The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-08-03 00:00:00

ANNUAL DINNER OF THE LICENSED
VICTUALLERS.

. On Tuesday afternoon last, the members of the Licensed
Victuallers' Society of Liverpool held their seventh annual
dinner, at Mr. Bickerstaff's, in the Queen's Theatre, Chris-
tian-street. The pit of the theatre was boarded over on a
level with,the stage, the chairman's table being placed trans-
versely over the orchestra, and the other tables conveniently
arranged on both sides of it. About 300 members of the
society sat down, along with a considerable number of their
wives and daughters. The theatre was ornamented with a
number of flags, union jacks, evergreens, &c., and a large
flag with the standard of England upon it was suspended
from the centre of the theatre. Joliffe's excellent band of
music was stationed in' the gallery, and played several airs
delightfully during the evening, and a first-rate company of
glee-singers was also present. Mr. Robert Jones, brewer,
occupied the chair; and Mr. Dobson, of the firm of Dobson
and Smith, brewers, acted as vice-chairman.
_Several dis-

tinguished brewers sat at the chairman's table. We also
observed Mr. Wason and Mr. Benjamin Coleman, Agents
to the Licensed Victuallers' Life and Fire Association. The
dinner was substantial and excellent, and reflected much
credit on Mr. Bickerstaff, the host.
The cloth having been removed, "Non nobis Domino" was
sung by the glee-singers, the company standing.

The CFIAIRMAN then proposed "The Queen, and may she
long reign in the hearts of the people." Given with three
-times three. Anthem, " God save the Queen," led by Mr.
Holden, of Richmond•row.—" The Queen Dowager and the
other branches of the Royal family." Given with three times
three enthusiastic cheers. Glee, Hail, star of Brunswick."
—" The Army and Navy." (Cheers.) Band, " Rule, Bri-
tannia."

Mr. HARRISON, the secretary of the society, then rose.
and proceeded to give a detail of the proceedings of the soci-
ety since the last annual meeting. In submitting the seventh
annual report, the committee had to congratulate the mem-
bers on the steady increase of the funds, and on the unani-
mous feeling which prevailed to effect the objects for which
the society was first instituted. The committee viewed with
. .

regret the proceedings of the local authorities in granting so
large a number of new licenses, particularly after a memorial
from the members of the society had been presented to them,
praying against it. The present occasion loudly called on
the members of the trade generally to co-operate with the
society in a firm proceeding, in order to protect their inte-
rests The committee felt pleasure in communicating, that
the number of new members entered into the society was this

year very considerable. The sum of £1,405 14s. was now in
the bankers' hands to the credit of the society, for the pur-
..

. _
pose of carrying out its objects. (Hear.) At the animal
meeting of September, in consequence of the rapid increase
of the members, and of the funds of the society, it was
thought advisable to empower the committee to rent an
office, where their meetings might be held, and the other bu-
siness of the society be transacted, and where the members
might obtain information respecting acts of parliament, ex-
cise laws, and other matters. In addition to the above, a
registry of licensed houses to be let or sold to be kept, and
also a registry of servants. Early in February, it was deter-
mined to open a correspondence with the principal towns in
England, to impress on them the necessity of co-operation,
avid to endeavour to obtain the repeal of that portion of the
beer act which allows the retail of beer 'on the premises, and
also to obtain a repeal of the tipling act, which prevents pub-
licans obtaining payment by law for debts for tipling, unless
contracted for more than 20s. The replies to their commu-
nications were most satisfactory, and the most strenuous co-
operation of Leeds, Manchester, and various other towns
bad been promised. Petitions had been got up a short time
since, by the society, praying for the repeal of the tipling
act; but after some communications from Londln, Man-
chester, and other towns. it was thought best to pay their
sole attention to the repeal of the beer act, and since then
their attention had been exclusively paicLto that subject. In
April, a meeting of the trade had been called for the pur-
pose of passing resolutions for the repeal of the beer bill, as
productive of great injury to their business, and of great
evils to the industrious classes of society. It was then re-
solved, that a petition be presented for the repeal of the
tipling act, representing the hardship of the operation of this
act upon their interests, Lord Sandon and Mr. Cresswell
being requested to support the prayer thereof. Mr. Bake, of
Manchester, had attended this meeting, and had described
the increase of the society in Manchester. It was resolved,
that a depurationconsisting of Messrs. Bryden and Brennan,
should proceed to London, to co-operate with the deputa-
tions from other towns, to assist in procuring the repeal of
those acts which affected them. Mr. Harrison then pro-

ceeded to read Mr. Brennan's speech, which had been sent
down, stating, that he was exerting himself in London to
procure the abolition of the beer bill. He also read a num-
ber of extracts from newspapers, showing the injurious
effects of the beer bill upon the morals of the poorer classes,
and its pauperising effects upon the publicans as a class. It
was stated, that the number of members of the society was
now 466, and that there were this year 56 new members.
(Hear, hear.) It was determined to raise the amount of
entrance money into the society to two guineas, after Sep-
tember. From calculations made, it was ascertained that
the funds would this year exceed those of last year. (Loud
applause.)
At this juncture, three little girls, the orphan children of a
late member of the society, who, as well as his wife, had both
died suddenly, leaving their offspring. dependent on the
bounty of the society, were brought into the dining-room.
Their.neat appearance, conjoined with their bereaved situa-
tion, excited, strong interest on their behalf, and was at the
same time one of the strongest proofs of the utility- of such a
society.
The CHAIRMAN then said, having heard from their secre-
tary the state of the society's funds, they had now an oppor-
tunity of witnessing its utility in three infants being provided
with the means of support out of its funds. Here they had
an ample field for labour to increase, if necessary, the num-
ber of these poor infants. They were now under the protec-
tion of this society ; they were fed on its bounty, which must
be highly gratifying to their minds. Philanthropic must
have been the dispositions of the members of the society to
show to the country at large that they had had these feelings
of humanity, of kindness, and affection, to receive into their
charge and take so much care as thy had done of these little
ones. (Hear.) They looked welt; and he trusted they
would for some time be an ornament to them. He had in
his hand a statement of the London Licensed Association,
from which it appeared that, in 1823, the Morning Advertiser
was commenced for its protection. In 1803, a school was
opened to give instruction to the orphans under its charge,
when there were nineteen children. The Liverpool Licensed
Victuallers' Association had commenced with three children ;
no doubt the number would be augmented, and he trusted
that the funds of the society would be sufficient for their main-
tenance, (hear ;) 833 children were clothed and maintained
by the London society up to. that period, of which 211 had
been apprenticed after the age of fourteen; 255 had been
sent to service, and 258 had been taken by relations and
friends, 20 had died whilst at school, and 10 had been ex-
pelled for repeated misconduct. There were now in the
school 169 children. (Hear, hear.) The chairman conclud-
ed with proposing_ " Prosperity to the Licensed Victuallers'
Association." When the nature of -the society was more
known, be ttused that the number of its members would be
greatly increased. The toast was given with three times
three cheers.
Mr. BENWELL, of the Theatre-royal, was here called upon
for a song, and sang with a good deal of humour one com-
posed for the occasion, to the tune of " Jim Crow." It was
loudly encored; after which his health was drank. The
following is a copy of the song :
JIM CROW.

Your servant, all kind gentlefolks,
1 know not what to say,
De honour is so great to sing
Once more upon dis day;
My heart it does go pita pat,
I'm quite wid joy elate,
De vittlars' anniversary
Once mure to celebrate.
Though I'm quite here by accident
I vow it makes me laugh,
For I was pull'd in neck and crop
By my friend Bickerstaffe;
Says he, Jim, lad, where has to bin,
Thou very well must know
The company's expecting thee
To sing 'em thy Jim Crow.
Says he, Jim Crow, I'm proud to say,
And very well I may,
The licensed vittlars honour me
Once more upon dis day ;
And though thou art a foreigner
And to thy country leans,
I'll take care thou shalt be this day
A subject of the Queen's.
A foreigner was bragging of
His champagne, port—pray stop,
Says I, taste ale in Liberpool,
Brew'd dere from malt and hop.
Says I, man, it's de staff of life;
Says he, den I'll stay here,
For de Li'rpool folks can never die
Who can live on dere own bier.
Duke Clarence once, in ancient days,
Who had got de qualms, he
Preferr'd to die delicious death— •
Drown'd in a butt of Malmsey;
But had he lived in dese good days,
'Tis true, or I'll go bail,
He would have chosen a large butt
Of Liverpool-brewed ale.
A pale-faced chap, he said to me,
And gave me great offence
By telling Jim to leave off runs
And join de abstinence.
Says I, you ax me dat again,
I'll give you such a throttler,
For do Jim likes a cup of tea
He'll ne'er be a teetotler.
Gemmen, I Must beg to say—
And Beres no one here but owns—
We chose a noble president
In worthy Massa Jones,
Who's very like a hive of bees,
And he'll prove it, too, by jingo,
For if you enter his brew-house
He'll give you famous stingo.
Anoder gent I beg to name
Before I make a halt,
A gent dat, like de president,
Deals in pure hops and malt,
Who's a sample of his own prime ale,
I know I'm understood
When I name Massa Dobson, our worthy vice;
'Cause he's the essence of what's good.
Please Massa President and Vice,
And gemmen round de table,
Jim Crow him nearly out of breath
And sung long as him able.
I've made a famous dinner here,
Right well I've stuffed my craw,
But as de vittles is licensed
You can't guage me by de law.

ENCORE.

Well, here I am come back again,
In hopes to keep you quiet,
But Jim Crow bery much ashamed
You kick up such a riot;
But as I look around de room
Dere's many a face I ken well,
So wid pleasure I will sing► again,
'Cause I know you're friends of Benwell.
Oh Jim Crow him used bery bad,
For ebery one I meets
Say Jim you grown too common now,
For de sing you in de streets.
Says I, I know dat to de folks
I'm frightful as a g.orgon,
For dey not only sing me in de streets
But grind me in an organ.
De goberment 'bout to pass a bill,
De vitlars cause to right—
To do away wid jerry-shops,
Den dey'll be jerry'd quite.
Den Jim will be a sober man,
And truly he surmises,
For den not write o'er de doors,
" To be drunk on de premises."
A broder nigger say to me
•
Dis is a curious case,
I neber saw so many chaps
So merry in one place.
Says I dey're licensed vitlars, man,
No blue devils here inherits,
For dey can't help but merry be
Who've all such famous stock of spirits.