_Of several pernicious Ingredients put into Malt Liquors to encrease their
Strength_.
Malt Liquors, as well as several others, have long lain under the
disreputation of being adulterated and greatly abused by avaricious and
ill-principled People, to augment their Profits at the Expence of the
precious Health of human Bodies, which, tho' the greatest Jewel in Life,
is said to be too often lost by the Deceit of the Brewer, and the
Intemperance of the Drinker: This undoubtedly was one, and I believe the
greatest, of the Lord _Bacon's_ Reasons for saying, he thought not one
_Englishman_ in a thousand died a natural Death. Nor is it indeed to be
much wondered at, when, according to Report, several of the Publicans make
it their Business to study and practise this Art, witness what I am afraid
is too true, that some have made use of the _Coculus India_ Berry for
making Drink heady, and saving the Expence of Malt; but as this is a
violent Potion by its narcotick stupifying Quality, if taken in too large
a degree, I hope this will be rather a prevention of its use than an
invitation, it being so much of the nature of the deadly Nightshade, that
it bears the same Character; and I am sure the latter is bad enough; for
one of my Neighbour's Brothers was killed by eating its Berries that grow
in some of our Hedges, and so neatly resembles the black Cherry, that the
Boy took the wrong for the right.
There is another sinister Practice said to be frequently used by ill
Persons to supply the full quantity of Malt, and that is _Coriander_
Seeds: This also is of a heady nature boiled in the Wort, one Pound of
which will answer to a Bushel of Malt, as was ingenuously confess'd to me
by a Gardener, who own'd he sold a great deal of it to Alehouse Brewers
(for I don't suppose the great Brewer would be concern'd in any such
Affair) for that purpose, purpose, at Ten-pence per Pound; but how
wretchedly ignorant are those that make use of it, not knowing the way
first to cure and prepare it for this and other mixtures, without which it
is a dangerous thing, and will cause Sickness in the Drinkers of it.
Others are said to make use of Lime-stones to fine and preserve the Drink;
but to come off the fairest in such foul Artifices, it has been too much a
general Practice to beat the Yeast so long into the Ale, that without
doubt it has done great Prejudice to the Healths of many others besides
the Person I have writ of in the Preface of my Second Book. For the sake
then of Seller and Buyer, I have here offered several valuable Receipts
for fining, preserving and mellowing Beers and Ales, in such a true
healthful and beneficial manner, that from henceforth after the Perusal of
this Book, and the knowledge of their worth are fully known, no Person, I
hope, will be so sordidly obstinate as to have any thing to do with such
unwholsome Ingredients; because these are not only of the cheapest sort,
but will answer their End and Purpose; and the rather, since Malts are now
only twenty Shillings per Quarter, and like to hold a low Price for
Reasons that I could here assign.
I own, I formerly thought they were too valuable to expose to the Publick
by reason of their Cheapness and great Virtues, as being most of them
wholsomer than the Malt itself, which is but a corrupted Grain. But, as I
hope they will do considerable Service in the World towards having clear
salubrious and pleasant Malt Liquors in most private Families and
Alehouses, I have my Satisfaction.