Mr.Monk had refused to relieve the Brewers from their licences.

Now the Brewers had for some years been agitating about their licences,--and it is acknowledged in politics that any measure is to be carried, or to be left out in the cold uncarried and neglected, according to the number of deputations which may be got to press a Minister on the subject.

Now the Brewers had had deputation after deputation to many Chancellors of the Exchequer; and these deputations had been most respectable,--we may almost say imperative.
It was quite usual for a deputation to have four or five County members among its body, all Brewers; and the average wealth of a deputation of Brewers would buy up half London.

All the Brewers in the House had been among the supporters of the Coalition, the number of Liberal and Conservative Brewers having been about equal.

But now there was a fear that the "interest" might put itself into opposition.