The Express.
London, England, 1853-11-02 00:00:00

MARsH LANDS TO THE EAST OF THE
METROPOLIS.

Yesterday a meeting was held at Belvidere, the
Wit of Sir Culling Eardley Eardley, Bart., consisting chiefly
of yersons interested in the drainage of the marsh lands to
the north.east and south-east of the metropolis, to consider
of measures by which the drainafe of these marshes might
be most of and satisfactorily effected.
Sir CULLINO E. EARDLIST was called to the chair.

The meeting wu attended by the Earl of Shaftesbury,
Bdrio Chadwick, Esq., C. 8., of the General Board of
Health; T. W. Rummell, Esq., one of the engineering in-
Vectors of that board ; the Rev. Henry Brown, rector of
Woolwich, and chairman of the Woolwich local board of
health; the Rev. W. Acworth, of Plumetead; Sir Thomas
Harlon Wilson, Bart., of Charlton; James M'Gregor,
Eeq , Mr. Clifton, and other gentlemen of Rom-
fora, &c.

E. EARDLEY stated that as • resident landowner
be had invited the present meeting, considering the drain-
age of the immense track of marsh lands in their neigh-
bourhood to be of great importance in a sawtary point of
view, not only to the immediate residents in the vicinity
but also to the whole of the metropolis. The question was of
such interest to the metropolis, which was so largely affected
by these marsh lands, that he considered the subject
was entitled to the serious sorption of govern-
ment. In this view he bad requested Lord Palmer-
ston's notice to the matter, and in reply his lordship
bad expressed a favourable opinion as to the contemplated
measures, as being calculated to he of great benefit to the
two million and a quarter persons inhabiting the metro-
polis. His lordship had also referred to the drainage of
the fen lands of Lincolnshire, the experience upon which
be thought might be consulted with advantage. He (Sir
C. E. Eirdley) had 'applied to his right hon. friend the
Earl of Shaftesbury, and to other members of the General
Board of Health, on account of the attention which it was
well known that beard had paid to the subject of suburban
Ind-drainage, and to the economies as well as effi-
ciency of works for its execution. He had re-
quested tier presence that day to hear the state-
ments of parties locally interested in the matter.
The legislature had already given facilities for the drainage
of settled estates, and it certainly appeared to him that this
was also a case that demanded government aid, similar to
that which had been afforded in the cases he had just
referred to in order to facilitate the drainage of these col-
lective estates comprising such extensive marsh lan la.
The Earl of SHAFTEARUILY concurred in the general
object of the meeting, sod was anxious to learn the results
of the experience of those who were locally and most deeply
interested in the subject. . .

fhe Rev. Mr. ACW.lltili gave a dephrable account of
the effect produced upon the population of his district by
Use marsh miasma. That district was never free from
air-le, and the result was to l•reveut respectable tenements
being Suitt even on the most picturesque and inviting sites,
which no ese who knew what they were would occupy, if
they could avoid them.
Several other gentlemen detailed the deleterious influ-
ence or slued by the whole district of marsh land.
Resolutions having been agreed to recognising the im-
portance of the contemplated works in an agricultural as
well as sanitary point of view being made general fur the
whole of the eastern district of the metropolis, a committee
wee appointed to consider and report on the farther pro-
ceedings desirable to be adopted, sad as to the requisite
work, and the legislative aid likely to be needed, pre-
parato-y to representations beiag made by deputation to
Lord Palmerston.

ST. MARGARET'S, NEAR beautifu
estate on the banns of the Thames, a short distance to Rich-
mond-bridge, comprising the noble mansion built by Cubitt,
from the designs of Kr. Vallamy, for the Eul of Kilesurey,
and the pletsreequ park of seventy-bee acres, Yee just
been purchased from the noble lord for the Conservative
Land Society. The estate has a magsilowat river frontage,
affording most picturesque and extensive views; it is imme-
diately opposite Richmond Oszdens, and is within a short
distance f three stations on the South-Western Railway.
It is proposed to ensure, as far as possible, the erection of
first ease houses, in order to render the purchase a real
public improvement to this charming suburb,

A public meeting, numerously and most respect-
ably attended, was held lut evening at the Cadogan Insti-
tute, Sloane-street, to aid in the promotion of the early
closing movement. There was a very large attendance of
ladies, who appeared to enter most enthusiastically into the
objects of the meeting.
Mr. SAIICIIL CARTS/ HALL presided, who, after acknow-
ledging the gratification he felt at meeting so large and so
very agreeable an audience, said that his own strong opi-
nions were in favour of the movement against late hours of
business. He regarded the question as one of very great
importance in reference to the interests of the large class et
persons employed in retail shops, and be congratu-
lated the meeting that they had now the sympa-
thies, and, beyond that, the hearty co-operation, of
all the most respectable employers in their efforts
to abolish the late-hour system. They bad also the
testimony of physicians and medical men generally as to the
evil tendencies of caressive labour upon health, and of
clergymen and other, of its injurious consequences upon the
minds of those who were subjected to it. He appealed I.
the ladies present whether they had not found that those
shops which continued to keep open at late hours did an
for the purpose of passing off inferior goods? The suffer-
ings of the negro had long been a favourite theme with the
philanthropic people of this country, hut many of them
forgot that there was a slavery at home much more deserv-
ing of their consideration than that to which Mrs. B. Stowe
had with so much talent directed the attention
and enlisted the sympathies of the Christian
world. He urged that some leisure was necessary
not only for mental culture, bat for the perfermance of re-
ligions duties, and contended that to afford opportunities
for the education of oar young men and women was
essential fur the welfare of the entire community. He
repudiated altogether the objection, that if one or two hours
more out of the 24 were allowed for self-instruction to per-
sons employed all day in shops, they would be spent in vice
and idleness, as one worthy only of those times when it was
thought impolitic to teach the working classes to read and
write. _ _

The Rev. R. BURGE" rector of Upper Chelsea, moved
a resolution, declaring it to be the opinion of the meeting
that the late hour system was dettimental to the best in-
terests of both employers and assistants, opposed to the
prosperity of the Christian Church, and utterly at variance
with the genius and progressive spirit of the present age.
He held that late hours entailed a loss rather than • gain to
the employers. Man was only capable of a certain amount
of labour, and if you taxed his strength beyond that,
though the extra labour might be got through for • short
time, it could only be in a I..nguid unsatisfactory manner,
which must occasion imperfections and mistakes, from'
which the employer in the long run must suffer. Me fur-
tbur urged that it was opposed to the principles of the
Christian religion to deprive any person of the time newt
nary for studying the Scriptures, and for contemplating and
understanding the promises of God's Holy Word. To tax
• man beyond his physical powers was contrary to
the will of God, and opposed to the spirit of
the age, which required and would have " time,"
and for • man to tax his own physical powers
I beyond his strength—(which must necessarily tend to the
shortening of lite, and consequently to self-destructi,n)—
was as great • crime in the abstract as self-destruction by
intemperance.
The resolution, after being seconded by the Rev. Dr.
Moantsust, of Trevor Chapel, and spoken to by Dr. Per
M.D., was carried.
_ . .

Another resolution in favour of the formation of ladies'
committees, as a moat effective agency for carrying out the
movement, was proposed by the Her. J. H. HAMILTON,
and seconded by the Rev. T. ALICIANIAX; and having
been carried, the usual compliment to the chairman con
eluded the business of the meeting.

CENTRAL CRIMINAL Coi:RT (TUN DAY).—The
learned judges assembled this morning for the purpose of
fining the days for holding the sessions for the ensuing year.
The following days were appointed .—Monday, Nov. 28
Dec. 12, Jan. 2, 30, Feb. 27, April 3, May 8, June 12, July
3, Aug. 14, Sept. 18, Oct. 23.
GLASGOW AND SOUTH-WESTERN RAILWAY.—
Traffic for the week ending Ott. 29, 1853, 4,58i1. 15s. 9d.
Corvespendine week, 1852, 4,7/71. 21. 7d. Increase its
1863, 3781. 13s. 2d.