The Express.
London, England, 1862-10-08 00:00:00

PROGRESS OP THE EARLY CLOSING
MOVEMENT.

The Saturday half-holiday or early closing move-
ment, as it affects the retail tends of London, having sot-
eansfully pasted through the somewhat trying ordeal of the
pest summer, appears to be increasing in popularity, both
with the firms themselves and the public. In the Edgware-
mad, Mr. D. B. Jobostone has announced his intention of
forthwith dosing at 6 o'clock on Saturdays, while in Far-
riogdonatreet two employees (Mr. T. Simpson and Mr. G.
Emery) have arranged to close at 7,8, and 9 o'clock on Sa-
turdays, according to the semen, iutead of keeping open es
formerly until 12. On the other nights of the week also,
the latter houses have lately made an advance, by dosing at
8 o'clock instead at 9. Messrs. J. Shoolbeed and Co., of the
Tottenham-court-road, while closing at 4 on Saturdays, have
just commenced closing at 7 on the other nighteof the week.
Another large house, situated in the City, began closing at
8 o'clock in September instead of October. In Oxford-
street, some of the booksellers and fancy stationers have
commenced closing at 8 o'clock for the winter, instead of
half-past 8 and 9 o'clock, including Saturdays. As limey as
900 persons participate in the benefit of these arrangements,
and as an evidence that the assistants are not unconscious of
the kindly spirit thus shown by their employers, it may be
mentioned that the emplilth of Meellira. Spencer, Turner,
and Boldero, in Limon-grove, lately presented two members
of the firm (Mr. Turner and Mr. Boldero) each with a very
handsome silver snuffbox, bearing inscriptions setting forth
that the presentation was made as au acknowledgment of
the spirited and generous manner is which the firm had
promoted the Saturday early closing movement. It may be
hoped that the Edgware-road district will return to that
more general adoption of the Saturday movement which it
exhibited in 1860-61, since which time only two homes in
that thoroughfare (Messrs. Beech and Berrall. and Messrs.
E. and li. Garrould) have been closing ea early as 6 on Sa-
turday& It may be mentioned that Messrs Spencer,
Turner, and Boldero close as early as 4on Saturdays in the
winter half of the year, the agreement which prevails gene-
rally among the larger retail firma at the West-end and in
the City.

Ram ox Hotnonx-unt..—On Monday night a
large number of Irish labourers, who usually assemble
against the boarding between Field-lane and Viotoriaateset,
got up a disoussioe upon the respective merits of Garibaldi
and the Pope, upon which a fight took pleoe hawses two of
the opposing parties. The police endeavoured to wake peace,
but were shamefully assaulted by the adherents of the Pope.
In self-defence the officers were obliged to draw their trun-
cheons and send for a reinforcement. In the interim the
Anent were joined by levies of young and old from Saffron-
hill, and affairs began to assume a serious aspect, the police
being greatly out-numbered by their opponents, who used
their utmost efforts to crush the police, who, however.wsre
emoted by some of the bystanders until a fresh body of
polies arrived, which turned the tables, and the police moo-
Deeded in capturing two of the ringleaders, but not without
severe fightuig, and several at the Irish mistaking severe
injuries.
FATAL SCAFFOLD LOCIDZYIT IN TEN
Yesterday wonting, shit. after serge o'closk, as • men
named Michael Smith, 62, • mechanic, in the service
of Mr. Taine, builder, Great Toweratrest, City, was at
work upon • scaffold ;recited in frost of a new building in
Feachurch-street, he lost his equilibrium and fell • distance
of about 20 feet on to the pavement. The poor fellow was
raised up in a state of insensibility and rumored to the
accident ward of the London Hospital, whew Mr. Mulling
the house-surreal, found that he had summed ccessamion
of the brans and other injuries, from the effects of which
be expired shortly after hie 'Manion.
CzYsTAL PALACL Leotard performs in the
wane moseys at 4 o'clock this afeenseoe.