1 800/,] On the Puòlic Brewery. PED.

duty on Britiſh ſpirits be not already at its maximum, the proper,\ attention to publie tnorals would Juſtify ſome increaſe in caſe of the adoption of’ the propoſed alleviation in the price of ale and porter; ſince the excuf(e for having recourſe to thoſe fiery poiſoas would be leſs admiſible in proportion as beer became cheaper, and conſeguently more faſhionable. is

XXXV. After this digreſſion on the diſtillery, let us confider of a remedy for the preſent monopoly of the brewer. It js CvI- dent enough, that it can be applied only in one Way;‘by per mitting all perſons of good charader to take our licences for ſel- ling ale. Tt is not probable that licences in greater number would be applied for, ſince the vocation of the retailer is not res markably lucrative, and would noc bear many additional competi- tors. At all eveuts, the increaſed conſumption of brewer?s beer (conſequent on its reduced price) would not(ufer buſineſs to flag on the preſent hands. But the general power of taking out a licence would completely check the preſent monopoly; ſince if beer were any where ſold higher than its real value, the‘cer- tainty of immediate competition would guarantee the public in= tereſts. In the mean time the preſent brewer, poſſeſſing a prior eſtabliſhment, would be enabled to increaſe his buſineſs wich the general increaſe of the trade,(which would be nearly doubied), and be thus fully indemnified for lofing his old monopoly. Mo derate profits, on a more extenſive buſineſs,‘ would probably

- leave him. a larger gain at the year’s end.

XXXVI. Probably the brewer would not deny ſome acceſlion of comfort and independence in eſcaping the attentions of the exciſeman. At leaſt the clamour that has accompanied-every ex- tention of the exciſe, is proof enough that its officers axe no where very welcome viſitants. Whatever be the value of his added comfort, the brewer ought to throw into the ſcale of the propoſed arrangement,

AXXVII. 1 bope it has‘not been inferred from any thing; that has been ſaid, that L am an advocate for the repeal of thoſe laws, which confer a ſalutary power‘on the juſtices to interfere and ſhut up diſorderly ale-houíes. I only wiſh, that‘on the li cenling day, no juſtice ſhall preſume on the future demerits of any applicant, and that a licence ſhould be granted of courſe on paying the duty. The duty, indeed, I think, nioht be ſo modi= fied as to diſcourage the conlummption of very ítrong beer. Sup= poſe on à licence to ſeil beer pto a penny per pint; the licence were charged 5s; to three-halfpence, 11 Ios; to two-pence, 21; to two-pence-halfpenny, 2l 105; to three-pence, lei ieiar- rangement, in-its efeét, would amount to a premium on the con=- ſumption of beer of a moderate and wholeſome ſtrength.

XXXVIII, The high duty impoſed on brewers beer is cer- tainly a great inducement to brew at home.‘Thus an unnatural

COM.& AG; MAG, Livit