regulations; also of the tariff, when these shall not have been adjusted during the year by correspondence between the different ministers.

B. The definitive reparation among the states of the Union of the total common receipts, based upon the observations made by the superior authorities, and verified by the central bureau, as may be rendered necessary by the common interest.

C. To deliberate upon propositions and suggestions made by the governments for the perfection of the administration.

D. Discussions upon alterations demanded by any of the contracting states, in the laws, tariffs, and custom-house regulations, as well as in the organisation of the administration, and in general upon the development and perfection of the general system of customs and commerce.

XXXV. If, in the course of the year, when the plenipotentiaries are not in session, extraordinary incidents should occur, which require prompt decision on the part of the states of the Union, the contracting parties will consult upon these through their diplomatic agents, or they will order an extra sitting of their plenipotentiaries.

ROYAL TARIFF OF THE PRUSSIAN STATES, AND OF THE GERMAN CUSTOMS' UNION.
To be in force from the 1st January, 1840, to the 31st December, 1842.

1. Articles not liable to any Duty.

Trees for transplantation, and vines; bee-hives, with live bees; blood of slaughtered cattle, both in a liquid and dry state; gas of brandy (hogwarsh); animal and other sorts of manure; eggs; clay and ore, not specifically charged with duty, as bolus, pumicestone, bloodstone, brownstone, plaster, yellow clay, &c.; agricultural produce, and cattle of an estate separated by the frontier; fresh fish and crabs; grass, fodder, and hay; fresh garden produce,-as, flowers, vegetables, succory (not dried), potatoes and turnips, eatable roots, &c.; poultry, and small game of every kind; potters' ore (alquifoux); gold and silver, coined, in bars and fragments, excluding foreign small coin of silver; furniture and effects, worn clothes and linen, tools that have been used by individuals settling in the country; also, by particular permission, new clothes, linen, and effects, if they belong to persons settling in the country through marriage; wood (both for fuel and timber), if transported by land and not destined for ship. ping; copse wood and brooms, and willow for baskets; travellers' and seamen's clothes and linen, and travellers' carriages, waggons, and boats for transporting persons and goods, furniture of vessels, and provisions used for travelling; instruments, and patterns carried by travellers for their own use only; peat and tan for fuel; milk; fresh fruit; paper chippings and written papers (deeds, waste paper, &c.); seeds of forest trees, shave grass, reeds for rooffing, &c.; refuse

wood; stones, hewn and rough, chalk. slate, tiles and bricks, mill
and grindstones transported by land, and not destined for shipping;
straw, chaff, cut straw; all kinds of animals for which no duty is
mentioned in the tariff; turf and charcoal; husks of grain and or
grapes.

II. Articles which are liable to Duty on Importation or
Exportation.

Fifteen silver groschen, or half a dollar, is the general duty on importation for one quintal (hundred weight) Prussian gross weight; and no further tax on consumption is levied in the country, nor then when the article is exported.

Exceptions, however, occur with all articles, which either, according to the preceding regulations, are entirely exempt from duty, or, according to the following sections, are liable to duty; asArticles subject to a higher or lower import duty than half a dollar for one quintal; or,

Articles subject to a duty on exportation.

The following are those articles on which the affixed duties are levied :

[We subjoin a note of the duties imposed on some of the principal articles of import.*]

The Prussian dollar, of 30 silver groschen, is equal to about 2s. 11 1-2d. sterling; but in estimating duties it is usually taken at 3s. The Quintal or centair of 110 lbs. is equal to 113,381 lbs. avoirdupois.

N. B.-The duty on wheat, beans, and peas imported into Prussia from Poland by the Vistula and the Niemen, and exported by Dantzic, &c., has recently been raised to 3 silver gros. per scheffel; do. on rye, barley, and oats, 2 silver do. Formerly it was only half as much. This increase of duy, intended to operate as a retaliation on Russia, shows pretty conclusively that in commercial affairs Russian influence does not go for much in Prussia.-Sup.)

PRUSSIAN BLUE, OR PRUSSIATE OF IRON (Ger. Berlinerblau; Fr. Bleu de Prusse; It. Azurro Prussiano; Sp. Azul de Prussia; Rus. Lasor Bexlinskaja), a beautiful deep blue powder, accidently discovered at Berlin in 1710. It is of considerable importance in the arts, being extensively used by painters; it is manufactured in this country. Many attempts have been made to render Prussian blue available for the dyeing of broad cloths, but without much success. The difficulty is to diffuse the colour equally over the surface; for, from its extraordinary vivacity and lustre, the slightest inequalities strike and offend the eye. Prussian blue resists the air and sun extremely well; but it cannot be used in the dyeing of cottons, or any sort of stuff that is to be washed with soap, as the alkali contained in the soap readily dissolves and separates the colouring matter.-(Bancroft on Colours, vol. ii. pp. 60-94.)

Blue is a favourite colour with the Chinese, and in 1810-11, the imports of Prussian blue into Canton from England amounted to 1,899 piculs, or 253,200 lbs. But, for some years past, the Chinese have not imported a single pound weight. The cause of the cessation of the trade deserves to be mentioned. A common Chinese sailor, who came to England in an East Indiaman, having frequented a manufactory where the drug was prepared, learned the art of making it; and on his return to China, he established a similar work there, with such success that the whole empire is now amply supplied with native Prussian blue! The West has derived many important arts from the East; but we incline to think that this is the first well authenticated instance of any art having ever been carried from the West to the East, by a native of the latter. But, in all that respects industry, ingenuity, and invention, the Chinese are incomparably superior to every other people to the east of the Indus.

PUBLICANS, are persons authorised by licence to retail beer, spirits, or wines. Under the term publicans are comprised innkeepers, hotel keepers, alehouse keepers, keepers of wine vaults, &c. An inn differs from an alehouse in this,-that the former is a place intended for the lodging as well as the entertainment of guests, whereas the latter is intended for their entertainment only. If, however, ale or beer be commonly sold in an inn, as is almost invariably the case, it is also an alehouse; and if travellers be furnished with beds, lodged, and entertained in an alehouse, it also is an inn. It is not material to the character of an innkeeper that he should have any sign over his door; it is sufficient that he makes it his business to entertain passengers and travellers, providing them with odgings and other accommodations.

1. Licensing of Publicans.-The provisions with respect to the licensing of public houses are embodied in the 9 Geo. 4. c. 61., of which we subjoin an abstract.

General Meetings.-There shall be annually holden in county divisions, cities, and towns, a special session of justices, to be called the "General Annual Licensing Meeting," for the purpose of granting licenses to persons keeping or about to keep inns, alehouses, &c.; such meetings to be held, in Middlesex and Surrey, within the first 10 days of the month of March; and in every other place between the 20th of August and the 14th of September, both inclusive.

Notice of General Meeting.-Within every division, 21 days before the annual licensing meeting, a petty session of justices to be held, a majority of whom shall fix the day and hour for holding the general annual meeting; and shall direct a precept to the high constable, requiring him, within 5 days after the receipt thereof, to order the petty constables to affix on the door of the church, chapel, or other public place, a notice of such annual meeting, and give or leave at the dwelling-house of each justice acting for the division, and of each person keeping an inn, or who shall have given notice of his intention to apply for a licence to keep an iun, a copy of such notice. - 2.

The annual meeting may be adjourned, but the adjourned meeting is not to be held on any of the 5 days immediately following the adjournment; and every adjournment to be held in the month of March in Middlesex and Surrey, and in August or September in every other county.-— 3.

Sessions for Transfer of Licences.-At the annual meeting, justices to appoint not less than 4 nor more than 8 special sessions, to be held as near as possible at equidistant periods, for the purpose of transferring licences.- 4.

Notice of holding any adjourned meetings, or of any special session for the transfer of licences, to be given in the same manner and to the same parties as mentioned above.—◊ 5.

Justices disqualified. No justice who is a common brewer, distiller, maker of malt for sale, or retailer of malt or any exciseable liquor, shall act or be present at any annual licensing meeting, or adjournment, or special session for transferring licences, or take part in the adjudication upon any application for a licence, or upon an appeal; nor in the case of licensing any house of which he is owner, or agent of the owner, or of any house belonging to any common brewer, maker of malt, &c. to whom he shall be, either by blood or marriage, the father, son, or brother, or with whom he shall be partner in any other trade; in any of these cases knowingly or wilfully to act, subjects to a penalty of 1001. But disqualification does not arise, where a justice, having no beneficial interest in a house licensed or about to be licensed, holds only the legal estate therein as trustee or for a charitable or public use.-6.

When in any liberty, city, or town, 2 qualified justices do not attend, the county justices may act. -87.

The power given to county justices not to extend to the Cinque Ports.-8.

Questions respecting licenses to be determined, and licences to be signed, by a majority of the justices present.-9.

Application for a Licence.-Persons intending to apply for a licence to a house not before licensed, to affix a notice on the door of such house, and on the door of the church or chapel of the parish, and, where there shall be no church or chapel, on some other conspicuous place within the parish, on three several Sundays, between the 1st of January and the last day of February in the counties of Middlesex and Surrey, and elsewhere between the 1st of June and the last day of July, at some time between the hours of 10 in the forenoon and 4 in the afternoon, and shall serve a copy of such notice upon one of the overseers of the poor, and upon one of the constables or peace-officers of the parish, within the month of February in the counties of Middlesex and Surrey, and elsewhere within the month of July, prior to the annual meeting; such notice to be in a legible hand, or printed, and signed by the applicant. The application must state the Christian and surname of the party, with the place of his residence, and his trade or calling during the 6 months previous to the serving of the notice.- 10.

Notice to transfer Licence.-Persons desirous of transferring a licence, and intending to apply to the next special sessions, must, 5 days previously, serve a notice upon one of the overseers and one of the constables of the parish. Persons hindered, by sickness or other reasonable cause, from attending any licensing meeting, and proof thereof adduced on oath, may authorise another person to attend for them.-12.

Licences to be in force, in Middlesex and Surrey, from the 5th of April; elsewhere from the 10th of October, for one whole year.-13.

Provision for Death or other Contingency.-If any person licensed shall die, or become incapable, or a bankrupt or insolvent, or if he, or his heirs, executors, or assigns, shall remove, or neglect to apply for a continuation of his licence, the justices at special session may grant a licence to the heirs, executors, or assigns of such party, or to any new tenant; or if any man's house should be, or be about to be, pulled down for a public purpose, or rendered, by fire, tempest, or other unforeseen calamity, unfit for the purposes of an inn, licence may be granted to the occupier, if he intend to open another house as an inn. Such transferred licences shall continue only in force to the end of the year; and in case of removal to another house, notice must be given on some Sunday, within 6 weeks before the special session, in the manner and form before described.- 14.

Fees for Licences.-The clerk of the justices may lawfully receive from every person to whom a licence is granted, for trouble and all expenses, the following sums:

For constable or officer serving notices

For clerk of justices for licence

s. d.

1 0

5 0

For precept to the high constable, and notices to be delivered by the petty constable 1 6 Clerks demanding or receiving more than these fees, to forfeit 57.-15.

No sheriff's officer, or officer executing the process of any court of justice, qualified to hold or use any licence under this act.-16.

Excise Licences.-No licence for the sale of any exciseable liquors, to be consumed on the premises, shall be granted by the excise to any person, unless such person be previously licensed under this act.-17.

Penalties. Any person without a licence selling or exchanging, or for valuable consideration dispos ing of, any exciseable liquor by retail, to be consumed in his premises; or with a licence, and so selling in premises other than those specified in his licence, shall, for every offence, on conviction before 1 justice, forfeit not exceeding 201. nor less than 51. with costs; but the penalty not to attach in case of death or insolvency, and sale by the heir or assigns, prior to the next special sessions.- 18.

Every licensed person shall, if required, sell all liquors by retail (except in quantities less than a j pint) by the gallon, quart, pint, or pint, sized according to the standard; in default thereof to forfeit the illegal measure, and pay not exceeding 40s. with costs, to be recovered within 30 days before 1 justice.-19.

In case of riot, or probability of riot, houses licensed in the neighbourhood may be closed by the order of 2 justices.- 20.

Any person convicted of a first offence, before 2 justices, against the tenour of his licence, to forfeit not exceeding 51, with costs; guilty of a second offence within 3 years of the first, to forfeit not exceed

ing 101. with costs; and guilty of a third offence within 3 years, to forfeit not exceeding 501. with costs: or the case in the last instance may be adjourned to the petty sessions, or the annual meeting, or the general quarter sessions; and if the offender is found guilty by a jury, he may be fined 100%., or adjudged to forfeit his licence, or both, and rendered incapable of selling any exciseable liquor in any inn kept by him for 3 years.-21.

Proceedings at the session in certain cases, may be directed by the justices to be carried on by the constable, and the expenses defrayed out of the county rates.-22.

Witnesses refusing to attend without lawful excuse, may be fined not more than 101.-23.

Penalties against justices may be sued for in any court in Westminster; a moiety to the king, and a moiety to the party suing.— 24.

Penalties adjudged by justices may be recovered by distress, or the party imprisoned 1, 3, or 6 calendar months.-25.

The next sections relate to the mode of prosecuting actions.

The last section of the act bears that the word "inn" shall include any inn, alehouse, or victualling house, in which is sold by retail any exciseable liquor, to be drunk or consumed on the premises; and the words exciseable liquor are to include all such fermented or spirituous liquors as may now or hereafter be charged with any customs or excise duty.-37.

The act does not affect the two Universities, nor the privileges of the Vintners' Company, except those freemen who have obtained their freedom by redemption; and it does not alter the time of granting licences in the city of London.

Innkeepers are bound, by the tenour of their licence, to keep order in their houses, to prevent drunkenness and disorderly conduct, and gambling. If they fail in these respects, they forfeit their licence, and subject themselves to the penalties mentioned before. Allowing seditious or immoral books to be read in an inn, also forfeits the licence, and subjects to penalties.-(39 Geo. 3. c. 79. 31.)

2. Duties of Innkeepers.-Innkeepers are bound by law to receive guests coming to their inns, and they are also bound to protect their property when there. They have no option to reject or refuse a guest, unless their house be already full, or they are able to assign some other reasonable and sufficient cause. Neither can they impose unreasonable terms on such as frequent their houses: if they do, they may be fined, and their inns indicted and suppressed. An innkeeper who has stables attached to his premises, may be compelled to receive a horse, although the owner does not reside in his house; but he cannot, under such circumstances, be compelled to receive a trunk or other dead thing. By the annual Mutiny Act, constables, or, in their default, justices of the peace, may quarter soldiers in inns, livery-stables, alehouses, &c., under the conditions and regulations set forth in the

statute.

3. Responsibilities of Innkeepers.—An innkeeper is bound to keep safely whatever things his guests deposit in his inn, or in his custody as innkeeper; and he is civilly liable for all losses, except those arising from irresistible force, or what is usually termed the act of God and the king's ememies. "It has long been holden," says Sir William Jones, "that an innkeeper is bound to restitution, if the trunks or parcels of his guests, committed to him either personally or through one of his agents, be damaged in his inn, or stolen out of it by any person whatever (except the servant or companion of the guest); nor shall he discharge himself of this responsibility by a refusal to take any care of the goods, because there are suspected persons in the house, for whose conduct he cannot be answerable: it is otherwise, indeed, if he refuse admission to a traveller because he really has no room for him, and the traveller, nevertheless, insist upon entering, and place his baggage in a chamber without the keeper's consent. Add to this, that if he fail to provide honest servants and honest inmates, according to the confidence reposed in him by the public, his negligence in that respect is highly culpable, and he ought to answer civilly for their acts, even if they should rob the guests that sleep in their chambers. Rigorous as this law may seem, and hard as it may actually be in one or two particular instances, it is founded on the great principle of public utility, to which all private considerations ought to yield; for travellers, who must be numerous in a rich and commercial country, are obliged to rely almost implicitly on the good faith of innholders, whose education and morals are usually none of the best, and who might have frequent opportunities of associating with ruffians or pilferers, while the injured guest could never obtain legal proof of such combinations, or even of their negligence, if no actual fraud had been committed by them. Hence the prætor declared, according to Pomponius, his desire of securing the public from the dishonesty of such men; and by his edict gave an action against them, if the goods of travellers or passengers were lost or hurt by any means except by inevitable accident (damno fatali): and Ulpian intimates, that even this severity could not restrain them from knavish practices or suspicious neglect."-(Essay on the Law of Bailments, 2d ed. pp. 95, 96.)

Even if an innkeeper bid the guest take the key of his chamber and lock the door, telling him that he cannot undertake the charge of the goods, still, if they be stolen, he is held to be responsible. In all such cases it is not competent to the innkeeper to plead that he took ordinary care, or that the force which occasioned the loss was truly irresistible. A guest is not bound to deliver the goods in special custody to the innkeeper, nor, indeed, to acquaint him that he has any. If he have property with him, or about his person, the innkeeper must be responsible for it without communication. But the innkeeper may require that the property of his guest be delivered into his hands, in order that it put into a secure place; and if the guest refuse, the innkeeper is not liable for its safety. The guest exonerates the innkeeper from liability, when he takes upon himself the exclusive custody of the goods, so as to deprive the innkeeper of having any care over them:

may

be