The Express.
London, England, 1868-03-17 00:00:00

priatc MEETINGS.-(THIS DAY.)

THE SALE OF LIQUOES ON SUNDAY ALM

At 2 o'clock to-day a meeting was held in the
Favorer-square-rooms for the purpose of supporting Ur.
y. A. Smith's bill for restricting the sale of intexicaiing
boors on Sunday ; the Archbishop of Toad in the chal:.
Aweget those present were the Duke of Argyll, Sir H.
Taney, 31 P., Mr. Baines, ILP., Mr. 3. A. Smith, M.P.
Letters were read from the Archbishop of Canterbury
art the Bishop of London, expressing regret at not being
stde to attend the meeting, and approving of its object.
MC CHAIRMAN, in introducing the subject, said they
10,t to see what they could do to diminish the enornsene
vil which drink produced in this country, and they pro-
pOsed to meet this in a rational and moderate way. In
pia; twelve millions of gallons of British spirits were
drank by the population of these isles, which was
great deal too much ; 4,000,000 f. duty was paid
ec foreign spirits, and 7,000,0001. for the malt-tax,
and shout 1,250,0001- on foreign wines, or about
tee per head of the population. The fact was that drink
was the poison of the people. (Cheers.) Nor did its evil
effects cease with the parents who drank spirits. It de-
wended to their children, who were born weakly and
debilitated. Amongst the greatest obstacles to the recep-
tion of the Gospel was droakenness. This was not their
view alone. It was the view taken at a recent meeting of
the Roman catholics, presided over by Dr. Manning ;
it was also the view taken by the noncon-
formist body. There was a resolution rived by
G. mayors, 51 chairmen of sessions, and 148 magistfates in
favour of Mr. Smith's bilL Nor let it be supposed that
nil publicans and licensed victuallers were opposed to
them. That was not so. There were many of that body
with them. There was not a person who heard him who
did not know the difference between a household presided
ever by a parent who did not drink and by one who did.
prinking WAS vary bad amongst the rich, but it was utter
ruin in the households of the poor. It was not enough
to give men the franchise ; they must first
be sober. There were some who were in favour of total
restriction. (Cheers.) He did not wonder at that cheer,
but, for himself, he did not go to that extent. He did not
think a man could be called temperate who was chained to
kis chair and prevented from having liquor. But he knew
tb it the abuse of drink was a curse and destroyed the soul,
• therefore, he would have none of that. He was at
prc-ent disposed to take what he could get, but he believed
the time would come when the public voice would require
to have public.houses closed entirely on the Sunday.
The bill which they were met to support proposed
that public-houses might be opened an hour and

a htlf in the middle of the day and two
heal at night. (" quite enough too.") They
►ouht be able to judge of the effects of the measure
some time after it was in operation by the number of
Lab). conviction►. He wished to destroy the drunken.
er,and other Time that collected round the public.houae
en the Aebbath, and to preserve that day for holinem, for
tirtue, and for sanctity. (Chien.)

Pr. CAHRErr proposed the first resolution :—" That this
r'rt•iie reagnises with hearty satisfaction the general
ridh of the great mass of the people to have public-
t.o..e, and beer-shops closed during Sunday." He said
glut there were 145,000 drinking shops in the kingdom,
and only 80,000 churches—that was to say, for ons church
them were tiro opposition shops. It was believed that
troy one of these public-houses received 30i. on each
•,ud.ry. But supposing that each of the 11,000 licensed
tomes in London received but 4/. each, this would give
se noegate main of 4-I,oool.,which was subtracted princi-
pal) from the homes of the poor. (Hear, hear.)

sir It. VERNET, seconded the resolution, which
r:.. idoptc• I.

Mr. I`..ttxxs, proposed the second resolution as
fllowa:—" Th►t, considering that English law provides
kr all dames of the people freedom from trading and
labour on the firs► day of the week, It is unwise and In-
.l freebie to make an exemption in favour of the sellers of
ist.mcating drinks ; such an exception being especially
,othluriec to the increase of drunkenness, and in principle
ura,lr to all other retail traders."
Th. Rev. J. MOOMOUSE seconded.

The resolution Was adopted.

The following resolutions wore also moved and adopted:
" Test, while this meeting upholds as sound and bone.
the principle of prohibiting trading on the Sabbath,
pts the bill introduced into parliament by Mr. John
Aid 'nab. Mr. Baxley, and Mr. BWIIIIIS, as en important
usptosenisot of the existing legislation, and resolves to
p talon both houses of the legislature to psis it into law
■itbout delay."

That the best thanks of this meeting be given to Ma
lo ••• • the Archbishop of York in aeknowledennent of his
greAt kindness in consenting to preside over this meeting,
and of the important Berrie* his grace has thereby ran.
drr‘d to the cause of temperance, morality, and Sabbath
Ow, t•ince."

VITUALIS.II IN THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND.

'Nis afternoon a numerous public meeting
• iwid at the Loudon Tavern, Biahopsgate-street, under
th. ,uspioes of the Church Association, to protest against
thr ntualistic practices in the established church. The
chair was taken at 2 o'clock by Mr. B. C. L. BEVAIN, and
es
th, platform nee—Mr. George Moore, Mr. James
L,d. Alderman Hale, Mr. J. Braithwaite, Dr. Jardine,
R. Mafia, Mr. Ford, Mr. Denny, Mr. J. G. Haste, Rev.
J. McGhee Rev. Dr. M'Neile,

The following were the principal resolutions :
That this meeting, being fully impressed with the
.luty of supporting the principles and order of the church
of England and Ireland, and resisting the innovations of
roulp,m and Itomanism, desire to express their approval
et the course pursued by the Church association in
cn.l...,couring to procure an authoritative legal decision
oa tituali.tic practices end doctrine, and a reform of the
~:cl,i.etical law courts."
That in furtherance of these objects a subscription
let be opened in the city, in aid of the Church ASSOCin-
tRn. '4,000/. Guarantee Fund, to be celled up pro eke, as
it ts required, and no more than 90 per cent. ma
oaciroura per annum."

11.11:KITIUS LAND CREDIT AND AGENCY

COMPANY (LIYiTED).

The half-yearly meeting of the shareholders was
4,11 at noon at the company's °faces, 25, Fenchnrels-
nre4 ; General Boaz in the chair.
The following balance-sheet for the siz =maths ending
I tecember, 1867, was presented:
Dr.—To capital paid Fp, viz., 2/. per share, 25,0001. ;
to c.ipital paid up in anticipation of &le (bearing 7 per
scot. interest), 4,016/. ; together, 29,016/. ; to debenture
4int.l, 202,25 W. ; to sundry creditors (London and
Mauritius), 8,144/. 17a. 10d. ; to sinking fund, 19,2071.
7.1.; to reserve, 1,5001. • to rehate on interest re.
Crier!, 2,6141. Id. jto balance available, after pre-
oling for all current expenses chargeable against the
nalr.year, 1,7901. lls. 10d. ; total, 264,5221. 14s. 4d.
1:C• cash at hankies' and in hand, London and
Mauritius, 5,1901. 15e. 53.; by bills receivable, 18,9021. Is.;
investments in Mmuities, 2148,352/. Im ; b'f_oll647
debtors for insurance, 6!. 10a. 54. ; by furniture, 7/1/. 24. ;
byptelinintszy expenses, I,Bool.—toisl, 264,5221. 14a. 4d."
The CHLIIIIIAN said they bad met for the purpose of
lecidieg what amount of dividend should be declared for
the haff•year. Ile was glad to say that the money
4 the dtsposal of the directors admitted of the
Myinent of the usual dividend, which wen at the
rate of 10 per cent. per annum. The statement
of accounts submitted, though it had not been sanctioned
by the auditors, might be taken to be in every teepee!
correct. The available balance, after defraying all az-
il'"es was 1,790/., out of which 1,2504 would be ab-
sorbed by the preyinned dividends
leaving
5401.
to
be
carried forward to UM annual mustang.
An interim dividend at the rate of 10 per cent. per
'ns being one shilling per share, was than declared,
and the meeting terminated with a vote of thanks to the
chairoon and his colleagues.

r-ILCUTTA AND SOUTH EASTARN RAILWAY.

extraordinary general meeting of the share-
Lolders was held at noon at the oompaay's diem, Gres-
"""house, Old Broad-street, Mr. JOHN BOILILLDAILA fa
the chair.
ua I:,solations confirming those paned at the meeting
the 28th ult. for handing over the reilwe7
'ad works to the government of India on the lit
APril, 1868, and for the voluntary winding-
!l. of the compani,
_were agreed to. Mesas.
4nrratlaile, Marthana, Burkinyoung, and Mitchell were
-`.-Poiated liquidaton. The meeting having been formally
- :owned to the 314 last., in order that • resolution for