I shall not now inquire; because it is
superfluous to dispute about the propriety of measures, of which the
possibility may be justly questioned.

This last act, my lords, was of this kind; the duties established by
it were so high that they wholly debarred the lower classes of the,
people from the liquor on which they were laid; and, therefore, it was
found by a very short experience, that it was impossible to preserve
it from violation; that there would be no end of punishing those who
offended against it; and that severity produced rather compassion than
terrour. Those who have suffered the penalties were considered as
persons under unjust persecution, whom every one was obliged by the
ties of humanity to encourage, reward, and protect; and those who
informed against them, or encouraged informations, were detested, as
the oppressors of the people. The law had, indeed, this effect, that
it debarred, at least for a short time, all those from retailing
spirits who lived in reputation; and, therefore, encouraged others to
vend them in private places, where they were more likely to be drank
to excess.

Having, therefore, made trial of violent and severe methods, and had
an opportunity of obtaining a full conviction of their inefficacy, it
is surely proper to profit by our experience, by that experience which
shows us that the use of distilled liquors, under its present
discouragements, has every year increased; and, therefore, proves at
once the unprofitableness of the law now in force, and the necessity
of some other by which the same purposes may be more certainly
promoted.

The reformation of a vice so prevalent must be slow and gradual; for
it is not to be hoped, that the whole bulk of the people will at once
be divested of their habits; and, therefore, it will be rational to
endeavour, not wholly to debar them from any thing in which, however
absurdly, they place their happiness, but to make the attainment of it
more and more difficult, that they may insensibly remit their ardour,
and cease from their pursuit.

This, my lords, is proposed in the present bill, which, by the duties
which are to be laid upon distilled spirits, will raise the price a
third part, and as it is reasonable to expect, hinder a third part of
the consumption; for it is observed, that those who drink them set no
limits to their excesses, but indulge their appetites to the utmost of
their power; if he, therefore, who used to spend threepence