Drinks of the world / by James Mew and John Ashton.

  • Mew, James.
Date:
1892
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Drinks of the world / by James Mew and John Ashton. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    should be called Old Tom by the publicans and lower orders of London has sometimes puzzled those who are inquisitive enough to consider the subject etymo- logically. The answer may, perhaps, be found in a curious book, called “The Life and Uncommon Ad- ventures of Captain Dudley Bradstreet, Dublin, : 755.’’ Captain Dudley, a government spy of the Count Fathom species, after declaring that the selling of Geneva in a less quantity than two gallons had been prohibited, says : “ Most of the gaols were full, on account of this Act, and it occurred to me to venture upon the trade. I got an acquaintance to rent a house in Blue Anchor Alley, in St. Luke’s parish, who privately conveyed his bargain to me : I then got it well secured, and laid out in a bed and other furniture five pounds, in provision and drink that would keep, about two pounds, and purchased in Moorfields the sUn of a cat and had it nailed to a street window. I o then caused a leaden pipe, the small end out about an inch, to be placed under the paw of the cat, the end that was within had a funnel to it. “ When my house was ready for business I inquired what distiller in London was most famous for eood gin, and was assured by several that it was Mr. L dale, in Holborn.1 To him I went, and laid out thirteen pounds. . . . The cargo was sent to my house, at the back of which there was a way to go in or out. When the liquor was properly disposed, I got a person 1 Whose premises were burnt down during the Lord George Gordon riots. Dickens immortalized Langdale in Barnaby Rudgc. The distillery is still in existence at the same place.