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[Page 12]
bushels of Wheat for a bottle of Spirits (which cost the Proprietor only half a Crown) and in the same proportion for any other part of his Stock. On this account principally it is, that the Farmers are involved in Debt, and either ruined by the high price of Spirits, or the high price of labour which is regulated thereby; while the unprincipled holder of Spirits his work done at a cheap rate, and amasses considerable property.
A Settler (the common term here for a Farmer) has been known often to give an acre of wheat for two gallons of Spirits to satisfy his Labourer, or for his own use, which would maintain him a whole Year.
These are but few of the Evils attending this pernicious Traffic, nevertheless the barter of Spirits has its advocates, but only those plead in its favor who are ignorant of its Effects, or those very few who have imported a large quantity and gain immensely by it.
I have considered this Spirit busyness in all its bearings, and am come to a determination to prohibit the