illustrate the subject, or which afford to the man of business a clear view of the various branches of commerce connected with the wine and spirit trades. For the same reason, as the work has not been divided into chapters, a copious, introductory Table of Contents is given, by which means the reader is at once guided to the part wanted, while the Index affords a more minute reference to details. The processes of Brewing and Distilling, according to the most approved modern methods, are, it is presumed, so amply and intelligibly detailed, that by a careful observance of the instructions given, any man may become his own brewer or distiller, and may also with confidence calculate on the probabilities of the successful, or unsuccessful, result of his speculations. To these important matters are added epitomes of the laws, by which those trades have been and are still governed, with the estimated advantages and disadvantages of their application. Descriptions of the several instruments used by Brewers, Distillers, Merchants, and Officers of the Revenue, are given, with a statement of the principles on which they are constructed, rendering their application easy and familiar to every capacity. The nature and properties of alcohol are detailed, and the various substances from which it may be obtained are minutely described, with the relative value of the several vegetables or other materials that yield it. In the article on Opium and other vegetable inebriants, great care has been taken to bring under review their effects and properties, whether resorted to as stimulants to sensuality, or for medicinal uses, alike illustrative of the general subject, and affording information to the practical chemist, the botanical student, and the curious observer of nature. While the evil consequences of undue or irregular indulgences have been carefully depicted and illustrated by appropriate anecdotes, strict regard has been paid to their connexion with revealed religion, and the laws that ought to regulate society, whether in the Pagan, Mahometan, Jewish, or Christian world. The efforts of Temperance Societies to prevent the progress of immorality, arising from the frequent and excessive use of intoxicating liquors, have been incidentally noticed, and although the detail may appear to some irrelevant, it cannot fail to prove acceptable to every person who has the well-being of his fellow-creatures at heart. Reference has also been made to the policy adopted in various countries of deriving a revenue from intoxicating liquors, the means employed in raising that revenue are explained, while their effects, as regards the community at large, are freely discussed. On perusal of the Book, the learned reader will perceive the difficulties, which the Author has had to encounter in collecting materials for so novel a publication. Every quarter of the globe, it may be said, has been laid under contribution to aid the undertaking; and the patient labours of scientific research have been pursued with indefatigable activity (during the scanty leisure afforded by arduous official business), to render as complete and comprehensive as possible a subject, which, in the collection and arrangement of the materials, might have wearied or discouraged more enterprising writers. Having, however, brought the matter to a close, he trusts the public will do him the justice to believe that utility rather than pecuniary interest was the chief object of his researches, since the volume has far exceeded the bounds originally intended; and, should he prove so fortunate as to meet the approbation of the learned and curious, he will feel, in a great measure, repaid for the many difficulties he has had to encounter in the composition of a work, by which he has beguiled many a tedious hour, and sweetened many a solitary evening. It may be well to observe, that the desire to compress the matter within the limits of a single volume, prevented the insertion of some practical calculations and observations connected with brewing and distilling, which will, however, be brought forward at a future period, should the success of the present work warrant it. 8, Peter Place, Dublin, May, 1838. |