The Sun.
London, England, 1848-11-17 00:00:00

..t..SIN .44
as bo Sk,
e rof the . _ •
because cessions th t \\ • ';sem
tention a, h on. Gentle it
been
Bill, but at tw ' uck __ •
in the morning, when- _many a Bill passed whit blight
not to pass—(Hear, hear)—when he (Mr. ams) ;
was at his post, watching the progress of
Spirit Bill, the Chancellor of the Exchequer ex . d
the best feeling possible, as regarded the representations
that had been made to him touching the measure in
question.—(Hear, hear.) He was glad to have this .
opportunity of saying so much upon the conduct of Sir
Charles Wood. He did not say this for the purpose of
paying a compliment to men in high places, but simply
for the satisfaction of bestowing Justice in the quarter
where it was merited. With respect to the trade—with
which the society,:whose anniversary they were that night -
met to celebrate, was connected—he looked upon it as
one of the most important-in the country; and when be
considered the vast mass of property embarked in it
—the great interests that were identified with it—the -
amount of taxation whizh it contributed to the support
of the State—the accommodation and comfort which it
afforded to the public—and that, too, fur less money
than any other class of tradesmen in the country—when
he considered-all these things, he owned that he felt that
lie could not too highly estimate the value•of the trade,
and the importance of sustaining it ;against assaults, let
them come from what quarter they might—(Rear, hear)
—and he also thought there were ample grounds for in-
ducing the trade to see that . the Members returned to
Parliament were persons who were not inimiesl to their
interests.—(Hear, hear.) In conclusion, he bad only to
Observe, that whenever they thought he could serve
them in his place in Parliament they might command
him without reserve, and count on him without distrust.
Mr. TEtJLON proposed " The Chairman, Trustees,
Committee, and Secretary of the Licensed 'Victuallers'
Protection Society."
Mr. BENNETT, the Chairman of the Protection So-
ciety, in returning thanks for the compliment conferred
on his colleagues and himself, begged to give a brief his-
tory of the circumstances connected with the progress
of the measure, which had been already referred to. In -
the early part of the last year, a paragraph appeared in
a Scotch paper, in which it was stated that it was the
intention of the Government to permit persons upon the
payment of five guineas for a license, to sell a small .
quantity. of spirits. He heard of this paragraph, and
instantly waited on Mr. Wire, their respected solicitor,
who suggested the propriety of writing to Mr. Wood, the
Chairman of Excise, to ascertain if there was any truth
in: the paragraph in question. Mr. Wood replied that
it was not intended to " legalize the • sale of a pint
bottle of spirits." This answer did not satisfy them,.
and a -request was made that Mr. Wood would grant •
them an interview, and the result was that they found
that a Bill was about to be introduced into Parliament
to legalise the sale of foreign spirits and liquors. A
conversation ensued in respect to the measure, to which'''_
strong objections were urged, and in -the end the chair-
man of Excise asked what the trade was disposed to
propose in relation to the measure. The deputation,
which subsequently waited on Mr. Wood, made a con-
cession as regarded the Bill, which was not then ac-
ceded to, and the consequence was, that the trade de-
termined upon fighting the battle in the House of Com-
mons.—(Hear, hear.) In accordance with the excellent
suggestion of Mr. Homer; the trade proceeded to orga-
nise itself, and before the meeting of Parliament, forty
district meetings were held,- which were attended by
several of his colleagues, amongst whom were Mr. Ho-
mer, Mr. Elt, Mr. Winterbotham, and others, who ex-
plained to the trade the necessity of their taking active
steps in order to ensure the defeat of the measure in
question. The trade responded to the call thus made
upon them, but, in order to ensure complete success, it
became necessary to have the country trade iden-
tified with them in the contest which they were about
to undertake. They applied to the country trade, and
they responded to the call made upon them, in the way
that might be expected from gentlemen who felt a de-
sire
to support the interests of their trade.—(Hear.)
The consequence was that, with the aid of their friend, ,
Mr. Williams, who was with them early and late, and of
other Members of Parliament, they gained their point,
for the measure was passed in the form which they sug-
gested to Mr. Wood, the Chairman of Excise, in the
previous March.—(Hear, hear.) After some further
observations Mr. Bennett concluded an effective address,
by expressing, on his own behalf and on that of his col-
leagues, his thanks for the compliment which had been
conferred on them, and by assuring the company that,
upon all occasions, the officers of the Protection Society
would be ready to uphold their interests, whenever those
interests were proposed to be invaded.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. HOMER then rose, and said he would take the
liberty of observing, in the first place, that if there were
any member of the trade present who had thought or
spoken slightingly of that society, he would, he was sure,
after the Statements he had this night beard in reference
to their recent Parliamentary struggle, see ample reason
to change his opinion—to think favourably of the society,
and to appreciate its worth, usefulness, ,end importance.
He firmly believed that a large amount of good had
sprung out of, and would result from, their late opposi-
tion to the measure, inasmuch as they had removed pre-
judices and uprooted erroneous impressions respecting
the trade, from the minds of many Members of the House
of Commons, and which would be the means, in his humble
judgment, of preventing the re-introduction of a simi-
lar measure for many years to come, or indeed any im-
proper meddling or unjustifiable interference with the
haws which regulate the trade. He apologised for
making these observations, which were irrelevant to the
toast intrusted to him, but the time he had devoted to
the matter, as intimated by his friend Mr. Bennett, the
Chairman of the Society, would, he - hoped, plead his
apology. Credit and praise were due to many for the
assistance they rendered in warding off the contem-
plated evil, but to none was more credit due than to
their eloquent friend Mr. Wire. With respect to that
gentleman's legal knowledge or acquirements, he need
not say anything, because they know and appreciate
his skilful advocacy and ability; but as to the mode in
which he acquitted himself as their Parliamentary agent,
he must take leave to say that it was characterised by
prudence, foresight, moderation, and sound policy, and
elicited the cordial commendations of all who observed
it. The perspicuity with which he conveyed his opin-
ions, the unanswerable arguments he employed in the
interviews with the Chancellor of .the Exchequer and
other important State _functionaries, and Members of
Parliament, to whom he was personally known, together
with the valuable suggestions and untiring energy, con-
tributed very materially to the satisfactory adjustment
of the question at issue between the trade and the Go-
vernment. It was under these circumstances, and for
these reasons, that he had great pleasure in proposing—.
" The health of the Solicitors to the Society, Messrs.
Wire and Child."—(Loud cheers.)
Mr. D. W. Wilts said it was not the first occa-
sion on which he had been called upon to respond
to such a toast, having now for upwards of twenty years
had the honour of acting as the legal adviser of their
trade, and it was gratifying to him to say that
during that period he never had reason to regret
his acceptance of the position of their legal adviser.—
(Cheers.) He remembered, as no doubt many who heard
him did, the time when it was almost a reproach to be a
licensed victualler, or to know them. Yet, now the time
had come when their worth and importance were almost
universally acknowledged and admitted. They had done
more than other body to instruct the ignorant, improve
the low, and purify the base, than any other class of the
community, and he would add, -by doing so they had
powerfully assisted in promoting those sound opinions
which were the great safeguard of life and property, and
at the same time a knowledge of that religion which was
the basis of all that was great and good in human so-
ciety.—(Loud cheers.) After some further observations,
the eloquent speaker sat down amidst loud cheers.
Mr. WINTERBOTHAM said he had great pleasure in
proposing the health of the past chairmen and officers of
the society.
Mr. BaroN returned thanks.
Mr. IRELAND then proposed, in a complimentary ad-
dress, the editor of the Morning Advertiser, and the press
in general.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr.lSeorr (the editor) returned his acknowledgments.
Mr. SHEPHERD then proposed, " The Governor, Trus-
tees, and Committee of the Incorporated Society," and
in doing so, bore testimony to the valuable efforts of
those gentlemen to promote the usefulness of the chari- •
ties placed under their control.—(Cheers.)
Mr. JONES, the governor, returned thanks.
Mr. FINDLAY, in proposing the Chairman, Trustees,
and Governors of the Licensed Victuallers' Asylum,
said that he hoped that the members of the trade who
were not also members of the asylum, would imme-
diately join it, and • give their votes at the ensuing
election to the deserving candidates who would appear
upon the list.—(Bear, hear.) A more valuable institu-
tion was not to be found in the trade, and he was sure it
only required that its merits should be known to be ap-
preciated.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. RAVEN, the Chairman 'of the Asylum, returned
thanks.
Mr. GREEN then said that he rose on that occasion to
bring before their notice a society connected with the
trade, which though last was not least. He meant the
Licensed Victuallers' Fire and Life Assurance Society.
That society had for its object to protect the property
end improve the standing of the trade, and he was sure
that they would cordially join with him in drinking
prosperity to it, and the health of the chairman and
committee.—(Cheers.)
Mr. KEASLEY returned thanks.
Mr. ELT proposed "Prosperity
to the Provincial So-
cieties,Mr.Chaorfiesthreiißbbirime.lgham So"
Mr. SHOWELL, the Secretary
and their agent,
ciety, returned thanks.
Mr. Hone, of Portsmouth, and Mr. C. HIBBLE also
shortly returned thanks.
Mr. WINTERBOTHAM gave " Prosperity to the Retail
Wine and Spirit Society.
The health of the Stewards and the Ladies then fol-
lowed, and were cordially responded to.
We cannot conclude our report of the proceedings of
this meeting without paying a due tribute to the admir-
able manner in which Mr. Rouse supplied the wants of
the numerous company—the excellence of the fare—the
quality of the wine, and the attention paid to the guests.
The proceedings were greatly enlivened by the vocal ex,
ertious of Messrs. Holmes, Kenny, Delavante, Frost,
Bannister, and Mr. Sharpe, the eminent comic singer.
,
Mr. G. F. Taylor ably presided at the pianoforte, and
Mr. Toole, jun., recalled the freshest triumphs of his
lamented father as toastmaster.

DEAR AT ANY PRICE.—At Louisville, Kentucky,
on the 16th instant, Peter Roberts, a free man of colour,
a regular licensed Methodist preacher, a member of the
Indian African Conference, and a master mason of the
Philadelphia Lodge, was sold a public auction before
the Court House door, in that city, for the term of one
year. He was bought.by J. L. Hyatt, for 75 dollars, 513
cents. An Act of the Kentucky Legislature prohibits
the, migration of the negroes to that state, under the
penalty of 300 dollars, on which charge he
was arrested,
and sold.--True Wesleyan, Sept. 1846.