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Excerpt
Excerpt from Tour through the Eastern Counties of England, 1722, by Daniel Defoe
There are indeed in the west of England some quantities growing: as at
Wilton, near Salisbury; at Hereford and Broomsgrove, near Wales, and the
like; but the quantity is inconsiderable, and the places remote, so that
none of them come to London.
As to the north of England, they formerly used but few hops there, their
drink being chiefly pale smooth ale, which required no hops, and
consequently they planted no hops in all that part of England, north of
the Trent; nor did I ever see one acre of hop-ground planted beyond Trent
in my observation; but as for some years past, they not only brew great
quantities of beer in the north, but also use hops in the brewing their
ale much more than they did before; so they all come south of Trent to
buy their hops; and here being quantities brought, it is great part of
their back carriage into Yorkshire, and Northamptonshire, Derbyshire,
Lancashire, and all these counties; nay, of late, since the Union, even
to Scotland itself; for I must not omit here also to mention, that the
river Grant, or Cam, which runs close by the north-west side of the fair
in its way from Cambridge to Ely, is navigable, and that by this means,
all heavy goods are brought even to the fair-field, by water carriage
from London and other parts; first to the port of Lynn, and then in
barges up the Ouse, from the Ouse into the Cam, and so, as I say, to the
very edge of the fair.
In like manner great quantities of heavy goods, and the hops among the
rest, are sent from the fair to Lynn by water, and shipped there for the
Humber, to Hull, York, etc., and for Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and by
Newcastle, even to Scotland itself. Now as there is still no planting of
hops in the north, though a great consumption, and the consumption
increasing daily, this, says my friend, is one reason why at Stourbridge
fair there is so great a demand for the hops. He added, that besides
this, there were very few hops, if any worth naming, growing in all the
counties even on this side Trent, which were above forty miles from
London; those counties depending on Stourbridge fair for their supply, so
the counties of Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridge, Huntingdon, Northampton,
Lincoln, Leicester, Rutland, and even to Stafford, Warwick, and
Worcestershire, bought most if not all of their hops at Stourbridge fair.
Explanation
Detailed Explanation of the Excerpt from A Tour Through the Eastern Counties of England (1722) by Daniel Defoe
Context of the Source
Daniel Defoe (1660–1731), best known as the author of Robinson Crusoe (1719) and Moll Flanders (1722), was also a prolific journalist, pamphleteer, and travel writer. A Tour Through the Whole Island of Great Britain (published in three volumes between 1724–1727, though parts were written earlier, including this 1722 excerpt) is one of the earliest works of travel literature in English. It blends geography, economics, social observation, and firsthand reporting, offering a detailed snapshot of early 18th-century Britain.
This passage focuses on the hop trade, particularly its distribution through Stourbridge Fair (near Cambridge), one of the largest and most important fairs in England at the time. Hops, a key ingredient in beer, were a major agricultural commodity, and their trade reflects broader economic and cultural shifts, including the growth of beer consumption in the north, the integration of markets after the 1707 Union with Scotland, and the role of water transport in commerce.
Themes in the Excerpt
Economic Geography and Regional Specialization
- Defoe highlights how hop cultivation was concentrated in the south (particularly Kent, Sussex, and Surrey, though not explicitly named here), while the north relied entirely on southern supplies.
- The Trent River acts as a symbolic and economic divide: north of it, hops were traditionally unnecessary (due to a preference for ale, which uses fewer or no hops), but changing tastes (toward beer, which requires hops) created new demand.
- The lack of northern hop cultivation despite growing consumption suggests either climatic unsuitability or economic inefficiency (it was cheaper to import from the south).
Trade Networks and Transportation
- The excerpt emphasizes the logistical importance of waterways (the Cam, Ouse, and Humber rivers) in moving goods—particularly heavy ones like hops—across long distances.
- Stourbridge Fair emerges as a central hub for the hop trade, supplying not just eastern England but also Yorkshire, the Midlands, and even Scotland (post-Union).
- The back carriage (return trips of wagons or barges) was economically crucial—merchants avoided empty return journeys by transporting hops north after delivering other goods.
Cultural and Consumer Shifts
- The rise of beer over ale in the north reflects changing drinking habits, possibly due to:
- Urbanization (beer, being more stable, was better for growing towns).
- Fashion (beer was associated with southern and continental tastes).
- Preservation (hops act as a natural preservative, making beer last longer).
- The Union with Scotland (1707) expanded the market, with Scottish brewers now sourcing English hops.
- The rise of beer over ale in the north reflects changing drinking habits, possibly due to:
Market Dependency and Monopoly
- The concentration of hop supply in the south created a dependency for northern and Midlands counties, reinforcing Stourbridge Fair’s dominance.
- Defoe’s friend’s observation that "very few hops... were growing" within 40 miles of London (except those sent to the capital) suggests that Stourbridge Fair had a near-monopoly on regional distribution.
Literary Devices and Stylistic Features
First-Person Observation & Authority
- Defoe writes as an eyewitness, using phrases like:
- "in my observation"
- "I must not omit here also to mention"
- "my friend... says"
- This personal testimony lends credibility, positioning him as a reliable reporter rather than a speculative theorist.
- Defoe writes as an eyewitness, using phrases like:
Geographical Precision
- Defoe names specific towns, rivers, and counties (e.g., Wilton, Hereford, Trent, Humber, Lynn, Hull, York, Newcastle), grounding his account in concrete details.
- The listing of counties (Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridge, etc.) serves to emphasize the vast reach of Stourbridge Fair’s influence.
Causal Explanation
- He traces cause-and-effect relationships, such as:
- "they not only brew great quantities of beer... but also use hops in the brewing their ale much more than they did before; so they all come south of Trent to buy their hops."
- This logical progression makes the economic shifts clear to the reader.
- He traces cause-and-effect relationships, such as:
Contrast and Comparison
- North vs. South: The north’s lack of hop cultivation contrasts with the south’s dominance in production.
- Past vs. Present: The shift from ale to beer in the north marks a cultural transition.
Digressive yet Informative Style
- Defoe’s parenthetical explanations (e.g., the navigability of the Cam) provide additional context without disrupting the main argument.
- His conversational tone (e.g., "He added, that besides this...") makes the text engaging despite its economic subject matter.
Significance of the Passage
Historical Insight into 18th-Century Trade
- The excerpt illustrates how pre-industrial England’s economy relied on fairs, rivers, and regional specialization.
- It shows the early stages of a national market, where goods moved across long distances before the railroads.
Impact of the Union with Scotland (1707)
- The mention of hops being sent "even to Scotland itself" reflects the economic integration following the Union, with English markets now supplying Scottish demand.
Agricultural and Consumer Trends
- The shift from ale to beer foreshadows the industrialization of brewing in the 19th century.
- The dependency on southern hops highlights how climate and tradition shaped agriculture.
Defoe’s Role as an Early Travel Writer
- Unlike earlier geographic works (which were often dry or theoretical), Defoe’s observational, narrative-driven approach set a precedent for later travel writing.
- His focus on everyday economics (rather than just politics or scenery) makes his work valuable for social history.
Line-by-Line Breakdown of Key Sections
"There are indeed in the west of England some quantities growing..."
- Defoe acknowledges minor hop production in the west (Wilton, Hereford, Broomsgrove) but dismisses it as "inconsiderable"—too small and remote to matter to London’s market.
"As to the north of England, they formerly used but few hops there..."
- Explains the traditional northern preference for ale (unhopped or lightly hopped) and the absence of hop farms north of the Trent.
- The Trent River as a boundary is both geographic and cultural.
"but as for some years past, they not only brew great quantities of beer..."
- Signals a recent shift: the north is now brewing beer (hop-heavy) and even adding hops to ale, increasing demand.
- This change in taste drives the economic connection to southern hop suppliers.
"so they all come south of Trent to buy their hops..."
- The supply chain is outlined: northern brewers must import hops from the south, creating a trade route centered on Stourbridge Fair.
"the river Grant, or Cam... is navigable..."
- A detailed logistical explanation of how hops and other goods are transported via barges from London to Lynn, then up the Ouse and Cam to the fair.
- Shows how waterways were the "highways" of the time, enabling bulk trade.
"Now as there is still no planting of hops in the north..."
- Reinforces the economic dependency: despite growing demand, the north does not grow its own hops, making Stourbridge Fair essential.
"those counties depending on Stourbridge fair for their supply..."
- Lists eleven counties that rely on the fair, emphasizing its regional monopoly.
- The scope of influence (from Suffolk to Worcestershire) shows how centralized trade was before modern distribution networks.
Conclusion: Why This Passage Matters
Defoe’s excerpt is more than a dry economic report—it’s a vivid snapshot of early 18th-century commerce, revealing:
- How geography shaped trade (rivers, fairs, regional specialties).
- How cultural changes (the shift to beer) had economic ripple effects.
- How England’s market was becoming more integrated, especially after the Union with Scotland.
- How observational writing could capture the pulse of everyday life in a way that pure statistics could not.
For modern readers, it offers a window into a world before industrialization, where fairs, barges, and regional tastes determined the flow of goods—and where a simple plant like the hop could tie together an entire nation’s economy.