Mr. F. Palmerpresented a petition from the licensed victuallers of Reading, against the Excise Licences. He trusted the House would take the subject into their serious consideration, as it was one of great importance and as the existing system was the cause of considerable injustice.
§ Mr. Moncktrusted the House would feel the importance of relieving the nation from these licenses, which operated as a kind of poll-tax. It was the most unequal kind of impost, as whether a man sold a greater or less quantity of beer, he was subjected to the payment of the same sum. He trusted that this, therefore, would be one of the burthens of the people which the House would determine to take off: for it was quite as oppressive as that odious window tax, to which he trusted the House would that evening put an end. The difficulties of all kinds under which publicans laboured, were very great. 652 At Reading there was a company of brewers, by whom porter was sold at 4d. a pot, of the same quality as that for which the publicans necessarily charged 5d. because 4d. was the price required of them by the brewers by whom they were supplied. It might be asked, why the publicans did not brew their own beer? The fact was, that they were prevented by the great brewers, whose tenants they were. They were not publicans in any sense but in name. If they attempted to act independently, they were instantly turned out of their houses; otherwise, a publican might most advantageously be a retail brewer, much more so, indeed, than an ordinary retail brewer; because he could sell his beer both in and out of doors. He trusted that the House would take these and every other grievance into its serious consideration.
§ Ordered to lie on the table.