, and of its reducing many thousands of families at once to a state of despair. Sir Robert Walpole had no immediate concern in the laying of this tax on spirituous liquors, but suffered therefrom much unmerited obloquy. The bill was presented by Jekyll from a spirit of philanthropy, which led him to contemplate with horror the progress of vice that marked the popular attachment to this inflammatory poison. The populace showed their disapprobation of this Act in their usual fashion of riot and violence. We are told in Coxe's Walpole that numerous desperados continued the clandestine sale of gin in defiance of every restriction. The duty of 205-. per gallon was repealed 16 Geo. II.,

On the 28th of September, 1736, it

was deemed

8.

c.