Introduction:

Although this excerpt comes from a longer letter that primarily attacks taverns as detrimental institutions, it draws upon familiar notions of credit: its easy availability and the negative repercussions on those who take advantage of it to purchase beyond their means.

For definitions of unfamiliar terms please see our glossary.

Partial Text:

“For ’tis well known how Credit is a mighty inducement with many People to purchase this and the other Thing which they may well enough do without. And this is especial Manner is the Case as to the Expences of the Tavern, where Persons do frequently urge one another to spend….”