Star.
London, England, 1818-01-27 00:00:00

BREWERS' MONOPOLY.

0 tf)

A Meetini having been called by public advertise-
ment, for tEe purpose of takiniforitft!rto consideration
the late advance of the price of , at one o'clock
yesterday a considerable number of persons of re-
spectability assembled at, thc clown and Anchor
Tavern, Strand. •
its. BARSIM BERTIMONT. the Gentleman who had
called the Meeting, entered at the hour named in the,
advertisement forproceeding to business, and moved
that one of the. Gentlemen • who accompanied him,
Sir Henry Wilson, should be called upon to take the
Chair. 'The motion was agreed to.
Sir HENRY WILSON, haying taken the Chair, ad-
dressed the Meeting. He was flattered by the ho-
nour he had just received, though he could have
wished it had fallen on a person of greater talents
and importance. He would, however, endeavour to
perform his duty impartially ; and in the first .in-
stance he begged to make a request—as it would be
impossible for him to sit there with comfort, if any
thing should be introduced of a political nature—he
hoped in such a case he should be supported by the
meeting in calling the party to order—(Applause).
The subject upon which they had met was one ex-
tremely detitate. They had assembled to call upon
those who were, leading characters amongst the
Brewers of the Metropolis, to account for conduct
which to the community appeared to be nothing less
than arbitrary—that of advancing the price of the
commodity which they manufacture, to the great
prejudice of the lower orders, and without. assigning
any cause for the increase. Some defence of their
conduct, some argument in .support of the advance,
was necessary to• do away that prejudice which at
present existed against the brewers :• and he, who
had lived no little time in the world, could from ex-
perience take upon himself to say, that no greater
honour and honesty existed among any people than
those who formed. the community of this kingdom,
and that if satitfactory grounds were shewn, both
upper and loweeorders would cheerfully subinit to
the advance. 'the necessity proved, he was firmly
convinced the community at large would be satisfied.
For the sake of their own personal hondur, he hoped
the brewers would be able to make out a satisfactory
case to justify the step they had taken, and to shew
that they had not wantonly taken it from a disposi-
tion to suck the vitals of the people. It was to defend
the people against a monopoly that brought him
there, being a Magistrate of the county ; but though
such was his motive in coming, it was his hope that
the parties accused, or their agents who might be
present, would be enabled to meet the charge with a
triumphant defence. The Brewers were Gentlemen
who had advanced immense capitals to manufacture
that which absolutely formed the support of the
lower orders. They were entitled to a profit on the
speculation, and he hoped nobody would ever wish
to deny them a fair remuneration for their services.
But admitting their claim, he could see no just cause
for an advance on the-price of porter at this moment,
• when put of the duty was taken off, the price of
labour less than it was, and that of Malt also dimi-
nished. If, without any just for raising the
price of porter, this had done by the brewers
from a desire to become more opulent than they
were at presents-by preying on the vitals of the com-
rr.unity, be wntild give them joy of wealth so ac-1
qulred, but could, not wish to participate in it. He
hoped the Brewers would be able to defend their
coadUct, That the result of this meeting might be to
girt the public confidence in the inviolability of their
honour, in their integrity, and justice.
Mr. Nutty, encouraged by what had fallen from
the Chair, rose to offer some few observations in be-
half of the brewers. He should not have presumed
to obtrude himself on the notice of the meeting, had
it riot been from some statements which fell from
the Chairman, and which he, with the greatest defer-
ence, was obliged to say, were incorrect. But first of
all he bend leave to say be admired the conduct
of the Gentleman who had called this meeting. He
considered it patriotic to enquire into the advance
xbich,bad recently taken place; but at the same
time he. must complain of the title which had been
given,ta the advertisement by which that meeting
was convened ; it had been called a meeting to take
into consideration the brewers monopoly. He should
not have expected from the respectable persons who
proposed this meeting so harsh an epithet applied to
arj creditable body of men, without at least some
fair investigation, and proof that the imputation was
deserved.. But the brewers were to be condemned
by anticipation—they were to be aceused and judged
and condemned and punished, without being heard.
lie hoped, however, to be abic to vindicate the cha-
racter of that body of men from the imputation so
unfairly and inconsiderately cast upon them, that
the rise of porter to sixpence a pot was the mere re-
sult of monopoly, or exaction on their parts, and
not owing to other causes, by which they were them-
selves influenced, and over which they have no eon-
troul ; and he should not have stood forward this
day for their vindication, if he was not prepared to
offer such statements in proof of his assertions, as
should shew the brewers were not deserving the
blame thus precipitately cast on them. Itt the first
place, although the price of porter to the consumer
was six, • ce the pot, that was not the price paid to
the brewer ; he received but fouipence-halfpenny
from the publican. There was then the duty of ten
shillings per barrel paid by the brewer, which
amounted on the pot to thirteen-sixteenths of a
penny. The duty on malt amounted on the pot of
porter to seven-sixteenths of a penny more, and the
heavy duty on the importation of foreign hops, which
were principally used in the manufacturing of porter,
added one-fourth of a penny to the other burdens
which fell upon the brewer, so that exclusive of these
duties and of the publican's profit, lie only received
threepence per pot out of the sixpence now paid by
the consumer. The remaining threepence went for
thi purchase of barley, hops, the expence of manu-
facturing, and the brewer's profit. There were still
other taxes, which in their operation pressed heavily
upon the brewer. Those which fell m the first in-
stinct on the farmer who grows the barley and the
hops ; and on the mobster, who converts the barley
into malt, were ultimately felt by the brewer, as
were those imposed on the various utensils which
he had occasion for in his business. There was be-
sides the brewer's license to be paid for, as well as
that of the victualler. In what he had said of the

1 . r
I . .
r.-- r.r.rb - VICI
BREWERS' MONOPOLY. unc
--- on
. 1
t
II A Meeting having been called by public advertise- the
ament, for tEe purpose of taking consideration tha
II the late advance of the price of , at one o'clock mu
) 1 1 yesterday a considerable number of persons of re- the
spectability assembled at, th clown and Anchor hoc
a Tavern, Strand. • the
I ' Mr. BARSIM BERMIONY. the Gentleman who had he
called the Meeting, entered at the hour named in the fro
1 I advertisement forproceeding to business, and moved but
that 'tale of the. Gentlemen • who accompanied him, wei
Sir Henry Wilson, should be called upon to take the art
Chair. The motion was agreed to. to 1
Sir HENRY WILSON, haying taken the Chair, ad- pri,
dressed the Meeting. He was flattered by the ho- troy
tour he had just received, though he could have this
wished it had fallen on a person of greater talents wa:
Sind importance. He would, however, endeavour to for
a i
perform his duty impartially ; and in the first .in- sine
stance he begged to make a request—as it would be wis
irtipossible for him to sit there with comfort, if any fall
thing should be introduced of a political nature—he the
hoped in such a case he should be supported by the .beii
meeting in calling the party to order—(Applause). 65s
The subject upon which they had met was one ex- hig
tremely delitate. They had assembled to call upon the
those who were, leading characters amongst the ohs
Brewers of the Metropolis, to account for conduct dut
which to the community appeared to be nothing less poc
41 than arbitrary—that of advancing the price of the tho
commodity which they manufacture, to the great qua
) prejudice of the lower orders, and without. assigning to ~.
any cause for the increase. Some defence of their rial
conduct, some argument in .support of the advance, on'
I was necessary to• do away that prejudice which at arse
i• present existed against the brewers :• and he, who bre
had lived no little time in the world, eauld from ex- tier
• perience take upon himself to say, that no greater rice
honour and honesty existed among any people than bj
those who formed . the community of this kingdom, pro
and that if satisfactory grounds were shewn, both I
1 upper and loweeorders would cheerfully subinit to tier
the advance. 'the necessity proved, he was. firmly
convinced the community at large ould be satisfied. 'we,
I 1 For the sake of their own personal hondur, he hoped b
the brewers would be able to make out a satisfactory the
case to justify the step they had taken, and to shew low
that they had not wantonly taken it from a disposi- hist
tion to suck the vitals of the people. It was to defend te;„
the people against a monopoly that brought him 6
there, being a Magistrate of the county ; but though 11
t such was his motive in coming, it was his hope that had
1 .
the parties accused, or their agents who might be out
t present, would be enabled to meet the charge with a ado
. ,
triumphant defence. The Brewers were Gentlemen Par'
who had advanced immense capitals to manufacture Prq
that which absolutely formed the support of the s'°"
lower orders. They were entitled to a profit on the sees
speculation, and he hoped nobody would ever wish by I
to deny them a fair remuneration for their services. bee
But admitting their claim, he could see no just cause tor,
for an advance on the-price of porter at this moment, Psic
• when part of the duty was taken off, the price of few
labour less than it was, and that of Malt also ditni- nos
Dished. If, without any just for raising the cha
price of porter, this had done by the brewers tae
from a desire to become more opulent than they SUIT
were at presents by preying on the vitals of the con-
_i_scia.
rr.unity, be ertudd give them joy of wealth so ac-1 tun
squleed, but could, not wish to participate in it. He atlii
hoped the Brewers would be able to defend their 1 'e
• coadUct, That the result of this meeting might be to tile
give the public confidence in the inviolability of their spec
honour, in their integrity, and justice. moi
Mr. Datinr, encouraged by what had fallen from in t
the Chair, rose to offer some few observations in be- was
. half of the brewers. He should not have presumed !f: a
to obtrude himself on the notice of the meeting, had is,
it not been ham some statements which fell from wiii
• the Chairman, and which he, with the greatest defer- bre
it ohm, waeoblird to say, were incorrect. But first of fits
t I all he begged ave to say be admired the conduct it t(
.1. i- of the Gentleman who had called this meeting. He in c !
considered it patriotic to enquire into the advance out
xhich,had recently taken place; but at the same get
a i . time he. must complain of the title which had been sail
ga, given,tai the advertisement by which that meeting mot
was convened ; it had been called a meeting to take hall
at 1,
into consideration the brewers monopoly. He should
not have expected from the respectable persons who c„ah
• proposed this meeting so harsh an epithet applied to me
arj creditable body of men, without at least some and
fair investigation, and proof that the imputation was the..
deserved.. But the brewers were to be condemned ma,
>II by anticipation—they were to be accused and judged his
i ''', and condemned and punished, without being heard. who
Ile hoped, however, to be able to vindicate the cha- ;re
ratter of that body of men from the imputation so don
al. ' unfairly and inconsiderately cast upon them, that The
the rise of porter to sixpence a pot was the mere re- to 6
g , suit of monopoly, or exaction on their parts, and tine
rt, i not owing to other causes, by which they were them- eau
let
selves influenced, and over which they have no con- con
troul ; and he should not hive stood forward this Bre
day for their vindication, if he was not prepared to 6d.
, at I offer such statements in proof of his assertions, as for
Ishould shew the brewers were not deserving the the
' .. blame thus precipitately cast on them. Itt the first of
k
place, although the price of porter to the consumer thei
was six, ali ce the pot, that was not the price paid to eiiB
\ \ the brewer ; he received bet fouipence-halfpenny boo
from the publican. There was then the duty of ten the
r 1
shillings per barrel paid by the brewer, which to I
amounted on the pot to thirteen-sixteenths of a we:
penny. The duty on malt amounted on the pot of thr
porter to seven-sixteenths of a penny more, and the of 1
I heavy duty on the importation of foreign hops, which not
, were principally used in the manufacturing of porter, tha
added one-fourth of a penny to the other burdens fro
which fell upon the Virewer, so that exclusive of these cot
duties and of the publican's profit, lie only received onl
threepence per pot out of the sixpence now paid by the
tb. i
the consumer. The remaining threepence went for ma
the purchase of barley, hops, the expence of mans- all:
k facturing, and the brewer's profit. There were still not
other taxes, which in their operation pressed heavily mu
upon the brewer. Those which fell in the first in- 9,111
stance on the farmer who grows the barley and the k"
hops ; and on the maltster, who converts the barley eve
into malt, were ultimately felt by the brewer, as far
1 were those imposed on the various utensils which P"
he had occasion for in his business. There was be- Pai
sides the brewer's license to be paid for, as well as rat
that of the victualler. In what he had said of the I jog
, .
• 1
~ I. 1