The Commissioners of Customs and Excise were ordered to attend His Majesty at the Treasury.

There he demanded from them a promise to support his policy, and directed them to require a similar promise from all their subordinates.

[352] One Customhouse officer notified his submission to the royal will in a way which excited both merriment and compassion.

"I have," he said, "fourteen reasons for obeying His Majesty's commands, a wife and thirteen young children." [353] Such reasons were indeed cogent; yet there were not a few instances in which, even against such reasons, religious and patriotic feelings prevailed.
There is reason to believe that the government at this time seriously meditated a blow which would have reduced many thousands of families to beggary, and would have disturbed the whole social system of every part of the country.

No wine, beer, or coffee could be sold without a license.