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"It is very doubtful whether our operations at the Distillery can be carried on under the burden of a heavy tax"
In addition to the just policy of deriving a fair proportionate revenue from a spirit distillery, there is another consideration which I trust next year will enable Your Lordship to support me in raising this fee considerably should the quantity produced continue to be so large.
Major General Sir Francis Colborne, Major General Bassano, and Colonel Hall, when in command of the Troops here, drew my attention to the injurious consequences to the European soldiers of the cheap rum made by Messrs Jardine Matheson & Co. It is sold by the retail shop-keepers to the soldiers at six pence a pint. Hence drunkenness is difficult to prevent, and the discipline and the health of the Troops suffer.
I have the honour to be,
My Lord,
Your Lordship's Most Obedient
Humble Servant,