The National Register.
London, England, 1818-02-02 00:00:00

CERTIFICATES, FEB. tl.

Ilenry Thwaits, Bond Court. Ws'brook. paper merehant—Janses
•T 1 son, of Nleltham Mill, clothier—John Collinson, of Huildcrstield,
boat buil•lcr—Thomas Smith, Chepstow, Monmouth cabinet maker
-John Thorp. Ely, mere'nant—Bartholothew Smith, and Nicholas.
Redbead, Pearith, CuinharLuLl. bankers—William Greenly, Ten-
-bury. \Vorccster shoe maker—George Daniel and William Cr.ws
.41431410 am, rnerchant4.—Asigastas Henry Tliiewn, Bernard Street,
Buisell Square, merchant--Michael Jarvis, Purton Stafford, miller—
Abraham Haigh, Halifax, York, hosier—George lilliot,Wtiodahurch,
Kent, butcher.

TO COR RESPONDENTS.
A. H. on the resent state of Rome, in oitrnexi

1i HE NATIONAL REGISTER,

LONDON:

MONDAY, FEBRUARY. 2, ISIS.

PIIILIDLLPIIIA paper! to the Ist inst. have been re
►ciec,:. Amelia Island is notyet taken possession of b.•
the forces o►' the United States ; and if the following
titiele may be considered authentic, some hesitation
xists on the part of the American Government as to
►:c further proceedings.

(:'ROM THE Pam.Artet:rtitA r:‘Pcn OF THZ 29th DtC)
" IbtposrrAwr.—We I,:arn from a correct stntree, gays
• New Turk Gazette, that all Government proettA-
. rtlitive to the Floridan are for the present suspend-
( .1. in consequence, it is believed, of orders r,:ecived by
.!...*Spanish Minister from his Government.
-'The flavannah Journal, of Dec. 2, emit:tins a let-
from Fi:ld Marshal Pascual de Linan, to the Viet,—
..)y taf New *'.pain, ittelosing thealisputches of Col. Fran-.
- t)rrantia, on the subject of the deteat of Mina
CM the 9th October.
" 'Th.: Georgia Journal of the Ifith Dere nb r rati-
fying the official dispatch confirming. the entire loss of
detaclunout of General Giiineb' :nun ."

PPE N.VI TONAL nrcrisTrn:

French papers of Wednesday and Thursday last
have arrived. In the Chamber of Deputies, M. Anent,
Under Secretary of State in the war department, took
generala survey tau the With ult. of the recruiti
and oF the objections wade to it. The Minister at
War, Marshal Gouvion •t. Cyr, closed the discussion
on the general principles of the law, by :t spzech which
is desaibed in the newspapers as having made upon
the assembly a deep and powerful impression. The
Minister took pains to show, that the charter, when
it declared the conscription to be abolished, meant no
more than to abolish "a particular fiarm of recruiting;'
stating at same the time, that "the mode ofrecrniting
by sea and land should be determined by a law." He
added, that as no law was nvessary to enable the Go-
vernment to receive voluntary enlistments, the charter
must have had a compulsory mode of recruiting in its
contemplation for a future system, on which to proceed,
at the very moment when it solemnly assured both
France and Europa that " the conscription" (ea ;tontine)
was abolished. I"

By the Dutch mail we are taught to believe•that the
Duke of Wellington's visit to this country has had
two negotiations for its object—l st, with regard to the
urgent demands of the French Government II ir a prompt
removal, or, if that be iaadinissible, a serious diminu-
tion of the occupying army ; '4ll, with regard to some
proposals touching the British corps itl'armee in parti-
cular. The issue of each is impatiently expected. French
politicians speculate with much earnestness and confi-
dence on the immediate passing of the recruiting law,
and on the employment of a large portion of the force
raised under it,ia the speedy reduction of !it. Domingo ;
a purpose which we are positively assured has never
been abandoned by French Government, although
its execution may have been suspended by the unfortu-
nate circumstances in which France was recently placed.
Volunteers, they say, are to be invited to join the ex-
pedition ; on the details of Which many officers of high
military reputation have been .consulted. Despatches
between the British, Russian, and Prussian Govern-
ments are daily passing through Calais and Dover.
We have private letters from Bombay, which com-
municate to us in a more detailed form than has yet
been published in this country, the arnanrement male
with the Peishwa. He cedes to the BritirCGovernment
territories yielding-* clear revenue of 31 kites of rupees
—25 of them fall to the Bainbay Presidency, by our
occupation of the country from Panwell, or Panwelly,
27 miles E. of Bombay, to Demaun, on the coast N. of
Bombay—a line of territory about 80 miles. We are to
occupy besides, the Bassein and Jambosen and its de-
pendencies, and also have the Peishwa's share of tribute
from Katty War.
The remaining nine lass of rupees go to the Presi-
dency of Madras. There are provided for by cessions
in the Carnatie and the forts of Darwar and Kishelgur.
The important curt of Ainnednuggur is also ceded to us
with land around it to I`.ooo yards. It was taken by
General Wellesley on the 12th of August, 1803, and
ceded to the British by Dowlut Row S.tindia, at the'
treaty concluded in December 1803. la April tBO4
it was restored to the Peishwah. The possession of
this fortress gives the command of the city of Poonah,:
and affords the best entrance into the territories of the
Peishwah and the Nizatn. Certain pasture lands are.
altgiven us for our troops in the Deccan.
an our parts we arc to augment our subsidiary force
to 12,000 tnen. The Peishwah is also required to main-
tain irregular horse and foot, amounting to 8000 men,
to be officered by En, opeans.
In addition to the above intelligence, it is known that
large field forces arc on foot after the Pindaries, under
Sir Thomas Hislop and Sir John Malcolm, Brigadiers
Doveton, Smith, and Floyer, Sir John Malcolm is
aseoeiated with Sir Thomas llislop in the conduct of
political affairs. The Marquis of Hastings is also up
the country.—Cornier.
The French Papers of Tuesday last have arrived.—
They contain the continuation of the discussion upon
the Recruiting Law, in the Chamber of Deputies. The
examination of the general principle of the measure is
at length dosed, but there still remains a formidable
scope for debate in the thirty articles of which it is
composed,and the ntunerous amendments that have been
superinduced. - - -

The French Minister of Marine has received a des-
patch from Cayenne, dated the 18th of November, from
Count Carra Cyr, Administrator of that colony,
stating,. that on the Bth of that month .he had taken
posseseion of Cayenne and French Guyanne in the name
of the King.
The recegniranees of all' the persons who had been
coniined under the Suspension, Act, were discharged oo
Saturday, after an itte;ixtual attempt by ',‘l.it to
sustain a rule, ob.dated on a runner to oblige i.;lr
Nathaniel Conant to show came why tic recognizarcus
of this Mitchell should not be discharged. :Mitchell up.
pears to have • proc-edou Upon an erroicouscupposition
that he waL•not ho...nd in the rec.:uirancer, because he
had sigue.l nothing.
. _ _

,It.eppenrs from un ofachl :statement, that of 6,75 S
merchant-noels which va:i.2lt,:e SJUIId ai t e coars,
of last year from t:le North S;ie into the LAtic,..:,,OSS,
or almost one-third, wre. EnglisL, 9. fianoverianlnal
13::;mcc-crs. 63 .^.,:nc---hans, nn-I of F.cod:Jim

FEB. 2

FINE ARTS.

CHAUCEfri C

The app. trance of the long expected print from Mr.
Stothard's charming picture of this subject, has called
forth critical and descriptive accounts On all hands. Much
as we admire both the painting and the print, we will
nut ventarc an observation of our own upon either, but
we cann. t forbear presenting our readers with. the thl-
lowing able letter, written by the late John Hoppner,
Esq. ILA , at the time the picture was first exhibited.
It acquires additional huportanee, when *e reflect that
Mr. Hoppner, as a critic, was not distinguished for
that suavitur in ?nod°, which sometimes stamps a sus.
picious character upon the most able critique.

To ItICHAILD CUMBERLAND, E.
" May 30, ISM
" D&,►n Sin,—You desire me to give you some ac-
count of the procession of Chaucer's Pilgrims, painted
by Stothard, and the task is a plea-sing one. ; for the
praise called forth by the waits ofa living artist, from
a rival iu the pursuit of fame, is, I feel, like mercy,
twice blessed—

" It Lle4seih him that gives, and him that takes."

" The painter has chosen ithat moment for his pie-
ture when the Pilgrims may be supposed to have dis-
engaged
the environs of a great metropolis, and are collected
together by Harry Willie, their geide and host. The
scene is therctime laid in that part of their road from
London that commands a view of the Dulwich hills,
where it may be supposed, the host could, without fear
ofinterruption., proclaim his proposal of drawing lots,
to determine who should tell the first tale. He is re•
presented standing in his stirrups, and appears to ex-
ult in the plan he lra.s.formed for their mutual enter-
tainment. You see the group gently passing forward
—all are in motion—vet too well satisfied with each
other to be eager for their journey's end. The features
of each individual arc .touched with the most happy
diserimination of character, and prove the painter to
have studied the human heart with as much attention,
and not less successfully, than.the poet.
" Thisintelligent group is rendered still more inter-
esting by. the charm of colouring, which, though simplie,
is strong, amd most harmoniously distributed through-
out the picture. The landscape has a deep toned
brightness, that aecirds most admirably wi;li the fi-
gures ; and the painter has ingeniously contrived to
give a value to a common scene and very ordinary forms,
that would hardly be found, by unlearned eves, in the
natural objects. .He has expressed too, with great vi-
vacity and truth, the freshness of morning, at that
season, when nature herself is most fresh and bloom-
ingthe Spring; and it requires no great stretch of
fleicy to imagine we perceive the influeoce of it on the
cheeks of the Fair Wife of Bath, and her rosy cumpr.-
nions, the Monk and Friar.

" In respect of the execution of the %%Ilion!, parts cf
this pleasing design, it is not too much praise to say,
that it is wholly free from that vice which the painters
term manner ; and it has this peculiarity beside, which
I do not remember to have seen. in any picture ancient
or =Arm, that it bears no mark of the period in which
it was painted. but might very well pass for the work
of some able.artist of Cie time of Chaucer. This effect
is not, I believe, the result of any association of ideas
connected with the costume, but appears in a primitive
simplicity, and • the total absence of all affectation,
either of colour or pencelling.
" Having attempted to describe a few of the bean.
ties of the captivating perthrmanoe, it remains only for
me to mention one great defect—the picture is, not-
withstanding appearances, a mo•lcrn one. But if you
can divest yuursell of the general prejudice that exists
I:gainst contemporary talents, you will see a work that
would have (lime honour to any school, at any period.
" I mu, Dear &c. " JOHN HosPstza."

We have to state, that upon the appointment of Mr.
.Robinson to be Treasurer of the Navy, the salary an-
nexed to that office has been reduced from four to three
thousand a year. We understand that the Right Hon.
.F. Robinson is to have a seat in the Cabinet.—Cour;er.
STRATHTIELDSAY.—Some erroneous statements hay.
ing appeared respecting, the negociation fix the purchase
ofthe estate belonging to Lord Rivers, fir the Duke of
Wellington, we are induced to give, nn a correct
source, a brief detail of what has hitherto taken place
relative to the intendel purchase :—The estate of
Strathfieldsay having been ()tiered to the Duke of' Wcl.
lington. Wyar was sent down to sti:vey it, who
valued the propeaty at 405,0001: iiicklin4 the timber.
The -Duke if Weliington then went to 'Strath ieldsay,
awl took a rapid view of the estate, of which he highly
approved. The next question to be amsidered was, how'
the money.should be raid, so as to leave a sufficient
reseive Jim building a magniliceni: house. .It was pro.
pose:!, that Government should buy ell the tiather upon
the estate, which .was ue eonsidered by Mr. W.-att to
be ornamental. A person was, in-consequence, em-
ployed to value the titither, who marked oil' betwet:o.
y and 10,000 trees, which are outia:ated to he worth,
at an urumgv, 101. each. The bargain has thus 'ieim
n:ada; and we believe its completion only waits I.e
pcnnent of the money tr, Lord Rivers, upon the u:•!al
ny;R:s Ifj:Ii;

PEB. V,

'THE NATIONAL lILGISTEIL

BREWERS MONOPOLY.

On Monday last a Meeting tutik place at the Crown am:
Anchor Tavern, upon this important subject, Sir tient y Wit
sun in the Chair.

In opening the lansiness of the Meetin4, Sir Henry hrietly
dweii aeon the harthitiips woich the poorer cla,ies endured
boas hie advance made id the price of Porter. lie unites!,
that a 4 the Brewers bail the reputation of being lionotirthie
meat:ley wank! not,permit a Nentiat•tit to go forth thartiol
are C41401e of acts of opirrew.ion, nut by theie.-Ive4 or their
agents emir.? fLatvarti and atetu NAM! team ground they heti
made the pr4lieuttolvance.

Mr. Drstry (a B river) strum* animadverted upon the
injustice of attributing the adreance to the monopoly of.yw
Brewers. He stated thet there was a deity of ten shillwgs eerl
barrel un the beer, which amounted to lid. per pot, then tlavi
Mit Way amounted to 7-I6tbs of a peony per poi. There'
was also a heavy duty on foreign hops, whets amounted to a
farthing on each pot of beer, all which deducted from the
price received by the Brewer from the puolteen, left him hot
threepeuceeoer pot. But beside the tarts ou malt :mil hops,
the Brewer had a variety of other uses to pay, which greatly
diminished his profits ; as the license fur hes ho:wing-p.in. and
various other charges under the heed ulaaxes : and ailliouels
tbe profit allowed uy the Brewer to the victualler was 25 per
rent, on his retail prices, yet great se that might seem he was
canvincA that victuallers, who were a mist industrious body
of men, could scarcely make a kvelitiood fitidi this profit,
when all their other heavy expenses were deducted. Haring
thus shown, lie hoped, that the high price of beer did nut
ache from what seal called a monopoly of the Brewers, but
front the high price of their in aerials, and the weight of taxes,
tinder which they 144eured. Its the article of foreign hops, to
which they were obliged to resort from the great scarcity, and
tetreine high price of the home commodity, there WAS an ad-
ditional duty of Is. 61 per pound, which added oae birthing
per pot to 'he price of beer; so that the Brewer WAS under
thenecessity of charging his present price for the commodity
he sold, ur of abaulloniite a Wiliness which would otherwise
yield no profit. He wished also to set right suing in.
.acesracies which hail fallen from the clear respectieg the re-
election in the prices of malt. Previous to the first rise on;
teeter the malt was raised from dia. Sti. to Wis. the quarter.;
crud now the average price is from leh. to 86s. the 'puler; so
clew, so far from a rednction, there was au evident tacerese
on the price.
Mr. Beaumont said, that as the Gentleman who had just
addressed the :useably leul concluded without e motion, lie
should bring forward one liar their adoption. He had AC-
4u:tinted himself with the history of Brewers end their prices
for 26 years, but particularly fur the last few years; cud he
could prove that the hissinessras now carried on, was a coin
place monopoly to the exclusion of that fair competition which
took place fur the public advantage in every other article of
cousumptiun. He contended, that from is fair cumperhou of
the priers of the present period compered with this lime
twelvemonth. there was a fall of ls. 2.1. per barrel in We ex.
peace of niateriale; and the cousequeuce was, the Brewer,
instead of lowering, lucre:seed the COullinality five ahttcings
per barrel. He had taken considerable piano with NM sish.•
jest, but, wisbitug to be as accurate as possible, he had wait.
ten down the result of his inquiries; and lie hoped the meet-
ing would puiluu hi is if lie took We liberty of reading from
a paper which he had prepared, the 'detriment upon this
saliject.
Mr. Beaumont then read the following statement, which
furnishes so accurate and clear a view of the subject that we:
insert it entire:—

' I have at various periods heard the brewers say. that their trade'
was not worth following. Now lam diposeit.to attach every tea-
sodable credit to the ileclaristionsof gantlet/lea of such eminence in
society. I will therefore admit what they say to be true. thus tar,
that at certain times, Wild] the 1114rket nee run nigh, they tin tam
humane comaderatiOn for we coodmon of tue poor) forbore to raise
the price of beer. as they migot justuLdily have done; Lley uLioe
no profit; tiny even suffered loss: and mat fieir trade at those
times WaellOt worth following; but amen tney did determine on tac,
step. at all tittles so reluctantly talten by taco*, of raising one prase,
they would not themselves !ix a losing price—For the loss bit a
shilling or two per barrel, codzioueil for ye.tni upon their gr-At
returns would be ruinous. would be too great a sweruice to expect
from tne otiulic spirit of any rose. I re4ue.t my hearers to consoler
well the touni,%s, or Otherwise, of tilts 'euitelusion, li.zeu.,e mach tit
the subseguent reasoning is uutlt upon it. Referring back, tnerefore,
to the prices per 'Jarred, just quoted, and wiliest are Sean to ne, Ln one
case, a I.;uc miler the Inaritet price of tae nominal quantity of
the noinmai material, and in ether cods, a little ILUOVe it, we may
come to 4.1 inference, that the 111.trItet price of toe nominal qualities,
and of the duty, is aa.ii.Aent led W.: seshag price of tue inananirtured
articles, as it 'Ltd been made ui W.; years. I Wan: tills ii fair
remoaiug upon their own data; bat let our, two, or Lace 411111415.
be wadeu to sue inaritet pace oirhe prmessed materials. as a neees-
eery surphis of coarge per barrel. i have no oojectiou to it. Let
them duce Ss. and they will nave more than they heti in several
"ear;, VIA, in 17;ar, its Pit*, to ltitr, in 1813, ai,d in 1813. h
will tact 10.itioW Wet the surpias diderence oeyond such ss. will be
an extra pro bit to the lirewer, uniess, indeed, lie has ;import:to:l*bl.;
added to the streagto oi toe oeer, but the surplus ditrereuce of Me
:ening price of t ie Jeer over toot of .the rtusierial has been la some
yews imneu.e. 18s. and Sits suildipwards. lithe auengthehing of
me quality sued an Iei:ACM.4 we should have dad an
r street oi in.dt so strong t..at it would have glued our lips toieuler—
ii which e..L.4 :elms would now De thc:r 114.1 teen 110-
of mite shad weer, generaliy si.aucing, fur toe last itteen or
twenty years, ll.i :hi 0.1 a 11.riptd and vapid stream, without any
mate:Lai ea:Lido:3. The excess of surplus then 11115 Ueen an shies.
a emit to tut rinieer..ll.l,l When we consider toe iiiimease returns
in bus info:, Eno: loc,lol uarreLs in a year is by no Welds equal to
the qit.:-.ttly a:e4e.d.c.; we principal itrotiseSt teat in sue.l a trade an
advaoce of half 5.i.11 barrel is eitgusl to .25.0/:IL and unit the ea-
t aace aa.u: plata ae. 1.1.;e4 as aideil beyond what, ::wonting to
their owe sou whig mud wires of weir own tieing is a 'unison p.0.e.,
sva may re.ta.iy.e.wout for toe princely lertuites Wate.i mire been
11141 J its t to 141 4 short time, and me ju ALA: of tile complaints
of the Lio.viriog classes. et whose expeller suet fortunes are 111.01 C.—
I.:I W tit aueratiorts of tue price an a sueeessive order,
with a view of discovering Lie occult causes of their canoes. Fur a
year provilU, to toe dr t advance, merle by tie .6t,:wers 111 171)9,
!id. Per le oaten WAS the 13041Lial surplus aJnVe tile mxwrial. 1.11/011
Li t it.e ideut a.i.anee in 14, t ie suvpiu., appeared sidle ILO
another in 18./3, tie th.larehz.: was 71. V. pre—
frzse.l nuitanals Can IlLwe by la. per parted,. t.uan tile user when
1.1.1de W.:, and for. file 113-iter...l4 Lien e.leilker 15 per Cent
UpOtt Waieil tic dr.:N.:re in IhWi toasted nien pita/C. 11 per cent, and.
snide i i r .urplas 7,. 9.1. ; tois. was tale; so madly uy Lae public,
that in less ti. 11411.10( 1114.10104 Role suite la all tali wade lowering
from 11 to 43, upon toe red.:4414.L0. 34. 111 1.14 a1.5...11.114. MC BMW-
ell raised taeir prices 5,. fir mazer: as Jam:4104121.. to 15s. ; and
tie beer was raiaaa from 25a to 15s..but a clanaa wits yet waamig.—..•.,
In .114, I SO. t.i.ira Via, a rne Or la. in LLl.hittaloei. Oclng
3;. tote lAA prize. wit:a tie Lelia 4'4, at-334. eila rattler I.le
price i.i l iJ2, .v.1.:.1 aarr.l , ; Lladet.t.loie eireninst ineel
bit' elleaMehl in alaterialii, kink:et.) the None was raisito hi 455.
barra—tu et ler worth, ileCr was rhi:ed to 3d. per lot, riatte toe
hops and duty, collecuvely were less than they were is 17,0.1

57

s when beer was salter tareepenee haltruny pet pot ! An encesa of tinny. Ile had conversed with several members of Parham( et at
three nalf-pence per,pot ovinsteeitier profits, :aid be it always bore in to the inside of getting rid of this system of licensing; but the whole
mhed, that wi alvaitee of a single lialf-pently gives eu,0)01. to the appeared to be bad, that it could not be mended, fur it would be
Brewers of 20,919 barrels. At period, the Brewers wens far necessary to change the whole systent in principle. Licenses indeed
• inure insatatile than now. They foaral by experience that they bad weir waisted fur many ianue.e.it purpmea. sac.' as a license to flour
only to li e a price, sad the public nuut.pay it. Upon a smell ad- ones hair, a license to be tuerried, Ste. rind all these wereeasily oh-
vance in the materials. tae: store, they tithed their price two step; at i twined; but the licenses for selling beer were not to be had. except
I once. from 3.1. to lA, per pot, the bJer at the sane time :wine most at the arbitrary will of a ret of magistrates. Alice as they all must
, wretched. Upon this the Golden-lane brewery win projected, when be to the injeriuusness of this system, they must not patiently
the Brewers ilcew in their horns, and went b ick instantly from ed. to sit down under it, particularly so, when if they knew what he had
sd. Ties camactitioa dal tie palate. great seevace: itcskuseatheLiu,lity sewn the numbers '
.ho hadlseen ruined and thriven to workhouses
of tile beet to be metaled. and the price* to be kept down, while the in cans:am-nee of it. %Vas .t ts be endue-xi, that a power should
material rose; nor tha tee Brewers thee venture to raise their prices existattlis day which had been Unbidden in the reigns of Edward,
for eigat yaws. 'Pais estahlisittueat throve fur some tinsel bat, as of .13.1‘.!5. and Charles ? Bat he would rather submit to the tyranny.
Ia u toil. using to indana lagement, to many disseivuustaes arising of that •King, than to the arbitrary desimtisin of some Weaned: of
Croat the hostility anti power of the Brewers; to their also:tiers peaty tyrants. 'The only use lie had ever known in the present systeta
in low neignaaarhootis leaving them for other breweries where they Mid:easing wet, that it exhibited a diSgUlltillg pletUle Of arbitrary
expert a better proteettoa in taeir licenses, and, above all, to power. Oa a prownitio i tar takina *way the ilt-eretiuoary power,
Itheir being obliged from the public nature of their ecanunts, to adhere they were called upon to consider die property which was at stake ;
to melt and hops only, they havens): been prosperous. 'file next in- with this property. he submitted, they had nothing to du. Every
crease was made in tea. It only left a surplai ditier,lnce ut il. ss. fartaiagof the capital which will laid out was so expended, sole:7
between the price of the material and Of beer when with a view to commanding trade right or wrong—theara—lf
'fie value of titeiustetials increased still ingliewend theltrewerstaand I Brewer laid o.lt a hundred &missend paunds in houses, end aasither
it necessary to make a still further increase in .tan. teat. :file price Ineulred thousand in trade, his object was o gain profit by Both ;
was now raised to its highest pitch, viz. to the prier we !tow are called and thus die public paid not alone for a decoetitia ut nialt and (lops.
to upon p.iy, but the inere.is.,/, price only left the bee ai.:rs a surplus of • but tin :in in tasion of licences !cheers),—lt was naturally asked. how
2s. till. suave the eureka. price of the in ueriaL Soon, however, tee a redress of these abuses; was to he obtained ? lie athinued that the
material dropped in price ; not so the price of bee.r. The brewers were task would be an arduous one; but at the acne time he wee satisfied
nut now so desirous of disturbing theaettled order of things. Their that it .vas nut a hopeless one. It was true that there was a great
surplus row to newly got. per barrel. Mr. Vimsittart, I thins: it phalanx of power and interest against them, but the power of the
was, hereupon camplained in the lions:. of Commons of the un- public was great also. *flaw had also a tree press in their favour ;
reasonable prices ut the Brewers. when Mr. I%'tutbeead replied, and it was but just to remark, that all the newspapers, of whatever
that they tthe brewer:) had maenad, and hal detenuined not to political principle*, alvozated zealously and ably the cause of the
lower the price, bat to inims- we the quality. Before the next public Ott this subject, and joined in deprecating the system of the
sitting of Parliament, however, they thought proper to take titre Brewers.--(1.0uel and repeated cheers).—Under all the circuit:steams.
kilfiwany per pet, reducing the surplus, which hail been eighteen he repeated, that he thought their wee far from hopeless, and trustee
' shillings and taree hait'pence to the ye: la c sitrplus of Mantic'. that by one common zeal, and by detenninal perse.verance. thee
shillings and tivelienee-lialfpenny. The next year they took uti'ano- would have old beer and old prices.—(Cheers.)—lit conclusion, a J
',her haitiMilly. In the succeeding year, 1816. the prtei: of the ma- honourable Gentleman deelared his intention to move the string
Italia& row, and upon this. staaage say, they reduced their beer of resolutions which he hailalreuly published ia some of the pub
another &ailing. The reason that could Malice these gentlemen, he papers, in order that it might not be supposed his intention was
after continuing their price at 435. for a year and a half, upon the of an underhand or unfair tlesciiption. He then moved the first ce-
rise of their materials, to lower their price to 40s. is quite inexplica-. solution.
ble; useless, indeed, the inve.tiaations of the Vance Committee.: n ilea high legal anthorities have declared all monopolies to be
thea beeumirg public, imeenal die deaision. Sinai then there has against the ancientand funilaineetallaws of Cie realm, and injurious
been two steps of inae.sse of prices, both in innterialS and in beer to the public ; nest, by raising Cie price of comauelithe ; second.
but, since the .rise in January List year, the price of materials has bysliminishimatheir quality ; third lay iumaveridiing poor naantalac-
- lessened; the amount of malt. hops, and (key, is is. 2d. per barrel curer,."
kis than it was last year. Now, what is dare upon this degree of After ale. Tillocla Mr. Shahs, Mr. !ablates. awl dr. Gird.
expense? The barrel of beer is missal Si., the quart raised from hers had generally aaslressed the meeting, Mr. Iteamiluntas
lieeperice-!halfpenny toner:nee. The materials now amount to no Resolutions. which embodied the statements made in his
more then tortyawe shillings and tivepenceshalfpeuny per barrel, ,
s etc., were put and carried, and the meeting adjourued.
a-id the price to. tile consumer is raised equal to the highest price '
chmgial during the stir, when the war milt tax was on, and tie
price of tee tuateriabi was 51s. 6d. seven shillings inure than at pre-
sent ; tat let us view the effete of this rise in tile aggregate, not that
the profit now exacted is half so excessive as others in loaner years,
in 18043,-141.i. and late, fur instance. First. I thins: we limy fairly
assume, ihat the Brewers last year, ilia Lisa tax a price to =rry on'
a losing trade, and the expenses have *thee been lessening. I know
that Lerge wire given by the Brewers 'luring that year fur
terms in Licensed housft, that is, fur the privilege- sa selling beer-
-8001. fur one station, 1.0001. tor another, I.sasiL for a tarn, and so
on—pretty istrom; symtuals that brewing then commanded a profit
worth having. 'rite cis. id. per bairel surplus above last year's
prices of materials given by the List rise may therefore be considered
as an extra profit. We trill first examine the effect of this on the
trade of a single house. fine house, deservedly popular, brewed
330,201 barrels in 1816. The extra profits to that house aeon one
year's trade, therefore wail give a stun of 101,814 h 19*. But the
whole amount brewed by the eleven breweries, in the same year, was
1,446,0.38 barrels. upon which the extra profit give 445,66;1.
Is. 4th. by use, the gr atcr part. uf which is extracted front the
pockets of the labouring .poor of the metropolis. A tine harvest'
truly ! ‘VitlioUt any particular exealan of altellect, without any
risk, a few gentlemen, the heads of the eleven breweries, meet
together, combine, and rive the word for nearly half a million
mediae to be transferred from the pockcts.oi the. poor. Mr. B. theu
proceeded to read abstracts from the deferent Acts of Parliament
WiIICII nad been passed in ditereut periods of our history on the sub-
ject of brewing ; and it would be wen that all those Acts were first
in favour of the liberty of the people ; but that the Act, passed in
modern times were directly of contrary tendency. An Act of
Henry 111. fixed the price of beer according to the price of barley.
An Act of the 23d of Edward 111. fixed the assize of beer. In the
reign of Edward IV. an Act was passed for granting letters patent in
rayour of Brewers, who (lien acquired a monopoly so offensive to the.:
subjects. and by which the extortions of Brewers became so great.;
that it was found necessary to abolish the patents teat :wanted these
monoatilies. In the reign of !leery VIII. and Edward V.I. Acts were
passed against Brewers found conspiring to raise the ,price al beer ;'
and far such offences they were to be punished by standing is the pil-
lory, having one ear cut off, And to be subject to perpetual infamy.
In the reign of EdwartlVl. an Act was pas ,eil to empower magistrates
to grant licences to pilo:ic ins ; but that W,:9 done oily for the purpose
of preventing the Ltd and diaaderly behaviour waich prevailed in
publie-houses. James I. afterwards granted letters patent to Brewers ;
his sod ....:siarles MI the same., and made them pay .arge suais of mo-
ney for the licenses; but lies object is doing this was only to
put the money into his 43Na exclexpier. In those letters it was
stated, as one of the reasons for issuina them, that the beer 'was
too strong and heady, and cause' intheication. (Loud laughter).
It sesureil that this hang iu his paternal solidi ode for the heads
of his subjects—a aria:hada which they did not afterwards show
for his heitil—(loud laughter and applause)—tiiought proper to as-
sign this as time reason for issuing his patents. After this, in 1664, the
trade beesune completely free and open ; because die oppressions of
former times coeld no longer be auuurtel; and it was not until the
reign of George IL that the present system of licensing was adopted.
The intention and avowed object was to check the disorderly prac•
tices that prevailed in public-houses, and it was enacted that licenses
should be granted only for one year, at the expiration of which time
the iicenseewere to be renewed. It was this Act which laid the founda-
tion eft' tt monopoly which now existed, and rendered the fabric of it
complete. It gave justices the power of deciding, without appeal,
what persons s'iould obtain brewers; and constituted little parcels of
justices in every diorict, the absolute masters of the licensing trade.
A free trade existed at that rime; the Ilrewers were very numerous ;
vast capitals were not accumulated by individuals, and the growing
evils of ruonopely were not perceived. But durina these lest 30 years
to re being a vast increase of new houses, in the inctropelis, the
Brewers were able to get possession of alarist all the public-houses:
and then the present monopoly began to be completed a 11.1 that, at
the present moment, the whale trade of brewing was concentrated in
the !tends of eleven great brewers. It was not hit Ace: now to go
into a detail of all the oppressions which had then of late years out
.ef vie present sylt.,Ol sm.:lout they were to be found in the police
reports, and in reports of prreweetti pi in comes of.Mstice. sill which
were airenly hefore the public. It appeared by one pr.a.Yeding in a
court of law, duin alit:cues had been teasel away f,tim e 1 publican, be•
came he had voted for a particular candidate at an electron, in oppo-
sition to the will of taelieensing nreastrate. And it would appear
that others had lust their hutissa only ter caangina :heir Prewers, :end
othces or selling beer at an under price. Sii:h eireemstancia
.were detailed in the ppliseereports ; and ut 'his inom:t persons
be found, in prwens and in wnekhoucs, yam mese, ruined,
And ',Aged to take shee'''r there, in enesequenee of having . been
sinjastly aienrived of their licenses. lb: nest himself been in
foreign. countries, and conversed with several magistrates and vie-
tliAilltel ill Howe countries; valeta be found that no such nrbitrary
'smart us was new exercised An. England existed. Any man who
had sunieient capital and a ;east character might brew mid sell hoer.
Sikh was the practice at this tLoasciat in Praaci:, Helm!, r.nd Ger-

Link INTELLIGENCE.

clurrr OF KlNtki III:\ k;,f, TingsoAT, JAN. 29.

WILLIAM ASHFORD V. ABR MAYA THORNTON, IN AN APPLAL
OF MURDER.
The prisoner was put to the bar at J o'clock, a more than usual
concourse of spectators being asseodded. At half-pat 10
Clarke, Gurney, Richanison, and Ciiitty, on behalf of the
and I.lessrs. Reader. Reynolds, and Tindal (the utter thr tile first
time), for the appellee. took their seats as usual. The whole Court
soon alter entered, Mr. Justice llayley-iiaving previously sat to take
motions of course.

Lord Ellenborough called upon Mr. Clarke, who said, that the
appeltur, %Valiant A,ltfortl„ was ut Court, and W 8.4 prepared to pu: in
his answer to the replic.ition of the appellee.
The foll..wing demurrer was then tatt.led by William Ashford to
Mr. Le Blanc, Master of the Pleas side of the Court

121 THE 1C1NG.,3, BENCH,
Thursday nest after 15 slays of St. Hilary,. in them!), dte.
WILLIAM £SHFUII.I) V. ABRAHAM THORNTON.
And the add WnLAahturd saith, &e. that the said replication of
the said A br4ham Thornton to the counterplea abut], Lie Said Win.
Ashford, is wholly insufficient in law to allow him, the said Abra-
ham Thornton, to wage his battle with him, the said William Ash-
ford ; and that he, the said William Ashrind, is not bound by the
law of the Lnd to answer the same replication, and this lie is able
and ready to verify whenever the Court ,hall think fit, &c. And
therefore the said William Ashford prays j udgi tient, and 1114 time said
Abraham 'cliornma may not be permitted to wage battle in this be-
half with him, the. said William Asiiihrtl.
WILLIAM >I ASHFORD.
M. Reader was then called upon by the Chief ustic..: Ile said •
that the joind...r in demurrer was preparing to avoid further delay, and
woulttb.: immediately delivered in.

Mr. Clarke.—Then it only remaius for the Court to appoint a time
fur arguing the clanurrer. By Tu..xtlay his side would be quite
ready.
Mr. Reader saw no objection to that day.
Lord Ellenhorough.—lt is sugt;,sted that Tuesday is the great bail
day, and one of the Judges will therefore be necessarily ab ent.
Mr. Clarke.—Then, u your Lordship pleases, we will name Fri-
day week.
Lord Ellenborough said that Friday, Feb. 6, would probably suit
all parties.
Mr. !leader said, that there would be no paper h ark to be deli-
vered to the Judges. but it would be tit that their La.lsiiils should be
furnished with wine.; of all t..e p:cxevaings.
Lind Ellunburough aswered, that they should be sent as early as
Mr. tinder remarked. that it *wild be n ece*sary that the panics
should att.'nd, aid the Court as.,enttal.
_ _

Mr. Clarke.--1 understand that in this ,proceeding the parties are
not entitled to copios of tile documents ; if the adverse party will be
so 6j3,1 as to dire t th.tr copies mould be taken, trey cm he furnish-
ed, but utiierwise what we ahallwald to your lordship. would be inertly
e.rparte.
Mr. Rea lee replied, that he should most gladly :assist the other
side by furnishing them with copies.
Mr. Clarke pro? that each party should furnish copies of that
part of the proceedings in which they were concerned.
Mr. Justico Bayley.—The ai t chin should make out co;:ies of him •
counterplea, and the appellee of his replication.
Mr. limiter rind Mr. Clarke bath :toted their readiness to comply
with this suggestion.
Thcpr:canor and Win. Atilt:l)rd were about to leave the Court, the -
former hiv.ingiv.tually been token from the bar. w;ien Mr. Reader
desire that ciey might return while the appellu delivered in his
joinder in demurrer.
The joinder in dimurrer west thms handod to Mr. Le Blanc, who
ob:ervcd, that it was not properly entitled.
Mr. Tinilal that 34 it was delivered in by tho.party instanter.
it need not be vnittic.l at all.
It was read as follows :—_ .

......., .-- —..—_ .
'• And the said Abraham t'firnton saith, that the said replication
of him, the said Ahrii:;a.n Toonvon. to the said aninterplea et* him,
the said Wm. A i.iAmi. in manner end form above pluai!ed. with the
several 'natters therein conuiitied,4se good anii suXhient matters to
allow him the said,Ahndianr'i iiiitnten, to war .e hi . batile in this ap-
peal.rith :Liu said Wm. A...bforsl. ans: which replication, and tile mat-
..
tae: therein contained, the said .'-brahani Tdoenton is rea.iy to verity
am prove. as di: Court arty direct. lie, th:ret,.re, prays yit.lgine; :
and that h: may b.: permitted to wage his battle in Lab uppt.itt, with
him, the ...aid Win. Ashford..

A$ soon tus doeu.urtt hat been o!zit(l. :al the parties eetirecL

A new comedy was read in the Green-room at Drury
Liao Tlie.itre on evening List.

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