The Sun.
London, England, 1844-10-10 00:00:00

BOROUGH OF LAMBETH REGIS

TRATION.--(THIS DAY.)
The revision of the lists of voters for the borough of
Lambeth was commenced this morning by Mr. Deedes,
the barrister, at the Sessions House, Stone's-end.
Mr. Sidney Smith appeared on behalf of the free-
trade interests ; no one ostensibly appeared to support
the Conservative interest of the borough.
After the revision of the list of voters for St. Giles,
Camberwell, the list for the parish of St. Mary, Lam-
beth, was proceeded with.
Thomas Adcock claimed to be on the register in re-
spect to two rooms.
The REVISING BARRISTER inquired who appeared to
support the claim ?—Mr. Sidney Smith said he did.
The REVISING BARRISTER said he had not complied
with the Act of Parliament, which required persons to
hand in a list of the parties for whom they appeared.
He then called his attention to the section of the Act to
which he referred. Was Mr. Smith prepared to sub-
stantiate Aldcock's claim ?
Mr. Smith regretted that he was not prepared to do so,
the claimant was not in attendance, neither was it likely
that he would be in attendance, as persons in the lower
ranks of life could ill afford to lose their time in attend-
ing_the Court.
The REVISING BARRISTER said Adcock claimed in
respect of a room—now, the Act expressly mentioned a
" house, shop, counting-house, or warehouse," but not a
room. Ile should be glad to hear the question argued,
but he must have evidence, on oath, before he could allow
claims. As the person did not appear to support his
claim, and, as no evidence was produced, it was dis-
allowed, as also were the claims of several other persons
on similar grounds.

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS.
(THIS DAY.)
Before the ASSISTANT JUDGE and a full Bench of
Magistrates.)
This day was appointed for receiving and considering
applications for music and dancing licenses, under the
Act of the 25th George 11., cap. 36, when there was a
very numerous attendance of magistrates on the bench.
All the licenses of last year were allowed without op-
position.
Mr. BODKIN, who appeared on behalf of a large and
most respectable body of licensed victuallers, said that,
previous to making any application,
he wished to ad-
dress a few remarks to the Bench. The late alteration
in the law with respect to theatrical performances must
have relieved the magistrates from much of the difficul-
ties under which they had previously laboured, for if
any person now wanted to see Shakespeare they were com-
pelled to go to Sadler's Wells Theatre, which was licensed
pursuant to this very Act. At the present moment, ac-
cording to the provisions of the recent Act, if a number
of respectable persons were to assemble at a dinner or
party in a tavern not thus licensed, and that any music
or dancing occurred, every one of them was liable to be
taken into custody by the police; and therefore he consi-
dered it of vast importance that magistrates should ex-
ercise the utmost caution and discretion as to how they
refused to grant such a license to a person who conducted
his house respectably and orderly. The tastes of the
people were daily becoming more refined and cultivated
with respect to music, and their means being limited,
they were debarred from going to places of dear enter
tainment, and he therefore trusted that the magistrates by
their decision to-day would not subject those parsons who
entered a house which was well conducted, but where
there might be a song sung or a jig danced, to be taken
out of the house and dragged to gaol like common felons.
The Learned Gentleman concluded by applying for a
music and dancing license on behalf of George Mark
Perren, of the Red Lion Tavern, in the parish of St.
Mary, Whitechapel.
Mr. GIBSON said he had known the house for sixty
years, which did a deal of business during that time, and
he therefore felt confident that the landlord was not ne•
cessitated to seek for a music license to increase his
profits. He admitted that the house had been well con-
ducted, but when he first heird that a music and dancing
license was about to be sought for this house, he made
inquiries of the employers of the labouring classes in the
neighbourhood upon the subject ; they all said it would
be only an enticement to the men to waste their money.
He was sure it would be a house for dancing and singing
for young persons, and under all the circumstances of
the case he felt bound to oppose the application.
Mr. PLUCK said there were already three of those
houses in that neighbourhood, and he should, therefore,
strongly oppose the application.
Mr. FRESUPILD thought that all the arguments urged
against granting those licenses were the very reason
which should induce the bench to grant them. It had
been said that the person who kept the house was doing
a good business, and, therefore, did not require to in•
crease his profits. This he (Mr. Freshfield) thought was
rather an extraordinary doctrine, and one which might
be termed " stand still "doctrine. The man had a good
property according to the statements, and, therefore,
was no adventurer, but would, for his own sake, con-
duct his house properly. He certainly could not see any
reason why the people should be deprived of
the means of innocent and rational amusement, and there
was a guarantee for the good conduct of those houses,
in consequence of their being under the immediate sur-
veillance of the police. He, for one, would support by
every means in his power this application.
The question was then put as to whether the applica-
tion be granted or not. and Upon being put to a show of
hands every one was held up against it, excepting that
of Mr. Freshfield.—The application was consequently
refused.