The Sun.
London, England, 1847-01-05 00:00:00

PRICES OF MALT LIQUORS.
Last night a special meeting of the Hackney Licensed
Victuallers' Protection Society was held at Mr. Homers,
Dolphin, Hackney, to take into consideratione
in same
ro-
the the P
priety of raising the price of beer, ae
ratio as the advance by the brewersaln'd distillers. The
meeting was most numerously and respectably attended,
and included, besides the great majority of the licensed
victuallers of the district, many membersl of the
a v
the
lively
from all parts of tile metropolis, w evincedinterest in the business of the meeting.
by Mr. HOMER,
On the motion of Mr. STrest,seconded
Mr. Hubble was unanimously called to the chair ; and
Mr. B. L. JEcies, the secretary, having read the cir-
cular convening the meeting,
The said
,HAIRMAN the business on which they were
,
assembled was one of great ;importance to the trade. It
was to discuss what steps should be taken in consequence
of the recent advance of prices by the metropolitan
brewers, and the propriety of their also raising prices in
the same ratio. If any gentlemen present had any reso-
lution to propose on the subject, he was sure that he
would meet with a candid and impartial hearing, and
that the subject would be discussed solely with reference
to the facts of the case.—(Hear.)
Mr. J. J. HOMER said it would have given him much
pleasure to have heard the opinion of the numerous body
of gentlemen around him before expressing his own ;
but as no one else came forward, he rose to submit a
motion to the meeting on the question they had met to
consider. When he heard of the advance in price on
Saturday last, he felt that it was a subject for the con-
sideration of the trade, and that a meeting should be
held for that purpose. With that view he had imme-
diately caused a notice to be inserted in the Morning
Advertiser calling the present meeting, and subsequently
the Hackney Licensed Victuallers' Protection society
had taken the subject up and issued the circular which
had just been read. For himself; looking at the price
of grain in this country, he had looked for this ad-
vance in prices for some time past, but there were
others who held a different opinion, and who believed
that, at present prices, the brewers could continue at
the old prices. He thought it was only necessary
to look at the actual facts of the case to show the
fallacy of that opinion. The price of malt had ad-
vanced from 60s. and 645. to 84s. a quarter, showing an
increase of 20s. In barley there was a difference
of 13s. a quarter. It was well known that the spring
crops of this country were last year very deficient. The
barley crop had been calculated to be one-third less than
the average, and the barley imported from abroad had
been much less this season than in the preceding year,
while at the same time there was a steady increase in the
consumption of malt liquors.—(llear, hear.) He thought
it was only necessary to look at these facts to see that
the brewers were, at least on the face of them, justified
in taking the step they had done, and when the fact was
added that the importations of ten of the principal
brewers alone had amounted to 60,000 quarters of malt,
it would be seen at once how the pressure bore on that
body.—(llcar, hear.) The fact, however, was there.
The price had been raised to the Licensed Victuallers,
and the question was, weat they ought to do under the
circumstances ? In causing the note to be inserted in
the Morning Advertiser he had merely intended to
call the attention of the trade to the subject,
in order that whatever was done might not
rest upon an individual, but a general decision. The
Protection Society had, he believed, been actuated by
the same desire, and the question was now, what should
be the rise ? He thought that it should be one halfpenny
a pot, which would just cover the advance made by the
brewers by a small sum on the butt, but sufficiently so to
prevent any loss. In his opinion it would be decidedly
impolitic to raise the price one penny. If they did, it
would have the effect of stimulating an unhealthy com-
petition, which would neither be beneficial for the trade
nor the public—(llear, hear)—at the same time he be-
lieved it was an incontrovertible doctrine, that accord-
ing to the cheapness of any corranollity, so in proportion
its consumption increased. It was, therefore, to hitn
, in
common with the trade at large, a source of regret, that
the high price of malt and barley, had constrained the
brewers to advance the price of porter and ale ; because
they are the beverages of the industrial community, who
form the great majority of the population of this country.
—(Hear, hear.) He hoped that the meeting, as also the
trade generally, would make the minimum and not
the maximum advance, as he was confident they would
ultimately be pecuniarily benefitted thereby. He un-
derstood some contemplated advancing one penny per
pot, but he believed that on further reflection, they
would see the impolicy of so doing, and give their con-
currence to the motion which he now begged leave to
submit for their adoption. Mr. Homer then moved—
" That as the leading brewers advanced the price of
porter and ale on Friday, the Ist instant, it is the
opinion
of this meeting that the licensed victuallers are com-
pelled to raise the price of porter and single X ale a
halfpenny per pot to the public."
Mr. STICH, concurring as he did in the sentiments
expressed by Mr. Homer, had great pleasure in second-
ing the resolution.
An animated discussion ensued, in which Messrs.
Roper, Swatton, Faulkner, Poole, and others took part ;
and the motion having been put to the meeting, was
unanimously adopted.
It was resolved, :on the motion of Mr. Mitchell, se-
conded by Mr. Rountree, that the price of.g.ri be raised
in proportion to the advance made by the distillers.
The thanks of the meeting were then unanimously
passed to the Chairman for his conduct in the chair, and
to Mr. flower for the deep interest which on this, and
me all occasions, he had shown in the welfare of the
trade, and these gentlemen having suitably acknow-
ledged the compliment, the meeting separated.

WHITECRAPEL.—A meeting of the Licensed Victual-
lers of this district was held yesterday afternoon, at Mr.
Hill's, Grave Maurice, Whitechapel-road, Mr. Rountree,
in the chair, when a rise of one halfpenny a pot was
unanimously agreed to, on account of the advance of
price by the brewers.
MILE-END.—A numerously attended meeting of the
trade was held at the Hayfield, Mile-end-road, in the
afternoon, Mr. Roper presiding, when a similar resolu-
tion was unanimously agreed to.
GREENWICM—At a meeting of the Licensed Victual-
lers residing in this district, held yesterday evening at
Mr. Holmos's, King's Arms, King-street, Mr. Sprunt in
the Chair, on the motion of Mr. Hone, of the Wheat-
sheaf, seconded by Mr. Brown, of the Red Lion, it was
unanimously resolved, " That the price of porter for per-
sons bringing their own jugs be 4d. per quart, and for
using the measures of the Licensed Victuallers in or out
of the house 4id. p-r quart, and that no ale be sold
under sd. per quart, and other ales in the same propor-
tion.

ARREARS OF CASES IN THE COMMON LAW COURTS.
On Monday next Hilary Term commences, when the
common law courts will proceed to dispose of the arrears
of eases. The lists have just been made out, and, with
the exception of the Court of Qieen's Bench, there are
but few arrears. In that court the arrears have, by the
exertions of the learned judges, been considerably dime
i
nished. A year or two ago the list of new trials n the
court presented a formidable appearance—some applica-
tions remaining unheard for eighteen months or two
years ; but now the earliest rule obtained was in No-
vember, 1845, so that there is every probability, in the
ensuing term, the delay en rules will be brought within
a year. In the special paper of the Court of Queen's
Beench there are five cases for judgment and 48 for ar-
gument. In the new trial paper there are 71 rules for
argument, which, with the exception of seven, were
moved in the year 1846 ; so that the first roll in the list
was not obtained earlier than November, 1845, and, with
the exception of 14 rules, the cases have not been de-
layed longer than last Easter Term There are, in ad-
dition, 17 rules for the judgment of the Court. In the
demurrer paper of the Court of Common Pleas there are
17 cases, and in the remanet paper five enlarged rules.
In the new trial paper there are 37 rules for argument,
the earliest of which was obtained in Michaelmas Term
last, and 11 for the decision of the Court, including a re-
gistration appeal argued in the last term, in addition to
which there are 11 registration appeals to be heard, in-
cluding two from the City of London, and one from
Westminster. In the Court of Exchequer there are 13
rules for argument, the first of which was moved in No-
vember last. In the special paper 32 rules appear, seven
of which are for judgment ; and in the n,w trial paper
there are 50, of which number two are for judgment,
and, with the exception of one rule, the matters were
moved in last Michaelmas Term.

DETERMINED SUICIDE BY ESSENTIAL OIL OF AL-
MONDS.—Yesterday afternoon an inquest was held at the
Canal Bridge Tavern, New Peckham, before Mr. Car-
ter, one of the coroners for the county of Surrey, on
view of the body of Mr. Charles Young, aged 36 years,
who committed a determined act of suicide. On Thurs•
day evening last the deceased, who had formerly be-
longed to the Surrey Theatre, and latterly held the si-
tuation of a collector of one of the trust rates in the
parish of Newington, entered the Bridge Tavern, and
called for a rump steak and a pint of sherry, which were
served in the coffee-room. He partook heartily of the
steak, and drank part of the wine; but soon after a
strange noise was heard, produced by a sort of gurgling
of the throat, and the deceased was observed to be
deadly pale. The landlord of the tavern and one or two
gentlemen in the coffee-room rushed to the deceased's
assistance, and it was at, first believed that he was la-
bouring under the effects of a fit. This impression was,
however, soon It moved by one of the party finding a
an bottle, such as
shops, with a are usually kept in apothecaries' ,
label on, which left no doubt that it had
contained essential oil'of almonds, and that its contents
had been emptied i
using, and drunk 114
the wine-glass which he had been
in
attendance,
deceased. Two medical
men were quickly
ance, and used the stomach
to
pump, but their efforts
preserve life were fruitless,
the unfortunate man had drtnitsififficient of the poison
ther appeared, that
to kill tree or or ersons.
the bottle containing the fatal drue,g
.further
had been taken away
from the surgery of his brother-in-law by the deceased,
.
with the intention, no doubt of destrovin,-,b-, l Inst
insanity,
Thensanity,
jury idtimately returned a verdict of temporary
and it appears that the deceased has left a widow and
four small children to deplore his loss.
MELANCHOLY DEATH OF A MERITORIOUS WATER-
MAN.— Yesterday an inquest was held by Mr. Carter at
the King and Queen, at the Deptford end of Rother-
hithe, on the body of Thomas Cornish, aged 28. The
deceased was a waterman, and plied at the King and
Queen-stain,. He had been the means of saving many
lives, and had been frequently a witness at Mr. Carter's
court as the discoverer of dead bodies in the river. On
Monday night he went down to moor a boat or alter her
position, and he wan no more seen alive. A watchman
hoard a splash in the water about the time the deceased
went after the boat, but the night being dark he could
not see what it was. The deceased was not missed till
the next day, and as it was found he had not been home,
it was feared he had caused the splash the watchman
heard. His body was susequently found near the stairs,
and it is supposed that in passing along a boom to get
to his boat he slipped and fell into the river. Verdict—
" That the deceased was found drowned, but without
evidence to show by what means."
•