AMERICANA EBRIETATIS _Byegone Ways of Byegone Days_ ONE HUNDRED COPIES OF THIS EDITION HAVE BEEN PRINTED FOR SALE AND THE TYPE DISTRIBUTED Americana Ebrietatis; THE Favorite Tipple of our Forefathers and the Laws and Customs Relating Thereto BY HEWSON L. PEEKE [Illustration] PRIVATELY PRINTED NEW YORK, 1917 COPYRIGHTED 1917 BY HEWSON L. PEEKE To my father, Rev. Geo. H. Peeke, whose vote followed his prayers, this little book is dedicated, except the chapter on the "Church and the Clergy," which is dedicated to that large majority of the ministry who vote one way and pray the opposite, as their clerical forefathers did. These pages are not written to prove any theory or fact except the growth of sentiment in the last two centuries against the liquor traffic. Though prepared somewhat as a lawyer briefs a case, omitting for the most part the citation of authorities, no fact is given that does not rest on the authority of some writer. The authority can be produced if required. The research represents the culling of some four hundred volumes. H. L. PEEKE The reprint of _Ebrietatis Encomium_, London, 1723, led many of my friends to suggest the desirability of a more modern work on the later views and customs concerning drunkenness. Thanks to the most timely and exceptional research of the author, I present for their delectation a treatise along this very line, which will pleasantly while away a winter evening. L. M. THOMPSON CONTENTS CHAPTER I CUSTOMS BASED ON RACE SOURCE OF POPULATION 13 CHAPTER II EARLY ATTEMPTS AT REGULATION BY LEGISLATION 24 TARIFFS 31 INTERNAL REVENUE TAX 35 CHAPTER III SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES 37 CHAPTER IV BENCH AND BAR 46 CHAPTER V CHURCH AND CLERGY 55 CHAPTER VI RELATION OF GEORGE WASHINGTON TO THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC 64 RELATION OF OTHER PROMINENT AMERICANS TO THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC 74 CHAPTER VII THE SLAVE TRADE 85 THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 89 THE INDIAN TRIBES 93 POLITICS AND ELECTIONS 108 EARLY DEFIANCE OF LAW 111 CHAPTER VIII CHRISTENINGS--MARRIAGES--FUNERALS 116 CHAPTER IX VENDUES--CHOPPING BEES--HOUSE BEES--WOOD SPELLS-- CLEARING BEES 127 TRAVELING AND TAVERNS 132