The Express.
London, England, 1852-01-06 00:00:00

THE OMNIBUS SERVANTS OF THE

METROPOLIS.

Yesterday evening a crowded and influential meet-
ing of belies and gentlemen interested in ameliorating the
condition of this large class of the public servants was hold
at the Infant School, Peddington-green ; the Rev. M. A.
CAMPBELL, vicar of the parish, in the chair. In opening
the proceedings, the rev. gentleman observed that they haa
met for two übjects, the first being to express tho anxious
wish they all must feel that the labourers connected with
omnibuses should have an opportunity of intending to their
religious duties on the Sabbath; and secondly, that they
should co-operate in the formation of such institutions as
might tend to support them in sickness. Of these objects,
of course, the former was the paramount and all-important
one ; and it was one that involved a much greater queetion,
namely, the better observance of the Lord's-day: Un-
doubtedly there had been much improvement in this
respect; and the public dinners and entertain-
ments that used commonly to be held some years
ago on Sundays were in great measure abolished. AU
this was owing to a better state of the public mind, and
It was in fact only by acting upon public opinion that they
asst hope to succeed with respect to the Sunday labour of
annalbas servant/. He was happy to state that two very
easpectable proprietors had called upon him, previous to the
meeting, to express their great anxiety to co-operate with
the movement ; and ho felt sure there were man/ who
would gladly follow their example. (Hear, hear. His
great argument, however, hod always been, both in the
pulpit and elsewhere, that they could never succeed in
inducing persons who now grossly violated the Sabbath to
to course, unless those who wished to keep the
set them a much better example than they did at
goeneat. (Cheers.)
The Hon. ARTHUR KINNAI RD stated that he was in
the constant habit of using omnibuses, and thought that
they were exceedingly well conducted. He could also
Mar testimony to the good behaviour of tho omnibus
soretwellas *em whom he had never received any-
thing but civility and attention. (Hear, hear.) These
men, not to state the case at all extravagantly, were con-
atiustly employed for thirteen or I I hours a-day, with only
• pause of some half hour for their meals, a respite, too,
which depended in great measure upon their keeping their
time, for if they were behind (and delays in over-crowded
streets must often be unavoidable), even that short meal-
time was still further diminished. Attendance on divine
worship was utterly out of the question, except at the
sacrifice of some portion of their wages. It might perhaps
be thought that their occupation was a healthy one, but
that was far from being the case, in proof of which the hon.
read a letter from a medical practitioner, who
(dart:7 lhat they were extremely liable to rheumatism,
severe bronchial affections, and consumption; besides which
the preternatural tax upon their constitution, involved
in their heavy labour, irregular meal-times, and fre-
quent protracted fast, rendered the premature break-
up of their system an event of common occurrence.
Persons sometimes accused omnibus servants of dishonesty.
Now nothing could ever justify a man for being dishonest;
but,whcn it was considered that they had never any time to
think of their responsibilities,
.and that they had been
deprived of every means of religious and moral instruction,
surely they could not wonder that men so circumstanced
should not be able to resist temptation ? (Cheers.) Ile
(the hon. gentleman) thought that the omnibus proprietors
would find that occasional relaxation to their servants and to
their cattle would not interfere with the convenience of the
public, while it would be of incalculable advantage to the
spiritual and temporal welfare of their fellow men.
(Cheers.) Mr. Kinnaird concluded by stating that. since a
meeting which had been held at Islington upon the subject
about 20 omnibuses had been taken uff the Holloway and
Islington route, end by moving a resolution denouncing
over-work generally. (Cheers.)
Mr. EDWARDS, an omnibus proprietor, denied the
statement as to the reduction of Sunday truffle, and
said that the proprietors felt personally aggrieved by
the manner in which the movement had been got
up. He believed that the usual working time was not
more than twelve hours, instead of being from 8 a.m. to
midnight, as had been stated; and with respect to Sunday
labour, he should be very glad if some means could be de-
vised for affording the men relief. (Cheers.) The masters
had shown themselves favourable to the benevolent society
when it was first started, and had subscribed 951. of the
1,000. at present in the bankers* hands; but he regretted
to say that a misunderstanding had arisen as to the manner
in which the agitation had been conducted; and they had
not lately afforded it so much support as at the minunesee-
tent. Amongst other misrepresentations it had been
stated that their servants had to pay out of their
wages of 365. a week lls. to the stable men; but
ho repudiated anything beyond a pint of beer, and
a notice to that effect had loss been' stuck up in his
yard. (Hear, hear.) lie did not think that many of the
men would like to be deprived of their Sunday work, for
he had men who had been with him 11 or 12 years, and
who had never lost a journey. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. OREY, another proprietor, also objected to the
vituperation which had been cast on the proprietors. He
denied that their men were ill-used or ill-paid, though he
must admit that they were hard worked. (Hear, hear.)
Nor did he hesitate to make this avowal, for the men received
additional remuneration for their labours ; and if they were
religiously disposed they could well afford to pay for substi-
tutes. Of course they could not all leave on Sunday, but
there were plenty of places of worship open on other days.
Mr. SCULLY, the secretary, stated that 22 or 23 omni-
buses Wowing to Mr. Wilson, had discontinued some of
their Sunday Journeys, as might be proved by the Rev.
Mr. Wilma and the Rev. Kr. )'genie, whose churches
some of the moo atissied.

Mr. EDMUNDS, amidst some confusion, again denied
that there had been any alteration in Wilson's omnibuses.
The resolution was carried unanimously.
A second resolution, asserting that the omnibus servants
were overworked, was then moved by Sir Mamie tiontno,
seconded by the Rev. Mr. Mos.raitua, of tho Lock Chapel,
and carried unanimously.
Avote of thanks was then, on the motion of Capt. Dunn,
given to the chairman and tho clergymen who had attended,
and the meeting broke up.

NEW YEAR'S-EVE IN TUE LUNATIC ASYLUM AT
COLNET lIATCII.—On the evening of the last day of 1851
the Lunatic Asylum at Colney Hatch was the scene of a
mast interesting spectacle, which took place under the
auspices, and by direction of, the visiting justices of that
important and magnificent institution of the county of
Middlesex. The patients, to the number of nearly 400—
females 230, males 166—were assembled, at six o'clock, in
the large exercising hall of the asylum, which had been
most tastefully decorated for the ameba, by the patients
themselves with evergreens and Hags, "applied for the par-
pees by order of the visiting justices; and, after tea hail
been partaken of by the whole party, music and dancing
commenced, and was continued for more than an hour,
several of the officers and visitors joining in the amuse-
ment, cheerfully endeavouring to promote the happiness
which it was evident the poor patients experienced. Other
amusements succeeded, parties were formed, and paraded
the hall in the utmost order and regularity ; and, although
• similar entertainment is given periodically to the
patients at Ilanwell, this was the first time the
patients of both sexes were associated in ono en-
tertainment, and it is most gratifying to record
that no entertainment yet given to lunatics since the
introduction of the new system of treatment into the county
has been marked with greater propriety than the one under
notice. At nine o'clock cake, oranges, and mulled beer
were supplied plentifully, and after the national anthem
hail been sung with hearty good will by the whole 400 pa-
tients, they returned totheir respective wards, expressing
themselves much delighted with the evening's entertain-
ment. Groat praise ts due to the medical officers of the
establishment, Drs. Hood and Davis. for the very admissible
arrangements made by them for this °cession; also to the
matron, steward, and other officers for the seal with which
they rendered their services to promote the mem of
the patients. There was a large number of and
visitors present, including IL Esq., the chairman
of the bench ; B. Botch, the chairman of the committee of
visiting justices ; A. Smith, Env, Mr. Alderman Law-
rence, C. 11. Cottrell, Esq., J. IVilson' Esq., C. S. Butler,
Esq., W. 11. Bodkin, Esq., 11. Stock, Esq., U. Crawshay,
Esq., Capt. Sinclair, ific. &e.

KOSSUTII 811AKSPEARE FUND. The sum of
3‘. &I. has been subscribed by 39 compositors in the employ
of Messrs. Spottiswoode and Shaw.