The Express.
London, England, 1867-03-22 00:00:00

[STAMPID, lg. ADDITIONAL.]

NATIOX4L SUBDAY LEAGUN.

e—
The annual meeting of the members and friends
of this league was held last eveding at St. Martin's-ball, I
under the chairmanship of Sir JOSINITA WAL/INIAT. The
report of the executive committee stated that the working
classes to the number of 1,2'00 were supporters of the
league, and that the strength of the movement had •
not only increased, but its organisation had been con-
solidated, and its internal arrangements considerably
modified to meet the requirements of the members. In
the spring the council on two Sundays invited Crystal
Palace shareholder' to spend social and recreative after-
moons with them at the Crystal Palace, and on each occa-
sion about 600 persons were present. Discourses on M-
aloof Eypt, Pompeii, the extinct animals, ka., were de-
livered-by various friends ; a social tea was enjoyed, ap-
propriate addresses delivered, and the beauties of the
palace and grounds appreciated. The Sunday bands in the
parks proved as popular as hitherto ; those in Battersea
and Victoria Parks having been more especially taken in
charge by the league, produced in the former a larger
income than in any previous year, and in the latter pro-
vided a large amount of seating, as an investment of
capital, out of the receipts of the season. Promise having
been obtained from the then Chief Commissioner, the Right
Hon. W. Cowper, of the erection of a suitable platform I
for Battersea-park, a deputation from the council waited
on his moaner, Lord John Manner', and obtained the
promise from him, and alao• oonsidmation of their request
for permission to place a band in Hyde-park, her Ma-
jesty having previously signified that no objection would
be raised on the ground that it was a royal park. Lord
John Manners on that occasion bore public testimony to
the exemplary conduct of the audiences, his lordship
having been present during the performances on several oe-
MEMO& The report then referred to the failure of the legal
proceedings in reference to " the Sunday evenings for the
people" at St. Martin's-hall, and stated that the council
would give its utmost support to this movement, which
bad been originally instituted by the league, although
being now conducted by au association distinct from it,
With reference to the evening opening of museums the
committee stated, " Let them be open by all means for
such as can visit them, but the great mass of the people
can only visit them on Sunday without loss of time."
The chairman having congratulated the supporters of the
league on the success of the movement, Sir John Bowring,
moved the adoption of the report. He said that in the
days of our ancestors Sunday was associated with bright-
ness and rejoicing', while at the present day it was
handed over to darkness, gloom, and despotism, and he
' certainly more admired the wisdom of our ancestors
, than the folly of their descendants in the nineteenth
century. Mr. John Crawfurd, F.R.S., seconded the
motion, which, after having been supported by Mr. H. J.
Slack, was carried unanimously. Addresses were then
delivered by other gentlemen, including Mr. Baxter
Langley, and the meeting was adjourned till next Wednes-
day at the Sussex Hall, Bouverie-street, for the election
of the council and officers for the next year.

SUNDAY LIQUOR TRAFFlc.—Yesterday evening
Mr. Walpole received a deputation on this subjec., con-
sisting of Archbishop Manning, Rev. John Garrett, D.D.,
Mr. Henry W' tram, from Dublin; and Mr. J. P. Curry,
J.P., with Mr. Robert Lindsay, J.P. from Belfast. The
deputation was introduced by Dr. Garrett, and accompa-
nied by Mr. Barley, M.P., bkr. IL Whitworth, M.P., Mr.
Blake, /CP., and Mr. Syrian, M.P. Dr. Garrett explained
that two bills were prepared to be introduced into the
House of Commons by Mr. John Abel Smith for England
and Wales, and by Major O'Reilly for Ireland, by which it
will be proposed to further regulate the sale of intoxica-
ting liquors on Sunday, placing the law in both countries
on exactly the same footing. Several other members of
the deputation having spoken, Mr. Walpole assured the
deputation that personally he quite agreed with them,
but should consult the other members of the government
before he promised to advocate the proposed legislation, to
ascertain whether the cabinet would agree to give the
measure united support. He expressed his approbation of
the principle of total closing for drinking on the premises,
and thought the proposed exemptions good and proper.
He was glad to receive such a deputation, and concluded
by saying " f will give you all the help I can." The deputa-
tion then withdrew.
__ .

THE SATURDAY HALF-HOLIDAY.—A meeting in
promotion of this movement was held last evening at St.
James's-ball. The committee—representing the persons
employed in the drapery and other retail trades—having
furnished a financial statement and report, it was an-
nounced by the chairman Mr. St. Clair, that through the
influence of her Chase the Ihnoliess of Sutherland's com-
mittee—instituted at the martin g at Stafford House, in
July last—the signatures of 1,400 ladies who had under-
taken to avoid shopping after 2 o'clock on Satur-
day had been obtained during the last three months.
Of the thirty-four dripers and silk mercers; who bad
adopted the half-holiday last July for a period of three
mouths, sixteen had been encouraged to exceed the
engagement, and were still clueing at 2 o'clock on
Saturdays. Forty-one houses in other trades had also
adopted and maintained the same arrangement, and the
movement had bad a favourable influence on the late
Saturday-night trade prevailing in many districts.
Resolutions having been adopted, thanking the 1,4(10
ladies above mentioned, and recognising the continued
prevalence of Saturday afternoon shopping, it was an-
nounced that the Duchess of Sutherland had kindly inti-
mated the probability of an early meeting of the Wits
committee for the purposes of the movement. Several
measures were then discussed by the meeting, and it was
agreed, on the motion of Mr. Bowen (Messrs. Shoolbrund,
to augment the contributions to the special fund. The re-
ceipt of a cheque for 100 guineas from Messrs. Marshall
end Snelgrove, in aid of this object, was announced by the
chairman.

THE kauicAL PaorEasioN.—The annual regis-
ter of the Medical Council of Education and Registra-
-1 tion has just appeared, from which we learn that 19,76.5
medical practitioners are registered, and of this number
3,741 are practising with a surgical qualification only. out
of which the Royal College of Surgeons of England have
no less than 2,156 ; the sister institutions of Scotland
and Ireland having only GIG and 444 respectively. With
medical qualifications only, there appear 1,459, of which
number the largest are from the Society of Apothecaries,
viz., 577. Of those legally practising with foreign diplo-
mas there are only lilt, the largest number from Berlin,
viz. 10. The Britiah Medical Jorraal in which this most
elaborate analysis appears adds that the actual state of
the profession by no means accords with the intentions of
the legislasure, or with the 'pint or letter of the medical
i act ; one-tenth of the whole number of practitioners of
1 the country are practising under a diploma given without
examination in medicine, nuateria medics, or botany, and
without any kind of clinical test whatever—that of the
' Royal College of Surgeons of England. In justice, however,
to this institution the Medical Times and Gazette states that
for some time past the Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons
have had meetings to alter the regulations in this respect,
so as to embody examinations in these and other important
subjects. The admirably conducted organ of the Medical
Association states that nearly one-fifth are practising with
a surgical diploma only, which would not he accepted by
: the Poor-law Hoard, by the authorities of the artily and
navy, as alone qualifying them to treat the persons under
their charge, and which would nut allow them to recover
fees in a court of law for attendance or medicine in anv
' other than purely surgical cases. Of course only a small
proportion are practising pure surgery. In respect to me-
dical degrees the numbers are not quite so large ; but there
5, -
are 7 practitioners holding only the diplomas of the
Apothecaries' Hall of London, which does not imply of
necessity any knowledge of surgery, or any adequate
• knowledge of anatomy. They are equally disqualifiml
from bolding any public appointment. As a matter of
law, the one in practising surgery and the other in 'wee-
' timing meal:eine are doing that which the law does not
recognise, and which their leal status does not
justify. Owing to the excellent curricula Vv.
scribed, the labours of the lecturer and the coo-
-1 science of the student have so far supplemented the
omissions of the venom; examining boards, that those
. gentlemen possessing only single qualifications, and never
having been examined in the whole of the subjects of
which a knowledge is necesaary, are nevertheless highly
I informed, and include a large proportion of thoroughly ac-
complished practitioners. The inconsistency of the pre-
; sent state of things with that which is contemplated by
law and justified by reason is not less strong. Until the
creation of the register, and while the diplomas of every
examining board ran within its own jurisdiction, without
i inquiry or legal standard of oomparMon, such anomalies
were only remarked by the few, and had rather social
interest than legal significance ; but now that a definite
organisation has been adopted, and that by law persons
possessing single qualifications in medicine or surgery are
only qualified to practise as such, and according to their
qualification, it will assuredly not fail to attract very
serious attention that upwards of 5,000 out of a total of i
20.000 practitioners are not qualified by law to practise ,
more than one department of their profession.
TESTIMONIAL TO Da. RICHARDSON. —A commit-
tee numbering sonic of the moat eminent men in the 1
medical profession, among others, Mr. Paget, Dr. Burrows, 1
Dr. Gull, Mr. Prescott Hewitt, Dr. Bence Jones, and Pro- i
lessor Partridge, has been formed to carry out the result'. I
tions of a large meeting of the profession, by raising,' a tea- 1
timonial to Dr. Richardson, in recognition of his labours a
and discoveries in medical and allied sciences, but chiefly I
for his successful invention of • method for producing a
without danger local insensibility to pain in surgical ore- a
rations. The honorary secretaries to whom subscriptions
may be sent are Mr. It. Dunn, 31, Norfolk-street, W.C., 1
and Mr. R. W. Dunn, 13, Surrey-street, W.C.
The Provisional Committee who are engaged in i
promoting the establishment of a Welsh University have I
(ways the Cambria Leader) offered 10,0001. for the Castle I
Hotel, at Aherystwith, and the offer has been accepted. I
The hotel coat 80,0001., and has 150 bedrooms. I