The Case of the Common Brewers, Keeping Public Brewing-houses in the Country, now Petitioners before the Honourable House of Commons, and their Objections against several Clauses contained in a Bill brought into the said House for an Additional Excise upon Beer and Ale, Humbly offered to the Members of the same.  
THAT the said Petitioners, as to the Rates to be Imposed and Added, Humbly submit themselves to the Wisdom of the said House, and will cheerfully obey the same.  
That having for several Years last passed, been extremely abused by the Charges and Returns of the Gagers, and other Officers of the Excise: As,  

1. In Charging and Returning Beer to be Ale, whereby they have lost the Allowances by the former Acts for Excise Granted them (viz.) four Gallons in every Barrel, and one Barrel in every three and twenty, amounting to above the eighth part of their Profits.  
2. In Returning and Charging Beer by them Brewed and Sold for Six Shillings Beer, as Ale and Strong Beer, whereby they have lost their Allowances aforesaid, and Charged with the whole Duty for Ale.  
3. In Gauging Words, and Charging and Returning accordingly; whereas they ought to Gage in the Tun, and return according to that, because of the waste of the Liquor before; and thereby your Petitioners have not had 30 Gallons to the Barrel.   
That tho' they have made their continual Complaints and Applications, yet could have no Redress, by reason the Commissioners have always (tho' against Law, as your Petitioners conceive) construed the former Acts, that the Gagers Return was a binding and indisputable Charge upon the Brewers, both as to quantity and quality. Nay, instead of Redress, they have been still charged more outrageously, and prosecuted upon the Fines and Penalties laid upon them by the Oaths of the Gagers (who are generally persons of small Reputation) and admitted to no Defence.  
Therefore your Petitioners did humbly apply themselves to this Honourable House for Redress for the future, That several Clauses in this Bill (as now Drawn) tho' thereby it is pretended the avoiding all Differences and Disputes between the Gagers and Brewers, etc. touching Beer and Ale, and the Returns and Charges thereof; yet in truth, in consequence, not only fastens the former Abuses more avoidable upon the Brewers, but will give opportunity for Greater. For,  

1. That no Persons are Appointed before whom your Petitioners may have their Complaints, nor any Persons Appointed to whom they may have their Appeal: But only that all Fines, Forfeitures, etc. (viz.) (on the Brewer's parts) shall be heard determined, etc. before the Commissioners in their several Districts, or by Two Justices. Nay, the very Appeals by the former Acts seem to be taken away.  
2. No Penalty laid upon the Gager or other Officer for any false Return or Liberty given to the Brewer to disprove the same, if it be false, either in quantity or quality.  
3. That the Remedy which seems to be proposed by the said Bill (viz.) to make the Barrels of Beer and Ale equal, and the Allowances the same, will be the Ruin of most Beer-Brewers in the Country: 1. For that thereby they must be forced to Cut and Alter all their Vessels. 2. They must Lose their Customers, Gentlemen and Innkeepers still expecting the same Measure and Price; and especially in Oxon, where the Price is set upon the Brewer; and Cambridge, where their Measure is Gauged by the University; and if the Measure and Prices be altered, most private Families will return to Brewing, which will much prejudice the Excise. 3. That the Allowances to be the same, will be very unjust, because the Waste and Leakage of Beer and Ale are very unequal, for which reason the former Acts made the Difference in Allowances.  
4. That by the Clause whereby it is to be Enacted, That if it appear to the Gager that any Words are missing, or not let fairly down into the Tun, it shall be lawful for him to charge the Brewer at his Discretion. Your Petitioners are left totally to the Mercy of the Gagers, and that without any Remedy or Appeal; who upon all occasions will make use thereof to their own Advantage, and your Petitioners Ruin.  
5. That the only Clause in the Act of the 15th of Car. secundi, that seemed any way beneficial for the Brewer, and to give him liberty to discharge himself from the Oppression of the Gager, is by a Proviso in this Bill, rendered altogether ineffectual, leaving him solely to the Mercy of the Informing Gager, if he please to impose any Crime upon him.   
Therefore your Petitioners humbly pray, That the said Bill may be Amended in the Premises, and such Clauses added, as thereby they may have some effectual Remedy of their said Abuses.