"People are made mad by those intoxicating Drams"
Autograph letter signed ("Stephen Hales").
Large 8vo. 1 p. With autogr. address.
€ 3,500.00
To Mr. Joyne "in Lambe Buildinge in the Inner Temple, London": "I heartily condole with you on the unhappy Death of your Brother. These villanies must necessarily increase yearly more & more, while the lower People are made mad by those intoxicating Drams, which by a consummate folly are held in great Profusion to the mouth of the meanest. A temptation well known to be too great to be resisted. As I guess that the tenants will make you some Payments about this Time, And as I have a considerable Sum to pay in London to charitable users, It will save the hazard of carrying money to + fro. [I]f you can make me a payment Soon, at Mr Grimes's next the Star Inne in the Strand over against Hungerford market, where on notice I will leave a Receipt. I am Sir your humble Servant [...]".
The botanist and inventor Hales is considered one of the pioneers of modern physiology. He also played an important role in the implementation of the 1736 "Gin Act", by which the government imposed a high licence fee and retail tax for gin retailers after the previous years had seen a great increase in alcohol-related maladies, especially among the working classes.
Slight defects professionally restored.
