of Friendly Societies, shows pretty clearly that, though they may not be anywhere so comfortable as could be wished, and though, in Kent, Hampshire, and some other southern counties, they are exposed to very great privations, their condition is, on the whole, superior to what it has ever previously been. It has further been contended, that if the decline in the consumption of beer cannot be ascribed to any falling off in the condition of the people, or in their power to purchase malt liquors, the fair inference is, that it has originated in a change of taste; and the increased consumption of spirituous liquors that has taken place of late years has been appealed to in proof that such is the fact. But this increase has been very greatly exaggerated: admitting, however, that the circumstances are really such as have been represented, the question instantly recurs, to what is this change of taste owing? How comes it that the people of England should be less partial than heretofore to that palatable and nutritious beverage to which they have been long accustomed, and that they should be resorting to ardent spirits and other deleterious compounds, destructive alike of their health and morals? If we mistake not, it will be found to be wholly owing to the duties and restrictions that have been laid on the manufacture and sale of beer.

8. Duties on Ale and Beer: old licensing System.-The duty on malt is 20s. 8d. a quarter; on hops 2d. a pound; and on strong beer, which forms five-tenths of the whole quantity brewed, the duty was 98. 10d. a barrel. It is commonly estimated, that from three to three and a half barrels of beer are manufactured from a quarter of malt; and that each quarter of malt requires twelve pounds of hops. Now, supposing that three and a quarter barrels of beer are produced from a quarter of malt, the duties affecting it, down to the 10th of October 1830, were

.

and dividing this sum of 54s. 7d. by 34, the duties affecting each barrel of beer will be 178.

Such duties are obviously oppressive. The price of barley does not at an average exceed 358. per quarter. But the duties on malt or beer produced from a quarter of barley (exclusive of the hop duty) amounted to 52s. 7d., being equal to 150 per cent. upon the cost of the barley employed! Need we seek elsewhere for the cause of the stationary demand for malt liquors? The taxes on wine, British spirits, tea, and coffee, do not, in any case, exceed 100 per cent. Nor can there be a doubt that the disproportionately heavy burden that has thus been imposed on the natural and healthy beverage of the lower classes has principally contributed to lessen its consumption, and to cause them to resort to less salubrious substitutes. In another point of view, the beer duties were still more indefensible. They affected only that description of beer which was brewed for sale; and as all the higher classes brewed their own beer, the duty fell only on the lower and middle ranks of the community, and particularly the former. It is singular, that a tax so grossly unequal and oppressive should have been so long submitted to. Should the public necessities require, at any future period, that an effort should be made to increase the revenue from beer, the fair and proper method would be to increase the malt duties. They affect alike those who brew the beer which they consume, and those who buy it from a public brewer. Their increase would not require the employment of any additional officers; for it is obvious, that the same officers and regulations that serve to collect a duty of 20s. 8d. would equally serve to collect a duty of 30s.; and, what is most important, an increase of this sort would not require any interference with the process of brewing.

But besides the obstacles to the consumption of beer arising from the oppressive duties with which it was burdened, the system recently in force of granting licences for its sale, opposed obstacles that were hardly less formidable. Previously to 1830, no one could open a house for the sale of beer without first obtaining a licence renewable annually from the magistrates; and as these functionaries were accustomed only to grant licences to the occupiers of particular houses, the brewers naturally endeavoured, in order to ensure the sale of their beer, either to buy up those houses or to lend money upon them: and in many extensive districts a few large capitalists succeeded in engrossing most of the public houses; so that even the appearance of competition was destroyed, and a ready market and good prices secured for the very worst beer!

We, therefore, look upon the abolition of the beer duties, and the granting permission to all individuals to retail beer upon taking out an excise licence costing 21. 28., as highly advantageous measures. The repeal of the duty has put an end to the unjust distinction that previously obtained; the poor man is no longer burdened with a heavy tax, from which the noble and affluent of the land were exempted; but all classes are placed, in so far at least as the duties on beer are concerned, in the same situation. The fall of price caused by the abolition of the duty, by rendering beer more easily obtainable, will do much to check the consump tion of spirits; and will, at the same time, powerfully contribute to the health and comfort of

the poor. The change in the mode of licensing houses for the retail of beer has introduced into the trade that system of free competition that is so advantageous. It is no longer in the power of any combination of brewers to maintain the price of beer at an unnatural elevation; and the public may now depend on being supplied with malt liquors at the lowest price that will serve to indemnify the brewers.

9. Complaints of the Increase of Beer Shops. In despite, however, of what has now been stated, it is strenuously objected to the late measure for licensing houses for the sale of beer, that it has led to their excessive multiplication in different parts of the country, and has, in consequence, had a most pernicious influence on the public morals: but there do not seem to be any good grounds for such statements. The whole number of public houses licensed for the sale of beer and ale only in England and Wales, during the year ended 31st of March 1833, was 4,821; while 47,286 houses were licensed, during the same year, for the sale of beer, ale, and spirits.-(Par!. Paper, No. 426. Sess. 1833.) Whatever, therefore, may be the inconveniences arising from the number of the latter, it does seem ludicrous to imagine that they can be materially increased by the opening of the beer shops. On the contrary, we should think that every measure which has a tendency to substitute beer shops for spirit must be advantageous; and such is the precise effect of the act 1 Will. 4. cap. 64. Its privileges are acquired by those only who confine themselves to the sale of beer; and until it has been shown that the drinking of beer is less advantageous, or more pernicious, than the drinking of spirits, we shall not be inclined to lay much stress on the complaints so frequently put forth as to the number of beer shops. In order, however, to check their unnecessary multiplication, and to ensure as far as possible the maintenance of good order in them, it might be expedient, perhaps, to increase the licence duty, and the security required from those applying for a licence, and to facilitate the suppression of disorderly houses: but we protest against any attempt to lessen the number of public houses by reviving the old licensing system, with the injustice and jobbing inseparable from it, and from every modification of it.

10. Existing Regulations with respect to the Sale of Beer.-The sale of ale, beer, &c. by retail in England, is now regulated by the act 1 Will. 4. c. 64., of which we subjoin a pretty full abstract.

Licenses to be granted by commissioners of excise, or by persons authorised by them; to cost 21. 2s. a year; not to authorise the sale of wine or spirits: not to be granted to sheriffs' officers, nor to any person executing the legal process of any court of justice, nor to any person not being a householder assessed to the parish.-2.

The party requiring such licence to enter into a bond to the commissioners, with one sufficient surety in the penalty of 201., or with two sufficient sureties in the penalty of 101. each, for the payment of any penalty or sum of money, not exceeding the amount of such 201, or 101. respectively, which shall be incurred for any offence against this act by the party to whom such licence shall be granted; and no person licensed to sell beer by retail, or not being a householder paying the poor rates, shall be surety in any such bond.- 4, 5.

Every person who shall be licensed under this act, shall cause to be painted, in letters three inches at least in length, in white upon a black ground, or in black upon a white ground, publicly visible and legible, upon a board, to be placed over the door of the house in which such person shall be licensed, the christian and surname of the persons mentioned in such licence, at full length, together with the words "Licensed to sell Beer by Retail;" and every such person shall keep up such name and words daring all the time that such person shall continue so licensed, upon pain of forfeiting for every omisslon 107.-26.

No person to sell any beer by retail, under this act, after the expiration of any licence granted, nor in any house not specified in such licence; and any person selling beer by retail, not being duly licensed, as the keeper of a common inn, ale-house, or victualling-house; or if any such person, so licensed, shall deal in or retail any wine or spirits, he shall, for every such offence, forfeit 201., half to go to the informer and half to the king; such penalty to be recovered as other excise penalties; and the powers of the excise act 7 & 8 G. 4 c. 53, &c. extended to this act.- ◊ 7, 8, 9.

Persons trading in partnership, and in one house, shall not be obliged to take out more than one licence in any one year: provided also, that no one licence shall authorise any person to sell beer, in any other than the house mentioned in such licence.- 10.

In cases of riot or expected riot or tumult, every person licensed under this act, and keeping any house situate within their jurisdictions, shall close his house at any time which the justice or justices shall direct; and every such person who shall keep open his house at or after any hour at which such Justices shall have so ordered or directed such house to be closed, shall be deemed to have not maintained good order and rule therein, and to be guilty of an offence against the tenor of his license.-11. Every person licensed to sell beer by retail, shall sell (except in quantities less than a half pint) by the gallon, quart, pint, or half pint measure, sized according to the standard; and in default thereof, he shall for every such offence forfeit the illegal measure, and pay not exceeding 40s., together with the costs of the conviction, to be recovered within thirty days next after that on which such offence was committed, before two justices; such penalty to be over and above all penalties to which the offender may be liable under any other act.- 12.

Every seller of beer by retail, having a licence under this act, who shall permit any person to he guilty of drunkenness, or disorderly conduct, in the house mentioned in such licence, shall forfeit the zums following: for the first offence, not less than 40s. nor more than 51. as the justices, before whom Fuch retailer shall be convicted, shall adjudge; and for the second offence, any sum not less than 57. mar more than 101.; and for the third offence, any sum not less than 201. nor more than 501.; and it shall be lawful for the justices, before whom any such conviction for such third offence shall take place, to adjudge, if they shall think fit, that such offender shall be disqualified from selling beer by retail for the space of two years next ensuing such conviction, and also that no beer shall be sold by retail, by any person in the house mentioned in the licence of such offender; and if any person so licensed shall, knowingly, sell any beer, ale, or porter, made otherwise than from malt and hops, or shall mix, or canse to be mixed, any drugs or other pernicious ingredients, with any beer sold in his house, or shall fraudulently dilute, or in any way adulterate, any such beer, such offender shall, for the first offence, forfeit not less than 101. nor any more than 201., and for the second such offence suck

offender shall be adjudged to be disqualified from selling beer, ale, or porter, by retail, for the term of two years, or to forfeit not less than 207. nor more than 50%., and shall be subject to a like penalty at every house where he shall commit such offence; and if any person shall, during any term in which it shall not be lawful for beer to be sold by retail on the premises of any offender, sell any beer by retail on such premises, knowing that it was not lawful to be sold, such offender shall forfeit not less than 101. nor more than 201.; every person suffering the conditions of the licence to be infringed to be deemed guilty of disorderly conduct.-13.

Retailers' houses not to be open before four in the morning, nor after ten in the evening; nor between the hours of ten in the forenoon and one in the afternoon, nor at any time between the hours of three and five in the afternoon, on any Sunday, Good Friday, Christmas-day, or any day appointed for a public fast or thanksgiving; and any person offending herein shall forfeit 40s. for every offence; every separate sale to be deemed a separate offence.- 14.

All penalties under this act, except for selling beer by any person not duly licensed, shall be recovered, upon the information of any person before two justices in petty sessions; and every such penalty shall be prosecuted for within three calendar months next after the offence; and every person licensed under this act, who shall be convicted before two justices, shall, unless proof be adduced to the satisfaction of such justices, that such person had been theretofore convicted before two justices, within the space of twelve calendar months next preceding, be adjudged by such justices to be guilty of a first offence against this act, and to forfeit and pay any penalty by this act imposed for such offence, or if no specific penalty be imposed, then any sum not exceeding 51., together with the costs of the conviction; and if proof be adduced to the satisfaction of such justices, that such person had been previously convicted, within the space of twelve calendar months next preceding, of one such offence only, such person to be adjudged guilty of a second offence against this act, and to forfeit and pay any penalty by this act imposed for such offence, or if no specific penalty be so imposed, then any sum not exceeding 101., together with the costs of conviction; and if proof shall be adduced that such person had been previously convicted within the space of eighteen calendar months next preceding, of two such separate offences, and if proof be adduced that such person, so charged, is guilty of the offence charged against him, such person shall be adjudged to be guilty of a third offence against this act, and to forfeit and pay any penalty imposed by this act, in respect of such offence, or if no such specific penalty shall be imposed, then to forfeit and pay the sum of 501. together with the costs of convic tion.-15.

The party, convicted of any such third offence, may appeal to the general sessions, or quarter sessions, then next ensuing, unless held within twelve days after conviction, and in that case, to the then next subsequent sessions; and, in such case, the party convicted shall enter into a recognizance, with two sureties, personally to appear at the said general or quarter sessions, to abide the judgment of the court; and to pay such costs as shall be by the court awarded: or, in failure of the party convicted entering into such recognizance, such conviction shall remain good and valid; and the said justices who shall take such recognizance are also required to bind the person who shall make such charges to appear at such general or quarter sessions, then and there to give evidence against the person charged, and, in like manner, to bind any other person who shall have any knowledge of such offence; and it shall be lawful for the said general or quarter sessions to adjudge such person to be guilty of such third offence against this act, and such adjudication shall be final: and it shall be lawful for such general or quarter sessions to punish such offender by fine, not exceeding 1007., together with the costs of such appeal, or to adjudge the licence to be forfeited, or that no beer be sold by retail in the house for the term of two years, and if such licence shall be adjudged to be forfeited, it shall henceforth be void; and whenever, in such case, the licence of such offender shall be adjudged to be void, such offender shall be deemed incapable of selling beer, ale, or porter, by retail, in any house kept by him, for the space of two years, to be computed from the time of such adjudication; and any licence granted to such person during such term shall be void.-16.

In default of payment of penalties, proceedings may be had against the sureties.19. Any person summoned as a witness, who shall neglect or refuse to appear, and not make such reasonable excuse for such neglect, &c. as shall be admitted by such justices of sessions, or who, appearing, shall refuse to be examined, shall, on conviction, forfeit not exceeding 101.-20.

Offenders refusing or neglecting, within seven days after conviction, to pay the penalty imposed, and any costs assessed, such justices may issue their warrant, to levy the amount by distress and sale, together with the costs of distress and sale; and in every such case, such offenders, if in custody, shall be forthwith discharged; but if the goods and chattels are not sufficient, such justices may commit the offender to the common gaol or house of correction for not exceeding one calendar month, if the penalty shall not be above 51.; for not exceeding three calendar months, if the penalty shall be above 51. and not more than 101.; and for not exceeding six calendar months, if the penalty shall be above 10.; provided, that whenever such offender shall pay to the gaoler or keeper, or to whomsoever such justices shall have appointed, the penalty and costs, together with all the costs of apprehension and conveyance to gaol, at any time previous to the expiration of the time for which such offender shall have been committed, such offender shall be forthwith discharged.-21.

No conviction under this act, nor any adjudication made upon appeal therefrom, shall be quashed for want of form, nor removed by certiorari.-27.

Every action against any justice, constable, or other person, for any thing done in execution of his duty under this act, to be commenced within three calendar months, and not afterwards; and if any person be sued, he may plead the general issue, and give the special matter in evidence.-28.

This act not to affect the two universities, nor the vintners' company in London; nor to prohibit. the sale of beer at fairs, as heretofore. st

11. Scotch Ale and Beer Duties.-The duties on ale and beer in Scotland have been for a lengthened period the same as in England.

At the union in 1707, the English duties on ale and beer were introduced into Scotland. But, besides strong and small beer, the Scotch had an intermediate species, which they called two-penny, and which was their favourite beverage. The duty on this description of beer was fixed, at the union, at 2s. 14d. a barrel. For thirty years after its imposition, the quantity of two-penny that paid duty was always above 400,000, and sometimes exceeded 500,000 barrels a year. But in 1760 the duty on two-penny was increased to 3s. 44d. and the consumption immediately fell off to between 100,000 and 200,000 barrels! The quantity that paid duty in 1800 amounted to 149,803 barrels. The manufacture of this species of beer ceased entirely in 1802.

No account has been kept of the quantity of beer brewed in Ireland since 1809, when it amounted to 960,300 barrels.-(Morewood on Intoxicating Liquors, p. 353.) Perhaps it may now amount to from 1,000,000 to 1,200,000 barrels.

12. Regulations as to the Exportation of Beer-Ale or beer exported to foreign parts as merchandise is allowed a drawback of 5s. the barrel of 36 gallons, Imp. meas. But before any debenture for the above drawback shall be paid, the exporter or his principal clerk or manager shall make oath thereon, before the proper officer of excise, that such ale or beer was put on board the exporting ship as merchandise to be sent beyond seas, and no part thereof for the ship's use; and that, according to the best of his knowledge and belief, the same has been brewed wholly from malt which has been charged with and paid the duty of 28. 7d. a bushel, and shall also specify in such oath the time when and the place where; and the brewer, being an entered and licensed brewer for sale, by whom such beer or ale was brewed, and that the quantity of malt used in brewing was not less than two bushels (Imp. meas.) for every 36 gallons of such beer or ale. Persons making false statements forfeit the sum of 2004. and the debenture is void.-(1 Will. 4. cap. 51. § 11.)

In consequence of the complaints, whether well or ill founded, of the inconveniences arising from the increase of beer shops-(see Dict. p. 14), a material change has been made in the mode of licensing houses for the sale of beer. Under the act 1 Will. 4. c. 64.-(Dict. p. 14), the commissioners of excise, or other persons duly authorised, were bound to grant licenses, costing 21. 2s. a year, to all persons not excepted in the act, empowering them to sell ale, beer, porter, cider, &c. to be drunk indifferently either on or off the premises. But the act of 1834, 4 & 5 Will. 4. c. 85. made the obtaining of a licence to retail beer to be drunk on the premises contingent on the applicant being able to produce a certificate of good character, subscribed by certain persons rated at a certain amount to the poor: it has also raised the cost of such licence to 31. 3s.; and reduced the cost of a licence to sell beer not to be drunk on the premises to 17. 18. We subjoin a full abstract of the act :

Persons applying for a Licence to sell Beer to be drunk on the Premises, to deposite a certificate of good Character, &c.-Every person applying for a licence to sell beer or cider by retail, to be drunk in the house or on the premises, shall, in addition to the application setting forth the particulars required by the act 1 Will. 4. c. 64., annually produce to and deposit with the commissioners of excise, collector, or other person authorised to grant such licence within the parish or place in which the person applying intends to sell beer or cider by retail, a certificate signed by 6 persons residing in and being and describing themselves to be inhabitants of such parish, place, &c, and respectively rated therein to the poor at not less than 61., or occupying a house therein rated to the poor at not less than 6., none of whom shall be maltsters, common brewers, or persons licensed to sell spirituous liquors or beer or ci der by retail, nor owners or proprietors of any houses licensed to sell liquors, beer, or cider by retail, stating that the person applying for the licence is of good character; and at the foot of such certificate ne of the overseers of the parish, township, or place shall certify (if the fact be so) that such 6 persons are inhabitants respectively rated as aforesaid; and such certificate shall respectively be in the form of the schedule annexed to this act: provided always, that in any parish, township, or district maintaining its own poor, in which there are not 10 inhabitants rated to their relief to the amount of G. each, or not occupying houses respectively rated to the poor at 61. each (not being maltsters, common brewers, or persons licensed to sell spirituous liquors or beer or cider by retail,) the certificate of the majority of the inhabitants of such parish, township, or district maintaining its own poor, as are rated to the amount of 61. each, shall be deemed to be a sufficient certificate for the purposes of this act.-2.

Penalty on Overseers. Any overseer who shall, without due cause, refuse to certify that the persons who have signed the certificate are respectively rated to the poor's rate as aforesaid, to forfeit not more than 5- 3.

Beer drunk in Sheds.-Any person licensed under the act 1 Will. 4. c. 64., to sell beer, cider, &c. not to be consumed on the premises, who shall employ, permit, or suffer any person or persons to take or carry any beer, &c. from his house or premises, to be drunk or consumed for his benefit or profit, in any other house, tent, shed, &c. belonging to, or hired, used, or occupied by such licensed person, such beer, &c. shall be held to have been consumed on the premises, and the person selling the same shall be subject to the like forfeitures and penalties as if it had been actually drunk or consumed in a house or upon premises licensed only for the sale thereof.-4.

Billetting-Provisions for billetting soldiers under mutiny acts to extend only to those licensed to sell beer or cider to be drunk in the house or on the premises, and not to extend to those licensed to sell beer not to be consumed on the premises — 5.

Justices to regulate the Opening and Closing of Houses.-Justices in petty sessions are authorised to fix the hours at which houses and premises licensed to sell beer under this act shall be opened and closed; but any person thinking himself aggrieved by any such order may appeal at any time, within 4 months from its date, to the justices in quarter sessions, on giving the justices making the order 14 days' notice of his intention; and the decision of the justices in quarter sessions shall be final: provided, however, that the hour to be fixed for opening any house shall not in any case be earlier than 5 o'clock in the morning, nor for closing the same later than 11 o'clock at night, or before 1 o'clock in the afternoon on Sunday, Good Friday, Christmas-Day, or any day appointed for a public fast or thanksgiving; and the hours so fixed by the justices, with reference to the districts within their jurisdictions, shall be taken to be the hours to be observed and complied with under this act as fully as if the same had been specially appointed by it.—◊ 6.

Constables, &c. to visit licensed Houses.--All constables and officers of police are authorised to enter into all houses licensed to sell beer or spirituous liquors to be consumed upon the premises whenever they shall think proper; and if any person licensed as aforesaid, or any servant or person in his emplay or by his direction, shall refuse to admit such constables, &c. into such house or premises, the person having the licence shall for the first offence forfeit and pay any sum not exceeding 51., together with the costs of conviction, to be recovered within 20 days before one or more justices; and it shall be lawful for any two or more justices, upon any person being convicted of such offence for the second time, to adjudge (if they think fit) that such offender be disqualified from selling beer, ale, porter, cider, or perry, by retail, for 2 years after such conviction, or for such shorter space as they may think proper.1.

Penalty for making or using fulse Certificates.-Persons certifying any matter having reference to this act as true, who know the same to be false, or using any certificate, knowing the same to be forged, shall, on conviction of such offence before 2 or more justices, forfeit and pay the sum of 201.; and every licence granted to any person making use of any certificate to obtain the same, such person knowing such certificate to be forged, or the matters certified therein to be false, shall be void to all

3

intents and purposes; and any person using such certificate shall be disqualified for ever from obtaining a licence to sell beer or cider by retail.-8.

No licence to be granted without a Certificate.-No licence for the sale of beer or cider by retail to be consumed or drunk in the house or on the premises shall be granted, except upon the certificate hereby required: provided, that in all extra-parochial places the certificate required by this act may be signed and given by inhabitants rated to the poor at 67. in any adjoining parish or parishes.-9.

Retailers to produce their Licences on Requisition of 2 Magistrates. In case any complaint be laid before 2 justices against any licensed person for an offence against the tenor of his licence, or against this act or the act 1 Will. 4. c. 64., the said justices may require such person to produce his licence before them for their examination; and if he wilfully neglect or refuse so to do, he shall forfeit for such offence any sum, not exceeding 51., the said justices shall think proper; and such person may be convicted, proceeded against, and dealt with for such offence in the same manner, mutatis mutandis, as is directed by the act 1 Will. 4. c. 61. with regard to persons guilty of a first offence against said act; and the penalty imposed for such offence is to be applied in the manner that a penalty for a first offence against said act is directed to be applied.- 10.

Continuance of Powers, &c.-The powers, provisions, and penalties of 1 Will. 4. c. 64. to apply to persons licensed under this act, and to their sureties, &c.- 11.

Act 1 Will. 4. c. 64, to continue in force, except as hereby altered.- 12.

Duties on Beer Licences under the 1 Will. 4. c. 64. repealed, and new Duties granted in lieu thereof.From and after the passing of this act, the duties payable on excise licences for the sale of beer by retail under the act 1 Will. 4. c. 64. shall cease, and in lieu of such duties there shall be paid upon the licences hereby authorized to be granted the duties following; viz.:

For and upon every licence to be taken out by any person for the sale of beer by retail, not to be drunk or consumed in or upon the house or premises where sold, the annual sum of 12. Is.

For and upon every licence to be taken out by any person for the sale of beer by retail, to be drunk or consumed in or upon the house or premises where sold, the annual sum of 31. 3s.—Sec. 13.

The duties to be under the management of commissioners of excise, and to be recovered and accounted for under the provisions of the act 1 Will. 4. c. 64.—) 14.

Not to affect Duty on Licences to Retail Cider and Perry.-Nothing in this act shall affect the amount of duty payable under the 1 Will. 4. c. 64. on licenses to retail cider and perry; but every such licence shall specify whether it be granted for the sale of cider and perry by retail not to be drunk in the house or premises where sold, or for the retail of the same to be drunk in the house or premises where sold. -15.

Licences under this Act not to authorise Persons to sell Wine.-No licence granted under the act 1 Will. 4. c. 64. and this act shall authorise any person to take out or hold any licence for the sale of wine, spirits, or sweets or made wines, or mead or metheglin; and if any person licensed under the act I Will. 4. c. 64. and this act shall permit or suffer any wine, spirits, &c. to be brought into his house or premises to be drunk or consumed there, or shall suffer them to be drunk or consumed in his house or premises, he shall, over and above any excise penalties to which he may be subject, forfeit 201.- 16 Penalty on unlicensed Persons. Such persons selling beer and cider by retail to be drunk off the premises, 10.; to be drunk on the premises, 201.-) 17.

Board over the Door-Every person licensed to sell beer, cider, or perry, by retail, under the authority of the act 1 Will. 4. c. 64. and this act, shall, on the board required by the former act to be placed over his door, paint and keep thereon, after the words "licensed to sell beer or cider by retail," the additional words "not to be drunk on the premises," or "to be drunk on the premises," as the case may be, on pain of forfeiting the penalty imposed by such act for not having such board over the door. -18.

What is retailing of Beer, &c.-Every sale of beer, or of cider or perry, in any less quantity than 44 gallons, shall be deemed and taken to be a sale by retail.-◊ 19.

Penalties for selling Spirits or Wine without Licence.-Persons licensed to sell beer or cider under the act 1 Will. 4. c. 64. and this act, who sell spirits or wine, sweets, &c. without being licensed, are liable to the penalties imposed by the laws of excise for selling spirits or wine, sweets, &c. without li

cence.-20.

Certificate not to be required for Houses in certain Situations, if Population exceed 5,000.-The beforementioned certificate shall not be required as to any house situated within the cities of London and Westminster, or within any parish or place within the bills of mortality, nor within any city or town corporate, nor within the distance of 1 mile from the place used at the last election as the place of election or polling place of any town returning a member to parliament, provided that the population, determined according to the last parliamentary census taken in such city, town, &c. shall exceed 5,000: provided, that no licence for the sale of beer, ale, porter, cider, or perry by retail on the premises in the cities of London and Westminster, or in any parish within the bills of mortality, or in any such city or town corporate, or town returning a member to parliament as before mentioned, shall be granted after the 5th day of April, 1836, unless the house or premises specified as those in which beer or cider is intended to be sold shall be of the value of 107. per annum.-21.

Service of Summons.-Summonses or orders not legally served, unless by some constable or other peace officer.-22.

Commencement.-Act shall commence and take effect from and after the 10th day of October, 1834.-

23.

Form of Certificate referred to in d 2.

and

We, the undersigned, being inhabitants of the parish [or township, as the case may be] of respectively rated to the poor at not less than 64 per annum, and none of us being maltsters, common brewers, or persons licensed to sell spirituous liquors, or being licensed to sell beer or cider by retail, do hereby certify, that A. B., dwelling in street There specify the street, lane, &c.] in the said parish [or township, &c.] is a person of good character.

[Here insert the day of signing the certificate.]

(Signed)

I do hereby certify, That all the above-mentioned persons whose names are subscribed to this certificate are inhabitants of the parish [or township, &c.] of rated to 61. to the relief of the poor of the said parish.

C. D. [Overseer of the parish or township, &c.] Date.

Sup.)

[Ale, porter, and beer, are made in the United States in large quantities; and their consumption appears to be steadily increasing.

The early emigrants from Great Britain brought with them their tastes and habits; and we find, at an early period, that breweries were established on a small scale in all the principal seaports. Their success to the south of the Potomac was prevented by the heat of the