The Sun.
London, England, 1808-11-26 00:00:00

COURT OF KING'S BENCH, Nov, 2;.

COMBINATION AMONG THE CORN DEALERS.
Mr.-Gvu now 'called the attention of .th'e Court to
a circumstance, important at all times, but particu-
lady so at present, when the price of corn is so ex-:
treinely high. The fa& to which he alluded was, a
Combination among certain 'Corn-dealers, of a most
mischievous tendency ; and his motion to the Court ,
was fir a rule tt) shew cause why a criminal iner-
,should not be filed against them for such
combination. The parties against whom he Moved
were named Palsgrave, Dawson, Crisp, - Brown,
Rich, Hawes, and others, as -set down in
,three
lists he should deliver in to the Court. The affi--
davit upon which he moved set fbrth, that acustOtn,
time immemorial, had prevailed in the Corn-market
of the City of Norwieh, 'of selling corn by sample,
for ready money, or for 'Bank-notes, eqUivalentto
cash, the 'payment to be made on the delivery of
\the bulk, or on the next market day. The affi-
davit then stated; that-on 'the 22d ofnelober last,:
there appeared in the iorfollt Mercury a Resolution of
the Corn-dealers to,the following effeCt :—" Re-"
solved,4hat from and after this day we shall not pur-
chase corn 'on any other terms than'a iironth's'credit,
to 'be calculated from the day of delivery.v—The
Learned, Counsel here observed, that 'he did not
mean to 'dispute the tight of individuals- to sell or
purchase corn on what terms they 'conk', agree upon;
but he would contend, that, Corn-deAerS -had no
right to enter into a combination, which bad for its
etrea great-public mischief, 'and general inconveni-
ence.
_But there were other Resolutions the Corn-
dealers in question had come to ;• in the first place,
if. they were compelled to pay ready money, they
resolved to have a.disiount of one penny upon every
pound sterling they paid, which. would he tanta-
mount to the mouth's credit; and, secondly, that
the dealer's should meet at a given hour on the mar-
ket day, and do no business after two o'clock ; thus
changing the whole course and practice of a market
organized for the sale of the most essential article of
-our subsistence. These Resolutions were signed by
the parties against whom he had moved, and who
had carried these Resolutions into effect, by .refusing
to fulfil their contrav'ts but under the conditions
.stated.. The mischievous effedts of this combina-
tion had been felt already, and the importance of
the motion, he trusted, would be acquiesced in by
the Cond.
Lord ELL...-.NBOROUGH asked Mr. GAREOW ih what
way he proposed to state the public mischief, which
he • said ought to be suppressed, in case the Court
granted a rule to shew cause ? He should imagine it
must be by alledging that the practice alluded to had
the 'effect of enhancing, the price of corn, inasmuch'
as the growers must require a larger price for their
produce, if they were obliged to give a month's cre-
dit. In other wordS, by the • Resolutions entered
into by the Corn-dealers; terms were imposed upon,
the sellers of corn which had the effect of enhauc-.
• invite: price of that essentialiartiele
Mr. GARROW said, his Lordship had a corral
idea of ithe mischief complained or, and it was itn-
.
possible to calculate the further mischiefs that were
• likely to arise, it the Court did not interfere to put
doWn the` combination.. The effe& already pro-
duced was, that of • forcing the growers to find anoi
ther market, and conSequenly the supply it. the Nor-
wich market being diminished, the price..was en,
hanced. •He would repeat that persons had a right
to buy' and sell upon the most advantageous terms
they could get ; but a body of individuals had no
right to do that colleftively, the effe& of which was
'prejudicial to the community at large.,
Lord ELLENBOROUGII.—" As individuals they may
tiny and sell upon the terms they agree to ; nobody
will question that right; but combining to impose
terms upon the grower, such, as described, is cal-
culated to enhance the price of grain in the market,
and of lessening the supply in that market, which
is another cause for an increased price. Take a-rule
to shew cause. - It will be the means .of more fully
:discussing the question, or of putting an end to the
1 practice-altogether."-.—Rule to shew cause granted.

TaL DUTY OF MAGISTRATES:

Mr. CLARKE gave notice of an intended motion
for a rule to file a criminal information against John
Browne, Esq. a Magistrate of Norwich, tor irregula-
rity in passing Susannah Parsons and her child to her
• parish. The Learned Counsel said, he only men-
, tioned the case, as it would be necessary to give the
Magistrate a month's ❑otice of the motion, and he
.should come again perhaps next Term.

- .
13ow-STazETl,=-Ori eve.ninr-,
-veyor; Bricklayer, Carpenter, and Chairman of tlit,
Corirmiree of' Paving for the-Parish/Of St. Cle-
ment 'Danes, attended before. Mr. GIZACIAZ,I, in coo'
-sequence (If a bill Of indi6ttnent having been .fotoi4
against. them at ,the last Middlesex SCsFiolls,,fqr
nuisance in stopping up the . thoroirlltare of
Strand , several months, for the purpoe of digging
an ice-well forNlr. Moessard, the Confe4..iioner, ad,
Joining the Crown. and
:Anchor Tavern. Mr.
* HA,Dalield them, to bail in Idol. each, and two sure-
! ties in 501. each.
TIME AND TROUBLF. SAvt.m.—On Saturday, ::1;
the conclusion of the:, ceremony of a marriage ni
Church, in Susses; the Bride •cornplained
of sudden indisposition, retired the,
hastilyk-
and soon after presented tier husband with a chop:
ping son and heir.
INCREASE OF VAI.-I,E.—Several houses in the to\
. of Harwich, the piopetty of Counsellor TREBEGP
which fifty years ago were purchased for 6601. were;
.sold ,last Thursday, by auaion, fOr 68001.