The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-01-06 00:00:00

THE IBRITISII PRESS.

POLICE.

MANSION-HOUSE.
NY.AV 117E1'111MS AWD AlEASUßlM—Yntertity a tradesman
came before the Lord Mayor m complain that the City rams had
refused to stamp a measure although it was accurate in its dimen-
sions. according to the legal measure. Ile produced an iron vessel,
in which was inscribed " Imperial half peck." lie had, he said,
come all the way from Ireland, and had procured 131 of these
vessels to be made of wrought iron, as the least perishable mate-
rial, for the use of the Government officers at the outports, to serve
BA standards. The Hall-keeper of Guildhall, however, positively
refused to stamp the vessels, although he admitted they were per-
fectly accurate. No reason was assigned for the refusal, except that
it was contrary to praitice to stamp iron vessels, that there was a
prodigious outcry against such vessels by the makers of wooden
measures, who exclaimed against things of so durable a nature as
a ruinous innovation.
The LORD MAYOR observing that there was a piece of brass
affixed to the iron vessel, about two inches below the brim, for the
purpose of reciting the stamp, said, that all yowls must be stamp.
ed close to the top. It would, he said, be evidently improper to
stamp vessels in the manner proposed by the complainant, as they
might be filed down to the stamp, or the stamp itself, as it was
intended to be ono separate piece of metal, might be removed and
affixed to another vessel. Bat his Lordship saw no reason why iron.
vessels might not be stamped in • proper manner. When used for
dry measure, as was proposed in this case, he was not aware that
they were as perishable as wood, or more perishable titan other
metallic measures whicb were stamped without objection or hesita-
tion. His Lordship then sent for Mr. Temple, the llall.keeper,
who has the superintendence of the weights and meaures offices,
to hear the grounds of the refusal.
Mr. Temple attended, and stated that lie had objected to stamp
the iron measures on the ground of custom. There wan no instance
of the stamping iron measures, and the process was extremely dif-
ficult and inconvenient. Hed not not, however, act upon his own
discretion in this matter, but upon the authority of the City Lands
Committee, who controlled the business, under the advice of the
City Solicitor. About eleven years ago, an application was made
to have some iron measures stamped, and the opinions of the City
Law Authorities were taken on the aubject- They considered that
the Corporation ought nut to stamp them, and upon this opinion
the City Lands Committee had declined to comply with the appli-
cation. Ile had acted upon this declaration, but he could not state
what were the legal grounds in which this decision was made.
The Loan Mayon considered that custom alone could not war-
rant the refusal to comply with the present application. if any
new material were discovered that was adapted at well as wood to
form measure, why should it be rejected Things were now made
of iron, the idea of which had never before entered the mind of
man as capable of being formed of such a material. Iron boats had
been made, and iron ships were talked of. Ilis Lornehip recom-
mended that these vessels should he stamped, on the payment of
a fee proportioned to the extra trouble.
Mr. Temple said he would, as the case was one of importance
to the public, submit it tie the City Lands Committee, and to the
City Law Officer'.
The LORD Mayon approved of the course. At the same time
his Lordship said to Mr. Temple that very numerous complaints
had been made to him by parties won stated ,that they could not get
their measures stamped, and are consequently rendered liable to
penaltica.
Mr. Temple stated that no selection was made; the names of
parties were put down as the came, and their measures were
stamped in turn, and bnly a certain number were stamped for
each person.
The LORD .11 Avon expressed himself satisfied with these regu.
(*lions.

The opinion of the City Solicitor on leveret points relative to the
New Measure Act has been taken, who said that old pewter pots, if
they be reduced to the standard size; and the old marks erased, may
be stamped, and that the same may be done with respect to the
coal measures.
-There are, upon the best calculation, 1,800,000 ale and beer
measures in the city and suburbs. Of these 49,040 pots have been
stamped at the measure office, from the 28th of November to the
31st of December. As they have not so many poisons employed
at the measure office, Westminster, it will be some time before the
whole are completed, and the publicans, if the Act were to be put
in execution, are liable to the penalties affixed to non-compliance.
There have been stamped 2680 great wine measures, 3268 pints,
and 9495 small measures, and other measures, in the whole 22,992.
The new standards are about one-sixth larger than the old wins
measures, and onc.sixtieth smaller than the old beer measures.
The new dry measure is about one-thirty-second part larger than
the old. Great quantities of the old beer measures are made to
serve by having the bottoms a little raised. The poorer classes
are much discontented with the new measure, as they consider they
will suffer by the regulation, while the wine drinkers will gain.
The trial of the measures in the city is extremely strict. as in the
olden time, and the capacity of every pot is tried by water from
the standard measure, while at Westminster only half a dozen or
little more are tried out of each lot, and the rest are stamped on
the faith of those which were tried. Such is the popular reliance
placed in the superior attention given, time immemorial, by the
=potation, with respect to the ful! and loyal measure for the use
of hid Majesty's subjects, that during the last fortnight a number
of measures which had been tried at IVestminster were afterwards
brought to Guildhall in order that the city seal might Le Im-
pressed upon thew. The fees in the city for trying anti stamping
pewter pots are three-pence per dozen. Those upon the regula-
tion of weight are precisely similar. The labour is by this allow-
ance barely paid. The fees paid elsewhere are higher.
In all cases of reference to local custom its ratio to the new
standard is to be specified in the contract or the contract to be void.
Local measures may be used If their proportion to the new stand-
ard be ascertained and impressed npon them. The proportions are
net easily ascertainable by those in the country. Numbeesat local
measures have been sent to Guildhall to be stamped, but they have
been rejected.