The Sun.
London, England, 1854-08-23 00:00:00

rah ithn, ACY.

1 DEPUTATION TO THE COMMISSIONER& CIF
POLICE.
Yesterday a deputation, consisting of Mr. T. B. Simp-
son, Cremorne-house ; Mr. W. Luce, King'a AMID
Hotel, Hampton-court ; Mr. J. W. Adams, -Star and
Garter, Keve-bridge and Mr. J. Kirby, White Lion,
IPutney, waited on Sir Richard Mayne, at Scotland-yard,
to state the grievances inflicted upon them and upea
- the public by the operation of the new set, and to take
hip opinion as to the meaning.of the word "traveller."
Mr. Hinton, Highbury Barn, and Mr. Conquest, Earl*
Tavern, although unable to attend, concurred in the ob.
ject of the deputation.
Mr. T. R. Surssox introduced the -deputation, and
stated their object to be to take Sir Richard's advice as
to the best mode of proceeding under the new; act, and
to show how seriously it interfered, not with their in-
terests, but with the recreations and comforts of the
public.
Mr. Lret wished to call the commissioner's attention
to the hardship that had been inflicted in bis,caae. His
customers were principally gentlemen who came more
distinctly under the designation of travellers tlaan those
who had been so defined by Mr. Long in his decision re-
specting Jack Straw's Castle. He had requested 1101132
of them to put down their names in a book, an& to stat•
their opinions of the new act, and he begged the com-
missioner to look over it. (Mr. Luce here produced a
book containing the signatures of persons from almost
all parts of the world—Cairo, Turin, United States, Ire-
land, Scotland, Germany, &0.,
who having visited his
house on Sundays since the passing of the act, protested
in various languages against its inconvenience and op-
presiee character.) These parties all applied to him for
refreshment as travellers, and his object in attending
there was to ask the commissioner in how far the inspec-
tor was justified in summoning him for etipplying
them.
Sir R. MAINE said that it was the duty of the polies
to obtain cases for the decision of the magistrates. His
duty was merely executive—to see that the law Wll,B
obeyed. It was for the magistrates to decide on the
proper interpretation of the law. With 'respect to the
traveller's book which Mr. Luce had produced, the pro-
oLbuaotboitdlhioteyol.waw in a
was that
hand notthatall the
inconvenient thetravellers had come last from
slightestor dispositionossie m
toacnanrryer,
m
but it was important that theftning pp v
ofrtehe wdrd " tra-
veller" should be decided by the proper tribunals. He
was sorry if trade was inconvenienced, but he should
not be doing his duty did he not bring the cases before
the magistrates.
Mr. Luc said he eruppoied that in districts where
the magistrates had decided the police would not again
interfere.

The COMMISSIONER said it was not for him to say. If
a number of magistrates decided the same way, it would
of course be a guide to him in carrying out the acts.
Mr. LUCE observed that, from the mode in which the
act Lad been hurried through Parliament, at the close of
the session, one half the public were not aware of its pro•
visions.

Sir R. MAYNE repeated that he had nothing to do
with that matter. His duty was to see the law exe-
cuted; but it was no part of his intention to have it
carried out in a harsh or oppressive manner. He had
told the superintendent to caution Mr.' Luce on last
intended
to that he was infringing the law, and he
to take the opinion of the magistrate. By that opinion
he, of course, would be guided in future proceedings.
Mr. LUCE wished to take Sir Rrchard's opinion as to
whether, the police having obtained sufficient evidence
of the infringement of the law in his coffee room on Sun-
day last, they were justified in insisting upon entering
private rooms, when parties were at dinner.
Sir R. MAYNE said that that depended on the circum-
stances of the case. He Would cause inquiry to be made.
Police officers had a right to do many things from which
they refrained, as his instructions to them always was to
carry out the law with as much moderation :is possible.
Mr. T. B. SIMPSON said that hie case differed some-
what from that of Mr. Luce, but equally showed the
unfair operation of the act. indeed, he believed that if
Parliament had known the real nature of the case they
would never have passed it at all.
Sir R. MAYNE asked whether it had not been brought
in by Mr. W. Patten ?
Mr. B. SIMPSON—Yes, he had endeavoured to con-
form to the act as much as possible, but last Sunday had
not been able to please the inspector. He had closed
all the bars, and hail ceased to serve customers before
10 o'clock, but found it iinpossibe to clear the people
out for 20 minutes after. The inspector said he must
report, but he (Mr. Simpsot ) wanted to know how he
was to clear 1,500 people yet of his grounds in less than
20 minutes. He had been told that at Gravesend the
act was set at open defiance, and that at the. Star and
Garter, Richmond, business was carried on just as usual.
The inspector bad told him he must clear out at 10, as
an example to his neighbours, but it should be recol-
lected that they had probably to clear out only 12 feet
square, while he had 12 acres. They might have 20
people to remove, while he had 1,500. The inspector
turther asked him why the house could not be cleared on
Sunday as well as on Saturday night ; but his answer
was, that in one case the, people knew the law, and
thought it just ; in the other, they did not, and thought
the curtailment of their liberty unreasonable. On Satur-
day night the bell rang, and in five minutes every one
was uut ; but on Sunday, on the same signal, there was
almost an el,clAtOn the grounds, so angry were the pub-
lic at'what they considered to be an arbitrary and tyran•
nical restriction. They yelled, hooted, and tumbled the
lamps and glasses about. He had had averages of 7,000,
8,000, and 10,000 people at Creinorne on Sunday after-
noons, and order and decorum were preserved by one
policeman. These crowds were no drunkards, but respect-
able members of the community, who, having saved their
money during the week, came out to enjoy the fresh
air on Sundays.
Sir R. MAYNE{ said lie could himself speak to the
good order which prevailed in Cremorne-gardens, but
the question they bad now to consider was, that there
was a certain law, and they must conform to it. He
should think, however, that if the sale of liquors was
honestly closed at ten o'clock, a reasonable time might
be allowed by the police for clearing the grounds. He
meant, of course, a boila fide closing ; as the law might
be evaded by buying a large quantity just before the
i time.
(Sir R. Mayne then sent for the summoning book,
and showed that although several summonses had been
issued, the cases did not agree with that described by
Mr. Simpson.)
Mr. KIRBY (White Lion, Putney) said that on last
Sunday he had several gentlemen come to his house in
broughams and phaetons, who ordered dinner. They
also wanted wine and ale, and he wiaied to know whe-
ther he should be justified in supplying them ?
Sir R. Mayss declined giving any opinion on th
construction of an act of parliament. All he had to
was to see the law executed.
Mr. KIRBY said that one-half the public were
aware that such a law had been passed. The fact was,
that the whole trade had been " sold" by the Licensed
Victuallers' Protection Society, which was governed by
about a dozen bin-shop keepers in London, whose busia
ness was quite different from that of suburban hotels.
He was obliged to lay in poultry, fish, and other perish-
able food, and if not allowed to sell them on Sunday
they would all be dead loss.
Mr. ADAMS (Star and Garter) said be had a table
d'hote on Sundays for respectable people coming from
London. All the food would be lost, if he were obliged
strictly to obey the late act.
Sir R. MAYNE said that these cases might be hard-
ships, but the question for him to ascertain was, what
the
law was, and to have it executed. He wished that
done as moderately as possible, and for that reason ha d
suggested the taking of all power from the common in-
former. The summonses were now all applied for by
the police, and he refused more than he granted.
The deputation then withdrew, having first thanked
Sir Richard Mayne for the great courtesy with which
they had been received.

ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPIIITHEATKK.
Lessee and Manager. Mr. William Cooke.

In preparation, with entirely new scenery, and every necessary
reqoisit^- a Grand EQUE4TRIAN BURLESQUE, from the pen of a
popular author. Every pains has bent Mkt'', and the most profuse
experoe has been lavished, to render this znagniticgit Spectacle worthy
of the approbation of the public! ,

THIS EVENING,-
For a Air nights more, the War Spectacle, VIZ COSSACKS; el',
Vive it Fl'ance.
Aft.-r which. the inimitable SCENES in the ARENA. invented
arranged, and directed by Mr. William Cooke.
HERR CHRISTOFF, whose miraculous Feats on the Tight Rope
have absolutely electrified the audience, will appear.
The whole to conclude with the Equestrian Ballet d'Action, by
31rs S. G. Healey. THE KNIGHT AsEr-THE WAITER LILY; or,
Dave among the Mermaids.
Box-office open from Eleven till Tour.-- Stage- Manager. Mr. W
West.