At last licensing day, the licence of White Conduit House
was re- fused ; it has been enjoyed for fifty years. The licence of the Strand Theatre was also refused. An application was made to the Middlesex
Magistrates, at the last meeting' to revise their judgment in these cases ; and it was refused. The Strand Theatre is, perhaps, of all the
minor places the least exceptionable on the score of irregularity ; for it has no gallery—the very source of most of the irregularities that attend places of evening amusement. The White Conduit Gardens are not quite so genteel as Almack's ; but, for the lower classes, they serve the purpose as well. A meeting was held at the Gardens on Wednesday; when it was unanimously agreed to petition the Lord Chamberlain to grant the licence which the Magistrates had refused. Major Revell presided. The present owner has, it is said, expended above 30,000/. on the concern. He has a "vested interest," which Magistrates ought to be the last men to disregard.
Last week, a man named Quaife, a driver of a hackney-coach, was charged by Mr. Baker, a gentleman who had hired him, with detaining a box. Mr. Baker and the box had been conveyed by Quaife; who, not content with his fare for the former, insisted on having a fare of a shilling for the latter, and on being refused, drove off. The box was ultimately deposited with the Stamp Commissioners ; and here com- mences the really ridiculous part of the story. Mr. Baker waited on these gentlemen, and what was the answer they gave him ?—That he would not get his box, unless he paid one half of the value of the box, and two thirds of the value of its contents (said to be worth 50/0 to the coachman for his honesty ! These Commissioners are permitted
to direct a something to be paid to hackney-coachmen who bring to the office goods left by mistake in their hands—and such is their discretion. One eighth is all that the law allows to him who ventures his life to save a stranded vessel; while the sapient Commissioners allow two thirds as a reward for the honesty of him who, to put the most favourable construction on his conduct, omits to commit a felony. Mr. Baker did not relish being cheated ; and, having time to spare—(had it been ourselves, we must have given up the chest, or paid for its release)—he had both hackney-coachman and Commissioners before the Police-office. The Commissioners being paid for doing nothing, did not of course appear in person, but they sent a clerk to represent them. The examination took place on Monday. Mr. Quaife asked if he must give up the box, and was told he must — Mr. Quaife—" I shall certainly do so, but not with the consbit of the Com- missioners, who object to parting with it until the Act of Parliament is com- plied with."
So the Act of Parliament authorizes a hackney-coachman to detain the property of any gentleman who does not submit to his extortions ; and the Commissioners are mightily disappointed that they are not al- lowed to give effect to his endeavours ! As there was some doubt, from the defense made for the coachman, whether a felonious intention could be made out, and as Mr. Baker was content to get back his box and its contents, the fellow was discharged.
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