that the purchasers will be multiplied by increasing the
numbers of the venders, and the increase of the sale of distilled
spirits, and the propagation of all kinds of wickedness are the same;
I must conclude that bill to be destructive to the publick by which
the sale of spirits will be increased.

It has been urged that other more vigorous methods have been tried,
and that they are now to be laid aside, because experience has shown
them to be ineffectual, because the people unanimously asserted the
privilege of debauchery, opposed the execution of justice, and pursued
those with the utmost malice that offered informations.

I should think, my lords, that government approaching to its
dissolution, that was reduced to submit its decrees to their judgment
who are chiefly accused of the abuse of these liquors; for surely,
when the lowest, the most corrupt part of the people, have obtained
such a degree of influence as to dictate to the legislature those laws
by which they expect to be governed, all subordination is at an end.

This, my lords, I hope I shall never see the state of my own country:
I hope I shall never see the government without authority to enforce
obedience to the laws, nor have I, indeed, seen any such weakness on
this occasion: the opposition that was made, and the discontent that
was excited, were no greater than might be reasonably expected, when
the vice which was to be reformed was so enormously predominant; nor
was the effect of the law less than any one who foresaw such
opposition might reasonably have conceived.

In this city alone there were, before the commencement of that law,
fifteen hundred large shops, in which no other trade was carried on
than that of retailing these pernicious liquors; in which no
temptation to debauchery was forgotten; and, what cannot be mentioned
without horrour, back rooms and secret places were contrived for
receptacles of those who had drank till they had lost their reason and
their limbs; there they were crowded together till they recovered
strength sufficient to go away or drink more.

These pestilential shops, these storehouses of mischief, will, upon
the encouragement which this law will give them, be set open again;
new invitations will be hung out to catch the eyes of passengers, who
will again be enticed with promises of being made drunk for a penny,
and that universal debauchery and astonishing licentiousness which
gave occasion to the former act will r