§ A petition of several directors of the London Dock Company, was presented and read; taking notice of the petition of the court of mayor and aldermen of the city of London, praying, that leave may be given to bring in a Bill for enabling his Majesty to grant to the said mayor and commonalty and citizens of London the office of gauger at the London Docks and at all legal quays and sufferance wharfs whereon gaugeable commodities are now or may ever hereafter be lawfully landed within the port of London, or that they the said petitioners might have such other relief as the House should think just and equitable; and setting forth, that the said petition does not disclose to the House many of the most material circumstances in relation to the trial at law therein mentioned, which the petitioners 738 conceive are necessary to enable the House to form a competent judgment as to the nature and jurisdiction of the said office; and that the petitioners beg to submit to the House, that the grant of the office of gauger in favour of the corporation of London is wholly unnecessary at the London Docks, and would not be of the least benefit to the public or the trade of the port of London; and that, since the establishment of the London Docks, viz. in the 52d year of his present Majesty, an Act was passed, by or under which the London Dock Company is responsible and liable to make good all deficiencies on wines and spirits landed and housed at the said docks, from whatever cause arising, excelling certain small quantities therein mentioned, which deficiencies are to be established by the excise gauge on landing and dilevery; and that, on the second trial referred to in the said petition of the said mayor and aldermen, which was a new trial granted by the unanimous judgment of the court of King's-bench, and held at bar by order of the said court, it was clearly proved and established by the verdict of the jury, and to the entire satisfaction of the court, that the London Docks are situate without the limits, and are not subject to the jurisdiction of the city of London, in relation to the said office of gauger, and the corporation of London have never attempted to call the same in question, but have acquiesced therein; and that the petitioners trust, that the House will not grant to the city of London any rights or privileges to be extended to the London Docks, which, by the wisdom of parliament, have been formed and established out of and beyond the reach of the limits of the city's jurisdiction; and that if, under all the circumstances, it should appear to the House, that the corporation of London has any claim to compensation in the premises, the petitioners respectfully submit that the said corporation should and ought to apply for the same in such manner as the legislature have deemed right in other cases in which compensation hath been allowed, without interfering with or in any manner infringing on any of the rights or privileges which have been granted by parliament to the London Dock Company; and praying the protection of the House in support of the rights and privileges granted by parliament to the London Dock Company, and that the said petition of the said court of mayor and aldermen may not be granted, and that the petitioners may 739 be heard, by their counsel and agents, against the same."
§ Ordered to be referred to the Select Committee appointed to enquire into the operation and effect of the several Acts for erecting docks and otherwise improving the port of London, so far as relates to the gauging of wine, and other gaugeable commodities, imported into the said port; and that the petitioners be heard, by their counsel or agents, upon their petition, if they think fit.