The National Register.
London, England, 1822-07-01 00:00:00

• .
THURSDAY, JUNE AT.

The llouse went into a committee on the stamp act, and Mr.
Lushiugton moved resolue respecting wheeled carriages.
Mr. Caleraft and Mr. P. Moore expressen their astonishment
that such a subject should be introduced into a stamp act.
Mr. LOCK HART, adverting to the Stamp Duties Rill, spoke
of the necessity of settling the question about 20s. and 2.is.
deeds stamps; after the discussion that had taken place some
doubt about the validity of deeds had arisen that ought to be
set at rest. The clause to advance the duty to 255. was, he un-
derstood, to be abandoned.
Mr. LUSIIINGTON admitted that the subject merited con-
sideration. Resolution agreed to.
Mr. Alderman WOOD presented a petition from sn
indi►i-
vidual named Ewer, formerly keeping the King's Arms in
W estistinster, complaining of the magistrates having arbi-
trarily deprived him of his !jocose. Petition read and ordered
to be printed.
LICENSING SYSTEM.

Mr. G. RENNET moved the third reading of the Alelinuse
Licensing Bill.
Lord CHAN BOURN E expressed his disapprobation of some
parts of the hill, and he moved, as an amendment, that the bill
be read a third time this day three 1111 l ntlis.
Ald. C. SMITH said, that the thairnian in the committee had
too readily given way to the opposition urged against the bill.—
It was now Calllpleteiy Sileleli. All the prima clauses were
against the poor publicans. The brewers, it seemed, hal the
preponderating influence. The bill in its present form was
worth nothing.
Mr. C.ART%YIRGiur observed, that lie had heard no com-
plaints respecting magistrates' conduct towards public-boasts.
and lie therefore declared, that to deprive the magistrates of
their controuling power over public-houses would be of most
injorious tendency ; he should therefore support the saueuilintist.
Mi, MOCK denied that the bill diminished the powers of
the country magistrates ;it only regulated them. Those powers
were useful, hr knew, as a magistrate. Some of them had re-
sisted from evangelical" honor Or beer drink.
log ; and others took it into their heads that public-houses were
calculated to promote the destruction of their game. He ap-
proved oldie bill as far as it weld ; it was calculated to defiler,
the unlimited power of the magistrates. In the country many
houses had been arbitrarily and capriciously closed ; so that in
many places persons might travel ten or twelve miles withoet
Laing able to purchase the relief derivable from the whulesiiirie
beverage of beer.
Mr. CALCRAFT said he did not think that the country ma-
gistrates deserved to have such a idiom cast on them as was
conveyed by this hill. It would take from their coutroul the
publicans in their neighbourhood ; and if it were not withdrawn,
be must support the amendment.
Mr. (Secretary) PEEL trusted that the clause would be
withdrawn, or considerably muddied. He could not element
to withdraw front the magistrates in the different counties, oec.
the mimed hitherto enjoyed over public houses. He thought
that power was useful for public purposes. They were nut to
legislate on sonic eases of hardship. If there were to be ap-
peals against some decisions of magistrates, the consequence
would he, that there would be few or on complaints preferred,
it would he deemed in many cases not worth the trouble of
making complaints against improper and ill conducted houses
—He hoped the bun. member would withdraw ur modify the
clause in question.
Mr. M. A. TAYLOR did not think the clause in question
called for from any necessity. Ilehad at'ended petty sessions
fur thirty-five years, and he had never seen one instance where
the licenses were withdrawn on accouut of publicans having
pursued party objects—certainly not oo :Iccount of poachers
having been lodged in particular houses. If any licences had
had been withdrawn, it was where the public-bowies were
found to be too numerous. To repeal the pow er that at present
existed would be to limit most useful powers iii the magistrates.
They would not then be able to perform most useful duties.
Mr. 11. WILBRAHAM spoke against the clause. To retain
it would be to repeal a power that was most usefully lodgvil
with the local magistrates. Ile hoped it might he withdrawn.
or that the bill 'moil el be postponed till the next session.
Mr. LOCK HART said, that while the bill was to give some
security to the victuallers, it ought to exterd protection to the
public ; that the victuallers should in some way be subject
to
the consequences of selling " diluted and athilierated Impious,
of using had measures, or of encouraging improper manduet
is
their houses. lie believed that the country magistrates had
itlll.,ematilly checked the progress of debauchery amid drunkeu-
ness in public houses , but lie believed the magistrates had
been mainly aided by the poverty of the times, and the vapid
articles so:il at most country public-houses. He, however,
thought that the hill ought to be re-committed,to tomer
lain whether the obj.•ctioes could not be removed, and at the
Sallie tillle wL, tier alealls of flushing that monopoly ahiLb bad
wows, up .:ould us, be de v

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