The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-09-08 00:00:00

! nmic47.4 ELMAS FAIR.

FRANIC

AVG. 38.
84 thCnVeolholt of Se Mieltaelmas fair, the Police Oft
tee hair pabliihed, as usual, an ordinance relative to the
stringers who arrive in this city, because this fair draws
together. a great many auspicious persona, who take advan-
t.tge of the great concourse of persons from various parts
et the world, to enter clandestinely, under various charge-
t• rs, with the hope of finding opportunity for robbery and
a lndting. Under these circumstances, it is the duty of
every citizen strictly to follow the regulations of the police,
the objeet of which is to check anti discover dangerous
characters of this description. Every stranger, without
exception, is bound to declare at the Police, his name, con-
dition, and abode, the very day-of his arrival, or the fol-
lovitg morning, if he arrives after six in the evening.
His being a relative of the persons in whose house he
lodges does not exempt him from making this declaration.
Altinnkeeperi-and letters of lodgings are to inscribe, in the
list they are hound to keep, every stranger with them, from
the day of his arrival till that of his departure, and to de-
liver this list to the office at seven in the evening. All
strangers arriving at a later hour to be announced in a sup-
plement the next morning. In the same time the stranger
is jo deposit his passport in the Police-office, for which a
call of resid:nce will be given him.. Ilia passport will be
returned hien the day of his departure. No stranger can
remain more than a day either in an inn or a private house,
sithout a card of residence,, and the innkeeper must not
only inform the stranger of this measure on his arrival,
but also see his card of residence. Every violation of any
pan of this ordinance will be punished by a fine of five
crowns.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE BRITISH PRESS
Sta—A few days ago you published a report of the ex-
amination of Monsieur Antonio at the Mary-la-bonne Po-
lice-office, charged with keeping open a dancing-room in
o%ford-stroet, and for receiving money for the admission.
Upon that occasion the evidence, in the opinion of the
worthy Magistrate, was not sufficiently strong to show that
money had been taken for the entrance, but that it had
been paid for a coffee-ticket, and Mr. A. was discharged ;
however, he stated that an immense quantity of ready-made
coffee was sold during the evening (six or seven gallons).
The Magistrate said he had no power to interfere. Now,
Sir, I oeg to refer you to the 3d Geo. IV. c. IS, commonly
called the Coffee-shop Act, by which it is enacted, " that
no, shop, room, or place for the sale, or under the pretence
of selling ready-made coffee, tea, and other liquors, within
the city of London or the liberties thereof, within the
limits of the weekly bills of mortality, or within any of the
Parishes before mentioned, shall be kept open after the
hour of eleven at night during any part of the year, nor
opened before the hour of four in the morning between
Lady-day and Michaelmas, or before six in the morning
between Michaelmas and Lady-day; and if any such shop,
room, or place shall be open within the hours hereinbefore
prohibited, or being shut up, if any person shall during
those hours be found therein, except the persons actually
dwelling there, or having lawful excuse for being there,
thert•the master, mistress, waster, or other person having
the care, government, or management of such shop, room,
or place, whether he or she he the real owner or keeper
thereof or not, shall forfeit not exceeding 101. nor less than
upon conviction before any Justice of the Peace, by
confession or upon the oath of one witness; and if the
party so convicted shall not immediately pay the said pe-
nalty, the Justice shall commit him or her to hard labour
in de House of Correction for not exceeding three months,
nor less than six days, unless the said penalty shall b;
simmer paid." The Act then states the manner in which
the penalty is to be dietribisted, viz. one moiety to the in-
former, and the other moiety to the Chamberlain of the
City of London, if the offence be committed in the City, if
out of the City, then to the Receiver for the purposes of
the Act. Now, Sir, I have the unspeakable misfortune to
stitte, that the nuisance has been continued and bids fair to
be continued, unless suppressed by magisterial interference.
It really Is extremely hard that respectable tradesmen are
t be annoyed and deprived of rest for whole nights to gra-
tify Mr. Antonio and his visiters, who boast that the law
does not reach them; however, I think they are mistaken,
as`the owner clearly comes under the Act quoted, and I
think the whole are liable to he taken up under the Va-
grant Act, as being a meeting composed of loose and de-
'batched characters. By inserting the above in your va-
luable paper, you will confer a favour on, Sir,
Your very obedient servant,
AN INHABITANT OF OXFOSD.STREET.
Oxford-street, Sept. 7,1826.

SPORTING INTELLIGRYCZ.