The Sun.
London, England, 1854-08-29 00:00:00

London—the nearest of any having " travelled "
a distance of fourteen miles to the place where he
required to be supplied with refreshment.
Under these circumstances it was decided by a
majority of the Justices that the parties were
travellers ; and, se.londly, that the book con-
taining the statement to that effect, and their
names and addresses should be received as
primel facie evidence thereof. The summons
was therefore dismissed, to the great delight of the
audience, who manifested the intense interest
they took in the proceedings. This very impor-
tant decision, which will probably for some time
at least be regarded as the " leading case" on the
subject was clearly correct in every particular,
both as to what constitutes a traveller, and the evi-
dence necessary to sustain it. We must not for-
get that it is a "penal" statute, and, therefore,
it must receive a liberal interpretation, there
being no " presumption" or intendment in its
favour. No inquiry can be made as to the cause

Of the travelling, -Whether it be for the purpose of
business or of pleasure. It would be absurd to
say that the gentlemen who had come from Cairo,
Canada, or Scotland should be bound to show

that they were engaged in commercial pursuits,
and not of amusement or information. Few per•
sons would be willing to submit to the cross exa-
mination of an inquisitive landlord, or to set forth
his occupation and pursuits before he could obtain
the dinner and wine which he required. All that

is necessary to satisfy the Act is, that the party
should be so far distant from his own domicile as
to be unable there to obtain meat or drink.
Now, who shall define the exact distance that the
faint and weary man must go before he can re-
ceive even a drop of water to cool his weary lips ?
Who shall say that a thirsty person should he
bound to go two mile'§, or even one mile, without
receiving the necessary refreshment ? We do not
believe that a limit can be established ; and,
therefore, every man, away from his own neigh-
bourhood, who is prepared to sign a declaration
that he is a traveller, and to give his address, is
entitled to receive what he demands from the

licensed victualler, the hour of the Sunday, not-
Irithstanding.
The reception of the book in evidence was no
lgss important than the definition of the term
"traveller." It was quite obvious that a traveller,
served on the exigeney of the moment, could not
be often produced a week or ten days subsequently
to speak for himself and to prove the accuracy of
his representations. The landlord should at his
poril receive the representations of the alleged
fl travellers." He could not administer an oath,
or even a declaration in lieu thereof. All he could
require was that the party with whom he was not
acquainted should make the representation in
writing, ready to be produced before the magis-
trates, and this would cast the onus on the prose-
citors, not merely of showing that the representa-
tibn was untrue, but that the defendant knew that
it was so.

The effect of these cases will be in a great de-
gree to do away with the Act. The thirsty soul
who requires refreshment mhy have to go a few
miles from home to receive it ; but if he do so,
and the licensed victuallers be only true to them-
selves, a coach and six may be driven through
the enactments of this very vexatious and inqui-
sitorial statute.