than one-half of the quantity of table beer brewed there. The inference from this last fact is, that beer is drank in Scotland rather as a beverage than on account of its intoxicating qualities, and the inference from the former fact, namely, the small increase of consumption which has followed the reduction of the malt duty from 3s. 6d. to 2s. 6d., is that the regulations attending the beer duty are such as to prevent the increase of consumption which could not otherwise have failed to have taken place from the reduction of the malt duty.

It may perhaps be supposed that the price of barley, which was higher last year than in 1821, may sufficiently account for the smallness of the increase of consumption arising from the reduction of the malt duty. But the prices of barley which were as under in the years 1820, 1821, and 1822, when the malt duty was at 3s. 6d., contrasted with the amounts of the beer duty in these years, as compared to the prices of barley, and the amounts of the beer duty in 1823 and 1824, when the malt duty was at 2s. 6d. per bushel, will shew that the regulations attending the beer duty are the real preventative of the increase of the consumption of beer, which, if the trade in beer were in a wholesome state, could

The country was distressed in 1820: it is now flourishing beyond example, and the increase of the beer duty in the two last years may be ascribed to this circumstance alone.

In Smith's tract on the Corn Laws, which is often referred to by Adam Smith, who must therefore have considered it good authority, the following is stated to be the quantity of corn annually consumed in beer on an average of ten years from the account of the produce of the malt tax for fifty years, beginning with 1703 inclusive ending with 1753 exclusive.

YEARS.

AVERAGE.

Qrs.

Bls.

From 1703 to 1713......2,959,063 7

17131723......3,542,157 2

The malt duty last year produced in gross amount the sum of 3,817,356l. 10s. 71⁄2d., which, at 2s. 6d. per bushel, gives only 3,817,356 quarters and 4 bushels of barley consumed last year in the brewery and the distillery.

But the population of Great Britain has more than doubled since 1753, yet the quantity of

malt made, and, of course, the quantity of beer consumed, can hardly be stated to have increased. Indeed there is very little increase since the year 1723.

This fact confirms the former, that the consumption of beer is limited by the regulations attendant upon the duty.

These regulations have produced a monopoly, as improper regulations or an excessive duty never fail to do. Of the quantity brewed last year in England 3,744,243 (of which 50,571 were exported) of strong beer, and 894,755 of table beer, were brewed by 1,787 public brewers; and 2,345,738 of strong beer, and 559,622 of table beer, by 22,573 licensed victuallers. The 15,957 barrels of intermediate beer were brewed by 25 public brewers, who are not allowed to brew strong or table beer*. In Scotland, of the quantity brewed last year 110,662 barrels of strong beer (of which 2,741 were exported), and 188,893 of table beer, were brewed by 236 public brewers, and 3,610 barrels of strong beer, and 40,207 barrels of table beer, were brewed by 321 licensed victuallers who brew their own beert. These last appear

* Parliamentary Paper, No. 76.

+ Ibid.

at

to have sprung up in Scotland since 1821, least no mention is made of them in the beer account of 1822*. No intermediate beer is brewed in Scotland; so that the 4 Geo. IV. c. 51. is a dead letter in that country.

The total number of brewers and licensed victuallers in England and Wales, and in Scotland, appears to be as follows:

The monopoly thus does not appear to be so complete in Scotland as it is in England; 236 public brewers and 321 licensed victuallers who brew their own beer, being employed in brewing 340,631 barrels of beer of all sorts for the consumption of two millions of people in Scotland, while 1,787 public brewers, 25 intermediate brewers, and 22,573 licensed victuallers who

* Parliamentary Paper, 1822, No. 486.