Observations on a Bill to Permit the General Sale of Beer, by Retail in England, Most Respectfully Submitted to the Members of the House of Commons.
London: Printed by W. Sears, 11, Budge Row, Walbrook, 1830.
Booklet, sewn in wrappers. Octavo (22.5 x 14.5 cm.), 16 pages. FIRST & ONLY EDITION. A response to the impending Beer Act of 1830, from a "Country Brewer". The commercial policy called the Beer Act would open brewing and cider making up to all householders who paid a modest fee, and the existing brewers, all licensed by local magistrates, were pushing back. The argument made within claims that quality will decline, adulteration will proliferate, and the economic impact will be negative. To some extent the Country Brewer must have been correct. Only two weeks after the passage of the act, Sir Sydney Smith uttered his famous line, "The Sovereign people are in a beastly state. Everybody is drunk. Those who are not singing are sprawling." Internally near fine, in contemporary, but not original, edge-worn brown wrappers with a hand-lettered label; wrappers now separated at hinge. With the ownership inscription, "H. Stokes, July 20, 1886". [OCLC locates six copies; not in Noling. Goldsmiths' Kress Library 26197].
Price: $300.00