Laudator Temporis Acti

Today is St. Andrew's Day, but as any laudator will tell you, the veneration of saints isn't what it used to be. Hats off to the forty-five gentlemen of the St. Andrews Society of Philadelphia who on November 30th 1788 downed 38 bottles of Madeira, 27 of claret, 8 of port, 26 of Porter, 2 of cider, and 2 bowls of punch. At what human cost, who knows? But 'glasses broke' cost them 5 shillings. An Historical Catalogue of the St. Andrew's Society of Philadelphia 1749-1881 (Printed for the Society, Philadelphia, Sherman & Co., 1881), p. 19. Just divide this mighty vat of booze by 45 to calculate your allowance.

The previous Bill for Dinner conserved in the records (pp. 17-18) dates from 1765:

4 Turkeys
8 Ducks
6 Fowls
6 Partridges
Gammon
Tongue
Beef
Geese
Puddens
Custards
Tarts
Whip Syllabubs
"Collerds Fouls"
"Sollomon Gundy"
Celery and salad
Pickels
Bread
Nuts
3 Five shilling Bowls of Punch
4 Three Shilling Bowls of Punch

Sounds like a fine recipe for gout, but I think I'd take the risk.