The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-02-27 00:00:00

PUBLIC HOUSE LICENCES.

On Wednesday evening a numerous meeting of the Licensed
Victuallers of the Hamlet of Ratcliffe, took plate at the Pitt's
Head, Broad-attest, Ratcliffe. Air. FAWCETT In the Chair.
The Cna to maw stated that they were assembled for the purpose
of considering the propriety of petitioning Parliament for relief,
under the numerous grievances to which they were subject. Ile
understood it was the intention of the propmers of the resolutions
to confine themselves to one subject of their grievances and dia-
-1 abilities, under the impression that the 31inister would attend to it,
amidst the numerous modes of relief which were dealt out to other
trades. The malettion of the ditty on licences, an exceedingly op-
pretence to the Rublic, would be hailed with delight by a very large
!only of his Majesty's subjects, and he trusted that they would all
co-operate in an appeal to the Legislature to accomplish so desirable
an object. lir the vast revenue which Licensed Victuallers brought
in, some judgment might be formed from a publication, by Mr.
Younger, aho stated that he had himself an opportunity of aver-
taking the average duty, ad valorem paid on every free-house
chafer; and his calculation was, that boverratant got in each in.
stance, the som of 111; because it happened in most instances,
that a twofold or a threefold interest was taken : the assignment to
the purchaser, and the mortgage to the brewer, who sometimes, for
the greater security, thought prudent to take a warrant of attorney
alao.

Mr. CHRISTOPHER stated, that in 1815, the Minister had
thought proper to lay the additional duty of nearly 100 per cent.
upon the licences for the retail of beer, wine, spirituous
limeys, and tobacco; but he pledged himfosteelir, at the same time.,
that the operation of the Act should cease in four years. Three
thousand licensed victuallers petitioned the llouse of Commons in
due time for the repeal of th! obnoxious Act, but they had been
doomed to suffer under it up to the present moment, r.otwithatand-
mg the various other almost intolerable grievances which they had ,
so patiently borne. The present 31inister had commenced the Ses.
sion of Parliament in a mentt auspicious manner, and there was
every reliance to be placed upon his candour and impartiality, two
virtues which he would have a full opportunity of exercising on
the present subject. Mr. Christopher then moved that a peotion
should he sent to Parliament, praying fur a repeal of the additional
licence duty.
Mr. Jessup, in seconding the motion, observed, that independ-
ently of the great measure of taxation in their respective licences,
the publican was oppressed by hurthens aid disadvantages to which
no other clasp of his Majesty's subjects was exposed. The billet-
, tine of soldiers was one source of annoyance; the vexatious prose-
cottons arising from the advantage taken by informers of the laws
lin forty against them, limned another and a new feature of their
distress; and their characters and property were in constant danger.
There could not be A more appropriate Witlioll than this to seek a
remedy; for the:Minister elicit manifested an anxiety to alleviate the
burthens of other classes, naturally would not overlook the suffer-
, logs of those who perhaps were less querulous and more patient
than any. (Applause.)
The resolution was carried, and a petition to the dime alluded to
was read and unanimously adopted.
3fr. illsenowaida expressed a hope that the old pull, " the
long pull, the strong pull, and the pull altogether," would be
adopted by the licensed victuallers. Ile trusted that the petition
would not be merely laid upon the table. It might as well be
quietly laid under the table. Perhaps the reason the licensed vie-
tuallers were more exposed to rigorous exactions than other people
was, because they were so little in die habit of assembling together
on public topics.
31r. JEsep r said he had the pleasure to announce, that Mr.
Denial, the inwthy 31enthe: for Rochester, of whose good wishes
and honourable intentions they had adequate testimony had most
kindly offered to present the petition to Parliament. That it would
not be a mere nominal bringing up, there could therefore be no
doubt. .. . .. . .

Here Mr. Bernal's letter to Mr. Jessup, signifying his intention,
was read. . . _

---
It was suggested, by one of the meeting, that the Members for
Middlesex should be applied to; but a resolution was passed, stat-
ing that it should be cootided to the care of the lion. Member for
Rochester. .

Mr. JEssur inured the meeting that he had every reliance
upon the active support of the Members for Middlesex, particularly
as the question had some allusion to their own interests.
Thanks haying been voted to Mr. Bernal, and the necessary
matters of form baring been gone through, the meeting separated.

MEETING OF THE WOOL AND WOOLLEN
CLOTH TRADE.

Yesterday s Public Meeting iTthose interested in the Wool and
Woollen Cloth Trade, was held at the White Bear Fon Basing-
hall-street, for the purpose of taking into consideration the period
which should be recommended to the Chaneello: of the Exchequer,
as that most proper for making the proposed reduction in the duties
on Wool, with the least injury to the general interests of the trade
The meeting was very numerously and respectably attended.
J. MAITLAND, Esq., was called to the Chair.
Mr. Manor opened the business of the meeting, and observed
that they were not, he conceived, assembled to consult the interests
of any particular class, but that of the Wool and Woollen Cloth'
Trade generally (hear, hear.) They were all aware that many
dealers had now large stocks of manufactured goods on hand, that
some of the most extensive manufacturers had large stocks of duty
paid wool on worked op, atsi that dealers and importers had large
stocks of wool on hand. All these must be seriously injured by the
introduction Into the market of wool whleh had not paid duty, and
the question foe the neenting to determine was. how soon, or in what
manner the duty could be taken off with the least injury to.the
general interests. After the best eonsideratil)n that he had been
able to give, and the most extensive information he had obtained
upon the subject, it appeared to him, that if 2d. per pound were
taken off OD the Sth of Jolly, 9d. per pound on the sth of Octo-
ber, and Id. per pound in the month of January, the duty
would by this course be removed stiradually. The manufacturers
would he enabled to work up their present stocks of wool, and
the whole would be accomplished easily, and without giving any
severe shock to the market. He therefore intended to submit re-
solutions to this effect, with others, that letters should be sent round
to the different committees of the trade in the country, requesting
them to write 'heir opinions on the subject, in order that the
combined sent:meat m.ght be submitted to the Chancellor of the
Exchequer; that the thanks of the meeting should be given to
that Gentleman for reducing the duty, and for the attention he
had paid to the general interests of the trade—manufacturers and
traders in woollen; and alga that thanks should be given to Thomas
Wilson, Esq., the Meudiee.for the City, for his exertion, on the
same subject.

Mr. Hut:nu, of Basingball-street, 1214 that it was the general
opinion amongst those most deeply interested, that it would be
most extensively injurious to the general interests to remove the tax
immediately. lie &peed to most of what had been said j:iy Mr.
Bischoff ; but he was decidedly of opinion, that six months should
elapse before the removal of the duties should take place. Ile knew
many who had large stocks, which would occupy a long time to
work up. Three or four months must elapse before they could be
brought into the market. Upon these considerations, he moved
as an amendment, that the time to be recommended to the Chan-
t...nor of the Exchirpicr should be the sth of October, on which the
whole duty should be taken off.
Mr. lf. BARNET seconded the amendment.

Mr. RILCY oppmed it. Nothing, he thought, could be more
injurious titan the immediate and abrupt removal of the duties :
the consequence must he, that no one would buy either wool or ma-
nufactured goods, until the period of total removal should arrive
all would wait until the market would be paralysed and the loom
was at a stand-sta This had been the errect of the sudden reduc-
tion of the &aim on leather. The large holders might be able to
bear the evil ; but what was to become of the r:eavers and work-
ing men, who must be thrown out of work. As Englishmen and
Merchants, they were bound to consider the interests °like labourer,
and save hint from menaced starvation.
Several Members conceived that the interests of the trade would
be more benefited by the appointment of a longer period for the
removal of the duties, than that proposed by Mr. Bischoff ; but in
the midst of the conversation on thesubject,_.

. _
Mr. Ettsenorr put the amendment. The shew of hands wu
considerably against him, and he called for a division, by which it
was found that Mr. Hat:litres proposition for delay till October
was carried by a large majority.
A long discussioh, of a clamorous description, then took place ; a
great number who wrest obliged to vote for tl,e amendment, stated
that it would ho tutuagvely injurious- to take off all the duties at
once ; and suggested Lgradual diminution, to operate at distant
Intervals.

Mr. Stivcr.two said. that in the months of June and July
scarcely any wool was imported that was to affect the mar-
ket ; and he proposed. as an amendment on Mr. Hughes's amend-
ment, that part of the duties should be taken off in Septetuber, and
part in December.
Mr. lliscuorc said the former amerdment having been carried
was conclusive as to the time, and the sleeting were bound by it
effectually.
Others in the Meeting contended. that, as masters of their own
preeeedings, they ware qualified to rescind any resolution they
might have pawed.
31r. IHutN ri proposed a merit" of resolutions, nearly the same
as those proposed he Mr. Bischoff; but dilliving as to length of
time; amt aided, that if they passed, the Chairman should lay
them before the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Mr.SEIVEKING, as an amendment to that part of Mr. Hughes's
resolution which declared the opinion of the Meeting that the duty
should be taken off at once in October, moved that the time to be
recommended to the Chancellor of the Exchequer for that purpose
altestld be September and December.
This proposition was carried, and it was embodied with Mr.
Hughes's resolutions, which were ordered to be advertised in the
public papas, and circulated throughout the trade in the king-
, dom.