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[Page 4]
above stated began to decline, but another was rumoured to have taken place; this was the Gov. vending spirits from the Government stores at eighteen shillings per gallon, and taking grain in payment. These spirits (Cape Brandy) were thought not to lie in above six shillings per gallon.
It has been said, that permitting spirits to be in frequent use the colony sustained an injury, but with regard to the quantity used I am of a different opinion. However, it is true, they have had a bad effect upon many individuals, but this was owing to the high price, and which would be the case, with any other article, that customs had brought into a necessary or general use. As a test, is not the drudgery or laborious work of the great towns in England done by the use of spirits or strong fermented liquors? With regard to pernicious effects, they have little tendency upon the lower class, if we except a few breaches of morality; in general these are confined to those in higher life. And if we take a universal view of mankind, we find that something of an intoxicating quality is used more or less by all.
When I first came into the country, good spirits sold