The Sun.
London, England, 1844-08-15 00:00:00

DERBY AND Li:GERSWEEPS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SU.\.
SlR,—The public, no doubt, will view with sur-
prise and disgust the machinations of the common
informers to suppress these " harmless speculations,"
established and tolerated for the last ten years.
Suddenly have these despicable beings pounced upon
the licensed victuallers, and are now sueing them. for
penalties, in some instances amounting to 2001., for
permitting the drawing of Derby and Leger Sweeps
in their houses. This interference is abominable. A.
friend of mine was served with a writ on Monday
last, and the informer had no less than twelve or
fourteen others in his possession. In many cases
these sweeps have been productive of great good, and
have been the means, to my certain knowledge, of
establishing several fortunate members in a respect-
able way of business. These " harmless speculations"'
are not attempted to be suppressed upon public grounds,
but by the aid of those despicable beings, common
informers. No work is too dirty for them; but I.
wish to impress upon their memory the fate of the.
" Qui Tam" actions. The perusal may teach them a
salutary lesson. I am credibly informed that they
have obtained no less than 100 or 150 writs against
licensed victuallers ; in fact, they intend issuing
writs against every person who has suffered those
sweeps to be drawn in their houses. Upon a certain!
party remonstrating with the informer, he had ties
effrontery to tell him that he had no occasion to find
fault ; that his neighbours were in the same predica-
ment; and intended, after they had finished their-
rounds in London, to pay a visit to Manchester,
Sheffield, &c. This is a pretty consolation for, our
country friends. The press is a powerful organ
when it devotes its energies for the protection of the
public, and you will confer an inestimable good upon
the country, and obtain the thanks and support of
the community at large, by calling attention to the
subject. Again, I would propose a society to be
founded for mutual protection, upon the principle of
that excellent one, " The Licensed Victuallers' Pro-
tection Society," and subscriptions raised to exonerate
the landlords of all sporting houses from loss; to meet
the actions upon fair and open grounds ; also to em-
ploy the first legal talent in England, if necessary, to
defend these actions. Thousands would respond to
the call. I am secretary to one of the clubs, and
hundreds have expressed their determination to sub-
scribe. I would recommend no party to compro-
mise the matter, for by compromisin.z you " furnish
the enemy with the sinews of war." I question whe-
ther these persons will have the audacity to appear in
a public court of law. In my opinion that is not
their object, but extortion. I am sorry to add, they
have succeeded in one instance. Will any gentleman
of the bar condescend and lower himself in the esti-
mation of his brethren and the public by advocating
the cause of these despicable prowlers? I appeal to
the licensed victuallers of England, as a powerful, in-
telligent, and influential body, not to succumb to
these abominable doings, but unite and be deter-
mined to frustrate the designs of common informers.
I inclose my name and address, also that of the in-
former, for your satisfaction.

- I am, Sir, yours respectfully,
Lambeth, Aug. 14, 1844. J. M.

DRUNKENNESS.

A return has been made during the present
session of Parliament on this subject, which cannot
fail to excite interest, as it is one which is, in a
statistical point of view, illustrative to a certain
extent of the moral condition of the people of
this vast metropolis. The returns moved for
by Mr. Hume were " of the number of persons taken
into custody for drunkenness, and for disorderly con-
duct, by the metropolitan police, in each year from
1831 to 1843 f both inclusive, distinguishing each, and
stating the population of the metropolitan police dis-
trict in the years 1831 and 1843 ; and a similar return
for the City of London."
From this document we glean the following sin-
gular results :—The maximum amount of persons
taken into custody for drunkenness is to be found in
the years 1831, 1832, and 1833, and the minimum in
1843 :

In 1831 they were, males and females ... 31,353
1832 ditto ditto .. 32,636
1833 ditto ditto 29,880
Taking the population according to the census of
1831 at 1,515,585, then the number of persons
taken into custody for drunkenness was in these pe-
riods respectively as about 2 1-15th, 2 1-17th, and
11 and a fraction out of every 100. In 1843 the
number of persons taken into custody for drunken-
ness fell to 10,890, which, taking the census of
1841, say 2,068,107, was in the proportion of little
more than -.12- in every 100. In the City of London
also the same gratifying result is shown
In 1840 the numbers were 5,113, which, on
the estimated population of 124,876, was in the enor-
mous proportion of full 4 1-10th out of every 100.
In 1843 the numbers were 2,595, which, taking the
official estimated pupulation at 125,273, was in the
ratio of 9+ t: every 100. Let us hope, from these
facts, that temperance is becoming more general
among the labouring classes of the metropolis. Its
beneficial influence on the social cor.dition of the
people must be evident to every man.

LORD ELDON.—" On one occasion," relates his
Lordsnip, " I heard Lee say, cannot leave Fawcett's
wine : mind, Davenport, you will go home immediately
after dinner to read the brief in that cause that we have
to conduct to-morrow.' Not I,' said Davenport ; leave
my dintier and my wine to read a brief ! No, no, Lee
—that won't Then,' said Lee, what is to be
done ? Who else is employed ?' Davenport—' Oh !
young Scott.' Lee—' Oh ! he must go. Mr. Scott you
must go home immediately, and make yourself ac-
quainted with that cause before our consultation this
evening.' This was very hard upon me ; but I did go,
and there was an attorney from Cumberland, and one
from Northumberland, and I do not know how many
other persons. Pretty late, in came Jack Lee, as drunk
as he could be. I cannot consult to-night—l must go to
bed,' he exclaimed, and away he went. Then came Sir
Thomas Davenport: We'cannot have a consultation to-
night, Mr. Wordsworth,' shouted Davenport, don't you
see how drunk Mr. Scott is ? It is impossible to consult.'
Poor me, who had scarce had any dinner, and lost all
my wine, /was so drunk that 1 could not consult! Well,
a verdict was given against us, and it was all owing to
lawyer Fawcett's dinner. We moved for a new trial,
and I must say, for the honour of the bar, that those two
gentlemen, Jack Lee and Sir Thomas Davenport,paid all
expenses between them of the first trial. It is the only
instance I ever knew, but they did. We moved for a
new trial (on the ground, I suppose, of the counsel net
being in their senses), and it was granted. When it
came on the following year the judge rose and said'
Gentlemen, did any of you dine with lawyer Fawcett
yesterday ? for if you did I will not hear this cause till
next year. There was great laughter. We gained the
cause that time."—Life of Eldon.

_ .
LIVERPOOL, WEDNESDAY MORNING —The Thomas
Bennet, lately commanded by Captain Halsey, which
sailed hence the 3d instant, for Charleston, has put back
into this port, the Captain having been murdered in the
Bay of Biscay. The murderer has been given into the
custody of the authorities here, and will, it is supposed,
to examined to•day,