The Sun.
London, England, 1849-06-18 00:00:00

THE HOTEL PROPRIETORS.

A petition, of which the. folio ing is a copy, was pre-
sented to the House of Commons on Friday last by Ain
Masterman:—
" The Humble Petition of the undersigned Proprietors of
Hotels, Taverns, and Victualling Houses in London
and its neighbourhood,
"Most humbly sheweth:
"That your petitioners are proprietors and keepers of
hotels, taverns, and houses licensed and used for the sale
of wines and spirituous liquors and the general accom-
modation of her Majesty's subject?.
" That before y our petitioners obtain licenses to em-
bark in their respective trades, and to enable them to
provide accommodation for the public, a considerable
outlay is required, frequently at a total sacrifice of capi-
tal and exertion, and at present, from depression of' trade
and concurrent circumstances, with but precarious pros-
pect of return for their investment.
" That the position of your petitioners, as traders, has
become of late years more hazardous from the easy tran-
sit by railway of persons who, when formerly visiting
the metropolis, were by their stay the inmates and sup-
porters in trade of your petitioners; and also by the de-
parture for country residence of many who used with
their families to reside in this great metropolis, and by
their dealings with your petitioners, greatly contributed
to their success in trade.
" That. eotwithS't ending their loss of business from the
causes alleged, your petitioners are compelled (in the
hope that a respectable appearance may aid them) to keep
up their houses and establishments at a great expense.
" That, besides the large rents to which your peti-
tioners are subject, and the expenses contingent upon oc •
cupying spacious houses, your petitioners are obliged to
retain trustworthy servants for the protection of the
property of the public visiting their establishments.
" That the Parliamentary and parochial calls upon
your petitioners are so frequent and burdensome as to
hinder them of A fair change of profit and return for the
exertion and anxiety in their respective trades.
" That of the heavy and pressing claims upon your pe-
titioners, the charge uhder the head of assessed taxes is
most unequal and unjust, becauseit imposes upon them
a tax in respect of their trade premises, trade servants,
apprentices, and even labourers, equally with the noble-
men and gentlemen who use their mansions and keep
livery servants for their own individual comfort, whilst
your petioners are too frequently obliged to rent large
houses and keep servants in the anticipation of profit,
which, for the reasons urged, does not accrue.
" That your petitioners, in submitting the inequality
and hardship of being similarly charged for their trade
premises, trade servants, apprentices, and labourer, with
noblemen and gentlemen, whose mansions and servants
so largely contribute to the luxuries enjoyed, beg leave
most humbly to assure your Honourable House that they
do not desire to shrink from their fair and equal share
of taxation with their fellow-tradesmen, but would cheer-
fully submit thereto.
" That your petitioners beg leave most humbly to draw
the attention of your Honourable House to the afore-
going statement of facts, their present Lability to window
tax upon their trade houses, the increasing and heavy
rates of duty charged for their trade servants, appren-
tices, and labourers, and also to the charges for servants
designated waiters'—burdens to which no other trade
is liable; and your petitioners most humbly and ear-
nestly beg that your Honourable House will consider of
the hardship of their case, and be pleased to grant them
such relief as may peem to your Honourable House to be
just and proper."
This petition was signed by upwards of 220 of the
most respectable proprietors and occupiers of the hotels
and victualling houses in London, and deserves the
serious attention of the Legislature.

CHARGE or ASSAULT.—On Saturday Mr. Claude
Lyon, Mr. Pnilip Sydney, and Mr. Frederick Beckford,
appeared before the nv.3gistrates at Richmond, on •a
charge of having obstrucA the police in the execution
of their duty. Mr. Bull, the landlord of the Castle
Hotel, Richmond, was implicated in the affair. The
defendants had been dining at the Castle, and, previous
to leaving, armed themselves by throwing a quantity
of oranges, and other thinks, at the two opposite houses.
Mr. Abbott and Mr. Brie er took offence at their con-
duct, and remonstrated, taut without effect. The police
were then called, and a regular row ensued; and, ulti-
mately, the constables were severely beaten. The court,
after.hearing the evidence, inflicted a fine of 51. each on,
Messrs. Lyon and Sydney; and Meares geckibrd
Bull were filled 20s. each.