The Sun.
London, England, 1854-02-22 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING,, FEBRUARY 22, 1854.

MEETING OF LIBERAL MEMBERS.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

altogether of the 5,000 men said to be the amount at
present likely to reach the island.
The Egyptus, from Alexandria, due here on the Bth
or 9th inst., arrived to-day, having been detained by bad
weather.
The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer
Rajah, due on the 6th inst., only arrived to-day, having
also been delayed by severe weather.
The Levant mail, which we usually look for on the
11th, has not as yet been telegraphed. The weather is
very rough, and the sea heavy.
The Vectis and the Indus, from Marseilles and South-
ampton respectively, are both expected to-morrow. On
their arrival, the Triton steam-ship will proceed with
despatches to the admiral.
Great prepaaations for war are being made. The
Triton has a very heavy cargo of shot, shell, and ammu-
nition on board, besides handspikes and other materiel
for active service, if needed.

Yesterday a large and influential meeting of the friends
of Reform, convened by Mr. Hume, was held in Com-
mittee-room No. 12, in order to consider what line of
policy should be adopted with reference to the bill now
before Parliament for amending the representation of the
country. A very considerable number of members obeyed
the summons of the veteran reformer, and amongst
others the following hon. gentlemen were present :
Mr. Hume, Mr. W. Williams, Sir J. Walmsley, Sir J.
V. Shelley, Lord Goderich, Mr. Bright, Mr. Cobden,
Mr. W. Brown, Mr. Keating, Captain Scobell, Mr. C.
Forster, Mr. Hadfield, Mr. M. Williams (Cornwall),
Mr. W. A. Wilkinson, Mr. Biggs, Mr. J. W. Fox, Mr.
Robarts, the Hon. A. Kinnaird, Mr. Barnes, Mr. Hastie
(Glasgow), Mr. Phinn, Mr. Langton, Mr. Ferguson,
Mr. Vivian, Mr. Russell, Sir James Anderson, Mr.
Crook, Mr. W. M. E. Milner, Mr. M. Sullivan, Mr. B.
Wilcox, Mr. Butler, Mr. Cowan, Mr. L. Heyworth, Mr.
Heywood, the Hon. H. Berkeley (Bristol), Mr. Thorne-
ley, Sir Henry Davie, Mr. Cobbett, Mr. Coffin, Mr.
Loftus Bland, Mr. John Ball (Carlow), Mr. J. G. Phil-
linaore, Mr. Lee, Mr. J. B. Smith, Mr. Apsley Peilatt,
Mr. Francis Scully, Mr. Kershaw, Mr. Alcock, &c. &c.
Mr. HUME. on taking the chair at half-past one o'clock,
explained to the meeting the reasons which had induced
him to call them together. He thought it desirable that
the advocates of reform should have an opportunity of
consulting tog ether with respect to the course that ought
to be taken 'by them with respect to the bill recently
laid before Parliament and the country on the subject of
the representation of the people. No doubt the scheme
possessed many faulty details ; but for his own part, he
should recommend the Liberal party, even if they should be
unable to procure those modifications which seemed to
them desirable, to support it as a whole rather than run
any risk of endangering the bill by insisting too perti-
naciously upon what they conceived would be improve-
ments. To the best of his judgment, it was a large and
comprehensive measure, and he entertained not the
slightest doubt that if it should become law, it would be
of great service to the cause of reform.
A very long discussion then commenced with respect
to the provisions of Lord John Russell's bill, the merits
of which were frankly admitted, while the more ques-
tionable portions were minutely criticised. Many objec-
tions were taken to several of its details ; but the greatest
stress was laid upon what was termed the minority clause,
which was strenuously opposed by many of the hon.
gentlemen present. Another point in which the bill wax
also strongly felt to require alteration were the provi-
sions regulating the franchise by the "rating." It
was considered that the word should be altered to
" rental," both as regarded the town and the country
voters ; and it was also thought that the period of reii-
deuce required of the 6/. householders in boroughs to
entitle them to the franchise was very long. Some
hon. gentlemen present complained that the metropolitan
boroughs had not received their fair share of attention,
and expressed a strong, opinion that they were entitled
to a larger proportion of new seats in the redistribution
of the public representation. Much disappointment was
also felt that a measure professing to reform the mode of
returning members to the House of Commons should
contain no mention whatever of the ballot.

THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF AT DEVONPORT.
Admiral of the White Sir William Parker, Bart.,
G.C.8., will succeed Sir John A. Ommanney, K.C.8.,
as Commander-in-Chief at Devonport, as the three years'
period of service of the present Commander-in-Chief at
that station expires on the 17th April. We stated a long
time ago, that if Sir William Parker accepted any fur-
ther service it would be this appointment. Most likely
Mr. Charles Richards, who served with Sir William in
the Mediterranean, and who is now secretary to Rear-
Admiral Corry, will be the gallant baronet's secretary at
Devonport.

RUSSIAN FRIGATES CRUISING OFF
MADEIRA.

Our contemporary the Shipping Gazette publishes the
following from its Plymouth correspondent :—"I have
just been informed of a report current here, that letters
have been received from Madeira, from the owner of the
Pioserpine yacht, which fitted out at Plymouth, and
was at Madeira, on her way to Australia, stating that
two Russian frigates were cruising off Madeira. I lose
no time in forwarding this information, for, if true, it is
necessary that the association of Lloyd's should at once
be made acquainted with it, and that the necessary steps
to protect our trade and commerce should be resorted to
by the proper authorities." It is most likely that one
of these vessels is the frigate we named as having been
left at Rio by last advices, and the other is the frigate
that was refitted at Portsmouth. We believe, however,
that their capture is cared for by the Admiralty.

THE LONDON GAZETTE OF LAST NIGHT.

FOREIGN-OFFICE, FEB. 20.
The Queen has been pleased to approve of Mr. Edward
Reimers as Consul at Hong Kong for the Free Hanseatic
City of Hamburgh.
WAR-OFFICE, FEB. 21.
Brevet—Lieutenant-General Fitzßoy James Henry
Lord Raglan, G.C.8., to be Commander of the Forces
about proceeding on a particular service, with the rank of
General while so employed. Colonel Henry John William
Bentinck, of the Coldstream Guards ; Colonel Sir Colin
Campbell, K.C.B, upon half pay Unattached ; Colonel
Richard Aird, upon half-pay Unattached; and Colonel
William Eyre, C. 8., of the 73d Regiment of Foot, to be
Brigadier-Generals while employed upon the Staff of the
Forces about proceeding upon a particular service. The
above commissions to bear date Feb. 21.

ADMIRALTY, FEB. 16.
Corps of Royal Marines —First Lieutenant and Adjutant
Thomas Forrest to be Captain, vice T. B. Gray, appointed
Paymaster ; Second Lieutenant Frederick Lewis David to
be First Lieutenant, vice Forrest, promoted.

ADMIRALTY, FEB. 17.
Corps of Royal Marines—First Lieutenant Andree
Wylde to be Captain, vice Charles Miller, to half-pay ;
Second Lieutenant James Stirling Mould to be First Lieu-
tenant, vice Wylde, promoted.
ADMIRALTY, FEB, 20.

With respect to the new franchises and the contem-
plated disfranchisements, the universal feeling was one
of entire satisfaction ; and all present agreed to support
both proposals—both of them calling forth a strong ex-
pression of approval. The probable results of Lord
John Russell's measure were discussed at some length,
and there was some diversity of opinion as to the
extent to which the constituencies of the country
were likely to be enlarged. On this point several
members expressed a confident opinion, founded upon
letters received from their own constituents and
other persons who had a practical acquaintance
with the different localities, to the effect that
the increase would in many boroughs be equal
to one-third of the present number of voters. The pro-
bable increase in the county constituencies by the en-
franchisement of the 101. householders had been shown
by the returns recently moved for by Sir J. Walmsley to
be about 400,000, exclusive of those who would also
be placed upon the registers by the other new county
qualifications.
On the whole, therefore, it was unanimously resolved,
after a discussion of three hours, to support the second
reading of the bill ; and it was agreed that another
meeting should be held for the purpose of considering
what steps should be taken with regard to the minority
clause, respecting which a strong feeling prevailed.
The meeting adjourned at a few minutes before the
Speaker's bell rang for prayers.

The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty do hereby
give notice to all lieutenants in the Royal Navy, now on
half pay, of and below the seniority of 1841, inclusive, that
they are required immediately to transmit their addresses
to the Secretary of the Admiralty ; and that such lieuten-
ants as may think themselves unfit for service, are to trans-
mit a medical certificate of their inability, and the cause
of the same. The half-pay of all lieutenants neglecting to
reply to this notice, on or before the Ist of March next,
will be suspended.
All mates and midshipmen, second masters and masters-
assistants unemployed are also to send their addresses, on
or before the Ist of March, or they will he considered as
ceasing to belong to her Majesty's service.
By order of the Board,
R. OSBORNE.
COMMISSIONS SIGNED BY LORD-LIEUTENANTS.
Ist Regiment of King's Own Staffordshire Militia—
Charles Edward Elliot Welchman, Esq., to be Assistant-
Surgeon, vice Astle, resigned, Jan. 23.
Shropshire Regiment of Militia—William Henry Nic-
coils, Gent., to be Ensign, Feb. 16.

POSTAGE STAMPS OF SIXPENCE.
Inland Revenue, Somerset-House, Feb. 20.

Notice is hereby given, that the Commissioners of In-
land Revenue have provided a Stamp for denoting the
duty of Sixpence for Postage, and that such Stamps will
be issued to ate Public on and after the Ist of March next.
By order of the Board,
THOMAS KEOGH, Secretary.
PRIZE MONEY.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

London, Feb. 21.
Notice is hereby given to the officers and crew of her
Majesty's ship Archer, that the tonnage bounty and pro-
ceeds of chronometer, for the slave vessel Polka, captured
the 16th of September, 1850, will be paid to those entitled
to share on Tuesday, the 14th of March, at No. 13, Cle-
ment's-inn, Strand, and the shares not then demanded will
be recalled at the same place for three months, agreeably to
act of Parliament.
d. s. d.
Commodore 22 17 51 Sixth Class 3 3 0
Commander 42 17 84 Seventh Class 2 2 0
Third Class
Fourth Class 66 0 1 Ninth Class Ol3 14
Fifth C1a55........ 313 6 Tenth Class 0 7 10t,
F. DUFAUR, Agent.
BANKRUPTCY ANNULLED.

BETTING AT MANCHESTER-YESTERDAY.

Notwithstanding most of the members having left for
Nottingham, there was a strong attendance ; business,
however, was principally confined to the events to be
decided there to-day. For the Liverpool Steeplechase
Miss Mowbray and Bourton were again in force ; the
former was backed for 50/. at 6 to 1, the latter for 301.
at Bto 1. For the other spring events the betting was
void of interest.

CLOSING PRICES.
LIVERPOOL STEEPLECHASE.
6to 1 agst Miss Mowbray (taken).
Bto 1 agst Bourton (taken).
11 to 1 agst La Gazza Ladra (taken).
12 to 1 agst Half-and-Half (offered).
25 to 1 asst Maurice Daley (taken).
25 to 1 agst Abd-el-Kader (taken.)
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE HANDICAP.
12 to 1 agst Red Lion (taken).
15 to 1 agst Marc Antony (offered).
METROPOLITAN.
15 to 1 agst Royalist (taken).
20 to 1 agst Ariosto (taken).
20 to 1 agst Annie Sutherland (taken).
CHESTER CUP.
1000 to GO agst Nevrininster (offered).
20 to 1 agst Star of Surrey (offered).
40 to 1 agst Talfourd (taken).
50 to 1 agst Bridesmaid (taken).
50 to 1 agst Royalist (taken).
1000 to 15 agst Ballinafad (taken).
TWO THOUSAND GUINEAS.
7to 2 agst Ruby (taken).
sto 1 agst Boiardo (offered).
DERRY.
15 to 1 agst Dervish (taken).
1000 to 15 agst Canute.

Walter Scammell, shoemaker, Waterford-terrace, Ful-
ham.

BANKRUPTS.

David Allen Ramsay, builder, Kensington-park-terrace,
Notting-hill, to surrender March 7, at eleven, and April
13, at half-past one, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Johnson,
official assignee, Basinghall-street ; Robinson and Haynes,
Orchard-street, Portman-square.
Augustus Rizzi, looking glass manufacturer, Leeds,
March 6 and April 4, at twelve, at the Leeds District
Court. Hope, official assignee, Leeds; Fraser, Furnival's-
inn ; Bond and Barwick, Leeds.
Dobson Ullyett, draper, Sheffield, March 4 and 25,
at twelve, at the Leeds District Court. Brewin, official
assignee, Sheffield ; Sale, Worthington, and Shipman,
Manchester; Richardson and Gaunt, Leeds.
Edward Banks Green, ironmonger, Bilston, Stafford-
shire, March 7 and 30, at twelve, at the Birmingham Dis-
trict Court. Christie, official assignee, Birmingham ;
Smith, Wolverhampton ; Motteram and Knight, Birming-
ham.
Frederick Scudmore Robinson, dealer in patent medi-
cines, Bloomsbury-square, March 1, at eleven, and April
12 at two, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Pennell, official
assignee, Guildhall-chambers ; Lawrance, Flews, and
Boyer, Old Jewry-chambers.
Thomas Evans, ironmonger, Manchester, March 8 and
April 3, at twelve, at the Manchester District Court.
Fraser, official assignee, Manchester ; Higson and Robin-
son, Manchester.
Charles Clarke, maltster and brewer, Norwich, March
1, at twelve, and April 12, at one, at the Court of Bank-
ruptcy. Pennell, official assignee, Guildhall-chambers;
Jay, Bucklersbury; Jay & Pilgrim, Norwich.
Stephen Carlton, harness manufacturer, Darlington,
Feb. 27, at twelve, and March 31, at one, at the Newcastle-
upon-Tyne District Court. Wakley, official assignee,
Newcastle-upon-Tyne ; Hartley, Bloomsbury ;
Durham.
Donald M`Gregor, travelling draper, Chorlton-upon-
Medlock, Lancaster, March 9, and 30, at• twelve, at the
Manchester District Court. Hermann, official assignee,
Manchester ; Neild, Manchester.
SCOTCH SEQUESTRATIONS.

NOTTINGHAM RACES.— TUESDAY.
THE TRIAL STAKES of 5 sovs. each, with 20 added, for
3 yrs old and upwards ' • weights for age. Mares and
geldings allowed 41b. One mile and a quarter.
Mr. T. Parr's Rataplan, by The Baron, 4 yrs, Bst 51b

(Flatman) 1
•
Mr. Stevens's Sir George, 3 yrs, Est 71b (Wells) 2
Mr. Wilmott's Blakeley, 3 yrs, 6st 71b (Ashmall) 3
Mr. Fenning's Tonic, 6 yrs, Bst 131 b (Charlton) 4
Betting-2 to lon Rataplan ;4to 1 agst Tonic.
Won in a canter by two lengths ; a length between
second and third ; two lengths between third and fourth.
NOTTINGHAM SPRING HANDICAP Of 10 sovs. each, 5 ft,
and only 3 if declared, &0., with 50 added. The
owner of the second horse to save his stake. Certain
winners extra. One mile and a half.
Mr. Moseley's Alonzo, by Alpheus, aged, Bst 31b

Janes Graham, S.S.C., Of Leitchtown.
John M'Cowan, cotton mill furnisher, Glasgow.
INSOLVENT PETITIONERS.
H. Cohen, Bell-lane, Spitalfields, licensed travelling
hawker on foot—J. Pritchard, Parker's-terrace, Bermond-
sey, journeyman plumber—R. Goodwin, South-street,
Camberwell, milk carrier—J. Evans, Trinity-row, Isling-
ton, commission agent—T. Sly, Little Bruton-street and
Bruton-street, Hanover-square, tailor—J. S. Blomeley,
Bow-common-lane, Bow, clerk to a stockbroker—J. Atkin-
son, Stepney High-street, Stepney, boot and shoe maker—
F. Hill, Modena-terrace, Old Kent-road, builder—J. Wray,
Brook-street, Ratcliff, engineer—C. Fisk, Angel-row, Ham-
mersmith, cheesemonger—G. Banks, Wilmington, Kent,
baker—C. Barnard, Nicholl-square, City, silversmith—J.
Summers, Acton-street, Gray's-inn-road, builder—T. Shep-
pard, Mitford-road- Hornsey-road, fishmonger's shopman—
J. West, Smithfield, City, licensed victualler—L. Gould-
stone, Balls Pond-road, Islington, tea dealer—R. Davis,
Princes-street, Bedford-row, servant to a cow-keeper—H.
A. Newcomb, Upper Dorchester-place, Hoxton—C. Wick-
ham, Stockwell, Surrey, milkman—C. Williams, Lincoln-
street, Mile End-road, grocer—J. Becks, Waterloo-street,
Camberwell, licensed retailer of beer.

Charlton 1
Mr. Barton's The Surveyor, 5 yrs, 7st 91b (Aldcroft) 2
Mr. J. J. Henderson's Annabel, 3 yrs, sst 111 b (Cliff) 3
The following also ran :—Jack Leeming, Tomboy,
Landscape, Florist, Wellsbourne Vixen, Old Castoff,
The Event, Miss Goldschmidt, and Roebuck.
Betting-4 to 1 agst Annabel (taken freely), 6to 1
agst Wellsbourne, Bto 1 agst Vixen. Won by a neck.
Three quarters of a length between second and third.
Wellsbourne,and Florist, four and fifth, were close up.
SWEEPSTAKES of 5 sous. each, with 30 added, for two-
yrs-old ; colts, Bst 71b ; fillies, Bst 4113 ; winners ex-
tra ; second horse to save his stake ; about half-a-mile
straight.
Mr. T. Parr's Challon Boy (Flatman) 1
Mr. Edwards's Sylvia (Aldcroft) 2
Mr. H. Lister's b f by Rochester, Doe (Kendall) 3
The following also ran :—b f by Chanticleer, Betsy,
Madame Valentine, and Orphrey.
Betting-5 to 2 agst Orphrey, 7to 2 agst Challon Boy,
9to 2 agst Betsy, sto 1 agst Sylvia. Won by a neck ;
same between second and third.

HANDICAP SWEEPSTAKES of 5 soya. each, with 25 added,
for all ages, one mile.
Mr. Megson's Songster, by Touchstone, 5 yrs, 7st 21b,
(Wells) 1
Mr. D. Blythe's Florist, 4 yrs, 7st 31b (Aldcroft) 2
Mr. Munday's Jessamine, 3 yrs. 6st (Cliff) 3
The following also ran :—Tonic, Apostate, The Event,
Lina, Salopian, Sam, and Field-Marshal.

Betting 2to 1 agst Jessamine, sto 2 agst Songster,
sto 1 agst Tonic, and 7to Ist agst Florist. Won by a
neck. Length and a-half between second and third.
The PARK STAKES of 5 sovs. each, with 20 added. For
three-yrs-old and upsiards. Optional selling weights.
Second horse to save his stake. T.Y.C.
Mr Etches' Red Rose, 3 yrs (301.), 6st 31b (D. Hughes) 1
Mr. Jones' Telegraph, 4 yrs (201.), Bst (White) 2
Mr. Bloss's Julian, 5 yrs (201.), Bst 101b....(Charlton) 3
Won by half a length. Neck between second and
third.

MEETING OF MANCHESTER MILLOWNERS.—A crowded
meeting of ,factory owners took place yesterday after-
noon at the Town-hall, Manchester, to consider what
steps should be taken in consequence of the recent order
of Mr. Leonard Homer, chief inspector of factories, di-
recting the machinery in eotton and other mills to be
fenced off. Mr. R. H. Gregg, who was in the chair,
observed upon the difficulty of fencing off every portion
of the gearing in mills, and said, that in many cases
greater danger would arise from its being fenced in
than if it were left uncovered. Mr. Gregg proceeded
to condemn the order, on the ground of the im-
practicability of complying with it, and entered into
some statistics with a view to show that, under the
present system, accidents in mills were not frequent,
and were, indeed, but trifling as compared with the
fatalities in collieries, or even in farming operations. He
therefore contended that there was no j ustifica.tion for
the order in question. Mr. Henry Ashworth pursued
the same line of argument, and moved a resolution that
the order in question was uncalled for, that it could not
be practically carried into effect, and that the Legisla-
ture did not intend that the provisions of the Factory
Act should be enforced to the letter. The resolution was
unanimously agreed to, and another, proposed by Mr.
Thomas Bazley, was also carried, to the effect that the
proposed fencing of the shafts would increase the risk of
accidents, and also expose mills to the danger of fire. A
committee was then appointed to confer with the factory-
owners, and to form a deputatiOn to Lord Palmerston,
with a view to carry out the object of the meetin

IMPROVEMENT OF THE DWELLINGS OF THE
INDUSTRIOUS CLASSES.

A public meeting of merchants, traders, and bankers
of the city of London was held on Saturday, at
the London Tavern, for the purpose of considering
the best method of extending the operation of the
Metropolitan Association, established some years
since for the purpose of improving the dwellings
of the industrious classes. The object of the associa-
tion is to erect dwellings for the working class. combining
in their construction the several improvements in ven-
tilation, drainage, a due supply of water, and such other
advantages, as shall be calculated to render their sani-
tary condition as complete as posible. The association
has already purchased an eligible piece of land in the
borough, near Loudon-bridge, capable of accommodating
upwards of 100 families. They hove also another piece
of freehold land in Spitalfields, in whicli accommodation
will he provided for 150 inure families.

At one o'clock the chair was taken by Thos. Baring,
Esq., M.P., and among the noblemen and gentlemen
on the platform were the Marquis of Stafford, Lord
Stanley, Lord Radstock, Viscount Ebrington, Lord
Robert Grosvenor, M.P., Viscount Ingestrie, Lord
Haddo, Lord Claud Hamilton, M.P., Hon. F. Byng,
Sir Jas. Duke, M.P., Sir R Howard, W. A. Wilkinson,
M.P., E. C. Egerton, M.P., the Governor of the Bank of
England, James Bell, M.P., Thomson Hank ey, M.P.,
Count Stryclecki, William Cotton, G. W. Prescott,
John Dillon, J. D. Powles, Lewis Lloyd, jun., Samuel
Morley, J. W. Totties, G. W. Alexander, Dr. South-
wood Smith, W. E. Hubbard, Horace Wilkinson, Robert
Bevan, Thomas F. Gibson, Rev. Charles Mackenzie,
Rev. C. B. Dalton, &c.

Mr. THOMAS BARING, on taking the chair, read a
letter from Lord John Russell, who stated that he was
in hopes he might have been able to attend the meeting,
but engagements with regard to public business of urgsut
importance prevented him. As a testimony of his opi-
nion of the utility of the association, and the soundness
of the principle on which it was based, he wished to be-
come a shareholder for two 251. shares. (Cheers.) It
was not a charitable institution such as those which,
however praiseworthy, sometimes tempted men to forego
the spirit of indeptmilence and self-reliance on their own
exertions and industry, which he must say formed the
merit, as it must be the origin, of the prosperity of the
working, and indeed of any, class of the community. The
institution had for its object the benefitirr, the working
classes, and, if carried largely into eeect, it would
indirectly benefit every class, and prove a secure invest-
ment for all who embarked their capital in it. It was
not a speculative association—it had no inducements to
offer in the shape of large bonuses and a rise in the price
of shares ; but it offered security, and a certain mode-
rate return. There was another return also which the
community at large would obtain by the introduction of
a system of comfort and cleanliness in a large metro-
polis like that, it would tend to diminish disease
and mortality. (Hear.) You could not benefit that
important class, the working men, without giving to the
employer of these workmen more intellectual force and
more physical vigour. In the metropolis, from the high
wages and the great demand for labour, the result was
to crowd labourers together. Improvements were daily
going on, and the space thereby diminished for those
labourers who were able and willing to pay their rent.
They could not afford to buy land or to build a house,
and were obliged to have recourse to those lodgings
which were procurable under such circumstances. It
was evident, therefore, that this society offered a very
great benefit to the industrious classes, by providing
them with convenient houses at a moderate rent.

Mr. HUBBARD, Governor of the Bank of England,
moved the first resolution. He had cheerfully obeyed
the summons to the mercantile community of the metro-
polis to consider this subject. They had abundant
evidence of the countless wealth which the commerce of
the world brought into their city, but they had only
scanty evidence that the distribution of that wealth had
been in the direction it ought to be. If they were
asked what had been done for those men by whose
labour every commercial enterprise was initiated, and
every commercial adventure chased, they would have
but a very sorry answer to allege. He trusted neither
the philanthropist nor the capitalist would hesitate to
join a society which promised such social, advantageous,
and commercial results. He had much pleasure in
moving the first resolution :—" That very many of the
sanitary and social evils which affect the condition of
the labouring classes, have heed proved to be attribut-
able to the insufficient and inferior accommodation af-
forded by the habitations at present within their com-
mand, and the removal of so serious an obstacle to the
advancement of their moral • and physical welfare is,
therefore, an object of extreme importance."
Mr. PRESCOTT of the firm of Prescott, Grote, and Co.,
believed that it was only necessary to have the objects of
the society more fully known to obtain the support of
the public generally, and seconded the resolution.
M. ALEX. CAMPBELL, who rose from the body of the
meeting, said he had been all his life Ultimately con-
nected with the industrious classes, and he ventured to
say that there was no subject the working men were so
deeply interested in as the obtaining comfortable dwell-
ings convenient to the places where they were employed.
The resolution was then put and agreed to.

Mr. COTTON moved the next resolution—" That this
object has been attained to a most remarkable degree by
the metropolitan societies for improving the dwellings of
the industrial classes, as shown by the results of sanitary
improvement recently published by Dr. Southwood
Smith, the average rate of mortality in the improved
dwellings, erected by the metropolitan association, not
being one-third that of the metropolis generally, while
the rate of infant mortality in the same dwellings was
little more than one-fifth."
Lord STANLEY seconded the resolution. He had
joined himself to the association because he believed that
it was at once more extensive in its operations, and more
practical in its method of working, than any other exist-
ing within the limits of that great metropolis. And
yet, in London, there was no want either of practical
men nor yet of public spirit They had all of them
probably heard or read of the calculation that had
been inade how something like a million a-year
was devoted to public charitable purposes, and about
an equal amount of permanent resources from [the
liberality of former generations. It might naturally be
asked how was that vast sum expended ? Some of it
no doubt to great advantage ; some, if not to the
permanent advantage of the recipients, was at least
harmless, and he was afraid he must add that a great
deal was expended with the most benevolent intentions,
but in a manner calculated to produce injury rather than
benefit. (Hear.) It was a wise and true saying, and
well worth being remembered by those who thought
that while other pursuits required skill and study,
philanthropy required none—it was a wise saying
of a member of the House of Commons, that while cha-
rity created the distress it relieved, it could not always
relieve the distress it created. (Hear, hear.) It was
also said to be as dangerous a thing for a man to prac-
tise philanthropy, without previous consideration, as to
practise physic without study. (Hear, and a laugh.)
He need not tell them of the evils that were likely to
follow from mere eleemosynary charity. When a man
received a gift in the way of charity, he had to pay dearly
in a moral if not in a material sense, for what he received.
If he was a proud, honest, independent, self-reliant cha-
racter, and such happily were the great mass of their
labouring classes, he must necessarily feel humiliation at
having lost his self-dependence. If he were a person of
easy temperament, then the danger was, and perhaps it
was a more serious evil, that finding it easy to beg, and
hard to work, ho became more and more degenerate and
improvident. (Hear, hear.) He was not going to argue
against all charity. What they called charity was,
under any circumstances, unfortunate, but, in the pi e-
sent state of society, a necessary evil. All he contended
for was this, that undertakings of a philanthropic charac-
ter
like the present were undoubtediy more calculated to
produce results of permanent advantage, as they contained
more of a self supporting, and less of an eleemosynary
character. (Hear.) The fact was that this association
gave nothing to any man, snd no lodger felt that he was ac-
cepting any favour when he entered one ofthese houses. It
was simply a fair and equal bargain between man and man,
and there was no sacrifice of independence on either side.
They got a fair return for their capital, and the workmen
got a better quality of lodging. It was therefore founded
upon strictly commercial principles. It was asked if
this institution were self-supporting, how did they,
undertake to undersell the ordinary lodging-house pro-
prietors ? He took it that the advantages they relied
upon, for the permanence and stability of the association
were, that in the first place they had a larger capital than
any individual owner of house property. That necessarily
involved a reduction of expenditure. There was also a
difficulty in completing the tenure of houses, but they swept
away all intermediate parties, and let directlyto the lodgers.
Third, a great part of the expense of lodgings in large
towns arose from the ground rents being high. In the
model lodging-houses a much larger number of persons
were accommodated within the same space, and conse-
quently a large amount of ground-rent was saved. Lastly,
they reckoned upon attracting to their houses a more re-
spectable and more solvent class of tenants, and run less
risk as to the receipt of their rents. He might refer to the
workings of a similar plan upon a larger scale under the
ImperialGovernmentinParis where 60,000 labourers were
at work, and it was generally believed by those acquainted
with the subject that this vast undertaking would pay. It
was unnecessary to trouble the meeting with the fearful
details of the manner in which a portion of the working
classes were lodged in that great metropolis ; but he re-
membered reading that in a small lane near Oxford-
street there were 461 persons lodged in four houses,
giving to each one-seventh less air than was awarded to
their felons in the gaols. It was a disgrace to the age
in which they lived. (Cheers.) In all matters of domestic
economy he found they were much behindhand. He
would not trespass further on their time, but second the
resolution.
A WORKING MAN in the body of the meeting rose to
state that he had received a letter from thepersonethknns
occu-
pying the association's houses, returning their best
for the exertions that had been made in their behalf, and
expressing their gratitude for the comforts they enjoyed.
The resolution was put and carried unanimously.
Mr. DILLON moved the following resolution:—" That
and
improved dwellings can only beextensively
perma-
nently established on terms affording a fair remuneration
to the capitalist, and that this object can be most readily
effected through the instrumentality.Al and extended-ope-
ration of the Metropolitan Associon for Improving the
Dwellings of the Industrious Classes, in which the liabi-
lirnited to the amount of their
lity of the shareholders is
shares."
M.P., seconded the resolution.
Mr. T. HANKEY,
After one or two other speakers had addressed the
meeting, the resolution was put and agreed to.
Lord C. HAMILTON, 1V1.P., moved a vote of thankso
the chairman, for his kindness in presiding at the meet-
lug. •
The CHAIRMAN having briefly acknowledged the corn,
pliment, the meeting 'separated.