The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-04-24 00:00:00

LICENSED VICTUALLERS.

A meeting of the licensed victuallers was held yesterday at the
Freemasons"Pavern, pursuant to advertisement, to consider of
the propriety of petitioning Parliament against the fill now pend-
ing in the House of Commons, to enable brewers to sell beer by
retail.

The Chairman, Mr. CUTHBERT, explained the objects of the
meeting. Ile said it was to induce the licensed victuallers of die
metropolis to attend to their own interests, which would be mate.
rially affected by the Bill now in progress through the House of
Commons, and for the purpose of Itetitioning the House that such
Bill might not pass lino a law. 'I he Bill was to enable any indi.
vidual to brew and sell beer without the cognizance of a Ma.
gistrate ; and the only restriction that acerompanied it was, that the
beer should be taken a little way from the premises and drank.
But this restriction could be easily evaded. Any person who wished
might go and sit on a bench near the brewhouse, and drink any
quzotity of beer; or the brewer might have a friend or relation who
resided opposite his brewory, and every accommodation might be
there prepared for those who drank the beer. The object of the
Meeting was to endeavour to prevent from being put into execution
a plan which would so greatly injure the licensed victuallers, who
were a large and respectable body, and who had an immense ea-
pital embarked in the trade. It would be for the Meeting to con-
sider whether the best mode of proceeding would be by petitioning
or otherwise.

Mr. SE Ix regretttil that the Meeting was not more numerously
attended; it was to hint a subject of surprise that the publicans
could slumber over this business while a storm was over their
heads. The present measure tended to deprive the licensed vic-
tuallers of their property, some more and some less than others ;
but generally to an entinuoos extent. Vet there was no complaint
on the part of the public that they could not be supplied on suf.
liciently reasonable terms. It was true, it had been asserted in
Parliament that the publicans were getting a profit of lid. on ever/
pot of beer, end it .vas not to be wondered at if his Majesty a
Ministers had been led astray by this misstatement ; but the profits
of the publicans were much less, and seldom exceeded three
farthings, instead of three halfpence. It was true that the brewer
would be obliged to pay two guineas more than the publican for
his licence; but this was very little compared with the difference
of expense incurred by the two • and although the brewer would
not be allowed to sell beer on the premises, this obstacle there was
MO many ways of evading, that it would be of no etlbet. The
brewer was also prevented front selling any beer but what he him-
self brewed, and the pe,ailty was certuoily very high for such an
offence; but still it would be must injutious to the interests of the
publicans. It was for that body to consider whether they ought
not to rise and evade the blow that threatened. lle thought that
something should be done infmediately to prevent, if possible, the
Bill front passing into a law ; and Ite hoped that the Meeting
would form fnmi among the respectaiile body which they repre.
sent Nl, a Committee on the subject.
Mr. SE t.t. then proposed the two following Resolutions, which
were carried iman in tously :-
Ist. 'film the outing feel fully persuaded that the Bill now be-
tore the House of 'millions, to citable brewers to retail boor, tends
greatly to injure the interests of the licensed victuallers, and ear-
nestly hope that said Bill will not be allowed to pass into a law.

That a Committee he appiMited, to consist of eleven per-
sons, with p..wtr to :old to their numb: r, to watch the progress of
said Bill, and to call a meetmg of the trade whenever it shall be
deemed nesessary,
Tilt' CII AI it 31 A observed, that it would be for the Committee
to decide whether it were better to petition the House of Com.
mons against the Bill, or to pray to be Leant against it by
'ounsel.

31r. ST Evil r xsraid, th:tt he knew the libt ruhty of the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer, and was sure that lie would du what
WII% right. . .

.11 r. !••• t. t• also corhylhnt•vitt...l the contlitct of the Chancellor of
the Es.ehequer.

31r. Vaysi.t: v said, he believed that it was Alit. Calv...rt who
had stated in Parliament that the pruiir of the public:iris Ng,: 10.
in every :al., and it ails not to he wonder ail at that Ins 3:itiesty's
.11inisters had listened to such an assertion coming trout such a
source. Ile ( Ir. Vtiwsle ) was happy that the (smutty had at the
head of the ,Itlitlinistration, persotis or the most liberal and the
best priociples, ( hear, brar,) :aud who, lie wits sure, could not lce
au-are of the mischievous tendency or the Iltll. Ile be :revert the
thinness of the Meeting wit, owing tiny:tin:lly to a Icrliet that it
wits useless to oppt.se the Bill, because it was brotight forw.rel by
the I.ll,incellor of the I.xcheepter, who, it was supposed, could
carry any measure he wished ; but th? only °Meer of the rather:ins.
was to convince him that the service he would render the City
would not he er,ual to the iojtiry he would iidlict un a numerous'
and rerlrectable hotly of met..
A 'onitiiittee or elesTil 14-1,111111 was then appointed, and it was
agreed tl:at they should meet on Monday vest, at the house of the
Chairman, who liberally offered a room lot the purpose, at :211,
Berner's-street, asford-stroet.

A subscription W entered into far defraying any expenses that
!nigh attend on their proc,vdiogs.
Thanks were noted to 1I r. l'itthhert ant Mr. Self, for their ex-
ertions on behalf of the publicans, and the \l.ctiit separated.

It has been at length determined by the Middlesex Ma-1
gistrates to erect a separate prison fur the reception oil
females only, the total cost of which will not, it is sup-1
posed, be much less than to,oool, besides the permanent!
annual expense fer keep try, inatrens, &c.

LOSS OF FOUR 1 ATIISII VESSELS AT TERCEIRA,
()NA OF THE AZORES.

The rchonner Lord Wellirgton, Geer *loop Jane, Johnson;
schooner Cotinting., Talbot; and schooner Swift, Pearson, were
wrecfed at Teregira during a violent gale, on the night of the
30th ult., the en as saved, except one man belonging to the
Lord Welliewon. The following to a copy of a letter from the
!autain-f ;:•rer.l, efierio.g Itis frieedly assistance on the oecanion:—
" Hilliard Alton, Fay., his Caitannic 31ajcsiy's Vice Consul,
and Agent to Lloyd's, Terceira.

" sir—This moment (seven o'clock), I am informed of the
disalthrA which have occurred to four English Yesstls, as also or
your havirg called upon me at day-light, and that my servants
objected to wake nie. I have been much afflicted at their eon.
duct. To the Harbour 31,1sier I have given orders to reader every
possible assistance to elite the remains of the vessels. To the
Custom-house I have also given orders, to allow the effects that
niav be saved to be placed in their warehouses. Vow may send
me' word what more you tray wish Is e to do for the benefit of
your countrymen and our good friends. My person, my money,
my servants, are all ready ; for my duty and my affection to the
English nation, and for the frier.dship with which I remain,
" Sir, your constant and obliged servant,
BARON HA VILLA HA PRAIA,
Captain-01=mi."

(Signed)