The "Garbler of Spices" was an officer of great antiquity in the City of London, who was empowered to enter into any shop or warehouse to search for and examine the quality of spices and drugs. Such a Garbler, I fancy, would not be without his usefulness in these our days. But it pleased John Loche, Esq., to write, "Had our author set down this command without garbling"; and Dr. Jonathan Swift to say, "The projectors, or, at least, the garblers;" and it became thenceforth the fashion to speak of garbling in the sense of mutilation, and sophistication.

Source: The Illustrated London News, No.2256—Vol. LXXXI, Saturday, July 29, 1882, p.103