The Select Committee of 1854.

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beershops into innocent ginshops! The British public, we trow, is not so credulous as to listen to the voice of the Liverpool charmers.

The Report and recommendations of the Select Committee of 1854 are, however, appealed to in defence of the Liverpool theory; nor is this surprising. This committee, which sat in the sessions of 1853 and '54, collected evidence that filled two Blue-books of comely proportions. It may not be known to all that this committee had its origin in the very same Liverpool feeling on the Licensing system to which the magistrates of that town have given practical expression for several years past. As early as January 24, 1853, the Liverpool bench adopted this resolution- That all houses for the sale of ale, beer, spirits, and wine should be exposed to free competition in trade, imposing only those restrictions which may be deemed expedient for the purpose of police regulation. Mr. Wm. Brown, the eminent Liverpool merchant, then M.P. for South Lancashire, was a supporter of these views, and mainly by his efforts the Select Committee of 1853 was appointed. The composition of the committee gave it from the first a bias in favour of the free licensing theory; but whoever takes the trouble to read the Blue-books carefully through will perceive a radical contrariety between the evidence presented and the recommendations of the committee. Even the committee's own summary, which is ably written, and their practical suggestions at the close of their report, have scarcely anything in common; the latter having all the appearance of being pieced on to rather than of growing out of the former. But favourable as were the committee to a system of free licensing, they did not forget to insist on two conditions to its safe embodiment-viz., a special and constant inspectorship of all licensed houses, and heavy pecuniary sureties for the good conduct of the licence-holders. They considered it established by the evidence that it is essential that the sale of intoxicating drinks should be under strict supervision.' Whatever utility would adhere in this strict supervision,' there is nothing in its necessity to justify a free licensing system; and in all the pages of which the two blue-books consist, there is not a line to show why this privilege of selling intoxicating liquors should be freer than at present. The chief reason alleged is the partial conduct of licensing magistrates-a malady which cannot reasonably call for unlimited competition in the sale of intoxicating liquors. For twelve years the Evidence and Report of 1853-4 have been before the country without any attempt at legislation in the direction of free licensing, except by its Liverpool supporters, whose efforts in 1863 and 1865 were

signally

signally defeated. The latter of these defeats, when Mr. Lawson moved the rejection of their Bill, was so complete as to put an end to all hope of passing any private measure on the subject. Some leading men in the House of Commons have an unconcealed leaning towards a measure which should take from the licensing magistrates their absolute discretionary power; but whatever abuses are chargeable upon the exercise of this power, neither the House nor the country will accept the alternative of releasing the drink-traffic from the restraints of this magisterial jurisdiction, without a substitute better suited to the times and more conservative of the public good.

The Licensing system may be revised-and its revision is urgently called for-but the sine quâ non of any such revision is the adoption of some better securities than the Liverpool theorists have offered for the diminished and not the augmented consumption of intoxicating drinks. The Committee of 1853-4 appear to have thought that a higher licence fee, proportioned to population, heavy sureties, and strict inspection, would tend to limit the sale of liquors under the system they proposed-and such we believe is the conviction of some of the estimable men who sit on the Liverpool bench. Drunkenness they think will decline under free licensing; but are they prepared to show that free licensing will diminish the number of traffickers in strong drinks, or the temptations to their common use, or the meretricious attractions, which according to the Report cited, were increased by the beershop system? Is free trade found to diminish competition or consumption, even in the articles that satisfy a natural appetite? and can it be imagined that it will exert that effect in regard to articles that tend to create a craving the more insatiable the more it is indulged? Even common drunkenness might seem to decrease, and yet the crimes consequent on drunkenness or the poverty it engenders, might be greatly on the increase. In the Report of 1854, occur these warning words: 'Your Committee do not feel it necessary to follow further the evidence upon the connection of intoxicating drinks with crime. It has directly or indirectly been the subject of inquiry at different times, and has been reported upon by numerous committees of your honourable House, who bear unvarying testimony both to the general intemperance of criminals and the increase and diminution of crime in direct ratio with the increased or diminished consumption of intoxicating drinks.' Any revision of the Licensing system claiming support on public grounds must-if the words just quoted are as weighty as we believe them to be-make good its claims to that support

My Husband's Partner.

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port by its tendency to diminish the consumption of intoxicating liquor. The question is a public one, and must be discussed upon public grounds; not as a question between bodies of magistrates and crowds of applicants for licences which magistrates may grant or refuse at their pleasure. Whatever the partiality of the justices-their indisposition or incompetency to act justly as between applicants for licences-the traffic in strong drink concerns the whole community, and is not to be legislated upon without a paramount regard to the rights and interests of the people. Is it fit that that traffic should be encouraged or discouraged? made freer or more restricted? Is it right that the people should be excluded from all share in determining upon the dimensions and continuance of a business that affects all classes, and, indirectly at least, every family in the land? These are fundamental questions, and on the answers they receive will ultimately depend the fate of all proposals such as those entertained by the Liverpool magistrates. The state of Liverpool since they used their magisterial discretion to put their theory' into operation, does not recommend the theory to general adoption; and they may yet discover to their surprise that in aiming at a limitation of the magisterial prerogative, they have assisted to gain for the people that control over the licensing system, without which it will continue the instrument of magisterial caprice, or become the blind slave of individual greed. The Liverpool theorists in attacking the lesser evil overlook the other which is by far the more momentous. Against the latter, as well as the former, the public have a right to ask all the protection the law can afford them, and it will not long be denied them when they demand it with earnestness and vigour.

ART. V.-MY HUSBAND'S PARTNER.

HEN I was married (many years ago now), Walter Kinsman was partner with my husband in his business. They had a tanyard, and were justly considered to be thriving young men, likely to make their fortunes in good time.

The night after we reached home from our wedding tour, Mr. Kinsman was announced. I had heard so much of him that I was rather curious to make his acquaintance, and judge for myself as to his character and ability. My husband rose to receive him with much cordiality. Here, Catherine,' he said, taking my hand, this is Mr. Kinsman, of whom I have

so often spoke to you.' 'Good evening, Mrs. Fletcher; I am delighted to have the honour of making your acquaintance.' The words were simple and ordinary enough, but I glanced at the speaker as he uttered them, and disliked the face that met my sight. And yet, Walter Kinsman might almost have been called handsome; his bold black eyes, his clear dark complexion, his black curling hair, his well-formed profile, his slight athletic figure (a little under the average height of man), together with a deep masculine voice, musical and ringing in tone, were sufficient to render him admirable to most; but there was something so cynical in his handsome. mouth, with its dazzling white teeth, which he showed a good deal in talking and laughing; something so uncongenial and insincere in every flattering speech he made to me, that I turned to the honest good-tempered face of my own dear husband with an added feeling of security and comfort. Perhaps few ladies would have called Charles as good-looking as Walter Kinsman; perhaps most would have criticised his heavier Saxon features; but I only know that his blue eyes, so full of truth, never seemed so welcome to me as when I contrasted them with the black, mischievous, incessantlyroving pair beside them. Mr. Kinsman stayed talking for about an hour, retailing the gossip of the place to us, and descanting on the characters, actions, and appearance of various people far more closely than I have done on his. Amongst other news, he told Charles that he had met a young lady several times, who was staying in the town, and who was, without exception, 'the sweetest little thing he had ever seen.' 'And more than that,' he added, with an oath, 'I am determined to have her.'

I had been carefully brought up, and his language shocked me. 'If I were that young lady, Mr. Kinsman,' I said, 'I should feel quite determined not to marry a man who would swear about me.'

'I swear?' he said, while his black eyes turned scornfully on me; I beg your pardon, madam, the lady I am speaking of is not a Methodist."

I hope all ladies (not only Methodists) object to oaths.' I laid an intentional stress on the word ladies, and he noticed it. 'I suppose, then,' he said, recovering his good temper, outwardly at least, Miss Morris will, for she is a complete lady, so thank you, Mrs. Fletcher, for the hint, and I must endeavour to profit by it.'

'My wife,' said Charles, smiling, 'is a very outspoken lady, but she bears no malice, Kinsman, and I hope you will understand each other all the better for this.'

Walter

My Husband's Partner.

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Walter Kinsman assented, and rose to go. In order to bear out my husband's words, that I bore no malice, I cordially seconded the invitation Charles gave him to stay to supper; and over the parting glass of grog, Walter Kinsman, who was more quickly excited by alcohol than any other person I ever met with, became positively brilliant, laughed, joked, told tales, talked wittily, and when he once more offended in his language, begged my pardon with such charming humility, that I could scarcely suppress a smile. And then he rose to go with his handsome Spanish face, flushed into a deep glow on either cheek, and as he shook hands with me, said softly, Good night, Mrs. Fletcher; I shall put myself into your hands for education, and you will soon make me what I want to be just now, an attractive, wise, sober, gentlemanly companion for a lady.'

'You expect great things of me, Mr. Kinsman,' I answered; 'good night.'

'What do you think of him, Catherine?' said Charles, when he returned to the parlour from parting with his friend.

'I hardly know yet, Charlie,' I said, putting my hand in his, and giving it a tight squeeze; 'I think I should not like to be his wife.'

Then you don't like him, dear?' There was a little disappointment in my husband's voice, so I hastened to answer:

I don't know him half enough to judge, Charlie, but he seems very agreeable.' This answer did not satisfy Charles. 'Well, then, I will be honest; I don't think I shall ever trust Mr. Kinsman; he seems like a highly polished stone, cold, shining, brilliant, cutting.'

And yet how well he bore your reproof. By the by, Catherine, it was rather a daring thing of you on so short an acquaintance.'

You should have broken him of it before, dear husband, and then I need not have so employed myself.'

'I have tried once or twice, replied Charles, but it will have a great deal more effect coming from a lady and a stranger.'

'At all events we must not allow swearing amongst our guests, Charlie. It is a most dreadful habit, and a terribly common one amongst young men.'

That was all we said that night about Mr. Kinsman. He was nearly out of my thoughts by the afternoon of the next day, when I sat at the open window of my pretty drawingroom, with a book in my hand, looking at some of my new neighbours as they walked up and down the street, and occasionally turning over a new leaf literally, not metaphori

cally.