Mr. Goschen showed that the signs of depression consisted chiefly
in the great falling-off at the Clearing-House, and the fall in the consumption of wine, beer, and spirits (except brandy), and in the stamps on City business. On the other hand, general consumption had gone on improving, and the consumption of tobacco had increased beyond his estimate, showing that the luxury of the working classes has not yet been touched. He showed that fifty years ago the consumption
of coffee and of tea was nearly the same for each head of the population ; 171 ounces of coffee and 191 ounces of tea were consumed for each head of the population in 1841. In 1891, the consumption was 12 ounces of coffee, against 87 of tea for each head of the population. In other words, where fifty years ago only 37 ounces of tea and coffee were consumed for each head of the population, in 1891 close upon 100 ounces of tea and coffee (more exactly, 99 ounces) were consumed for each head of population. On the other hand, the quantity of spirits consumed on an average by each head of the population has hardly increased at all in the fifty years. Whereas in 1841 71 pints of spirits were consumed in the year for each person, a little above 8 pints is now so consumed ; so that the propor- tion for each person has advanced very slightly indeed.
