"If a conclusion may be drawn from the apparent greater degree of sobriety, which is manifested, at present, by the labouring people, and evinced by the number of quarrels, and assaults, being very considerably diminished, and the pressure, with respect to the means of living, apparently less than in the spring of 1795, notwithstanding no charities have been distributed, and bread is considerably higher, it would seem reasonable to attribute this favourable change, to the high price of Gin, which, being in a great measure inaccessible, the lower ranks have it now in their power, to apply the money, formerly spent in this way, to the purchase of provisions, perhaps to the extent of some hundred thousands of Pounds a year, in the metropolis, alone!"--(_Times, Oct. 4. 1797._) [Illustration: John Bull and the Income Tax.] FOOD. The years 1795-6 were years of great scarcity, and the graphic daily accounts of the want of food, and of the various substitutes for bread--the abstinence of all classes, from the King, to the labourer, bring very vividly to our minds, a state of things, which has never since obtained in England-- "In consequence of the scarcity of Wheat, arising partly from such quantities of it being used for hair-powder, several regiments have, very patriotically, discontinued the use of hair-powder, which, in these instances, was generally nothing but flour."--(_Times, Feb. 10, 1795._) * * * * * "The Parliamentary Board of Agriculture, in consideration of the probable scarcity of wheat, have agreed to propose a premium of One Thousand Pounds, to the person who will grow the largest breadth of _Potatoes_, on lands never applied to the culture of that plant before:--they have liberally excluded the Members of their own Board from becoming candidates for this valuable prize."--(_Times, Feb. 14, 1795._) * * * * * "The general failure of Wheat, throughout Europe, last year, makes it proper to promote the culture of an increased quantity of Potatoes, and, as one means of doing it, it is recommended to Noblemen and Gentlemen, who have large Parks, to break up a part of them to be planted with Potatoes, those grounds generally lying dry, will be very proper for the purpose, and fit for immediate planting with that root. It is hoped that so benevolent, and patriotic, an object, will be a sufficient incitement, without a consideration of profit attached."--(_Times, March 20, 1795._) * * * * *