The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-10-11 00:00:00

EARLY CLOSING

TO THE EDITOR OE THE NORTlEfilrli DAILY TI ~i

SlB—You are doing gopd servi in -reeuiting pahliPttA,
tention to, the long neglected and niost'formi4e.p.sul.qc .21F.
Early Closing, as you have don
.)44.otir papvf the 41!
instant. AtTi

4 1,ii.i.,-,---- -,
That the system of. late hours t - s-?
~ .1 1 /
socially, pohtically—aye, and rel "OVOZE,t9 : -11-1:•,,, .
think, been long ago proved. The nitgcrOle pnopa,. Tv.
that system has been sustained,: he,e' Md. ep cioilip ly
knocked from under it, by arguments-Uteini,Lebnthi ng.,-
and accepted
.by the world ; and .so much has the sub-
ject been sifted, examined, and laid before society ; that it
appears, neither voice nor pen can have anything new to. say
in the matter. All that they can hope is to revive old ar-
gu.ments, and remind the public of its duty and its pledge,
(made years ago in our Music Hall, and signed by thousands
of respectable householders) 'to di-scountehance this perni-
cious system. • ' '

I cannot abagree with you,• Mr. Editor, that the efforts to
procure the earlier closing of our shops have " proved, in
the main, a melancholy failure." Observe the hours of

closing shops now, as compared with tl
some four or five years ago, and you will fine_ ---
far as the leading streets are concerned—a very considerable

.e good rule, and that too.in shops
which would.lcad one to believe that

,gressive civilization

themselves,

of their class—

baneful in

their baneful influence on other

forcing by their
nosed neighbours

f young m

) labour in

shops may all be

evening's leisure, which almost all other classes aruenjoying
with benefit to themselves and; advantage to society. •
At present, I will not trespass further on your . space, but
I shall watch the progress of events, and hereafter throw
in my mead of praise. or blame as the case may. demand.
I am, sir, yours respectfully, ,
A LOOKER-ON.

10th October, 1853

TURNING OF THE FIRST SOD OF THE

EUROPEAN

AND NORTH AMERICAN RAILWAY.

This railway, which is in the first instance to connect St:
John's, New Brunstick, with the whole of the railway sys-
tem of the United States and of Canada, and is eventually
to be carried on to Halifax, being a link in the great scheme
of a connection from Nova Scotia to Lake Huron, had its
first great celebration on Wednesday, the 14th ult. Nearly
40,000 persons were present. About one o'clock his Excel-
lency Sir Edmund Head, the Lieutenant Governor, and suite,
arrived on the ground,- and were received with the usual
honours. Isis Excellency was accompanied by Commodore
She:brick, of the United• States Navy, and other officers of
the frigate Princeton, which had come expressly to St. Johnis
for the occasion ; also by Mr. William Jackson, M.P., and
Mr. E. L.. Betts, of London.. The address presented to:the
Governor by the directors having alluded to the national
character of the work in which they were engaged,. preeed:
ed to state . .

" It will fDrm a link in the mighty chain which is `to bind
Great Britain more closely to her colonies, and perpetuate
the feelings of amity with the great public of the

Western World. The thousands-who crowd the hills
around us, the deep enthusiasm pervading every class, the
exulting feelings of hope and pride which animate every
face, proclaim to all that results are anticipated from this,
work, Which language is powerless to convey. From, Lake
Huron to the Atlantic the course for the iron. horseis laid,
and the wealth which is to enable ourselves and our children

to develope the rich resources of onr province, and to spread
civilisation through our broad lands, comes from, the home
of our fathers. Our ships now hold a proud position in the
mercantile marine of England, and may vie with the fore-
most specimens of naval architecture the world has hitherto
produced ; our agricultural capabilities arc daily, becoming
more apparent, and when by means of that great work, the
commencement of which we have now met to celebrate our
facilities of intercourse shall have been increased, and the
tide of emigration directed ;to our shores, we may safely
assure to the industrious emigrant a home which will leave

him no cause to regret the laid of his nativity.
"For the attainment of railways, the legislatures of
Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick have wisely
paised most important measures, which, preserving un-
fettered their revenues, and without burthening their people,
have neverthelesi induced the eminent capitalists of Eng-
land to,make these provinces the field of their great railway
operations." N

•
- The address being suitably responded to, and &prayer
given by the Rev. Dr. Grey, the rector of Trinity Church,
Lady Head turned the first sod, and deposited it' in an
elaborately prepared barrow, amid the enthusiastic shouts of
the immense; surrounding multitude, and a salvo of. 70 gods
fired by a troop of Royal Artillery. His Excellency de-
posited the second sod, and the third was removed by Com-
modore Shubrick, and the others by the Mayor of
St. John's and the officials of the Company. When'
the barrow was fall, his Excellency rolled it-along the plat-
form, and « dumped it," amid cheers such as were never
In the evenine.there was .a

lent p(

W. Row
S. Ashw