The Sun.
London, England, 1855-01-06 00:00:00

THE PRESIDENT OF' THE BOARD OF TRADE
AND THE SUNDAY BEER BILL.

During the recent visit of the President of the Board
of Trade to his constituents at Oxford, he was waited
upon at the residence of the mayor, Mr. C. J. Sadler,
Greenwood,
ef the of thew Maiden-
head
by Messrs. T. T. Latimer, wine merchant ; Mr. Bey-
zand, of the Lamb and Flag Inn ; Mr. Drink water, of
the H
George
etel ;
}hotelaed ;
Mr. Mr. TF F.
T. rlun—being a deputation from the licensed victuallers of
h e a ts ha e
this city. In adopting this course they had a twofold
object in view—namely, to request Mr. Cardwell to
present, in the absence of the senior member, Mr.
Langston, a petition, signed by upwards of 3,000 resi-
dents, praying for a repeal of the Sunday Beer Bill, and
likewise to ascertain Mr. Cardwell's individual opinion
on the subject. The deputation were informed by Mr.
Cardwell that he had not taken any active part in the
measure when it was before Parliament, and that he
understood it had been altered to meet the views of
the Licensed Victuallers' Company ; also, that he was
not aware there was so strong a feeling against it,
although he had learned through the public press that
dissatisfaction prevailed to some extent. The mayor,
who was present at the conference, explained that a by-
law already existed in Oxford, sufficient to prevent the
desecration of the Sabbath and to punish drunkenness
and immorality, and he bore testimony to the paucity
of complaints of that character which came before
the bench of magistrates. The deputation urged on Mr.
Cardwell that they should be satisfied if they could open
their houses on Sunday from one till half-past two,
then closing till four—opening again at four, and clos-
ing at half-past eleven instead of at ten. They also
represented that the act was so worded that it would
generally be evaded, unless Parliament endeavoured to
meet the universal complaints against the measure,
which did not effect what it purposed to do—
namely, the suppression of drunkenness and immora-
lity, but inconvenienced the large body of moderate
people for the purpose of keening in check the insati-
able propensities of the few, who would, by some means
or other, attain their ends. The right honourable
gentleman replied that he should be happy, as ene of
their members, in the absence of Mr. Langston, to pre-
sent the petition ; but with respect to their suggestions
and to their impression that the bill did not effect what
was intended, he would submit them to Lord Palmer-
ston, to whose department this matter more properly
belonged. The deputation was received with great
frankness and courtesy by Mr. Cardwell, and left under
the impression that he was favourable to their views, and
would, when the subject caine again before Parliament,
lay them before the house, so that the measure might be
modified and altered to meet the requirements of the
public, without interfering so much with the privileges,
the necessities, and enjoyments of any class of the com-
munity.

COLLISION ON THR SCOTTISH CENTRAL RAILWAY.—An
unfortunate collision of an express and goods train oc-
curred at the Larbert Junction of the Scottish Central
Railway, on the evening of Tuesday, about five o'clock.
Awn
northerly
sbatetrpl passenger, see game
directionre, o
trifmerxeo on
express eEssd train,nthben was proceeding in the
r line
and a goods train
e
going iu the re-
eeessa, ttenwhich, unfortunately seemsded to, and the danger
re-
'verse direction. The usual danger signal was displayed
approachingeense
express,
or .
tnotto
theto have been
was imminent before the engine was reversed
or the breaks applied to the express train, which
consequently ran into the goods train with such force
that three goods trucks were actually shivered to,
pieces, and piled up a complete wreck upon the line, the
tender of the express being, with the violence of the col-
lision, thrown off the line. It is amazing that no acci-
dent of a fatal character took place. We learn that a
Mrs. Duncan, belonging to Larbert, received some in-
juries, though not serious ones ; and that the guard,
named Andrew Banks, was a good deal bruised. The
passengers, of course, were a good deal frightened, and
were jolted considerably by the sudden shock of the col-
lision,—Glasgow Daily Mail,