The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-05-04 00:00:00

MEETING OF THE LICENSED VICTUALLERS

A meeting of the licensed victuallers and others interested
in the sale of spirituous and malt liquors was held, on Sa-
turday, at the York Hotel, in Williamson-square. The
meeting was called for eleven o'clock, but the proceedings
did not commence till about twenty minutes before twelve,
at which time between forty and fifty persons were present.
Mr. George Gurden was called to the chair. The meeting
was convened in consequence of a resolution recently passed
by the Watch Committee, to recommend to the Town-coun-
cil, that the 42(1 clause of the metropolitan police act should
be introduced into the Liverpool local acts amendment bill,
now before parliament.
The CHAIRMAN said, it appeared that a large body of the
licensed victuallers differed from the Watch Committee as
to the propriety of introducing the 42d clause of the metro-
politan police act into the local act. He, for his own part,
thought that, so far as related to the closing of public houses
at certain hours on Sundays and Good Fridays, the measure
would be useful and agreeable to the licensed victuallers
themselves.
Mr. RoniNsoN read a letter from a Mr. Hibble, a li-
censed victualler, of London, who stated his opinions on the
entire operations of the metropolitan act, which he denounced
wholesale, as a tyrannous and monstrous measure. Mr.
Robinson complained, that, though the local acts amend-
ment bill had been before parliament since February-last,
the licensed victuallers had not been made acquainted with
the intention of the committee to introduce the 42d clause
till a few days ago, which was a not a fair way of dealing
with them, as they had not bad time to consider the subject.
Mr. Robinson contended, that the clause would not assist
the cause of morality, as, if they were forced to turn indivi-
duals out at midnight, they would go to houses of worse cha-
racter, and be thus taken from those who were not amenable
to the law. On Sunday mornings, he said, they would have
travelling public houses at the outskirts of the town : drink
would be sold from coaches as it was in London, while the
cook-cellars in the neighbourhood of the docks, where illicit
spirits were even now sold, would become regular grog-
cellars, through the premium which the Watch Committee
were about to hold out to them. Mr. Robinson, at some
length, spoke of the inconvenience which, in his notion, the
clause would cause to the public.
Mr. PARKER, councillor for St. Anne's Ward, said, the
thanks of the licenced victuallers were due to Mr. Procter
for the determined opposition which he had given to the
proposition in the committee.
Mr. ROBINSON moved a resolution to the effect, that the
introduction of the 42d clause of the Metropolitan Act into
the Local Bill would be oppressive to a large body of the
victuallers of this town. The resolution was seconded and

carried
Mr. ALEXANDER said, he objected to the measure because
it was not a general measure. Why should the Watch Com-
mittee endeavour to make the people of Liverpool moral and
leave the people of Cheshire sinners? Some time ago, there
was a proposition from the methodists and others to put a
stop to the steamers crossing the ferries on Sundays. He
thought such a measure as that and this clause ought to go
together, as they were drawing trade from Liverpool to give it
to Cheshire. His second ground of objection was, that 12
o'clock was not late enough for those houses which were in
the vicinity of the markets. The hours ought to be from one
o'clock on Sunday morning to one o'clock on Sunday after-
noon. Mr. Alexander moved a resolution to the effect, that
any measure for restricting the hours and mode of business
of the victuallers of the town would be injurious, as coming
so soon after the granting of so many new licences.
Mr. COFFEE seconded the resolution, which was passed.
A person present asked the names of the mover and se-
conder of the resolution in the Watch Committee.
Mr. ROBINSON said, the amendment opposing the resolu-
tion was moved by Mr. Cooper, and seconded by Mr. Johr
Smith.
Mr. MAY moved the third resolution, which was to the
effect, that the meeting viewed with surprise the resolution
of the Watch Committee to recommend to the Council the
adoption of the 42d clause, without having given them notice
of the intention ; and that such resolution was unfair, and
would be unsatisfactory to a large body of the inhabitants.
Mr. May said it was by the merest accident that they had
heard of the intention of the Watch Committee.
Mr. PARKER said, he understood the propriety of intro-
ducing this -12 d clause would be brought before the Council
on Wednesday next, and, as he had the honour to be a mem
ber of that body, if they would put him in possession of the
sense of that meeting, he would be happy to be their organ.
Mr. BENT said, Mr. Parker ought to be put in possession
of what were the wishes of the body generally on the general
question, and lie would go before the Council with greater
influence. He (Mr. Bent) thought, taking the measure ge-
nerally, that it was desirable. The hour might be debate-
able, and a subject for the trade to settle.
The CHAIRMAN said, he believed there was no objection to
the clause, if its operation were made general over all the
empire.
Mr. ROBINSON said he begged pardon, there was great ob-
jection. He thought the licensed victuallers had restrictions
enough fo contend with.
Mr. PARKER said, he thought Mr. Robinson was correct
in his notions as to the causes of drunkenness, which arose
from a source they were, perhaps, a little aware of. He
thought no trade was so oppressed as the licensed victuallers.
The licensed victualler's house was his castle, as well as any
other man's house, and no police-officer had any right to
enter it unless he had good grounds. He should be very
happy to be the vehicle to express their opinions in the Town
Council.
Mr. RADLEY, of the Adelphi Hotel, suggested that a de-
putation should be sent to the Watch Committee, to endea-
vour to induce that body to obtain a general co-operation of
the magistrates in Cheshire, and seven miles round Liver-
pool, for conformity of regulation with the provisions of the
42d clause. Mr. Radley pointed out the evils that arose
from the present system, and mentioned the complaints that
he had heard, from the strangers resorting to his own house,
of the number of drunken people visible in our streets on
Sunday mornings. He had, when recently in London, re-
marked to his brother, on a Sunday morning, how quiet the
streets were. His brother replied, that it was because the
public-houses were all closed.
Mr. HAMER read the memorial which had been prepared
for presentation to the Town Council, and moved its adop-
tion. It was adopted.
Mr. WHITE moved, that a Committee be appointed, to
consist of ten licensed victuailers of the Society, and ten
other members of the trade, who were to take measures, local
and parliamentary, to avert the introduction of the 42d
clause, &c., into the bill now before Parliament. The reso-
lution was carried.
A publican present moved that Mr. Parker should be one
of the ten not belonging to the Society. Mr. Parker excused
himself. Several licensed victuallers were proposed, who all
declined becoming members of the committee.
The Chairman having quitted his seat, thanks were voted
to him for his services, and the meeting broke up.

Popery is at this moment as audacious in pretension, as
subtle in contrivance, as insolent in usurpation, as exquisite:7
organised, as skilful in adapting and bending herself to meet
all emergencies and occasions, as resolutely determined on
the aggrandisement and supremacy of her sway, as she was
in the Pontificate of Gregory the Great. She is all things to
all men ; shaking hands with republicanism, caressing infi-
delity ; fawning on aristocracy, but under all masks, and in
every variety of policy, always promoting and tending to-
wards one object—the subjugation of the human race to her
iron yoke.—Record.