The Abingdon war-food book

It may be objected, " This cannot be. We know how much Corn is distilled by the Duty that is paid. And hereby it appears, that fcarce three hundred thousand ' Quarters a Year are distilled throughout the Kingdom. " Do we know, certainly, How much Corn is distilled, by the Duty that is paid ? Is it indis- putable, that the full Duty is paid, for all the Corn that is distilled ? Not to infift upon the multitude of private Stills, which pay no Duty at all. I have myself heard the Servant of an eminent Distiller occasionally aver. That for every Gallon he distilled, which paid Duty, he dis- tilled fix, which paid none. Yea, I have heard Distillers themfelves affirm, " We muft do this, or we cannot live. " It plainly follows, we cannot judge from the Duty that is paid, of the Quantity of Corn that is distilled. *^ However, { 9 ) *' However, what is paid brings in a large Revenue to the King. " — Is this an Equivalent for the Lives of his Subjects ? Would his Majesty fell an hundred thoufand of his Subjects yearly to Algiers, for four hundred thousand Pounds? Surely no. Will he then fell them for that Sum, to be butchered, by their own Countrymen? — ** But otherwife the Swine for the Navy cannot be fed. " Not unlefs they are fed with human Flesh ! Not unlefs they are fatted with human Blood ! O tell it not in Constantinople, That the English raise the Royal Revenue, by felling the Flefh and Blood of their Country. 4. But why are Oais fo dear ? — Becaufe there are four times as many Horfes kept (to fpeak within compass) for Coaches and Chaises in particular, as were a few Years ago. Unlefs ( 'o ) Unlefs therefore four times the Oats grew now, that grew then, they cannot be at the fame Price. If only twice as much is produced, (which perhaps, is near the truth) the Price will naturally be double to what it was. And as the Dearnefs of Grain of one kind, will always raife the Price of another, fo whatever causes the Dearnefs of Wheat and Oats, muft raife the Price of Barley too. To account therefore for the Dearnefs of this, we need only remember what has been observed above : Although fome particular causes may concur, in producing the fame effect. 5. Why are Beef and Mutton fb dear? Becauie many confiderable Farmers, particularly in the Northern Counties, who ufed to breed large ( " ) large Numbers of Sheep, or horned Cattle, and very frequently both; now breed none at all : They no longer trouble themfelves with either Sheep, or Cows, or Oxen : As they can turn their Land to far better Account, by breeding Horfes alone. — Such is the Demand not only for Coach and Chaise Horfes, which are bought and destroyed in incredible numbers ; but much more for bred Horfes, which are yearly exported, by hundreds, yea thousands, to France. 6. But why are Porh, Poultry and Eggs fb dear ? Becaufe of the monopolizing of Farms : Perhaps as mifchievous a Monopoly, as was ever introduced into thefe Kingdoms. The Latid which was fome Years ago divided, between ten or twenty little Farmers, and enabled them comfortably to provide for their Families, is ( >i )