The Express.
London, England, 1858-11-12 00:00:00

(Stamped td. Additional) [TWOPENCE.

BEDUCTION OF ME 110088 OP LABOUI.

Yesterday evening an aggregate meeting of the
trades of London was held in the large hall of
Rasise-hall, for the rupees of eliciting an expression of
opinion from the building trades of the metropolis generally
as to the advisability of shortening the time of labour from
tee to nine hoar. • day, without reducing the men's wages.
The boar for the meeting to commence wee eight o'clock,
bat long before that time the vast hall, gallery. sad platform
were seeded to moms by workmen engaged in the
feeds.
baMr. gIIT a stonsuseon, who occupied the chair, opened
the proceedings by reeding the placard convening the
meeting, and oongretulsted the meeting on the different
aspect their cons had assumed since they last met
in that room. (Hear, hear.) They were then only the
cerpeners sad joiners, bat sow they had the masons, plea-
ts's, end bricklayers with them, and they held their our- '
feresoes weekly for the purpose of writs( their object. It
esly required those without to have confidence in the con-
hrenos to amble them to carry their point with their masters.
(Load sheers.) In 1849, an isolated body of the trade made
a movement for the nine hours, and the masters gave them
an extm sixpence a day in lira of it. (Hear, hear) If an
isolated body of the trade could do so mach, how much more
would the whole body of the trade be Mk to accomplish P
They now wanted the masters to give them the hour also.
(Chests.) They were about to wait epee the masters with a
request, and if they were wile, as he believed they wens, they
would grant what they asked. It they did, them would be no
necessity for their meeting in that room again, but if the
waiters gave them an evasive answer they would have to
meet there again to decide upon ulterior measures. (Hear,
bear.) Now be believed the rosters would lose nothing by
the oonoessica, se the men would work so much better. He
stationed the meeting not to allow Steele white appealed is.
the newspapers to sow animosity In their minds mildest any
branch of the tricks, es them letters were only written for
the purpose of creating dissension amongst them. (Hsu,
hear.) He declined going more into the details of the busi-
ness before there, as those who would move the mobilities
would explain them. (Hear, hem.)
Mr. Hopson, a joiner, moved the first resolution :—" This
meeting, after a calm deliberation on the nature of the
various obelisks that arise, and in oeusequence retard the
progress of the seems of this Gamey in his pursuit of
scientific knowledge, Is of opinion that the number of hours
we devote to labour is too great to show us sufficient time tor
mental improvement and for the development of the inven-
tive genius with which the working clams are so largely en-
dowed." He considered that the nine hours question had
b-an so well argued that there wee nothing left to be said
bat he reminded them of the disadvantages they laboured
under, and contended that if they bad more time they would
Improve their intellectual and social oonditiou, and would
raise themselves in the scale of moiety, both politically and
morally.
Wrintn,•=, smoadmi the resolution, which
was amid by
Mr. MEAD; a joiner, moved the next resolution :—" That
tie —Mien of this meeting the benefits resulting from the
rednoties will improve socially all persona in con-
rexl=ith the building trades, end the advantages accruing
to the public generally by the introduction of machinery
does fully compensate it for any extra outlay which it makes
front the hours of labour being shortened." The shortening
of the one hour of labour during the day would have a wonder-
ful effect on the labourmarket ; for there were 32,000 me-
chseics in London, and that one hour would give employ-
ment to 3,666 men. This would be beneficial to the com-
munity et large, for there were in our workhouses no lees
thee 1„100,000 paupers, kept at. cost of 7,000,0001.
Mr. WARNS, a IMMO, @seceded the resolution, which was
also carried.

liirrsitTit,l, a bricklayer, moved, " That this meeting
pledges itself to support, and: by the nee of all copal' etnal
means, to terry oat the principles embodied in the memorial,
namely, the reduction of the hones of labour by one hour per
day at the present rate of wages."
Sir. Fuels, a plasterer, having briefly seconded the
resolution, it was carried unanimously.
Some other working men having spoken, the meeting
separated.

PIOPOUND CITY OP LONDON LUNATIC
ASYLUM.

At a meeting of the parishioners of St. Margaret,
New Fish-street, held yesterday, Mr. Churchwarden Ke
in the chair, the chairman stated the nature of the proposed
expenditure on a !natio asylum for the city, and urged that
it was an unnecessary application of money, that the number
of lunatic.s chargeable to the union was very swell, and their
care was well and amply provided for without incurring an
immense outlay on the part of the various city parishes, by
the erection of a costly building with numberless appoint-
ments and unknown enemas. It was then moved by Mr.
Maples seconded by Mr. Tosswill, " That the chorchwar-
dews, with the vesn7 clerk, be instructed to attend the meet-
ing of the parochial authorities convened by the Poor-law
Union on Saturday next, and offer every opposition to the
measure on behalf of the parishioners.'
The meeting of the ratepayers of the parish of St. Mil-
dred's, Poultry, was also held yesterday far the purpose of
considering the proposed heals a standard prepared for •
county rats for defraying the expense of providing and
maintaining an asylum for pauper lunatics for the City ; Mr.
Churchwarden Wheeler was in the chair. Mr. Cox, vestry
clerk, read the pmpotied beefs orstandard assessing the parish
in the sum of 16,9601., which assessment it was stated was
incorrect. Mr. Hall moved :—"That this meeting views
with surprise the attempt of the corporation to introduce •
new taxation upon the citizens of London in the form
of a county rate ; and that this parish should by ell lawful
means use its utmost endeavours to induos the corporation to
defray the expenses of the proposed lunatic asylum out of
the funds of the corporation as heretofore applied for county
purposes." The resolution was oarried new. con., and it was
resolved that a requisition should be sent to the alderman of
the ward, making him to call a meeting of the ratepayers on
the subject.

A meeting of the ratepayers of the parish of St. Mary
Coleelturoh, was also held yesterday, on the same subject ;
Mr. Churthwardes Garrett presided. The vestry clerk said
that by the basis or standard It was proposed to areas the
parish in the sum of 7,00 W. Mr. Connell (common oountil-
roan) defended the corporation, and said that he thought
the sot requiring the asylum to be built was a just one,
and ought to be carried out. He also thought that a openly
rats was the most fair means towards the citizens for raising
the required amount, but no resolution, either for or against
the proposed asylum, was come to.

ROYAL COLLEGE OF SVROEOBB.—The following
gentlemen having undergone the seceseary examinations in
clweios, mathematic*, and French, during the past week,
will be admitted to the professional examinations for the lel-
lowehip of the college, when they Atoll have severally onm-
titlvrith the regalation• : Messrs. Samuel Bowen Partridge,
gal Mahal Bervioe, diploma of membership. dated Aug.
6, 1831 ; Jain Hagar Cardell, Salisbury, November 3,
ldb! William Deepen Stnnr, Lincoln's-inn-fields; William
Pews& Dekko ; Henry Willey, Birmingham; John Lang-
des, Yeovil, Somerset ; and Henry Wotton, Cavendish-
ignore. At the woe time Mr. Robert Heaton Woad, of
Leicester, who had previously andentone the professional
examinations, wee admitted a Fellow of the College, diploma
of membership dated February 29. 1868. _

TRAVELLING CONTRACTS ON THE BIRKENHEAD
AID CRISS= LICE.—A meeting of contractors we. held at
the Clarendon Rooms on We&eeday, to protest signet the
proposed increase of the chems for oontracts by
this line. Mr. Close presided, end the meeting was nu-
merously attended. The directors were accused of • breech
of faith by raising the fares, large numbers of contractors
and residents on the line having been induced to use the Ilse
under the belief that the fares would not le raked. The
present rate of contracts wait stated to be 265. per mile per
annum, while it wee proposed to be mired to 30.. Mr. C.
Beattell, Mr. J. A. Tobin, Mr. Robertson, and other gentle-
men. *poke very strongly upon the inconvenience which peo-
' pie in business remained by recent changes in the running
of the trains, and arged that the interest, of the Hoe Itself
required • room liberal end accommodating policy. A
committee wee appointed to draw up a memorial upon the
subject, and wait upon the directors.
MONUMENT TO THE REV. MATTHEW FIEWMT.—
On Monday evening • public meeting was held la the Chester
Music-hall, under the presidency of the Mayer. Mr. P. B.
Humberaton, for the purpose of taking into oonlideratkes the
best means of perpetuating the memory of the late Rev.
Matthew Henry, the celebrated Bible commentator, who
spent twenty-Sve yews of his life in the city. end whose
chapel still remain. one of the more interesting reliestobsetee
is Chester. It was resolved that • subscription should be
set on foot, to erect a monument in the city, found one or
more scholarship. at Oxford, and print • cheep edition of his
celebrated commentary.
THE MUSEUM AT THE INDIA /10138 E.—This im-
portant inetitution, the efficiency of which wee placed in
greet jeopardy by the death of the laite lamented Dr. Boyle.
Is now likely to become extensively and permanently amid
se a means of developing and diffasing ieforsetioa remedies
the productive mecumee and manufactures of India. Dr.
Poem Watson hes, it im mid, been appointed to the poet
held at the Isdia-bones by Dr. Royle ; sad the widow of
that gentlemen hes placed at his disposel her lets husband's
vsinehle MB. histories of many Wide@ in the museum not
fully described in the catalogue. It will be remembered that
the arrangement of the museum had not bees completed when
Dr. Boyle was unexpecitedly removed by death, in the
zenith hie usefulness. Dr. Weems hes greedy doge much
good 'eyries In connection with the productive resources of
lad's, end is in ail respects a worthy suocessor of • great
101111._
TarLATI JOHN SADLEIIeII AITAIES.—The further
bearing of the we Wan the Landed Beare Court, Dublin,
wee Rimmed as Wednesday, when weerel other winnow
wen eneteiset et some length, an the pert of the London
end
theC Dewheyett the pteemeilap wow Persia edlotuned
tin