The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1819-01-15 00:00:00

I) 1 A BOMA L ACT.

We have this fifty to record an act, as shameful in its in-
tent.eni, add i.s bal haious iu Its cuusequeilree, as tree uis-
grata d the rudest binte ut any age or event, j.
A poor widow, named Coady, who lived at No. 16,
Stewarea-rents, uiy-laue, and who for a length of time
Rained a liertshoud for herself and three children by seams
soup under the Piazzas at Cutent-garden, su market days.
returucd home [sum this avocation about tutor u'rloek
yesterday mot nine, to prepare breakfast fur leered( sod s
dress. She hail no fire lighted, and anxious to get the t
dress's breakfasts with at moth baste as possible, she took
the ignited charcoal out of bee soup-kettle stand, and put it
into the 'sate, but being fearful that the embers would ex-
vire, she treat to her basket to throw some more charcoal on.
This Ira, kr' she always took with her to Covent.G rden, with
a quantity of charcoal fur lb. purpose of recruiting the firs
oecasiusially lit order to keep the soup hot, she had uu 'Dunn.
Bung the coutenu of the basket on the fire, than a most
tirellirP.doUs taploaion took place; the poor wuman w.a
knitted backwards by the shuck, and the immense volume
of flame winch for a snouseat Ailed the room 'torched her
dreadfully, and set several parts of bee apparel un fire. The
grate was displaced by the violent concussiob, and all the
fire was blown lulu the room, a considerable portion of which
fell us, the children and set their clothes in a blase. (toe
of them, who bad escaped injury, io the attempt to etc:
tinguish the blase of be, mother's clothes, was scorched very
badly. This pout family was thus situated, arid the apartment
use fire iu several parts round them, when a strong sulphine-
ems smell, and a large body of smoke histaiug from the room,
excited the agitations of the neighbours. Several persona
rushed up stairs, and there saw a most appalling sight. The
mother and two of the children were much scorthed ; the
mem was on fire, sad iu one corner was a child, crying,
wit►out the WOW of calling fur assistance. The neighboaro
carried them out, and conveyed them to St. Giles's work-
house, where surgical assistance was administered to Slum,
and they were then put to bed in a 'bucking state.
On examination since this lamentable casastrephe particles
of gunpowder have been fouled iu the charcoal basket by
the firemen, whom the alarm bad brought to the spot. There
is then (re but little doubt that it is the work of some mali-
cious person or permits, to gratity a ruffianly and unfeeltut
propensity fur a joke (if it can be so called) by blowing up
the poor woman's loop kettle, which, if it bad even sue.
ceeded, might have been attended with equally lameutabls
consequences. Whoever the author or authors mny be, we
must heartily join in the general wish that they may soon
meet with the punishment which their offence richly deserves.

Extract from a letter from the Agent to Lloyd's
at St. Antis, Jamaica, dated 13th November c—
" The hurricane was at its height on the 11th
instant; it has done considerable datuage to the
estates in this neighbourhood, and I am Afraid it
will cause a diminution of one-third in the crops
of the estates iu this parish. The destructive wind
came from the South."
Extract of a letter from the Agent to Lloyd's,
at Barcelona, dated January 2,, 1819
Fur th, se last ten days we have euperleuced strung gales
front the eastward, accompanied with • heavy sea, *shish
canoed the Westbury, Gilpiu, belonging to, and nearly
loaded for Liverpool, to part from her aucbois in the Bay,
and put to sea, in company with (one other vessels (Ana.
trialls and Spsuiords), suit 1101111 of them have rellllll, It
is staled that all vessels at the different r.o.ts and bass on
the moist put to sea, but no acculaut has been recisivsd of
any accident having happened."
PLAGUE AT Toots.--Extract tr.f a letter shat
the Agri's to Llnytl', dated Malta, Dee.
“ I Laic to advise you of the arrival here, ni tb. 100.
instant, cat 4 vessel ( Tunis under NC:4.01111W Ctat.ill•,
callid the San Michele rAreaugelis, J. Titons ninsti-r, which
place lie left tut the sth instant, at which tune the
plague raged with great violence, ft OM 1,411 p.
dying daily. This vessel was ordered off from itet.ee
dustily, and sailed she Clint day.—V rev., t had previously
reaelo.l it% from Tripoli of the death of our COII9IOI at
of the plague ; but I sin happy to inform you that lie was
alive and well whew the alcove vessel sailed."

Tile Hope, STLIM, trout St. John's, N.B. to Li-
verpool, was driven on shore near Waiteltsorif, ou
Satuidiiy.
Th.: kitty, Norfolk (V.) was olriven on
shore no Aloilday evening, Hein Fi.ngintril.
The Ereundschuft, ELBESTIEI.I), from Liverpool
to Havre, was driven on shore in C.,rnorvoil Bill, on
Muntloy evening, and tt iv feared will go to paces,

ABUSES OF THE LICENS7NG Ys TEM.

To THY. MEMBERS or TH► BRITISH LEGISLATURE.

MT Lonna altD CIRKTI.EMEIV--Aa Virlohnient
WWI 316`1,1111111iiiK, 1 humbly but etrorsily hope.
that its earliest attention will he h....rowed on the
important frestion or the rootoot•tw000mo or
palilic from the ark►r ..t..ary part of our 11e.-1,4.
vriew. The enormities whirls we cotton
swaiti.t the pence .6f the pubbr, :‘ll.l the riatl ri4111..
of individuals. nutlet the 'auction of Ibis de.potie
lamer, have !wen ro lung deplored by the POO IC*
and wro recently toned it. tore Ilte. Pullin, Commit-
ters. owl in the Cowl ilitog's Belo 11.0 ill to 1-
t...H..0141g olot r,.4111 0r a {ter 111411, in Viet 111.11-, :r.ll ur
pro.. rh-o swoons? Hoorirs. I think it 11111 l eresb.iry
to ist•tini,r lonrtirsther I;.t • of Itijov..ticoo; hat telertoo.g.
to the puhur ilocument• for pruolti and exemplifi-
cation , I lug hate h hit to 64sInnit h 1 yin., in a
comproilinus Inrm, N re,/ of the irmling Ltrievoner4
resoliing fro to tlool sytittal. and to P,C.11215111. Ihe co,
Inlitv l.f the exclives which are aometiones advanced

fur $lO ellolllll/14/li.P.
The tarreored pairs aid deteriorated 'polity of the no,
16n111twttrar, n, E 0011•411111. 011'e of the atonic of the lieensing
„A. ere lards orolonlorel Ti,. Rrport of the I' • .
ler of the 1-101*.c. or cooiroo.oa romobooa of Il the loved.
meet of very large ea Mud. in purchroe of tier oserl Wows
In_ forst which 1.10010 a 11 U. 1.00,11 y of swilint 31
such
a prier es may writers trade lair not on money so advanced,
or trolemnity 1,. the purchaser,' rig Oust the large 11.11T1,1 they
Ire ty Ire obliged In pay for licensed hours "—`• A brewery,
•uoluwlesl hr purchased politic house., snood 6leteriorate
the Toasty of their herr—tire poor must tie control with
roe. liquor wa i. retailed at tlw licetos,ll I a, what.
roar mar be the quality. the mire, or i.e
.... s of the Aut.,. Minimally Mertiog also dr.
' that le litre heir than i• now aold by mime ado, prio-
ri, I lorwers at 661 pergnul,would he gen. rail v wrleat
if the trade of retailing herr were free; and that ill sow.•
pot: of tb, country the leo rifler in Mill greater; that the ex-
ha ilftee pllO/ 1111,11140 II( 1110' 11,0411611 e ”NlO,lll, ill
ids
I'ooo 111 V 1•NIW1101110001. of a lalmorin4 man, is rime' to
• pep. Ity lila 0/1 trio 104.1 rent. Ills Ill! VfllZell, 101 5111TICif131
CO alt. a••l•lri„I Of a 14111.1 isoleperolentiv, or to pay for Ilse
'ohm if .11sing isr trelging; of his family, and in the istrzre-
gate ....... .it• h. toinual Iry yof 1470,001/. upon the iodise.
• el .sac of ilw siwtromilis, and of upwards of boar null.
lions •.. I Im± upon the 11111A1111:1•114 of thee try generally."
The appres.ool roadif in* of !rho/ tares• class
of tratte.oiru, celled Ltreored Vicharallers, twat demand.
observation. Lialstr to he driven from his occupation and
his home, without a heal. a hearing, or cern all 111.17110.1.—.. r
ClOO4. proterwil in Ilit• wont pearl Ire!, ill 110 n4llCe,,r no• coo,
rt rims of the public., the Victualler i• the victim r.f oppres.
•ion, or the puppet of patruu.a:e—• Erre put-buy w rise

brewers
The Howse nprner is in a similar exposed to
Meilira injury if he inenrs the pecimii4l enmity, or objects
to feed the desires of the licensing interest. An inn, or nub-
lir.honse of great value, denied a license, is rendered nodes.;
and an estate, consisting of Plait!, !wool a, forbidden the ne-
eesvary convenience of a victualling-house, he es slepopn.
laird; nod niitithat estate supplied snit the convenience, is
rowlrs 1,1 allrafilvf Mall greatly inerraved in value, upon 111 C
UM of the former. . .

The eneaaroyemeal girrn In rrrrr fire driaking, under the
opsrathos of the licensing system, in a grievance of the most
...isms Is sids wry. As the corrective power of this system is
in ha cr ottl) on one slay in the year, a wide roues of time is
e leen to disorders, free from the chance of impediment.
• when the licensing day c es, if the victualler is not
stn asly nosier 'motel-lion, and dues not mean to shift the
ts utnt, the obvious cuter.e is to interest the support of the
I..riser of chief itillortice in the district ; and, as his mi.-
fessiossal opinion of a e.mil house rises in proportion to the
onasitity of liassor procured, to Ise consumed In it—sew mal-
ts r how—the publican's passport to protection, well as
profit, emtsiata iii I luring a large to Mimi of liquor—
slot in preserving a sloe retold to sobriety and good upler.
Me earreaplian and dearnefolion Vaakferial office,
is, an obvious result of arbitrary licensing. Not only does
ilii• mourristak in,: and malice feeding power corrupt
row who toils r into the commissium with clear hands, but
it a motes Mtn:ming, mercenary, sod I yra 0000 teal inslivistisals
to make interest to get into tlw commission, in whirls olyrel
Mtn,/ slivered. The association thus feinted, and the slisre-
potaldi mos lbws occasi 0000 est, induce many others of liberal
end rillighteried views, to sterilise an 01r/Ce which UlherWille
thrr Wirrild fill with 14.IVRIO,1:0 to the public.
patrinlista and alleafaiete of flat subjeel, are she
shakes' by the arbitrary licensing power. 1n retnru for the
doo.liaree of these duties, the subject leo a rielst In prove.
time, but when he Ands olacssre, ienstraist, mill unworthy
men essifoned with authority II) seqoestrate his property,
just as their interest or ittelinatisms prompts them, and
that kowertr eirourome, however corrupt their act, no
ems fitly means of retirees sic left In him, he nut res.
j.sy protection, hot he Slot. persecution. Rhile the (.rein_
!attire provides against the 'vent of the metier_
fug front an ertnisetnis judgment, by olicenons
tnr,sonen, and also a new War, or woe appeal to a higher
• olO's if a Jury era, or if liens, pier suit rielizliteneil
elmatirrit, the 3nolges, err; amt by torhiddisiz the Sure.
• himself from touching the chattels of • Fanner,
at agile it is that it should SU 1110 ruler such impure and
•sieh sossoilighomierl diameters, as the Licensing J siAire,sre
fr• sins silty Men Inlre, to riot on Ilw property of the sillier',
v itii no oilier if vide than their own wills—sto sillict rotund
than that of their own essinscieneri. A man with Noe title of
Justice, brought so the tar of his counts y for misdeeds, may
czerrioe the red of arbitrary licensing power for lrfe over
she estate of this aeroper, and use et evisleistly as an
anent of remoter, without the starers rs bettor allowed to sib.
jest to the partial and oppressive juriadis thin.
time briefly to examine the exctrws which
are offered for the coritirtualice of the Licensing
rlt.pobion, the refusal of the nottoratiitit of
the right of a free trade unit • fair trial. Thret