The National Register.
London, England, 1822-12-22 00:00:00

TIANI:LtIIII'S.

. . .
B. G. Spedding. Jun. lttekmaniwortii, Herts. coal merchant.
Solicitors;. Messrs Kirkman anti Co. Cannon stmer.
.1. Diluent:a. Drayton in Halm, Salop. 'Hooey erivt.ucr. Sot
Mr. Basler, tiray'.s Lin Mac.:.
J. Crisp. Ce.isenhall, Suibilk, shopkeeper. Sul. Mr. Cufaudc,
Noit'olk :nicer, Strand.
S. Knipe. Liverpool, merchant. Sol. Mr. Willett, Essex.
St.eet, "ftaapp.
t.. Itoylunce, Liverpool, merchant. Sol. Mr. IHason, New
Bridge Street.
H. L. Bennett, Liverpool, tobaccoi.i4, Sols. Messrs. Swain
and Co. the Jewry.
J. H. Seward, Leominster, mercer. Sul. Mr. Bach, of Mr.
Coates, Leariamstcr.
M. Pile, jun. Sitlinouth, Devonshire, cabinet maker. Sol. Mr.
Lys. I intilti's lon Flack.
I. Jul...es and It. IVe.ton, Nfanchmter, hop dealers.
MCWIL Willis and Co. Thro.onorton Stru..r.
DIVIDENDS.

Dee. fn, W. Law, C.;,7t14111i3114.11i;er5, ThroTnor ten Street,
ntetenant—Jau. 7, J. hay and J. Sprauwell, l avi tuck Street,
eutret.t Gamer, drapers-7. It. I'. kiwi°, Klut Street, Grilft. lan
ale Inewer—l J. (.o.ton. Henry Street, Ilaktipmead
6.1144 'l'. Rezty, Suntn welch:int-20, S.
snropAtire, broker-15, It. and L.
Edleston. cotton tuanul'acturers-27, J. ItentlalL
Ilridpurt, ;; ; f.
CLItTIFICATF.S to be granted Jan. 7.
J. Oetnet:ce, junior, Nurti.u.oserlanl Strea, Matylctrone,
cari,:•uter—lt. lleutsey, Whitecroa Street, St. tiuther
wictataut.

Lair lATELIIGEXCE.

COURT OF KING'S BENCH.
(Siain9a briars tha Lord Chief Justice.)
BDINDAY, DEC. IS.

THE KING V. slit NA I.IIANIEL CoNANT, COLLINS, AN) MILLS.

This case has been already haute the puMie, and this was n
ucw trial of the indictment ou which the defendants were
found guilty.
Mr. Soulett stated, that lie appeared as Counsel for Mr. J.
Meek, a much injured sod meritorious individual ; one of the
magistrates, !sir Nathaniel Conant, was dead. He slid not
mean to cast reflections on the dead, fib-thee than that the facts
themselves usual impugn Lis memory. The charge in this ;e-
-die talent contained ate imputation of siii;s- or motives on these
defendants, in refusing to grain Mr. Mee.: a licence, either
from norrupt motives or from personal pique or prejudice.—
Tile public peace. the morals, and the tranquillity of his Ma-
jesty's subjects, depend oti the pure administration of publics
justice. No individual was to be placed at the mercy, or the
(-eeriest; or prejedice, of any man, however high, who was in-
triode:it ailb the adiainietrnt• of the law. Was a man, as
iu this case, without imputation on his character, to he ruined
end blasted in his prospects and character ? Mr. Meek pur-
chased in ISIS the lease of a public house in St. John-street,
Clerkeuwell. Ile bestowed touch espence in putting it in re-
pair. The character of the house itself was without reproach,
and the defendant challenged the strictest scrutiny tutu his
previone character. having expended 12UUL which was his
whole capital, he approached the magistretes of Clerkenwell
with Facet coulitletice that lie would obtain a renewal of his
licence. On the 3it of S:diteinher he was called into s private
rosin, and told his licence was suspended, without any cause
being assigned, althengli there had been individuals who had
previously inspected the premises and found no obj• et ion, ex-
there being two doors, nail he agreed immediately to abut
out of them, although he knew every house in the street
bad two &tore, mid particularly a brewer's house next door,
and to this day cud to this hour he did not believe that was a
ground of objection. New, whatever tats ht be swum this day,
or might have been sworn before, he ( Mr. Seal-lett) would never
le-Hose any but partiality and eutrupt mut I l's. Two magic.
t. apes had previously reported this house a fit one to be li-
censed, but these defendatits, without any ostensible reason,
thought proper to refuse. Ile applied to thran again and again.
Sir N. Conant pleaded ignorance of his case, mind desired him
In apply ag-du. lie produced a petition and cut tificate of good
segued by nearly the whole parish. The case was
' •rlly decided on, and this man obliged to shut up Ida house
e •pproached the magistrates in 1517 with a petition, not
only signed by all the h unstaliles, but by alt the respeetable
ira.e:iitauts, that this was in every respect a lit house ; and Mr.
Meek has since had a licence fur another house. One treat
O .-et of the le oslature• was to prevent persons hat in, any
v....election a ith hiewe.a influencing their motives in granting
le ion; acid althmigh magistrates may nut be brewers, yet
L. some strenge brewers could obtain licenses for
tin is Louses when no persans independent of the brewers could
be licensed. COM alUll al-use would say, if there was the ale.
saute of all prolmble cause for refusing a lioeuce, the inevitable
cooclusiors of the Jar, would be to infer either malice, par-
tiality, or other corrupt unlit. One of the magistrates asked
only one quostiun, which was—What brewers he dealt with?
Ile believed he should lie able to prove that Mr. Lucas, a
brewer, was present on these ItaaSiall>l. Vt by he should be
present. the leaned Counsel slid not know. It occurred to a
pet sou who had left oft dealing with Meux, on being refused, le
give an order tor live butts of beer, and then his license was
gl mated. Collins, one of the def nitaide. went into an explars-
lion with one of the parties refiracil tt licence on the subject rd
a couvereation between Min and a hiewer, as being a cause for
his not succeeding. lie should show du same corrupt influeuce
at work, and that covert and undelhanduess which made it
only the suite critteual. Ile slioniti allow that men of the most
inliwous cLarectes could ohlaiu Iterates if they dealt with the
brewers. Was a ituraietrate to usual' the umpire of dispoerd of
the fortunes of individuals, cud wiap himalt isi mystic obscu-
rity, refusing to assign aiy CUM.: t Ile would not Moe f..c
Gentleinen of the Jury coati any neap tissue suapieion, but Le
must sty that the UMW prulourii la. Li; in them to chow that any
&oral metier esi.ded. The 1e..10 wes Ibis : the Mew ef bad a
profit rat every bait of beer he cold ; and thus, by li-Olse corrupt
meter tatidtng between either the brewers, or their servants,
the Ma eistrates, un di teliesiee t eir duty, and its disparage•
seeet Si the purity of podclic jsst.ce, lent thetas dyes to the pri-
•ate iateraara of one paity to the fran of ineritinious iudivi-
.l{lo3.

Mr. James Meek, exaedned by the Common Sergeant.—
Witne.s per. hissed, in 141 i, * It•nse of Ile Green 31)11 public
hon.., to Joha-streot, Clot Lto.t C tve 3401. for the tow
—list tees lAA/. sie a lel in ,2401. understood
it Lad Leen..to...u..ed tut 2OJ 'cat, Ihscittnd

'4416L ;" -1911‘,
•. 'AO I • .11"01.-,- .
THE NATIONAL REGISTER

of the premises, and the etitt.rations which were made. When
witness first came into the pc raises, the sale was two butts
per month ; at first dealt with Steerlock and Co. afterwards
Melia, Reid, and Co. This was in ''larch, It;15 ; lie first
%v cut to Altus, and continued until September of that year to
deal with them. This was among the most convenient houses
in the trade. Witness's liernee was renewed in Sept. 1815,
without the least thiliettlty. II • named the same law;istrate,
defendants on this ititlicameta, and- two others, attending the
granting of licencus. The &att.:lit eucreased (root September
1815, fruit two butts to betwixt three and fuer, to the end of
his ilealiwr with Meux, Reid. mat Co. and so on to ten butts
ain.l a half: lie then dealt with Barclay, Perkins, and Co.—
Iu the course of 1816, engaged a man named Rawlins to draw
the beer, who was under witness's control, and was to leave,
by agreement, within five days' notice. He left WitileSS'S ser-
vice about June 1616, a year alter witness engaged him. After
that witness managed it himself, until the September of that
year. Transferred his getteral account front :dux and Co. to
1l cloy aud Co. Know a Mr. Lewis, tuatragiug clerk to Meux
and Co.
Mr. Gurney objected to what Lucas said to witness.
The Comatnu sergeant said he should prove dissatisfaction
expressed, and ibis wad as indictment for couspirucy betweeu
these defendants aud dicers persons.
Mr Scarlet, said it wits Wit to make what witness said evi-
dence, only th•tt a disardis.hebon was expressed.
The Lord Chief Justice did not see bow there wan any con-
nexion betwevo Lucas and defendants, and it war to he wads
either admissable evidonee or not. 'When this witness was
made to be connected with defetielants, that would alter the
cue.

The Common Sergeant.—Laces was the Agent of Meux.
Vitne., proceedect.—Ou the 3d of September, ISIS, he at.
tended the at CIL:Ohl:MVO!, with other pub-
licans, fur their licences—a pptr was sent etiwn with tqe
names of person,' whose licences were suspended until ISIS--
amongst these his own was one. Witness did nut see any of
the magistratos on that day. Mr. Cuckerill came to v...iteas's
house that bight, in company with the High Constable, and
made a mintatb examination cf his house. Witness asked if

there had been any complaint made against him? The answer
was, they had never heard of any thing disrespectful of him,
quite otherwise. Mr. Cockerill asked whether witness had ever
given any premium for his goodwill? Witness answered he
hail not. 'fold them be bad discharged Rawlins—a guinea a
butt was a fair and regular profit—asked if there was any foun-
dation for refusing his licence! Then asked the High Constable
if it was necessary fur victuallers to petition where there was
no cause assigned for re using a licence. He answered, tha
only remedy is shutting it up— it would be of no use petitioning.
Thomas Hills was die High Cnnstnble. He said he wished to
sot every thing to rights. It was understood there were two
doors iu the front, and that circumstance was pointed out to the
magistrates. Vs itness told the Zmegistrates he had nut made
any new door. and that, if it was net according to their %%ids lie
bad no objeeti in to shut it up.—W itness alluded to other
houses in the same street—the Queen's Head, which had two
doors, nod others within a hundred yards of witness's house.—
They theta left his premises. Previous to their departure he
shelved them his teperoom, which was large enough to hold 40
or Ott persons. After the gentlemen left the house the High
Constable returned in about live minutes, mid told witness he
need not stop business till after the adjournment. NN'ent again
before lie magistrates on the (bib j the defeudent and the Rev.
Dr. Cosi:eine, Mr. Cockerill, and Mr. Lewis. One of thew
The *newer was, .‘ Yes, another day, on the 21st." Witnes
then got a petition and certificates prepared, which he produced,
signed by the ehurchwnelens, and all the inhabitants but one,
who was out. Oa the :Seth of teat month saw Sir N. Conant at
ihe Freemasons' Twice n, when he had a conversition with him
about his licence. lie said lie recollected nothing about it, he
asked what brewer lie dealt wills. 'fold them liatelay and Co,
Offered to Koehler the brewers' and distillers' Leeks. The
consumptien of beer was not quite 201. a meth. Tiley told
whitens they did not want to see either brewer or distillers'
hooks. Mr. Coleville said to one of the inagisttatee—.• Sir,
gnu know 110iiii og of the Cise." Witness was then ordered to
withdraw, and went. 11e contianed out of the room, perhaps
for ten minutes, and was then ordered in again, when Sir N.
Conant cline into the room, and spike to Mr. Collins, who
was claw man, and witticss was agaiii ordered to withdraw :
was out of the r . iu ten minutes or a quarter of as hour, when
an order came out iIIAL his licence was stopped. lie waited till
after the cases were gone through, and then went into the ma-
gistrates room, and asked if there was soother adjou.nment.—
did nut know witness, or where his house was situated ; but,
if witness would come to the Sessions 110U.4e fleet inoeniog,
there were eonw objections to prefer against bim, stet be would
do every thing in his power to nettle it. Weed ou the 21st and
saw Mr. Richards, clerk to the magistrates, to whom Ile de-
livered the petition and certificates—was called into aroma
about ten minutes or a quarter of an hour after—there found Sir
Sir K. Conant and Mr. Coact ill, and believes other magistrates
—Sir Nailiaitiel sold the Cheirmen Wing absent, they could
met totter auto the business ; iiOUl that September to September
fallowing be resided in that house, without following his busi-
Dees —applied iii September, 1817, by petition, si „tied Ly every
one of the iiihabitants—and wits then attended by Mr. Hender-
son, witness's solicitor, since dead—witness was then called
before the whole six ice:gib-trate* that were there the year
before—Mr. lleuderson asked the reason why they would not
grant my liceuue, sod he would take it for granted they had
some good supposed the reason was known to the
co 1111 l titter of the I louse of Commons—Ate reason the magistrates
gave was, lois dealing priucipilly in spirits, and not malt liquors
—Once of the magistrates said in answer, that they had never
given any reason at all, and would not: the magistrates asked
who this Ilentlersun was, and said they did not allow solicitors
to interfere for licensed victuallers, or to address them 011 the
subject—witness and lie then withdrew. The actia-g constable
then wort in again with witness, when Mr. Collies asked bim if
he lied any thole disrespectful to say of witness—the visiting
constahlc said euthiog hut what was to Lla prise—as visiting
constable, lie oiled *peek tie more to the purpose than any
body else—he alluded to the Swan opposite, sod said eduiessers
was a very ready coadueted beuse. The magistrates teen
told Rohins, the cmiateide, that if lie had nothing dierespeett'ul
ti speak of witness he might eu away—witness's licence was
again refused—he applied again in Sept. 1515, for a renewal ;
the same sir, including the Ater. Dr. Owen sat—witness (lieu
preeeuti d lestinioaiels with petition, iu which the inhabitants
of Si. Jawea's Parisi& juieeil those of St. John's. Those certi-
licak.e were signed tech soar by the Rector of the parish,
stated his losses and pa ivations, but was again refused. Ap-
plied agile in Septeenser, A gentleman of the name of
Weeks hod j .itted the mei:esti-ate* of the preceding year,
Lenient his petitiem and ceraccute signed is before, and made
his application, stiothe his ruined eh rents, anees. Sir N.
C meet said I am one of the magietretes, anal I object to your
petiiiee, on 0•C g.iniod that your petition is false ; bat I did
tueuti.et ii what particular it was false j told Lim he was