The Express.
London, England, 1860-06-07 00:00:00

EARLY CLOSING, ASSOCIATION.

Yesterday a public meeting was held at the St.
James's-hall, for the purpose of promoting those measures
which may facilitate the -earlier closing of retail estabish
mere on Saturdays, thereby rendering the rifle volunteer
movement more generally practicable; Lord Ezzao, M.P.,
is the chair.
The meeting was well attended ; and amongst those who
were conspicuous cm the_plerform were the Fed of Shaftes-
bury, Fed Grosvemor, M.P., Lord Bedrock, Arthur Mills,
Req., M.P., Lard Bensiegb, the Bev. J. H. Bellew, Ben-
jamin Shaw, Faq., Heine Hitchcock, Req., James Sheol-
red, jun., Esq., he., he. There were also present the
following ladies of rank :—The Marchioness of Choi-
' mondeley, Lady Rivers, Lady Bobo, Lady Radetock,
Dowager Lady Itadetock, the Countess of Shaftes-
bury, the Counter of Tankerville, the Marchioness
of Lmdonderry, lady Joeelyn, the Counter of Maccles-
field, the 'tetchier= of Hadar, Lady Cremorne, lady
Wensleydale, lady Lou= Lesaint7riate Marchioness of
Westminster, and the Countess of
The Ciriamatt commenced his observations by apolo-
gising to the meeting for finding himself in the position he
now occupied. When be saw before him the Earl of
Shaftesbury—that great champion of labour to whoa' suc-
cessful efforts they ere indebted that labour had been
lightened and happiness diffused through the homes of
England—and when he found by his side Each distinguished
members of the ansociation as Load Radrtmk and
Mr. Arthur Mills, he felt that he might be con-
sidered presumptuous in having accepted an honour
to which he was not entitled. He was not
even a member of the Fatly Closing Association;
but it we, the connexion between that association end the
volunteer movement which had instigated him to take an
interest in the present proceedings. It was not his inten-
tion to dwell uppoon the question ma to the necessity for re-
laxation from labour. The subject had been ventilated in
every Ile way, and the great principle was too well ad-
mi to render any further argument necessary to enforce
it. He was not going to make • speech on national defences.
The mere fact that the government had thought it de-
sirable to appeal to the people with a view to
the erablehment of volunteer corps, and that the appeal
had been responded to by, • large portion of the community,
was sufficient to show the general feeling that existed
favour of a movement which had been set on foot for the
defence of the country. In the opinion of competent au-
thorities, that movement had been a decided earner ; and
it =a right therefore that every encouragement should be
given to that spirit and energy which bad been roused in
supper of it. History told them what great things had
been done by volunteer fortes ; but he need not look beck
into the past for illustrations of the principle he was advo-
cating. It was sufficient for him to mention the heroic
deeds of the Cliaseeurr des Alper, under their
gallant leader, Garibaldi--(loud cheers)—and be might add
the information they received through the daily telegrams,
which announced that the volunteer forces under that dis-
tinguished general had shattered the fetters which bound
the Sicilians. (Cheers.) In asking them to support this
=lf-holiday movement, in conjunction with the volunteer
movement, they were asking them to encourage • force
which was likely to be of great service to the state in a
defensive point of view. But he also urged the neceesity of
their support on social, moral, and physical grounds. Un-
fortunately there existed in this country but very few oppor-
tunities for the various clews of society mingling together
(for there wive too many who, from selfish motives,
employed themselves in setting man against man and class
against dam) ; and one great advantage of the volunteer
movement was that it would have the effect of removing
those prejudices which ought no longer to preyed. The
peer, the peasant, the wealthy citizen and the industrious
artisan could, under the influence of the volunteer •
assemble together for one common object, and he wire
to think that artisans were admitted into rifle corm at t
own expense instead of being placed under the necesety of
that position by subscriptions from their surolore.
(Hear, hear.) In referring to the advantages arising from
these corps he must not omit to mention the benefits that
would souse in • moral, physical, and social ewe ; but
however good the movement might be, it was only
natural that they should expect to encounter opposi-
tion. This it was well known they had received
from an individual writing in the Times under
the signature of Alfred Le Maurer, Ludgate-hill.
Inquiries had been made, and it was found that no such
pesos lived is house on Ludgate-hill, end therefore it
ins of coon. =ear that "Alfred Le Maurer" WA •
sees is plows. This gentleman professed to depreeete any
interferusee with employers, and suggested that if the
higher ohms were resolved to interest themselves so
imply in the subject, they had better form their coachmen
into scieveh7 regiment end their footmen into an infantry
seeps ; but if they did this, they would be liable to sem
opposition in the Tines from " Civilian "—a co
wile wee believed to be identical with Alfred Le alert!.
(A laugh.) There was no fear of anything in the shape et
• aneceipt the shopkeepers' aeastente. They wire
far too t a class of men to allow themselves to be
galled by who Fey upon the vitah and wenn
et woolcasig seen. He boa in his =ad • mown& drawn
cis by • body of &open' requetting that
the mesblihssents to which thug should be closed
co Saturday afternoons. This they seed not as a right,
bates a favour, which their employer; they mid, had the '
power either to give or to witlhoa He (Lardig
woad never here taken op this 1)0•011111•4 If he had
there was any wish on the put et the essisioate to
or to do anything which was calowlsted to show tied thy
desired to be on oiler than peaceful lona with thole mar
players. There was no doubt thet the atiskezes= d lb*
eldest
.0 they had in view would be as lemeliela em-
r27to the employed, and itwisaateolathemessma.
4 one of the lsegert firms at the Wigwams. a*
bkns this he oussemen to he himself in .the matter.