The Express.
London, England, 1864-08-30 00:00:00

TO TKO ZD/TOZ OF THE ELFII:SB.

Sra, —The operation of this new act of parliament,
which was mud far the purposed checking the immoraliv
ties of the Haymarket and the night houses of the metro-
polis—end which has proved effective for that object—is
owning much inconvenience to poisons employed in news-
paper printing offices, more particularly to those espied is
printing the morning papeis—their fatiguing work (which
in all done amidst the heat and glue of gu) ending, and their
necessity for refreshment and relaxation taking pia,e just
at the time prohibited by the act, namely—from one to four
o'clock in the morning.

During the passing of this bill through parliament this
inconvenience was pointed out to Sir George Grey by a de-
potation who waited upon him for that purpose, on which
occasion the right hoe. gentleman promised that the mathd
should receive his favourable coosideratioh; sad a clause was
afterwards introduced into the bill giving the Commianiemers
of Police power to grant licensee of exemption on special es.
anions. The deputation applied to the City C0W1314600111, of
Police for licenses of exemption under this clause for the
houses by which they had been in the habit of being sup-
plied with refreshments on leaving off work, and were in-
formed by the commissioner that " the terms of the act do
not admit of his granting a license exempting any person
from the provision* of this en except upon some special
occasion, and be reignite, therefore, that he is amble to
anode to the application .
Persons employed in the various markets an also pre-
vented from obtaining noismary refreshments ; and the
proprietor of ► house near Newgate-market ham been rum-
mooed for supplying the railway and market porters with
their breakfasts of coffee, ho., before four o'clock in the
learning. The seen was dim:timed oa his pronisisg to die.
consume that portion of his hosizins. A letter has beau
published from a landlord at Poeder's-end, in which it is
stated that his tavern was used by carriers and hay carters,
who halted at his house between I and 4 o'clock in the
morning on their way to the London markets, but he was
forced by the police to close his doors against then, leaving
them, without " bit or map," to stretch themselves ea the
roadside to rest, sod wee compelled by the same authority
to refuse their hones admission to his stable.

By this act, however, which causes such inceovenience to
working people, licenses can be obtaioed for balls or eater-
tainroents at fsahiocable rooms or hotels, or for purge:me at
amassment, sod the aristocratic tourist and traveller cat
°Maio his refreshment at the railway statieu. Lange
hotels sad clubs are also exempted from its tipeastion.
Surely it is passible that a similar asastra4oll may be
made in the operation of this law, which peewee so unfairly
and injuriously upon a hard•workin` section of the cost•

musity. —I am, Sc..
Aug at 29.

A COMPOSITOR.

The deliberations of the International Medical
Coafermee at Geneva have terminated, as has been briefly
stated, in the conclusion of a moveotion in tea articles,
which affirm the neutraliaation of all military hospital., of
the whole official medical staff, and of the wounded. The
governments which took part in the negotration, not having
all been able to mead in doe nine to their 4300111A1 MOOOllOl the
powers oeoessery to proceed to the signature of this diplo-
matic act, twelve states only figure therein em contracting
parties, namely Prams, flu Grand Dually of Baden, Bel-
gium, Denmark, Spam, the Grand booby of Haase, Italy,
Rolland, Portugal, Prussia, Switzerland, and Wurtembers.
But the protocol having been left open, there is every rea-
son to hope that all the other powers will soon accede to
the convention.

THE DROUGHT. —The remarkable continuance of
uninterrupted dry weather that lias been experienced in
this country has, perhaps, been felt mom severely an the
Midland counties than in any other put of England. Since
the month of April there bas been no rainfall in Woross.
Weald, e, Gloucestershire, and Herefordshire, beyond a few
showers, the effects of which have disappeared on the td-
lowing day. The consequence is that, although the weather
has lately been much cooler, the dryacas continues, and in
the al:eines of fog and dews, the gram is haiversally turned
brown, and cattle have to be fed at hay and cake. As the
winter comes on there must necessarily be a great dearth
of fodder, as the root crape have very generally faded front
the long OODUALIDOOD of dry weather. Butter and milk
have also risen to an unusually high price from the same
cause. Sheep appear to thrive on the dry grass, but take to
water. which ia mutual with them, sad are healthy sad
fat. There is • great scarcity of water everywhere. The
field pools and rivulets are dry, and the wrings are failing,
rendering economy ia the use of water for all
canary. The oelebrated springs en the Malvern= e
are
a
almost dried up, and waterdriaken lied their petriebewerean
almcet as costly as alcoholic drinks. Railway tealea bars
been delayed owing to the scarcity of water at the Minima
for supplying the anginas, and even the shipping in seam of
the Welsh ports bare been delayed sailing from iaabßity to
obtain a supply of water for consumption, while is Rear,
Leedom and other localities, even soarer the Midleada,
there have been some seasonable downfall. In the three
societies above named there has been DO rein (beyond •
&DIVOT or two) for fear minas, and the earth is cracked
and dried for some feet deep. In Glouoieterabire Lord
Fitsltardinge ha &ea Ida tenantry permission to lop the
eta taw far heed ter sande.