The Express.
London, England, 1861-03-16 00:00:00

THE NINE MOUES rovzmarr—ezzar
MEETING.

Lest evening • crowded meeting of the members
of the building trade was held in the Freeatasons'-140.11, Great
Vseen.street, in furtherance of the nine lours' movement.
Vie vast hall was crowded to excess, and the proceedings
mated VIM interest. kr. MARILYN was ruled to the
chair.

The CRAIRILLN, in opening the business of the meeting,
sad they bad met for the purpose of carrying on their noble
movement with renewed energy. Circutii.tances had arisen
which made them feel that they were bound to carry out
their principles. Seeing that machinery bad taken the
plies of labour, they had no alternative •left but to reduce
the hours of labour. The Howie of Commons would not do
it for them, therefore they mat do it themselves. (Cheers.)
Mr. TAPRELL moved—•' That in the opinion of this meet-
ing the present number of bourn devoted to work and in
going to and returning to work are far too many, both for
the phyrical powers and the proper cultivation of the in-
tellectual faculties, and that unless they are reduced the
health sad intelligence of the workman must become im-
paired, much to the disadvantage of the general welfare of
society."
Mr. PITHIMBILI.DOK seconded the motion, which was
carried cith great cheering.
Mr. LANGLIT BANILI moved the next resolution, "That
in the opinion of this meeting the request for • reduction of
the hours of labour from ten to nine is • just and reason-
able one ; that after an agitation of three years it is the
duty of the master builders to meet • deputation from the
men, in order that the question may be settled and •
friendly feeling ones mom established ; that this meeting
pledges itself to prosecute the request for nine hours as
a day's work until it is obtained."
Mr. HOINXIIT seconded the motion, which was supported
by Yr. CLINES, sad carried new. eon.
Mr. ?mama said the large meeting that evening was a
stray/ proof that the movement was not yet deed.
Mr. Ponta (the secretary), who was received with loud
aerie, said the present meeting was called for the pur-
pose of lettiqg the masters know that the draggle of 1861
was not got up by a few individuals. Be was informed,
but be did refit announce it 43160111 y, that the masters
welded to compromise the metier, sad had offered them
sevenpence per hour. They would not dismiss that ques-
tion that evening, as it would be considered at • tature
time. He would impress upon them the sweesity of being
united and calm. They had waited three years foe the
movement, end could not mind waiting • few week, kora.
He hat just ronit.nt an lippUtal,ou hum On Wen of EMU-
burgh for maiden,* to MT, an the strike, and be arm Para
that the appeal would be responded to. (Cheers.)
A vote of thanks was pseud to the chairman, and the
proceedings, which had been of a very orderly and enthu-
siastic character, terminated.

INTERNATIONAL DECIMAL ASSOCIATION.
On Thursday evening the last of • series of
lectures instituted by this association wee delivered by
Jones Yates, Esq., M.A., F.R.S., one of the vice-presi-
dents, the chair being occupied by Harry Chaster, No.,
hie secretary to the Committee of Domicil on Educa-
tion. The subject was the importance to education of the
iotrodectiou of the metrical system of weight* and measures.
The council of the association having instituted inquiries
rep:ding the time that would be saved in the education of
toys by the introduction of the metric system, it was
found se the general tenor of all the mows= re-
tuned, that about two years would be saved,
which are now hat, and which might be
devoted to other employments. The lecturer further main-
tained that arithmetic both is theory and practice raisin he
much better taught on the plau proposed. He reenn-
mended the nee of the abacus in ita *loopiest and most
ancient form, a table of arithmetical signs, including the
decimal point ; the introduction of decimals at a very early
step ; and as a part of notation and numeration the use of
pebbles, counters, or other visible and tangible objects in
proving the rules and illustrating the various promisee, in-
stroctiou in the principles of the metric system and is the
mutual relations of its weight* and measures of all kinds.
The lecturer concluded by alluding to the morn' aspects of
the question regarding the system as intended to promote jus-
tioe and friendly *lid beneficial intercourse, not only between
man and man but between nation and nation. After theta:tun
a discussion netted, in which the chairman, the Rev. Scott
Porter, of Belfast, Mr. William Hughes, Mr.
Charles Atherton, C.E., Mr. Samuel Drown, Mr. Hodge,
Dr. Hodgkia, and others took part. A petition to both
Houses of Parliament in favour of the metric system was
extensively signed, sod arrangement* were suggested for a
motion in the Howe of Commons to appoint a committee
to inquire into the subject, and for a deputation to the
Committee of Couocil so Education, for the purpose of in-
ducing then, to repeat the recommendation sent by them
two or three years ago to all the teachers in connexion with
them to give greater motnioenos in their teaching to the
decimal system. After a vote of thanks to Mr. Yates, to
the Chairman, and to the Society of Arts, the meeting
**Tanned.

Tea Ransoms' GRANT. —A somewhat numerous
meeting took plans on Monday in the Lower-swan,
Exeter-hall, to adopt measures for the withdrawal ot the
governmental gnat hitherto made to the College of May.
booth. The Her. William Brock, Rector of Bishop's Wal-
tham, took the shair, and to • feedlots speech advocated Um
fluthemour of a airestaral, sassed, and patriotie foraiNg to
amid the Hattori Protestaat Society in forthseing the ob-
jects they had in rises. The chairman, at some length, com-
mented os the course • certain religiose organ bad taken,
advisiog Wm:dos, or rather withdrawal from any action.
Adelman ware delivered by the Ver. E. Whitley, C. P.
lrOarthy, C. C. Layard. hissers. Edwd. Harper, J. Oriole.
tea, and others. Resolutions were agreed to expressiag the
holing of the meeting and adopting a petition to the House
of Commons praying the withdrawal of all support horn the
College of !layman& and all other limed% institutions, and
ales requesting Mr. E. H. Whalley to undertake the duties
whisk the advancing years of Mr. Spooner must, is the
1111111•0 of nature, prevent his performing,.
B•ll.oR.s' 110111, AND DESTITUTE SAILORS' ASYLUM.
The monthly meeting of directors was held on Thursday
het at the Sailors' Home, Well-street, London Docks.
Present:—Admiral Bowles, C. 8., the president, io the
their ; Captain Hon. Francis Maude, R.N., Andrew John.
ens, Esq., William Gaussen, Fag., and Captain A. Chap-
atis, M.C.S. The accounts showed that during the past
meads the average daily number of boarders at the Home was
170, while as some occasioos as many as 380 seamen were
bearded daily, being about 50 more than could be accommo-
dated with bed.eahias, but they preferred suffering a small
amount cd discomfort in the Home to exposing themselves to
the risk of issisceition in the common seders' boarding-
houses. 11ds hes pressed upon the directors the nseeesity
of eddies to the premises of the institution, and speedy
immures will he taken to bring the subject before the public.
Sines Ist Jaeger, big 121 mama have hese enrolled at the
Rome for the naval neurre. With reference to the Desti-
tute Sailors' Asylum it appeared that during the past month
100 distremed SWIM bay* been supplied with shelter, food,
sad clothing, the average daily number of inmates being
about 60. A &malice at IN. treat the Worshipful Com y
et Groan to the tends et the asylum was also
INIMILNATIONAL imerierrioNi 1862.
YAWN 12.—We hereby sanity that the 11121•11,40 i16:1
same, expreseins the limits of the liability of 0 pMIIO9 a
who have executed the deed of guarantee, for enabling the
commissioners for the Exhibition of 1862 to obtain advances
from the Bank of England, amounts to the sum of 250.0001.
Graevilla, Chandos, Thomas Bering, C. Wentworth Dias,
Thome Fairitairs.—Grustis. _