The Express.
London, England, 1850-08-06 00:00:00

THE SUNDAY POSTAGE DELIVERY.

Last evening a very crowded publio meeting was
held in the Freematotes T , Greet Queen-wreet,
Idn-
odes's-io-h.lda, '• for the purpose of üb•eining the immedi-
ate rsscinding of the recent postal regulations, stopping the
delivery of laters and newspapers on Sunday." About
7 o'clock. the appointed hour, the chair was taken by
JOSEPY Huns, Esq , M.P.

The CHAIRMAN said he had attended that evening at
the request of the committee by whom the meeting was
convened, and he was anxious to offer a few words before
the resolutions were submitted. There was, in his opinion,
no enaction of more piedic importance than the Leiiity of
communication between place and place, and the general
regulations of the postal department of the country. He
recollected when it would require four or five days to con-
vey communications which might now be done in a few
bears; and he had no hesitation is saying that in all the
social changes which had taken place since he was a public
men (and that was now a great many years), none was of
greater importance than those which gave increased facilities
to communications between place and place and men and man.
lie believed that any interference with such facilities would
be depriving the public of the great advantages they were
calculated to produced. He was sorry to see such an attempt
at retrogade principles. (IPII7, beer.) He was not, how-
ever, responsible fur it. Noltieg was of gush inestimable
value as the diffusion of knowledge amongst the people.
They learned their proper position in society, and how to
estimate the respective rights of all classes. Those
were advantages, and the means of accomplishing
them should not be diminished. He was, as much
as any other man in this c:untry, desirous to see
the sebbatt-day properly observed—it wee consistent
with all the acts of his life and his heits from boyhood. But
when he found individuals differing from him and others—
taking upon themeeiree to lay down rules on wh.ch he and
ethers should act and conduct themselves upon the Sabb th I
day, be loekeel upon such conduit as an encroachment upon
religious liberty. (Loud cheers.) He was satisfied that
those who had stopped the mails upon the lifsbhath wee
ignorant of the real effects of their conduct. Because, for
ens man they had released from labour they had caused ad-
ditional labour to ho given to ten other similarly employed.
He therefore felt deep regret in having witnessed the
attempts made to alter the original pastel arrangements. It
was injurious in a commeriial as well as in a social point of
view. The greater the facility given of comaunciatiun, so
in prcsortion was the diffusion of knowledge and intelli-
gence increased. (Hear) When he found any clam of men
ettemptiog to i ictste to another upon the subji et like that,
or, en either words, thinking they were able by act of parlia-
ment to mike men religious, he larked upon all such
attempts as perfectly ridiculous. (Chan) They were
liable to mistake views op m any question. For his own part
he always amens his opinions—(cheers) ; and stated them
openly, out he never attempted to coerce another unless he
could convince his reason. Tr at was precisely the difference
between his views and those who took the course which was
so different from his opinions and these of the public upon
the subject in question. After referring to the advantages
that may be derived from the perusal of newspaper., the
hon. gentleman said, that all classes had a light to know
what was passing in the world with as much expedition as
possible. He repaired Crocus's bad been taken to stop those
facilities for the diffrision of kuowledge, as he was sure it
would be prejudicial to the general interests of the country.
Mr. bIACKINNON, NI P., proposed the first resolution,
approving of the excellent system on which the postcffice
department had been regulated prior to the recent obnoxious
restrictions, and that the requirements of the public called
for a speedy return to the former practice of postal delivery
and despatch of letters. The hon. gentleman observed that
it was impossible for Lord J. Russell or the government to
have acted otherwise than they bad. II there was any
blame, it was to be attributed to the a xtraordinary majority
of the House of Commons who had saneticned the new spa,
tem by their vote. If he thought there was any intention
to desecrate the Sabb.th day by returning to the former
system cf postal arrangements, he should not take part in
that meeting or propose the resolution. lie entertained
strict religious feelings and opinions, but he thought for
himself, and wished others should do so for themselves. lie
could not forget the Sabbath was made for man, and
not man for the Sabbath. (Hear, hear) It was
a phys.cal impossibility for the whole country to remain
quiescent upon the Sabbath, and he was satisfied in every
paint of view that it was most desirable to return to the
former system. He trusted that numerous and talented
meeting would by the expreuioa of its opinion on the sub-
ject, have the effect of impressing upon her Majesty's go-
vernment the absolute necessity of returning to the former
practice throughout the country. (Hear.)
Mr. FORSTER, M.P. for Berwick, seconded the etiola-
tion, The change in the postal arrangements had been
effected by • cow) de main of Use House of Commons. They
had certain) been taken completely by surprise, but the
public had done nothing whatever to set themselves right.
(Hear) There were very many members of parliament
had voted in favour of Lord Ashley's motion on this subject,
and were now, after some experience, most anxious to have
the conseq•eaces of their vote averted. He imputed many
of the opinion urged in support of the present system to
sheer bigotry and nothing else. The working classes were
deprived of a great benefit, and they ought to be sup-
ported by the relic at large. (Cheers.)
Dr. WEBB, of Marylebone, supported the resolution.
The Rev. Dr. HEWLETT came forward to propose
an amendment to the effect that the advantages of • weekly
day of rest, whether considered physically, socially, or
morally, are far beyond any tr fling convenience that might
be obtained by infringements of the Sabbath day, and that
as an opportunity has offered of relieving a large number of
the industrious classes by the recent postal arrangements
from unnectuary labour on the Sunday, that meeting con-
ceive-I it highly desirable that the alteration in the Poe-
oaks department should have a full and fair triaL
After repealed and general interruption and hisses, the
rev. gentleman concluded by moving the amendment, which
was seconded by Mr. Loan, and negatived almost unani-
mously.
The original resolution was than put and carried amidst
cheering.
Mr. LOCKE, M.P.,propoad the next resolution, to the
effect that the equal and general dimemination of early
intelli.ence was one of the mod valuable results of cis-
linden ; that the weekly newspapers rendered eminent
public service by the efforts made by their conductors to
gather and publish early intelligentee, sad that its trans-
mission by the Saturday night's past for delivery en Sunday
morning was • service which the humble and industrious
man who could read his newspaper only on the Sunday
was very beneficial to alleluias and that the means offered
by such a system were those *hick involved by far the
Mot interference with the observance of the seventh day's
rest, enjoyment, or devotion. He admitted a day
of rest was necessary every week, but ell could not
be at rest en that day -- every man was bound
to oontributo something for the public geed. There was
scarcely • mannfectory Is the country tk*t did ant require
some labour upon the Sunday, as well as every other day in
the week. Were they to have them become useless, rather
than have a small portion of the Sabbath oesapied in doing
sot Then were their railways aid steamboats to be idle,
and the people deprived of negation on the Sabbath, be-
cause a few persons might necessarily be employed in those
establishments? It was absurd to say the public should be
deprived of their remoitable and natural encyments upon
sash grounds.
Mr. BERLE seconded the resolution in a speech through-
eat which he was frequent)/ •Plguilid-

The Rev. J. HBNNEDY addressed the nesting for the
punters of preposias en amendatsat,oa reading which
The CHAIRMAN said It was precisely the same Is tuns
es the resolathe, whisk was thersapse pet sad surfed
amidst sheers mad ketekter.
Mr. MOOlll proposed sad Mr. HODGKIN seseaded the
s see ll•dsiiiy authorising the Ostrow to edge s psdtios
ea behalf afar ametiog to the House of Cosiness sod s
assosorlei Geoossoaheion et heeling soabadyisg the
meals swum' kitioessolisticas.
The peados sad 111111111gia tamed to were thou read by
the Oestrous sae adepood. He sold the beelarss for
whisk they were sad Se4Miter was then settled, but be
entreated then to boss priestly a peadoarn neer his on
the platform, who wilted se adieu thew.

11;. OAKEY Sea beinfirdaresedthe MMiy, maids
a llama of groans and bfrowa He sad it we. Inspired of
one party, who were faliseseed by private aid selfish
eon Fedora' tons. _ _

A WOfkilla 11110, 1111111 Mi B14003(11, complained that the
Humor" libraries, sad other public places of instruction
and recreation had been clawed againct she working classes
en the 8 .b•sth, which was the only day of the week they
could afford to go to them.
Tee CHAIRMAN said a resolution had been put into his
hand Japanning the manner in which the meeting had
been convened; bat, although he should put the question,
he felt bound to say that alter forty years' experience of
public meetings he thought that was as fair and as legitimate
a public meeting as he had ever attsnded. (Cheers.)
The question was then put amidst general marks of din--
probation and cries of " Groans for the Bebbetarians."

Thanks were then yotod .o the chairman, and the meeting
separated shortly attar ten o'clock.