may have such damaged instruments in their possession, to have them examined and re-adjusted.

12. Directions for Reducing Spirits. Having ascertained the exact proof of your goods, your next object is to determine the state to which you intend to reduce them. This is not a process of a very difficult operation.

Suppose you have one hundred gallons of spirits, one to ten O. P. or over proof; divide the gallons by ten, and the quotient added to the 100 gallons of spirit, will give 110 gallons of hydrometer-proof spirits. Then, if you want to reduce the same to one in seven, divide the 110 by 6 (being one less than the strength you wish to reduce the spirits to), and the quotient will be 183, which, added to the 110 gallons, gives 1283 gallons; and if you subtract the escape spirits, 100 gallons, from this amount, will leave 283 gallons, which are the amount of water required to be added to make the spirits of the usual strength on sale by dealers. The method is similar for reducing spirits to any other

sink it, will be a guide in selecting the proper weight. Having taken one of the circular weights which is necessary for this purpose, it is slipped on the conical stem. The instrument is again immersed, and pressed down as before to 0, and it is then allowed to rise and settle at any point of the scale. The eye is then brought to the level of the surface of the spirit, and the part of the stem cut by the surface, as seen from below, is marked. The number then indicated by the stem. is added to the number of the weight employed, and with this sum at the side, and the temperature of the spirits at the top, the strength per cent. is found in a table of six quarto pages. The strength is expressed in numbers denoting the excess or deficiency of proof spirit in any sample, and the number itself (having its decimalpoint removed two places to the left), becomes a factor, whereby the guaged contents of a cask or vessel of such spirit being multiplied, and the product added, if over proof, or deducted from it if under

the result will be the actual quantity of proof spirit contained in such cask or vessel.

This hydrometer (Sykes's) has received great improvement in the hands of Mr. Long. He has rendered it of so portable a size, that it may be carried in the waistcoat pocket; and he has so constructed it, that the strength of the smallest quantity of spirits (even a wine-glass full), may be ascertained with facility and accuracy.

The saccharometer is a simple machine, and is nothing more or less than what its name imports, a measure of sweetness; it was constructed to ascertain the sweetness of worts, to compare their weight with that of equal quantities of the water employed. In fact, it may be said to be a. hydrometer calculated to shew the specific gravity of wash instead of spirits. For as spirituous liquors are strong in proportion to their levity, or weak in proportion to their gravity, hence, as the hydrometer will sink deeper in strong than in weak spirits, so the saccharo

To calculate the strength of spirits, and bring them to hydrometer proof, divide the quantity by its strength over or under hydrometer proof; if over proof, add the quotient to the quantity; if under proof, deduct it from the quantity, and the result will be the hydrometer proof. Thus:

Required the quantity of liquor necessary to reduce 140 gallons of spirit, 1 to 10 over proof, to hydrometer proof?

Required the quantity, hydrometer proof, of 140 gallons of spirit, at I to 10 under proof?

10) 140

14

126 gallons at hydrometer proof.

When brandies, rums, or cordial waters, are too low or weak, in order to give them a greater strength or body, put the neces

sary quantity of spirit of wine to the defective goods, adding it by little and little at a time, well stirring the mixtures together. Defective rums are also greatly improved, by adding a third or fourth part of brandy-proof molasses to them; by which their body or proof will not be in any way diminished, nor their flavour much deteriorated.

Recollect, that the over proof must be reduced in the presence of the officer of Excise, to prevent an improper increase of stock. Stat. 6 Geo. IV. c. 80, s. 136. And no increase is to be made in spirituous liquors after the same have been taken account of by the officer, by any clandestine addition of water, or other liquors, on forfeiture of 40s. per gallon, together with the casks and vessels containing the same.-Stat. 58 Geo. III, c. 28.

13. The Beads, or Heading.

As customers generally judge of the goodness and strength of liquors by the

K