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262 METHODS OF SOCIAL REFORM
showing 245 ayes and only 29 noes. The Act originated with
Brougham, in the sense that ho had in 1822 and 1833 brought
in eomewhat similar bills, which were partially adopted by the
Govornmsnt of 1830. The ideo of the Act was to break down
the monopoly of tho brewers and publicans; to throw open
tho trade in beer on free-trade principles; and by offering
abandanco of wholesome, pure, weak beer, to draw away the
working-classes from the ginshops. All seemed as plausible
lls it waa undoubtedly well intended. Objections were of
courso made to the Bill, and many people predicted evil
consequences ; but all such siuister predictions were supposed
fo be spread about by tllo interested publicans and brewers.
Novortholoss, tho new Act was soon believed to be a mistake.
Sylney Smith, though he had not many years before pleaded
for liberty for the peoplo to drink rum-and-vater, or whatever
clve they liked (Ediuburgh Review, 1819), quickly veered round,
and gave a graphic account of the beastly state of drunkenness
of the Sovereign People.*
It mray bo safely said that tho Becrshop Act realised all
tho ovils oxpoctod from it, and few or none of the advantages.?
It is difficult to say anything in favour of tho bar at the
corner public-house, except that it is better than the dirty
lorn Iittle bcorshop, hiding itself away in some obscure recess
of the streets. The first is at any rate under the gaze of the
public nnd tho control of the magistrates ; tho boershop, until
within the last fcm years, mas too likely to bccorne the uncontrolled
resort. of tho worst classes. Even now that the
boarshops arc brought under ths Licensing Magistrates many
years must elapse before the evil wrought by the Act of 1830
* “The new Beer Bill has begun its operations. Everybody is
drunk. Those who are not singing me sprawling. The Sovereign
People are in a beastly state.”
t ‘I Tbe Beershops ore considered EM most mischievous. . . . .
Similar representetiona arc made in East Kent. A magistrate expressed
his opiuion that no single measure ever caused so much mischief, in so
short e time, in demoraliaing the labourers. The evidence of the High
Conatable of Aehford is very strong.” “Extracts from the Information
Received . . . se to the Administration and Operation of the Poor
Iaws.” 8~0,1833, p. 24.