Page:Dialogue between John and Thomas, on the corn laws, the charter, teetotalism, and the probable remedy for the present disstresses (sic) (1).pdf/7

 say; but what wad become o’ our puir revenue if we were a’ to drap drinking; there wad be a bonny cry out then, for we hae facht enough to get the win’ rais'd as it is.

J. Weel Thomas, to be plain wi’ you, I think the kintra is quite blin’ on that subject; I ken vera weel we hae great revenue aff drink, nae less than 16 millions, but folk never think o’ the frightsome expense that thae liquors bring on us, mair I believe, than a’ they produce. See the tremendous Jails, Hospitals, and Asylums we hae to support; see the Judges, the Sheriffs, the Fiscals, and the awful army o’ Policemen we hae to pay; see the Criminals we hae to feed; the host o’ Witnesses and Lawyers which must be paid for prosecutions and trials; and the enormous sums levied from us in the character of Rogue Money and Prison Money; see the thousands paid for support of our criminal Colonies, for Freight of Vessels to send them to these Colonies no less than 86000 being paid last year for that purpose;— then say whether or not our country is benefitted by the revenue produced from these destructive drinks.

T. I really must confess, John, you have almost made me a Total Abstainer, and I do now consider it my duty to give nae langer ony countenance to thae vile drinks; but I think we hae rather gaen aff the point a wee; we were talking about dull trade, and the causes o’t; ye surely dinna think that drinking has been the cause o’ sae mony bankruptcies amang us, to crack our credit, derange our business, and cause sic an unparalelled stagnation o’ trade.

J. Deed Thomas, I dinna think we were the least aff the point about the cause o’ our dull trade, for I hinna the least doubt in my mind, but drinking is the cause o’ a’ this wretchedness we’re labouring under; for, independent o’ the great sums o’ money squandered awa’ on guzzling, and drinking, and gambling, which sums micht hae