One hundred and eighty nine years on

From The Weekly Dispatch, September 5th 1819

Through whatever part of the country a man now travels, he can scarcely find a drop of beer that is fit to drink; it is weak, sour, and unwholesome: all this is manufactured by persons who have an absolute dominion over publicans' licenses. The labouring classes whose chief strength was derived from, and whose chief comfort consisted in, the use of strong and wholesome beer, know very well the cause of their present privation; and the hatred they entertain for those whom they consider as the authors of such privations, can only be conceived by persons who mix and converse with them.

The Home Affairs Select Committee need to learn some history and I need a drink.