39 UA-58907690-1
39
In
order,
however,
to
convey
a
sufficiently
clear
notion of
the
impositions
to
which
this
Spirit
is
pe-
culiarly
exposed,
I
must
premise
a
few
observa-
tions
on
its
nature,
and
on
the
regulations
it
is
sub-
jected
to,
from
the
earliest
period
of
its
manufac-
ture.
The
Malt
Distiller
(who
belongs
of
a
different
class
to
the
Rectifier,
and
whose
business,
it
must
be
borne
in
mind,
is
altogether
distinct
and
separate)
is
the person,
who
first
commences
the
manufac-
ture
of
Gin.
It
is
most
commonly
made
from
malt,
and
consists
in
placing
a
wash,
prepared
from
the
grain,
in
a
state
of
fermentation,
to
deprive
it
of
all
saccharine
matter,
and
after
it
has
gone
through
this
process,
in
distilling
it
into
what
is
usually
denominated
Malt
Spirit,
or
Whiskey.
The
enormous
duties,
however,
with
which
the
trade
of
Malt
Distillers
is
chargeable,
they
being
compelled
to
distill
above
a
certain
quantity
of
Spi-
rit
of
immense
bulk
at
a
time,
and
the
large
capital
which
is
required,
rendering
it
possible
only
for
a
few
individuals
of
great
wealth
to
engage
in
this
business,
the
natural
consequence
has
been,
to
produce
a
monopoly*
and
community
of
interests
*
This
monopoly
of
the
Malt
Distillers
attracted
the
attention
of
Government,
and,
as
some
restriction,
they
have
permitted
the
distillation
of
Gin,
from
Rum,
or
Scotch
or
Irish
Whiskey
;
but
as
the
Malt
Distillers
have
reduced
their
prices
to
the
same
level,
and
their
article
is
generally
preferred,
the
terms
at
which
it is
sold,
though
lower,
continue
as
invariable
as
previously
to
the
re-
striction.
Another
circumstance,
which
also
confines
it
as a
rno-
D
2