The Sun.
London, England, 1838-05-08 00:00:00

LICENSING OF COFFEE-HOUSES.

A very numerous Meeting of the Coffee-house Keepers was held last
night at Anderton's Hotel, to take into consideration the resolutions of
the Middlesex Magistrates relative to the licensing of Coffee-houses, and
to adopt measures thereon. Mr. MARSHALL was unanimously called to
the Chair.
The requisition and advertisement in The Sun calling the Meeting
having been read,
The CHAIRMAN opened the business by stating that this meeting was
called together to take into their most serious consideration a great
and important change which it was contemplated by the Magistrates,
with the sanction of the Legislature, to make in their business, and he
trusted that every person present would set aside all selfish feeling on
this question, and view it as one affecting the general interests and respec-
tability of the trade, and the comfort and accommodation of the pub-
lic. For his own part he considered that any interference of the Ma.
gistrates with the trade would be an evil; but certain resolutions were
prepared to be submitted to the Meeting, and he hoped the several
speakers, whether for or against those resolutions, would be quietly
listened to.

Mr. ELLtorr moved the first resolution, and in doing so, he begged to
state, that his firm conviction was, that this proceeding of the Middle..
sex Magistrates was but the beginning of an evil, of which no one knew
where it would end, and he considered it was best to oppose this un-
called-for Interference of those Functionaries in the bud, for were they
tamely to submit to this first aggression, those Worthies would never
rest till they had them bound hand and foot, like the Licensed Victual.
lers. He begged to move this resolution :-
1. " That this meeting learn with great alarm and regret the inten.
tion of bringing into Parliament, a Bill founded on the resolutions of the
Middlesex Magistrates, for the purpose of Licensing Coffee Houses."
Mr. HARE briefly seconded the resolution ; and on
The Cow ImstAN putting the question,
Mr. MORGAN rose, not to oppose the resolution, as he was against
the Licensing System, as well as keeping open all night, but he hoped
that nothing in the resolutions to be submitted to the Meeting would
prevent them from applying in the proper quarter for permission to open
an hour or two earlier in the morning in the neighbourhood of markets,
for the convenience of those who arrived from the country, and which
permission he considered would answer every purpose, both for the pub-
lic and Coffee.house Keepers.
The SECRETARY assured him that there was nothing to prevent such
an application ; and the resolution was carried unanimously.
Mr. BINMORE proposed the next resolution, and he cordially agreed
with It in every respect, as he was convinced that any measure founded
on those resolutions of the Middlesex Magistrates would be highly in.
juriotts to the Cofree-house.keepers, and likewise greatly interfere with
the comfort of the sober part of the public; for what respectable man
would like to enter a Coffee.house in the morning and find himself seated
vis-a-vis to a person half drunk, and fast asleep ? Coffee-houses at pre.
sent were of real service to the public, and promoted the cause of
morality and temperance; but he was convinced that such a measure as
that contemplated would be the means of counteracting whatever good
had been accomplished ; and for those reasons he would most strenuously
oppose any such measure. He concluded by moving the following re.
solution :

2. " That this Meeting considers, that those resolutions, if carried
into operation by Act of Parliament, will be injurious to the Coffee-
house keepers, and greatly interfere with the comforts and accommoda-
tion of the public."
Mr. MARTIN seconded the resolution; and after some remarks from
several of the gentlemen present, all deprecating any interference with
the trade, it was unanimously carried.
them
to
a with
be them,o pea allby
license a and dtemperatehe
Mr. HARE, in an able and eloqueut speech, moved
3. " That Coffee-houses, as at present conducted, are peculiarly
adapted for supplying the wants of the middle and working classes, in a
cheap
a; s
encdi t
ally bayn yail tliat,evri
fnegr nt
hce
night), will only tend to lower their respectability, to encourage vice
a otrv,iso , manner
(more
and immorality, without adding to the comfort and convenience of the
public."
He said that Coffee-houses had been within the last few years rising
rapidly in the estimation of the public; that their usefulness was now
appreciated; and that the Middlesex Magistrates, from a restless desire
to be intermeddling, had now taken the first step towards lowering them
in the opinion of the respectable part of the public, and of making them
(as they would eventually become, if this measure were carried) re-
ceptacles for persons of the worst character; and after detailing the
many evils that were sure to arise from such a measure, he concluded
by moving the resolution, which
Mr. FORBES seconded, and it was carried unanimously.
Mr. ELLicorr !mired, and Mr. BATLY seconded,
" 4. That this Meeting Pledge themselves to oppose by every means
in their power the passing of any Bill founded on those Resolutions, or
containing any such enactments; and that petitions be prepared and
presented to both Houses of Parliament for that purpose."
This resolution was carried unanimously.
After a vote of thanks to the Chairman the Meeting adjourned to
Monday the 21st inst.

ST. JAMES'S THEATRE.—There were two novel-
ties at this theatre last night. The first was an operatic burletta, called
Cosimo, said to be adapted from the French, with music by M. Prevost.
The merit of the piece, dramatic or musical, is by no means great. The
plot (such as it is) turns upon the assumption by a bricklayer's labourer
of the disguise of a prince, and the cool impudence with which he con_
trives to support the character and mystify the people about him ; and
Oxberry's grotesque acting of the part produced some amusement ; but
this was all. The other characters were nil. Miss Rainforth was stuck
into the piece for the purpose of singing a few airs; for the character
she personated had not the slightest connection with the plot. The piece
was coldly received. The other novelty was much better, and much
more successful. It was a little farce in one Act, called The British
Legion. Three young ladies, sisters (personated by Mrs. Honey, Miss
Williams, and Miss J. Mordaunt) have each a lover serving in Spain.
The soldiers return home; but, before they see their mistresses, their
t servant (a bit of a wag) persuades the girls that their lovers have re.
igmetivei lostmeet
ateg; an arm, and an eye, in the service. The damsels
determine their swains in disguise, in order to learn the truth of
the report; and the gentlemen, aware of their intention, pretend to
have suffered these mutilations ; this gives occasion to several whimsical
scenes. This little piece was greatly applauded, and promises to have
a run.

I —lt is singular to find the choice collections of the
Bourbons and of Buonsparte, the chefs d'ceuvre of the workmen of France,
made to adorn the palaces of the great King, exposed for saleby the ham-
mer in Oxford-street. Such, however, is the fact, and the humblest
born man in Britain, if he have acquired gold by his labour, may to.
morrow make himself the master of the curtains that adorned Buona.
parte's room,
of the superb clock that warned Louis IVth of the fleeting
of time at Versailles, and the tapestry that reminded the Bourbons when
placed on the throne of Spain of the rich and grave humour—by a repre-
sentation of the exploits of Don Quixote—of the people over whom
they had come to reign from a foreign country. These splendid speci_
and
mens of three of the most renowned manufactures of France—silk, gold,
tapestry, at their best periods—are all to be sold to-morrow by Oxen-
ham; to any London citizen who chooses to say that he has purchased
articles which weremade for Kings. To be duly apprech,ted, however,
they must be seen; we caneot describe them.
A New Series of " Random Recollections of the
Lords and Commons," is announced to be published in a few days.
All those who have perused Mr. Grant's former volumes, will look with
much interest to the appearance of this Second Series, for the number of
new Members in the present Parliament is such as to afford a most
extensive field for the exercise of this author's talent for describing
faithfully and graphically whatever has fallen under his observation.
Yesterday, about twelve o'clock, a desperate attempt
at suicide was made by a gentleman, apparently about 80 or 90 years
of age, near the sheet of water at the back of Kensington-palace. For.
tunately Shearlock, a police constable of the A division, was on duty in
the gardens ; and the gardener having some suspicion of the intentions
of the individual, arrived in time, it is believed, to prevent a fatal re-
sult ; but not before the gentleman had inflicted a severe wound on
his throat with a knife. A hurdle was procured, and Shearlock, with
other assistance, conveyed him to St. George's Hospital, where the
wound was dressed, and is not considered of a very dangerous charac-
ter. Upon inquiry at the hospital last night, it was ascertained that
the gentleman, who is unable to speak English, alleged that the only
cause he had for attempting self-destruction was, that lie was tired °fins
life, and was in his 94th year. The gardener had some difficulty in
wresting the knife from his hands. He persists in concealing his name.
On Sunday afternoon, as some boys were amusing
themselves near Chalk Farm by riding in th'7,. - - "utside the
railroad, one of them, a very fine'
Stewart Butt, who lived
street, Somers-town
run over the low-
manner. lir
London 14