Note 299 — Chapter XVIII · COFFEE-HOUSES AND TAVERNS.

We have seen how the coffee-house keepers tried to advance their beverages from 1d. to 1-1/2d. because of the rise in coffee; but the effort was spasmodic, and did not last. They had a far better cry in 1712, as we find in the Daily Courant of August 8 in that year. 'These are to give Notice, That the Coffee Men by reason of the present Taxes on Coffee, Tea, Paper, Candles, and Stamps on all Newspapers, find themselves under a necessity of advancing some of their Liquors to the prices following; viz, Coffee 2d. per dish: Green Tea 3 halfpence; and all Drams 2d. per Dram: to commence from this day.' Let us hope when they got this huge advance they made their tea stronger, and did not give their customers 'that pall'd Stuff too often found in mean Coffee Houses.'[299]