1769, For Sale by Public Cant ‘PER INCH OF CANDLE” A Parcel of Roll  Bale of Tobacco at Cork Custom House

This gave the purchased time to consider while an inch of candle burned.

Public Cant is Public Auction and a term generally used in the 18th century.

From Dr. Caulfield extraction of notices in Cork Evening Post.

Cork Customs Personnel:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1K9FbQLKPjRm9HLMNy99__AAMLmis519psiSvcP71Rts/edit#gid=0