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415 Gaelic Society of Inuerness.
of all things. The liquor was called aqua A-ita>. This spirit was
inipf)rtod into this country soon after, and its manufacture encouraged
by Government, with a view to prevent the large export of
money for French and Dutch spii-its, and in 1695 the Scottish
Parliament forbade the use of rum as interfering with the " Consumpt
of strong waters made of malt," and because "the article
(rum) was rather a drug than a liijuor, and prejudicial to the health
of all who drank it."
The common drink of the people till about 1725 was a light
ale, which sold in pints (equal to two Rnglish quarts), for l!d., and
hence the name "twopenny." At this time 6d. per bushel of a
malt tax was imposed, and the Edinburgh brewers struck, and a
riot took place. The "twopenny" grew scarce, and several of the
brewers were incarcerated in the Canongate Tolbooth, for not
exerting themselves to continue the trade of brewing. Fortunately
they thought better of it and resumed work.
In Inverness, from 1730 till 17G0, the price of wine was,
for claret, sherry, and port 14s. to 20s. per dozen.
Smuggled brandy, claret, and tea w^ere common, V)ut in 1744
the Town Council entered strong protests against them, as, they
said, " they threatened to destroy the health and morals of the
people," and the Oouncillors bound themselves to discontinue the
use of these "extravagant and pernicious commodities in their
own families."
In 1761, a Dutch merchantman of 250 tons, loaded with
wines, brandy, spices, iron, and salt was cast ashore on the coast
of Strathnaver ; all the country Hocked round, and not knowing
the strength ot brandy and such foreign liquor, drank to excess of
it, and it is said that this very ship's lading debauched Caithness
and Strathnaver to that degree that very many lost their lives
through their immoderation (see CD. A. Annals, page 103).
In 1652 a representation to Queen Mary was made i-egarding
the poverty of the Preshytr rian Clergy. They f^ay " Most of them
led a beggar's life ;" and in the proceedings of the General Assembly
1576, they were compelled to eke out their stijjcnds by
selling ale, and the question formally put was, " "Whether a minister
or reader may tap ale, beei', or wine, and keep an open
tavern V to which it was answered, " Any minister or reader that
taps ale, or beer, or wine, and keeps an open tavern, should be
exhorted by the Connnissioners to keep decorum."
In the Glasgow Town Accounts whisky figures as early as
1573, under the name of aqua vita', the quart being charged at
24s., as " The Magistrates and divers honest men " did occasion-