Details
A Regency gilt-lined goblet on a textured rising circular foot decorated with a foliate frieze, the bowl with a die-rolled frieze of trailing hops and barley and with interesting presentation inscription:"Presented July 16.1812, to Mr Stepn. Woodward, of Duke Stt. Portland Place, by the Licensed Victuallers, of London, and its Environs, as a Token of Gratitude, for his unwearied exertions in forwarding their Bill to Parliament. for the Provention of Depredations of their property in Pewter Pots.", Rebecca Emes & Edward Barnard, London 1812 - 6¾in.
See Plate 3
See Plate 3
Further details
In 1812 several licensed victuallers and publicans within the cities of London and Westminster and the surrounding area presented a petition to parliament, claiming that between (70,000 and (80,000's worth of pewter drinking pots were stolen each year. This resulted largely from customers buying ale for consumption at home, many pawning or selling the pewter pots rather than returning them. The House of Commons was told on January 24th, 1812 that over the last two years sixty-seven people in London had been convicted for stealing pewter pots. Although it seems no direct action was taken, the petition was referred to the Committee appointed to examine the state of the nightly watch in the metropolis and neighbouring parishes and the state of the police force. Sadly the text of the petition is not known, as these were all lost in the fire of 1834. As a result we have been unable to trace Mr Stephen Woodward, who was not a member of Parliament. It has been suggested that he may have been as employee of the House of Commons or a jobbing lawyer used by the licensed victualler's pressure group simply to present their petition. We are grateful to Christopher Ponds of The Public Information Office, London, and to Peter Hornsby of Witney, Oxfordshire, for the above information.