The National Register.
London, England, 1818-07-19 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTIM

He only now wished to ask, whether it was intended by his
Lordship, that the Master should proceed with drawing the
settlements de die in diem . . .

The Lord Chancellor signified, that that was certainly his
intention.

LICZNSING SYSTEM.

Tuesday a meeting way held at the Crown and' Anchor
Tavern to take into consideration the best means of provid-
ing against the injuririns effects of the present mode of license
ing public houses. It had been announced that the •chair
would be taken at one aNed that Jir Fia'neis Burdett
would be present. It was 'rear two o'clock, however, before
there was any impearatire of business, and then air. Barber
Beaumont stirred to the company, that as tile honourable
baronet bad ptinnised in the most unequivocal manlier, either
to take the chair or to do any thing else that might he tough!
neces to proinotethe object of the meeting, it might be
advisable to delay the cousideration of the matter for a few
minutes. 'file company acquiesced. A considerable time
then elapsed, ana still Sir Francis Burdett did not appear.

Mr. Raiserßeaumont then rose and said, that as the Hon.
Baronet had not undyed, he thorigtd it would be proper to
read a letter which lie heti received from him, in order to
cotiflren the statement which lie had presiotisly made. He
then read a Vetter' 'from Sir Freneis garden, which stated,
elawthe should be glad to do every thing in his power for
gene' rid of the whit:airy licensing system, at st that if Mr.
Deamtiont wand Nave the goodness to inform him what he
wishes' to be done, lie would attend. Mr. Beaumont then
said. Shia,. in consequence of this letter, he waited on Sir
Francis Burdett, and informed him that a meeting was to be
holden on Monday last : but that the Hon. Bart. having heard
that the electors of Westminster wished to chair bins on that
slay, he requested that the emetitta might be deferred till
Tuesday, when he would attend. 'Fle lion. Baronet, how.
ever, had Dot aerived, and, therefore, hr Mr. Beaumont)
would rscommendtivilse company,. that the lion. Washington
Shirley should take the their.
Mr. Shirley cap d his meet, olderving that lie eons
sidered the object for which they were assembled perfectly
unconnected with any party, thief lie would do the best in his
power, and trusted to the indulgence of the foot:pony if he
confronted any error. He theft read the advertisement calling
taie meeting, when
Mr. Barber Beaumont rose, and, said, that in consequence
of the determination of the Committee of the floilse of Cola.
mons, to whom a petition on the licensing eystem hail been
referred, not to print the important evidence which they re-
ceived in *wort of their allegation, he deemed it a duty
which he owed to the petitioners to give them wine further
information of the proceedings than appeared in the report.
This prieiring of the report without the evidence was a most
extraordinary course. The report recognised, that he had
proved those allegations. It found a verdict of guiltyag.iinst
the licensing system, and the combination of the'brewers—it
called on the magistracy ' to Laid their aid to break down *
!confederacy which is so injurious to the poor and middlint
classes of the caudeunity.--and recommended a prospective
law, which, by the'reey, would just amount to nOthitig bed
the evidence upon Which the whole was founded had been
suppressed. Those who were to legislate were not to see the
evidence itself, but the hints of such parts of it as were
Liven in the Report, and nothing more. Of this suppression
of the evidence, which was collected and produced with so
much trouble, he certainty did complain. Had this been
printed, as was usual, the folly, and immense injury tet the
public of the English licensing system, would have apps ared
So glaring to the world, as teputto shame its iuteresti d and
corrupt advocates—and lie should hope, to have induced the
Legislature to restore to the people of England the r:glit
which the petition prayed for—the right of a free trade in
victuals—a light alloyed by the people of every other coon.
try. He was aware that the publication of the evidence might
prove disastrous to certain great capitalists ; but this was no
reason why the stres*iu of knowledge, justice, and of public
good should be stopped. 'the misdoing' of petty rogues sire
displayed without mercy. The publican who, following the
example of his snprriura, adulterates his beer, is held up to
odium, and is consigned to rain. The grocer who mixes
beans or leaves of English growth with those of foreign,
although equally wholesome, is exposes! to public indignatiou
for his little cheat. Why ilia friendly mantle to cover sty
sins of cheats by wholesale? h the magnitude of an offence a
reason for remitting pnuisliment? All persons toncerneil in
adulterating lithium fowl, when detected, ought to be made
known.—(applause.)—He hoped he should not be MeMismi ot
attacking brewers and magistrates improperly. He di sired
to do neither ; his object of attack was the arliiirary Betas.
ing system,. the iisconsiderate Act of Pariiautent which pre.
'Obits all persous fruits retailing beer, except those wl a
few privileged men on owe day of the year empower to so.
The modern law, which deprived the British public of their
natural and chartered right, a free trade in vietstais, cot%
rnpted the magistrates, made monopolists of the brewers, and ;
did more isjery to the moral character and substantial rights
of Eaglislimen than say law that ever was passed. The brew. ;
train Parlianwto denied this monopoly; but it was ohs ions
from the report of the roininittee—a document whirl, cer-
tainly hid nut been prepared in any disposition of hostility
to the brewers. The report had also observed,' that the n,eei•
lugs of the hi ewers to fix their priers" probably will be used
as the means of demanding such an unfair price from the
public as they may be compelled to submit to." Hot hail not
things arrived at this pitch already ? A rise in porter never
takes' place until after all the London brewers have met to.
gether, and pledged themselves to adhere to one price, and
from one day. One brewery, it is trite, acts independeutly
and offers beer at us reduced price ; but the public et 1111 l ot
get at it, becatibe almost all the house, licensed for retuning
are under the influence of the combined brewers. The lengths
to which these gentlemeit will go to keep up their price is
' noticed in the report, which sa”," a pecuniary consideration
was offered by an agent of a brewer to a vietnailer, to induce
him to abandon a practice which be had adopted, of selling
beer sit a reduced price." The fact is, this victualler, Mr.
Anthill, of King.street., Seveasslials, has a free house—lie
deals with the independent brewery, and sells genuine hem
at a halfpenny end penny per pot tinder the regular prices-
-1 his tentle has, in roust (realer, iticreased extensively, and
taken away, of coarse, from that of the surrounding bumps.
A vei y great brewery ottetcti this bribe it he would raise ilia
price to their standard. So much fur the professions of the
coin bitted brewers, acting for the benefit attic peiblit..-01,-
plattse.) —The Repel: prat eedS—"'llse abuse of the ficemilit:
system is in prowess in this country, and is producieg still
more iujurious effects limit any of which evidence lids Lei
adduced as affecting the foretiopolis." in tile c try the
no!:rartfon of these atur"?ol:t!,, :ttder :he I: t •tt.:.,