or leave at the dwelling-house of every justice of the division or place, and of every innkeeper or person who has given notice of his intention to keep an inn, and apply for an ale licence within their respective districts, a copy of such notice.* where In every division of every county and riding, When and and of every division of the county of Lincoln, held. and in every hundred of every county not being within any such division, and in every liberty, division of every liberty, county of a city, county of a town, city and town corporate in England, a special session of justices, (called the General Licensing Meeting) shall be annually holden for. granting licences for keeping inns, ale-houses, and victualling houses, to sell exciseable liquors by retail to be drank or consumed upon the premises therein specified.† Such meeting shall be held in Middlesex and Surrey within the first ten days of March, and in every other county between the 20th of August and the 14th of September inclusive.‡ At such meeting, or any adjournment thereof, the justices of the jurisdiction, not disqualified, may grant such licences to such persons, as in the execution of this act and in their discretion, they shall deem fit and proper.§ The next Michaelmas quarter sessions and Special the general licensing meeting in every subse- sessions. quent year, shall appoint not less than four nor more than eight special sessions in the division or place in which each such meeting shall be holden for the ensuing year, at periods as Ib. § Ib. * 9 Geo. 4. c. 61. s. 2. + Ib. s. 1. What justices may act. Justices fied. nearly as may be equally distant; at which meetings the justices present may, in their discretion, license persons intending to keep inns before kept by other persons about to remove.* When the county justices and justices of another jurisdiction have concurrent authority over the same place, whichever set first appoints a meeting for granting ale licences for such place has so far assumed jurisdiction over that subject, that, although it seems that the other set may join in that assembly and act with them, they cannot appoint a subsequent separate meeting. If they do, and there grant licences, not only are their proceedings illegal and void, but they are liable to be indicted, or a criminal information may be obtained against them.+ No justice who is a common brewer, distiller, disquali- maker of malt for sale, or retailer of malt, or of any exciseable liquor, or concerned in partnership with any such, may act or be present at any general meeting, or adjournment thereof, or any special meeting for granting or transferring licences, or take any part in the discussion or adjudication of the justices on any application for a licence, or any appeal therefrom.And no justice shall act upon any of the aforesaid occasions in the case of any house licensed, or about to be licensed, of which he is owner, or for the owner of which he is manager or agent; or of any house wholly or in part the property of any common brewer, distiller, maker of malt for sale, or retailer of malt or of any exciseable liquor to whom he is by blood * 9 Geo. 4. c. 61. s. 4. + R. v. Sainsbury, 4 T. R. 451. or marriage father, son, or brother, or of whom he is partner in any other trade or calling, under the penalty of 1007.* This act shall not affect any person having the legal estate of such house as a trustee, unless he has some beneficial interest therein.† When there are not, at least two justices, not When Justices of disqualified, present at any of the aforesaid other jurismeetings for any liberty, county of a city, dictions county of a town, city or town corporate, act- may act. ing for that jurisdiction, the justices of the county or counties adjoining, not disqualified, may act with the justice there present in granting or transferring licences and hearing complaints under this actt; except in the cinque ports, Cinque two ancient towns and their liberties or members, ports. in which the justices of each of the principal cinque ports and two ancient towns, not disqualified, may act as they have been accustomed; and any of such justices, not disqualified, may act within each of the corporate members immediately belonging or subordinate to such principal cinque port or ancient town with the qualified justice or justices thereof in granting or transferring licences or hearing complaints under this act, as the justices of a county may in a liberty or county of a city.§ ment. The justices acting at the general meeting Adjournshall continue it by adjournment to such days and places within the division or place for which it is held, as they may deem most convenient and sufficient for enabling inn-keepers therein to apply for licences.|| *9 Geo. 4. c. 61. s. 6. § Ib. s. 8. + Ib. + Ib. s. 7. Ib. s. 3. sion. No adjourned meeting shall be held within or on the fifth day after the general meeting.* Every adjourned general meeting shall be in March, in Middlesex and Surrey; and in August or September, in every other county.† Adjourned The day, hour, and place for holding an adgeneral journed general meeting or a special session, meeting or special ses- shall be appointed by precept of the majority of the justices appointing such adjournment or special session, directed to the high constable, requiring notices similar to those given at the general meeting, to be affixed and served on the same places and persons.‡ Who grant or refuse licences. Application for licence, notice of. Every question touching the granting, with. holding, or transferring any licence, or the fitness of the person applying for it, or of the house intended to be kept by him, shall be determined by the majority of justices, not disqualified, present when it may arise and every licence under this act shall be signed by the majority of such justices present when it is granted.§ Every person intending to apply for a licence for any house not previously kept as an inn, must affix a notice on the door of the house, and on the church or chapel door, or, where there is none, on some other conspicuous place in the parish or place where the house is situate, on three several Sundays, between ten in the morning and four in the afternoon, in Middlesex and Surrey, between the first of January and the last of February, and elsewhere, between the 1st of June and the last of July 9 Geo. 4. c. 61. s. 3. + Ib. + Ib. s. 5. § Ib. s. 9. and must serve a copy of such notice on one overseer and one peace officer of the parish or place, in Middlesex and Surrey, in February, and elsewhere, in June, prior to the general meeting. The notice and copies must be printed, or written in a fair and legible hand, and signed by the person intending to apply, or his authorized agent; it must state the situation of the house truly and particularly, the Christian and surname of the applicant, his place of residence and trade or calling for six months last before service of it, and his intention to apply for a licence of such house. The following form is prescribed*: To the overseers of the poor, and the con- Form. whom it may concern. I, A. B. (state the trade or occupation) now residing at, in the parish of -, in the county of—, and for six months last past having resided at, in the parish of (or in the several parishes of) in the county (or in the counties) of, do hereby give notice, That (if application is intended to be made to a special session, here state the cause for such application) it is my intention to apply at the general annual li. censing meeting (or at the special session) to be holden at, on the day of next ensuing, for a licence to sell exciseable liquors by retail to be drunk or consumed in the house or premises thereunto belonging situate at (here de * 9 Geo. 4. c. 61. s. 10. |