romoted
by it.

It is expected, my lords, by those who purchase spirits from the
distillers, that they should be of a certain degree of strength, which
they call proof: if they are of a lower degree, their price is
diminished; and if of a higher, it is raised proportionally; because
if the spirits exceed the degree of strength required, they may be
mixed with other liquors of little value, and still be sold to the
drinker at the common price.

It is, therefore, the practice of the distillers to give their spirits
thrice the degree of strength required, by which contrivance, though
they pay only the duty of one pint, they sell their liquors at the
price of three; because it may be increased to thrice the quantity
distilled, and yet retain sufficient strength to promote the purposes
of wickedness.

This practice, my lords, should be likewise obviated; for while one
gallon, after having paid the present low duty which is laid upon it,
may be multiplied to three, the additional price will, in the small
quantities which are usually demanded, become imperceptible.

But to show yet farther the inefficacy of this bill, let us suppose,
what will not be found by experience, that a halfpenny is added to the
price of every pint, it will yet be very practicable to revel in
drunkenness for a penny, since a very small quantity of these hateful
liquors is sufficient to intoxicate those who have not been habituated
to the use of them; who though their reformation is, undoubtedly, to
be desired, do not so much demand the care of the legislature, as
those who are yet untainted with this pernicious practice, and who
may, perhaps, by the frequency of temptation, and the prevalence of
example, be induced in time to taste these execrable liquors, and
perish in their first essays of debauchery. For such is the quality of
these spirits, that they are sometimes fatal to those who indiscreetly
venture upon them without caution, and whose stomachs have not been
prepared for large draughts, by proper gradations of intemperance; a
single spoonful has been found sufficient to hurry two children to the
grave.

It is, therefore, my opinion, that those whose stations and
employments make it their duty to superintend the conduct of their
fellow-subjects, ought to contrive some other law on this occasion;
ought to endeavour to rescue the common people from the infatuation
which is become general amongst them, and to withhold from them the
means of