The duties levied upon liquors distilled within the United States ceased after the 1st Dec. 1817; we have therefore no means of ascertaining the extent of the manufacture in this country since that period. According to the Marshal's returns there were within the United States in 1810, 14,191 distilleries, which produced from fruit, grain, and molasses 25,704,625 gallons of spirits. During the same year, 608,843 gallons were exported, leaving 25,096,049 gallons for the consumption of the year. At the average of 10 years, from 1800 to 1810, inclusive, 7,512,415 gallons of foreign spirits were imported into the country; it thence appears, that 32,608,464 gallons remained within the United States for consumption in 1810, the population at that period being 7,239,903. If the increase in the production of spirits, and the importations of the article had kept pace with the increase of population, the quantity of spirits made in the country and imported should now be about 58,000,000 gallons. But there is no good reason to believe that the ratio of increase has been as great. In 1815 the number of distilleries was 15,000, and from official data it appears that they gradually increased up to 1829, when they received a powerful check from the establishment of temperance societies. Since that period, the importation, manufacture, and consumption of distilled liquors have rapidly diminished. This will appear from the temperance statistics of our own state. From 1810 to 1825, the distilleries in the State of New York, increased from 591 to 1,129. In 1835, the Secretary of State reported that the number had been reduced to 340, and at present (July 1840) they are estimated to be less than 200. In the State of Pennsylvania in 1810, it appears that there were 3,594 distilleries in operation, in the State of Kentucky the same year 2000, and although the population since that period has about doubled, the number of distilleries has very much decreased. By an inspection of the reports of the Secretary of the Treasury, it appears that for 10 years preceding 1812, the average quantity of imported spirits annually amounted to 7,512,415 gallons; but for the last ten years, the average is but about 3,000,000 gallons. The returns of the Inspector-General of domestic spirits in the city of New York, also within a few years past exhibit a decrease, compared with previous years of more than 33 per cent. With respect to the manufacture of beer in the United States, we have at present no data by which to form an estimate; but in the year 1810, the returns gave 5,846,144 gallons, since which time its consumption has greatly increased.* For these facts I am indebted to that most able and indefatigable Secretary of the New York City Temperance Society, R. M. Hartley, Esq. TABLE I, Showing the amount of ardent spirits imported into the United States in each year from 1790. Year. Gallons. Year. Gallons. Year. 8,525,217 1815 Gallons. Year. Gallons. 1790 4,143,385 | 1802 7,889,482 | 1814 597,414 | 1826 3,718,152 1791 3,603,861 1803 3,913,081 1827 3,537,426 1792 4,567,160 1804 4,941,732 1828 5,102,599 1793 3,428,391 1805 4,051,136 1829 3,423,884 1794 5,545,681 1806 6,052.453 1830 1,692,344 1795 5,018,562 1807 4,477,628 1831 2,491,528 1796 5,599,760 1808 3,928,996 1832 2,810,140 1797 6,819,728 1809 3,658,150 1833 2,954,288 1798 4,648,743 1810 4,504,530 1822 5,088,989 1834 2,511,354 1799 7,302,297 1811 4,026,486 1823 3,946,224 1835 3,394,439 1800 4,785,937 1812 4,519,726 1824 5,577.774 1836 3,524,288 1801 8,413,314 | 1813 1,044,344 1825 5,091,170 1837 2,672,288 TABLE II, Showing the quantity of domestic spirits annually distilled in the United States from 1790 to 1800. The difference between the amount of the two columns was exported. B. THE MORBID ANATOMY OF DRUNKENNESS. The most The morbid appearances presented in the bodies of drunkards on post-mortem examination, are varied and striking. marked changes are, however, to be found in the stomach and liver; those great vital organs, which first receive the impression of the unnatural stimulus. The stomach has three distinct coats or membranes; the outer one is thin, and transparent, and is called the peritoneal coat-the second is the muscular, which, indeed, forms two separate layers, the fibres of one, running longitudinally, and those of the other cir cularly; the contraction of the first, shortening the stomach, and those of the other lessening its diameter. The inner coat is called mucous, or villous, from its soft, shaggy or velvet-like appearance. This is of an extremely delicate structure, and thrown into folds in the bond, purposely contrived to inebriate the person who signed it. The decision of a magistrate upon the bench, while in a state of inebriation, is, according to the English law, null and void, and the magistrate thereby rendered liable to removal from office. In policy insurances upon lives, the concealment of habits of intoxication is deemed a sufficient reason for refusal of fulfilment of the engagement. In two cases of this kind, where it was proved that the individuals in question were at the time apparently hale and healthy, it was decided against the plaintiffs. ** These are some of the most important disabilities, which in the eye of the law, are incurred by the crime of drunk enness. *East's Reports, 188. Aveson v. Lord Kinniard and others. 5 Bingham's Rep. 503. Everett v. Desborough. APPENDIX. A. HISTORY OF INTOXICATING LIQUORS IN THE UNITED STATES. BY THE EDITOR. Ir may not be deemed inappropriate in connection with the subjects treated of in the present work, to offer a few remarks on the history of intoxicating drinks in this country. At the period of the first settlement of the United States, the only country in Europe in which distilled spirit was in general use was Ireland. In England and Germany, beer or ale was the national drink, and in France and Italy wine; but in Ireland “aqua vita" had already become a national curse. Virginia was settled in 1607, New York in 1614, Massachusetts in 1620, and Connecticut in 1635, and as the settlers mostly came either from England or Holland, the liquors which they brought with them, were those in general use in those countries, which, as we have stated, were malt liquors. Accordingly we find that among the very first laws ever enacted in the colony of New York, was one in relation to the manufacture of beer. In the year 1664, there was published at "Hemsted upon Longe Island, by virtue of a commission from His Royall Highness James Duke of York and Albany," a digest of the several laws then in force in "His Majesty's American Colonies and Plantations" called the "East Hampton Book of Laws," in which is contained the following ordinance: "BREWERS." "That no person whatsoever shall henceforth undertake the calling or work of Brewing Beere for sale, but only such as are known to have sufficient skill and knowledge in the art or mystery of a Brewer. That if any undertake for victualling of ships or other vessels or master or owner of any such vessels or any other person shall make it appear that any Beer bought of any person within this Government do prove unfit, unwholsome, and useless for their supply, either through the insufficiency of the mault, or brewing or unwholsome cask, the person wronged thereby, shall be and is hereby enabled to recover equal and sufficient damage by action against that person that put the Beer to sale." As evidence of the fact that ardent spirits was almost unknown to the early inhabitants of this country, Belknap, in his history of New Hampshire, says "an expedition was once undertaken against the Indians, and there was but a pint of strong water in the army and that was reserved for the sick." In the early history of Connecti cut, also, we read that a ship arrived in one of the seaports of that State, with a barrel of rum on board, and that the officers of the town would not permit the captain either to land it, or dispose of it to any of the inhabitants. Not many years, however, elapsed after the first settlements were made, before the people not only began to import largely of rum, brandy, &c., but also to distil for themselves. In Connecticut, as early as the year 1650, an import duty was laid upon all imported liquors, as well as those distilled within the colony.* On wines this amounted to from five to ten shillings sterl ing per pipe, of Madeira or Malaga; and 2s 6d per hogshead on French wines, and on strong liquors, imported and home-distilled, at the rate of 8d per gallon. Every person guilty of intoxication, was fined 5s for the first offence, and 10s for the second; and so, also, was every victualler or tavern-keeper, who suffered a person to get intoxicated in his house; "and by drunkenness is understood," so runs the law, "a person that either lisps, or falters in his speech by reason of much drink, or that staggers in his going, or that vomits by reason of excessive drinking, or cannot follow his calling." A portion of New Jersey and Pennsylvania was first peopled by colonies from Switzerland. Kalm, in his travels in this country in 1749, speaks of falling in with a Swede, 91 years of age, who came to Pennsylvania when a boy. From him Kalm ascer tained that at that period, (about 1670) "the Swedes brewed all their beer of malt made of barley, and likewise made good strong beer. They had already got distilling vessels, and made good brandy. Every one among them had not a distilling vessel, but when they intended to distil they lent their apparatus to one another." Again, none of the Swedes made cyder, for it is come into use but lately. The Swedes brewed strong beer and small beer, and it was their common liquor. But at present, (1749) there are very few who brew beer, for they commonly prepare cyder." In the year 1714, (the 12th of Queen Anne,) an excise was laid upon all "strong liquors" retailed throughout the colony of New York under five gallons, (beer and cider only excepted,) in amount as follows, viz: "the eighth part of an ounce of Sivel Pillar, or Mexico Plate, for each gallon retailed, and three-fourths of an ounce of said plate for every barrel of beer and cider." By an act passed at the same time the above excise was farmed out by public auction yearly, in the month of October, to the highest bidder, or to the several retailers in the different cities, towns, and vil lages, according as the mayor, aldermen, and justices of the peace should think proper, public notice being given ten days before such auction was held. Sufficient security was required for the due payment of the excise, and in default thereof, all liquors found on the premises of the retailer were forfeited together with three times the value thereof; all of which went to the support of the local government, and the payment of the public debt. If any person not licensed sold any quantity of strong liquors under five "New Haven's Settling in New England, and some laws for Government, published for the use of that Colony." London, 1656.-Hinman's Blue Laws, Quaker Laws, &c. p. 132. |