The Statesman.
London, England, 1822-06-20 00:00:00

te/
Mr: COURTENAY conientid wits ra his op
position : bnt be pot it to the caotkor of the Hotline
able Gentleman opposite (Mr. Leonard) to endeavour to
prove his sharge.
The Petition was then brought up, and ordered to Ile
on the table. .
MUMS TAX.--IRILAND.
Sir JOHN NEWPORT presented a Petition from the
Tanners of Waterford against the Lather Tax, and also
against the mode of mewing it.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, be
had always thought the mode of assessing the duty on
Leather in Ireland, injudicious. and lie was only waiting
for the Report of the Commissioners of Inquiry to is-
troduce some measure to alter it.
Mr. C. 11. HUTCHINSON said any alteration would
he acceptable to the persons interested in this trade in
Ireland.
After a few words from Mr. V. FITZGERALD, the Pe-
tition was read and ordered to be printed.
A Message from the Lord Raced their Lordships
&seem to the Goods Importation Repeal Bill, and certain
Private Bills.

LICINI:NO RUTIN.
Mr. JAM ESpreeented a petition from William Prid all,
a publican in the pirish of Triptott.Hnitotear Ilebester,
in Somertsetshire, complaining that his license bad,
through the interference of two Magistrates, named
Woodford and Priest, been refined bins, although he bed
held it for sixteen years previoUsly. instate& that Um
character of his house bad never been impeached, and he
could not otherwise account for this oppressive surmise
of Magisterial interference, than that be bail coasts.
nanced the rejoicings upon the ocquittal of the Queen.
Petitionerlarther stated, that he had a family of sine
children, whom he was ne longer able to support, and
he therefore prayed the House to interfere. The Hon.
Member, after samg that he concurred with the poti-
!loser, in feeling that some change in the mode of grant-
iseg Reggaes was called for, added, that timbals., seed
not be surprised at the conduct of the Maglsteseseorben
they were Informed, that these gentlingtl wore two of
the notorious visitors of I 'clamor ,•-••
Mr. Secretary PEEL was not disposed to sargest
the rejection of any petitioa open say ; but he
could not listen silently to charges made against Ma-
gistrates who exercised heavy public duties
gratoit-
onsly.—(Hear.)—The Magistrates, is question, were
both, men of the greatest respectability. and 'Owe of
them be himself bad a personal kaowledge. He biped,
as the House had listened to the charges made against
thee, Gentlemen, that they would do them the justice
also to listen to their defence. The Right Hon. Gent.
then referred to a statement made by Mr. Woodford,
with a view of 'hewing that the refusal of the petition-
er" license was warranted by the disorderly conduct
which was panned In his house. It was stated, that
repeated complaints were made by the parish officers,
of the pablic•houie in question. The Magi Orates,
!metre, did not act upon these complaints, and the
petitioner was suffered to continue his licensenatil the
general Ilrensing-day. The imputation cast upon the
motives of Mr. Woodford was particularly unjust. for
that Geotp bid openly declared his disapprobation
of the main which the proceedings against the
Queen were conducted. With regard to the other
Gentleman, it *as not true that be entertained any
hostile feelings towards the petitioner; for, upon one
occasion, he had lest him his attorney, when some
proceedings were instituted against WWII, at itches.
ter. Under these circumstances, be thought it unfair
that the petitioner should prefer charges, which were
unfounded; and he was also bound to sairkitikat It was
uncandid for the Hon. Member to endiewour to
raise an unjust prejudice &Oast theoelhatlitien, by
stating that they wet* of the -4* aseselotta. whitely" of
iichester Gael.
Mr. DICKINSON defended the conduct of the Ma-
gistrates. and stated that the reia.' v}i of the petitioners'
license was not the act of one or two Magistrates, but of
all the Magistrates of the district, for it took place upon
I tbe general licensing-day.
Mr. BENNET said, be wished publicans were more
often punished by a summary proceeding, rather than de-
price them of their licences, which extended the pu-
nishment to their families.
Mr. JAMES said, that what he had stated was upon
the authority of the petition. He did not know whether
the facts alleged were true or not; but the petitioner
declared himself willing to substantiate every charge he
had made upon oath. As to what was said of the disor-
derly character of the house, the petitioner admitted that
a riot took place once a year in his house, but it was only
when the clergyman and parish bold the vestry there.—
(Laughter.)
Mr. PEEL explained. He never meant to say that the
Hon. Member had alleged facts in which he was not
borne out. What lie (Mr. Peel) complained of was his
having alluded to the Magistrates being vissiters of 11-
cheater Gaol, with a view-of creating an undue prejudice
against them.
The petition was then ordered to lie on the table.
MITI WRIT.

Upon the motion of the Marquis of TITCHFIRLD, a
new writ was ordered for King's Lynn, in the room of
Lord Walpole, become Earl of Orford.

HAWKERS AND PEDLARS.

The Marquess of TITCHFIELU presented a petition
from the resident Tradesmen of Worksop, complaining
of the increase of hawkers and pedlars, and praying the
imposition of new duties upon their licenses.
Mr. HUME would not oppose the petition, but he pro-
tested against the principal of interference with the free-
dom of trade. If the petitioners considered the trade of
a hawker better than their own, tiler should have re-
course'to it. He was an enemy to restrictions of any sort.
He hoped the house would not accede to the prayer of
the petition.
Laid upon table.
Mr. Secretary PEEL gave notice, that on the sth of
July lie would bring in a Bill to continue the regulations
for the police of the metropolis.

ALIEN ACT.