The Reminiscences of a Gauger. Imperial Taxation, Past and Present, Compared. - Joseph Pacy 1873 - Printed by Tomlinsons and Whiles, Newark - First Edition A rare little autobiography by Joseph Pacy, who rose through the ranks to become Surveyor General Examiner of Excise.

I left England for Scotland in 1834, on promotion to a division at Campbelton, a town in Argylshire, noted for its many distilleries’. ‘Campbelton whiskey was somewhat celebrated, and was in great request both in the home and foreign markets. Distilled in still of small size, and made from peat-dried malt, there was a flavour about it peculiar to itself.’ (Chapter V).

Pacy’s next distillery appointment was ‘
The Royal Brackla Distillery’, at which ‘the distiller, a retired captain of the army, was as well known as his distillery, by name at least, on account of the disputes he was continually engaged in with the Excise...’ after dealing with Captain William Fraser, the probationary period ends and Pacy is appointed supervisor to the border district of Langholme, in Dumfrieshire.

Pacy eventually reaches the position of Surveyor Genera’ based in London, although he clearly enjoyed his time along the borders more than any other.
  Provenance: Contemporary ownership inscription of William Martin of Bassingham, Lincolnshire, England (1841-?) dated 1889, and also that of William Kirk of Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England dated 1908.

Small octavo (book size 19.6 x 13 cm) pp. xi [1] 13-127 [1] 32 (publisher ‘
Mr. Murray’s General List of Works’ dated February, 1873) [4 (advertisements for the publisher ‘Cassell, Petter, & Galpin’)]. Lacking front and rear free endpapers. In publisher’s brown cloth, front and rear boards decorated in blind and with bevelled edges, title lettered in gilt to front board, yellow coated endpapers.
  Condition: Very good, rubbing to spine and corners, free endpapers removed, some soiling to title page else interior clean.   Ref: 109312   Price: HK$ 3,000