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<p n="441">they may be Entirely destroyed if a Stop is not put to this Evil-<lb></lb>
practice, may be worth Consideration and is highly to be dreaded.</p>
<p n="442">And We Cannot here avoid taking Notice of the bad Influence<lb></lb>
the permitting of <rs type="occupation" id="LMSMGO55601_occ611">Chandlers</rs>
<interp inst="LMSMGO55601_occ611" type="occupation" value="Chandlers"></interp>
and other Inferior Trades to deal in<lb></lb>
this Liquor or other Strong Waters, has in this Town on the Servant<lb></lb>
of the Nobility and Gentry, it being too Common a practice among<lb></lb>
<rs type="occupation" id="LMSMGO55601_occ612">Chandlers</rs>
<interp inst="LMSMGO55601_occ612" type="occupation" value="Chandlers"></interp>
and others where Servants are Continually going on<lb></lb>
one Occasion or other to tempt and press them to drink and even<lb></lb>
give them Drams of this Liquor which we may reasonably<lb></lb>
Suppose must be paid by the Master either in the price<lb></lb>
Weight or Measure of the Goods they are Sent for and which<lb></lb>
as is does them Immediate Damage and by Degrees accustoms<lb></lb>
them to this Liquor<del>and</del>
so itt Encourages them to wrong their Masters<lb></lb>
in greater Matters, And we Conceive this may be one of the<lb></lb>
Causes of the great Complaint against Servants.</p>
<p n="443">Your Committee does admit, that by the Returns of the<lb></lb>
<rs type="occupation" id="LMSMGO55601_occ613">Constables</rs>
<interp inst="LMSMGO55601_occ613" type="occupation" value="Constables"></interp>
two thousand one hundred & five of those who deal<lb></lb>
in these Liquors are not Licensed. Should it be Objected why these<lb></lb>
are Suffered by the Magistrates to go unpunished. Let it be<lb></lb>
Answered, That whilst they has a Fund, as is generally<lb></lb>
Imagin'd, to Support themselves, and the Expence of Defending<lb></lb>
every Conviction lies on the Magistrate, which is, one has<lb></lb>
been on these Occasions very great, Besides his Trouble &<lb></lb>
Loss of time, it is not to be Expected that the Magistrate<lb></lb>
should risque his own Fortune on these Occasions Especially<lb></lb>
when it is Considered, that where the party stands out the<lb></lb>
three Convictions, the Same when dream & Copy'd amounts<lb></lb>
to one hundred Sheets of paper.</p>
<p n="444">Your Committee have already taken Notice, That near<lb></lb>
half of the present Constables are Victualers and Dealers<lb></lb>
in Spirituous Liquors, And the Difficulties they have on<lb></lb>
that Account <gap reason="illegible"></gap>
been under in the making this Inquiry. And<lb></lb>
they cannot help taking this Opportunity to observe, That as<lb></lb>
every other Trade makes Interest to be Excused serving this<lb></lb>
Office, they are the only persons who Covet it, which your<lb></lb>
Committee apprehend must arise from some profit and<lb></lb>
Advantage to themselves; And they are therefore of Opinion<lb></lb>
the Laws against Drunkenness Lowdness & profaness are<lb></lb>
not so likely to be put in Execution whilst Ale house keeper<lb></lb>
and Retailers of Strong Liquors are most Commonly the<lb></lb>
persons appointed to Execute the said Laws & bring the <lb></lb>
Offenders to Justice.</p>
<p n="445">Let it be Added that even the poor Confin'd in Parish<lb></lb>
Work houses, Not withstanding the great Care taken, find<lb></lb>
frequent Opportunities of Coming at these Liquors, there<lb></lb>
being such great Numbers of Retailers, And a Debauch<lb></lb>
being to be purchased with the Smallest peice of our Coin</p>
<p n="446">This Evil must, we think, Considering the greatness of<lb></lb>
it, And the Certain dismall Consequences attending it to our<lb></lb>
Selves and Posterity, sometime or other find a Remedy. The <lb></lb>
Longer it is delay'd, the greater Number of Retailers, will<lb></lb>
whenever a Remedy happens be affected in their Trades<lb></lb>
& Lively hoods, and be obliged to seek new Methods for<lb></lb>
Support in Themselves and their Families.</p>
<p n="447">In</p>
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