29 UA-58907690-1
29
tyc.)
barely
amounts
to
a
restriction;
the
utmost
penalty
extending-
no
further
than
the
forfeiture
of
whatever
Spirits
there
may
be
in
stock,
of
an
illegal
strength,
together,
with
the
casks
or
vessels
containing
the
same.*
I
may
here
also
add,
that
to
prevent
this,
requires
but
little
in-
genuity
or
foresight,
as
Gin-shop-keepers,
and
par-
ticularly
those
on
a
large
scale,
are
generally
aware
of
the
time
their
stock
is
to
be
taken,
a
few
hours
before the
officer
pays
his
visit
;f
and
they
have,
therefore,
nothing
more
to
do
(if
they
think
he
suspects
them)
than
to
pour
into
those
casks,
con-
*
30
Geo.
3,
c.
37,
sec.
31.
No
distiller,
rectifier,
corn-
pounder,
or
dealer,
shall
serve,
or
send
out,
any
foreign
Spirits
of
a
lower
strength
than
that
of
one
in
six
under
hydrometer
proof,
ac-
cording
to
Clark's
hydrometer,*
nor
have
in
his
possession
any
foreign
Spirit,
mixed
together,
except
Cherry
or
Raspberry
Brandy,
of
lower
strength
than
as
aforesaid,
upon
pain
of
such
Spirits
being
forfeited;
and
such
Spirits,
with
the
casks
or
vessels
containing
the
same,
may
be
seized
by any
Officer
of
Excise.
t
The
periods
now
appointed
for
the
surveying
of
Dealers' stocks
are
once
in
every
twenty-eight
days;
but
occasionally
what
is
termed
a
check
stock
is
taken,
which
generally
happens
about
seven
days
before
or
after
the
regular
visit
has
been
paid
;
conse-
quently,
there
is
but
little
difficulty
(except
in
cases
of
strong
sus-
picion)
of
ascertaining
nearly
the
precise
time;
or,
in
the
event
of
a
surprise,
as
the dealer
has
generally
a
few
minutes
to
spare
(which
is
all
that
is
requisite)
whilst
the
Exciseman
is
examining
and
entering
the
permits
of
such
goods
as
have
been
received
into
stock
since
the
last
survey,
the
vigilance
of
that
officer,
to
whom
no
blame
can
be
attached,
and
which,
considering
the
nu-
merous
duties
he
has
to
perform,
is
exemplary
in
the
extreme,
is
altogether
baffled,
Seventeen
per
cent,
underproof,
according
to
Sykes's
hydrometer.