§ Mr. Sheridanpresented a petition from certain publicans, &c. praying the aid of parliament, in alleviation of certain grievances with respect to the granting and revoking of Licences. The petition was ordered to lie on the table. Mr. S. then rose and said, that the petition he just had the honour of presenting was signed by more than 1,000 persons. As to the abuses of which that petition complained, and the remedy which he proposed for those abuses, he must at present decline entering into them. He contended that they could be satisfactorily proved upon the most unquestionable testimony, at the [...]. He said that he had made every enquiry into the alledged abuses, and had no doubt he should convince gentlemen, to their astonishment, of the cruel and grinding oppression which in many instances had been practised towards that body. The great object of his endeavour to relieve them would at least be, to have it made certain by parliament, that the bread, the livelihood, the very means of existence to those people and their families, should not depend on the will or the caprice of any two magistrates, without an appeal to some of the courts of judicature. He concluded by moving, that leave be given to bring in a bill to amend so much of the 32d and others of the king as relates to the granting and withholding licences from ale-house keepers, &c.
The Chancellor of the Exchequerhad no objection to the motion, but did think that the right hon. gent. should have distinctly stated the instances of cruel and grinding oppression he had in such very strong terms complained of. If any of the magistracy had been guilty of such a breach of their duty, it might be made the subject of a criminal action. He could not approve of the line of distinction the right hon. gent. seemed to draw between the magistracy.—After a few words between Mr. S. Bourne, the. Marquis of Titchfield, and Mr. A. Cooper, the motion was agreed to.