Google and the "f" font

With Dublin City University professor Alan Smeaton, Google is exploring techniques for searching handwritten documents. As things stand now, historical material has to be painstakingly transcribed before it can be searched. Smeaton is starting with the George Washington Papers that have been digitized by the Library of Congress. This collection includes hand written documents that have been transcribed, which means Smeaton can compare the results from his technology with the results from the current search system. If it works, this will be a very exciting development for history buffs.

Here's one thing I learned while scanning through this collection. Apparently there was a problem with soldiers having overly easy access to liquor:

As every method hitherto practised has been found ineffectual to restrain the paltry tippling houses and Ginn-shops in this town, from selling liquor, contrary to orders, to the Soldiers, to the Detriment of His Majesty's Service, and irreparable loss of their own Health.