SIR, I saw a few Years ago, with a great deal of Pleasure, in some of the publick Papers, the following Paragraph, and made a Minute of it.

" It is said, a Bill will be brought in the next Session of Parliament, for restraining the Number of Alehouses within the Bills of Mortality, and for making all Licences determinable upon the Presentment of a Grand Jury — a which is believed to be the most effectual Way of removing those Nusances that have been so long a Grievance and Scandal to the " Inhabitants of this Metropolis, heretofore esteemed the best governed City in the Universe".

Whether this well intended Bill ever appeared, I am not certain — I fear not. However, I hope, the noble Design will soon be revived, and take Place. And as it is so notorious, that the whole Kingdom abounds with the sameNusances, every well Wisher to the Prosperity and Honour of this Country, would be exceeding glad to see the same Methods made general, and vigorously pursued for removing theft also, that the whole Nation, as well as its Metropolis, might appear to be the best governed one in the World. So many Alehouses cannot but be an Offence against the Publick, as being commonly Nurseries of all Sorts of Wickedness and Mischief. And I find in Wood's Institutes of the Laws of England, that when set up where there is no Occasion for them (as Multitudes of them are) they are real Nusances, and the Owners of them may be indicted and fined.

It is well known, that the true Use and Design of Inns and Alehouses, is for Lodging and Relief of Travellers ; and our Market Towns (plentifully stocked with them) stand so near together, as to want little or no Assistancc for this Purpose. . What Need can there be then for our Roads being crowded with so many Alehouses, and that hardly a poor Village should be found without several, tho' it has no Manner of Occasion or Pretence for more than one, if there is really any for that? How to account for this, and the amazing Number of them, is entirely out of my Power, especially as the Legislature seems to have taken all possible Care to have no more than are necessary and useful. This fully appears from 2 Geo. II. C. 28. and 26 Geo. II. Cap. 31. by which it is provided, that no Licence shall be granted to any Person to keep a common Inn, or Alehouse, but at a general Meeting of the Justices arising in the Division where such Person dwells, that the said Juftices might be truly informed as to the Occasion or Want of such Inns, or Alehouses, and the Characters of the Persons applying for Licences to keep the same. And the Reason alledged in these Acts for such Precautions is, because many Inconveniences have arisen from Persons being licensed to keep Inns and common Alehouses, by Justices who, living remote from the Places of Abode of such Persons, may not truly be informed of the above important Particulars. And left unnecesary Houses should be encouraged, and set up by Persons who reap great Advantages from them. — By the fame excellent Act of 26 Geo. II. Cap. 13. No Justice of the Peace being a common Brewer of Ale, or Beer, Innkeeper, or Distiller, or a Seller of, or Dealer in Ale, of spirituous Liquors, or interested in any of the said Trades, or being a Victualler, or Maltster, shall be capable, or have any Power to grant Licences for selling Ale, or Beer, or any other Liquors; but the same shall be void. In the midst then of so many admirable, judicious strict Laws, to prevent the bad Effects of superfluous Alehouses, we want an Oedipus to unriddle the Affair, and inform us how it comes about, that such incredible Numbers of them are found almost in every Part of the Nation. I say almost, because I have known in some Divisions in tbe West they are not so common — the Justices (to their great Honour) will not permit them. And the Face of Things, with respect to Sobriety, good Decorum, the religious Observation of the Lord's Day, in sucb Parishes is quite different from other Places where they abound.

We will suppose the principal View in granting so excessive a Number of Licences, is to advance the Revenues of the Crown. But can we be driven to any such Extremity, or forget, that " it is Righteousness which exalteth a Nation, but that a Sin is a Reproach to any People ?" Doth not Wisdom cry, and Understanding put forth her Voice? " She standeth in the Top of high Places — she crieth at the Gates — receive my Instruction and not Silver ; and Knowledge, rather than choice Gold. By me Kings reign, and Princes decree Juftice. Riches and Honours are with me — yea durable Riches and Righteousness. — My Fruit is better than Gold, yea than fine Gold, and my Revenue than choice Silver.' —

Nothing can be more certainly known than the horrid Effects of Alehouses. They are Receptacles of Sots, and the Scum of the Earth, who delight in decoying their Neighbours. " they lay Wait, as he that setteth Snares — they set a Trap — they catch Men." And there are but few Alehouses, but what have commonly a particular Set of idle, wicked Fellows, that almost daily frequent them, and as often disturb and terrify the Neighbourhood with their Noise and Quarrels, and keep the Streets continually ringing witht their hideous Oaths and Imprecations.

It is faid, that building a Smith's Forge near a Man's Houfe, and. making a Noise with Hammers, &c. has been held a Nusance; but how inoffensive doth this appear, when compared to a Publick House which is a Shop, an Office, a Warehouse for the Devil, as a very reputable Writer calls it?.

I have read in a.Law Book that an Action lies, for hindering of the wholesome Air.; and likewise for corrupting the Air. But how often is this done in Publick Houses by profane, blaspheming, filthy Wretches, whose Breath is corrupt— who defile the Land. .

They are even like the Leviathan — out "of their Nostrils go Smoke —their Breath kindles Coals; a Flame goeth out of their Mouth. Like Solomon's mad Man — they cast Firebrands, Arrows and Death, and say, are we not in Sport ? "

Surel then there is the utmost Reason to expect, that so many Alehouses, unless soon suppressed (all Laws having proved ineffectual towards regulating and reforming them) instead of serving must destroy the Nation — the Deluge of Impiety, that so well known to arise from this Quarter must inevitably overwhelm it. It is in vain to complain of the present Overflowings of Ungodliness if we keep open and even multiply the Flood-Gates that let them in upon us.

Frequent Occasions present themselves to, and (as it were) oblige the Legislature (amidst their other great national Concerns) to turn their Thoughts towards the alarming y yet increasing Charge of maintaining the Poor of the Kingdom, and to enquire into the Sources of it. And whenever this is done, it cannot but instantly appear, how much Alehouses contribute to this heavy, almost insupportable Burden ; and how many Families are impoverished by them. Mott Parishes will furnish. any good Man, disposed to satisfy himself, with Instances enough of this Nature, as also of the Ruin of young Menof industrious, creditable Families— of Servants, Journeymen, and the like, by having fo many Opportunities and Temptations every where around them.

The removing therefore of this great and manifest Cause, must appear an obvious and very natural Expedient towards speedily checking and lessening the Charge of the Poor, so long and so much complained of by the whole Nation. But without doing the one, I fear the other will always prove a preposterous and fruitless Undertaking.

It may not become me, indeed, in my obscure Station, to suggest so much; and I beg Pardon for the Liberty I have taken. My Apology for it is that I was only willing to try for the Pleasure, which my contributing but a single Hint, a bare Mite (if I should be so fortunate) towards abating the raging, ruinous Vices of the prefent Times, would truly yield to,

SIR, Your most humble Servant, R.C.