The Sun.
London, England, 1849-10-19 00:00:00

FRIDAY

The memorable year 1843, however, was the year
of O'Connell's most gigantic efforts of agitation, the
year of the monster meetings, and of the indictment
leading to his trial and incarceration. During nine
months in that year he convened twenty-eight mon-
ster meetings, collecting together about 5,000,000
souls, travelling himself over a distance of 5,104
miles, and delivering innumerable speeches! Here is
Mr. John O'Connell's statement (a statement, froth
our own knowledge, anything but overeoloured) re-
specting

PROGRESS OF MANNERS.
(From Eliza Cook's Journal)
Those who have listened at any time to the fervent
appeals of that noble band of social reformers and
elevators, the apostles of Temperance, may not im-
probably have been impressed with the belief that in.'
temperance was rolling onwards like a Deluge, and
engulphing in its fatal waves all that remained of the
virtue, morals, and religion of our country. The
picture they draw must be confessed to be a very
black one, and in too manylrespects, alas! it has been
but too faithful. Let it be confessed, however, that there
is also a brighter side to the picture, which it is well,
occasionally, to bring to light ; and it is this, that
although drunkenness is still frightfully prevalent, it
is, nevertheless, steadily on the decrease. This, we
think, there are abundant facts enough to prove.
Any one who knows what was the ordinary social
life of the middle classes of Great Britain fifty or sixty
years ago, and compares it with the social life of the
present day, will at once concede that Temperate
Habits have made great and unequivocal progress
among us. There are now none of the drunken
orgies practised either at public dinners or private
parties which were formerly so common. A party
does not now remain at table till one-half of them
are unable to sit upright. The writer remembers
when it was an ordinary practice among the farmers, in
a particular district, for the master of the house to
get up from the table after the cloth was removed
and the drinking materials were placed on the table,
and lock the door, putting the key in his pocket. No
such barbarous practice would be tolerated now-a-
days in any class of society. The guest does not now
consider it a reflection on the hospitality of his enter-
tainer that he has been allowed to rise sober from his
table ; nor is drunkenness any longer recognised as a
manly or reputable practice. We do not boast as we
did of oar " six-bottle men." The grosser forms of
intemperance, as a feature of our social entertain-
ments, have, indeed, become obsolete. In the best
classes, intoxicating drinks are every day falling into
greater disuse, and in some of the most recherché
parties of the metropolis, iced water is the strongest
beverage placed on the table. Men and women hare
found ways and means of enjoying a rational evening
together without the employment of artificial stimuli.
This progress has been general amongst the middle
and upper classes in all parts of the country during
the last century. Take the picture which Macaulay,
gives of the country Squire of the seventeenth cen-
tury, and contrast the immense distance between him
and his modern representative :
" His chief pleasures were commonly derived from
field sports and from an unrefined sensuality. His lan-
guage and pronounciation R ere such as we should now
expect to hear only from the most ignorant clowns. His
oaths, course jests, and scurrilous terms of abuse, were
uttered with the broadest accents of his province. His
table was loaded with coarse plenty; and guests were
cordially welcomed to it. But, as the habits of drinking
to excess was general in the class to which he belonged,
and as his fortune did not enable him to intoxicate large
assemblies,daily with claret or canary, strong beer was
the ordinary beverage. The quantity of beer consumed
in those days was, indeed, enormous. For beer, then,
was to the middle and lower classes, not only all that
beer now is, but all that wine, tea, and ardent spirits
now are. It was only at great houses, or on great occa-
sions, that foreign drink was placed on the board. The
ladies of the house, whose business it had commonly
been to cook the repast, retired as soon as the dishes
had been devoured, and left the gentlemen to their ale
and tobacco. The coarse jollity of the afternoon was
often prolonged till the revellers were laid under the
table.'

At a more remote date, the social practices of the
English country gentlemen were still worse. William
of Alalmesbury, who wrote in the days of Henry H.,
says, " that the English were universally addicted to
drunkenness, continuing over their cups day and
night, keeping open house, and spending the income of
their estates in riotous feasts, where eating and
drinking were carried to excess, without any elegance."
How unlike is this picture to that of the modern
English country gentleman, the model of manners,
and the pattern of his neighbourhood !
Down to a comparatively recent period, the same
practices prevailed among the Irish country gentle-
men, of which many curious instances may be found
in Barrington's " Sketches of his own Times," and
Dr. Madden's " Ireland thirty years ago." A writer
in the Dublin University Magazine thus depicts the
old usages among the higher classes in Ireland :
" The rule of.drinking was, that no man was allowed
to leave the company till he was unable to stand,
and then he might depart if he could walk. if on
any occasion a guest left the room, bits of paper were
dropped into his glass, intimating the number of
rounds the bottle had gone, and on his return he was
obliged to swallow a glass for each, under the penalty
of so many glasses of salt and water. It was the
practice of some to have decanters with round
bottoms, like a modern soda water bottle, the only
contrivance in which they could stand being at the
head of the table before the host. Stopping the
bottle was thus rendered impossible, and every one
was obliged to fill his glass at once, and pass the
bottle to his neighbour, on peril of upsetting the con-
tents on the table." The writer goes on to state that
on one occasion two individuals of such a party
" stole away," and ran out into the park, where they
concealed themselves among the deer, and so passed
the night. " Towards morning they returned to the
house, and were witnesses of an extraordinary pro-
cession. Such of the company as were still able to
walk had procurred a flat-backed car, on which they
heaped the bodies of those who were insensible ; then
throwing a sheet over them, and illuminating them
with candles, like an Irish wake, some taking the
shafts of the car, and others pushing behind, and all
setting up the Irish cry, the sensible survivors left
their departed insensible friends at their respective
homes !" For this and similar vices and follies, the
Irish landlords are now paying a fearful penalty.

SPORTIN G INTELLIGENCE.
TATTERS ALL'S.—YESTERDAY.
CAMBRIDGESHIRE STAKES.
10 to 1 agst Lord Clitdcn's Rathmines, 5 yrs, 6st 71b
—taken
10 to 1 agst Mr. Fowler's Ribaldry, 4 yrs, 6st 101 b—t
11 to 1 agst Mr. Meiklam's Ruby, 3 yrs, sst 101 b—t
13 to 1 agst Mr. Fowler's Woolwich, 3 yrs, 6st 121 b—t
13 to 1 agst Mr. Pa) ne's Glauca, 3 yrs, 7st llb
14 to 1 apt Sir C.Monek's Vanguard, 3 yrs, Est 101 b
15 to 1 agst Mr. Role's Collingwood, 6 yrs, 9st 41b
15 to 1 agst Mr. Roberts's Rienzi, 3 yrs, sst 71b
25 to 1 agst Mr. B. Green's Mahon, 4 yrs, 7st 21b
25 to 1 agst Mr. Ley's Over-fork-over, 3 yrs, sst 1 olb
30 to 1 agst Mr. Drew na Minimum, 3 yrs, 4st 101 b
50 to 1 agst Lord Stanley's Legerdemain, 3 yrs,
sst slb
50 to 1 agst Mr. Osbaldeston's Joe o' Sot, 5 yrs,
6st 101 b
1,000 to 15 agst Sir J. Gerard's Fitzpatrick, 3 yrs, sst 71b
The eight leading favourites were backed in the course
of the afternoon ; the principal investments, however,
being on Ribaldry and Rienzi, the former at 10 to 1,
and the latter at various prices, commencing at 25 to 1,
and finishing at 15 to 1 ; Over-fork-over was added to
the list at 25 to 1, taken frequently, but cffered up to
the close. 'We give the list offers against Legerdemain
and Joe o'Sot-1,000 to 10 was laid against each of
them in the course of the afternoon. Several lots of
eight were taken against the field ; 500 to 25 laid 13
times on 50 against the field.
CRITERION.
2 to 1 agst Mr. Gratwielte's Tho Nigger—taken
140 to 100 on The Major, Pitsford, and Nutsh(ll
Offers to lay 6 to 1 or take 8 to 1 apt Mr. Watts's
Tordesillas.

DERBY.
8 to 1 egst Lord Eglinton's lot—taken
11 to 1 agst Lord Albemarle's Bolingbroke
13 to 1 spit Lord Eglinton's Knight of Avenel
17 to 1 agst Duke of Richmond's Ghillie Callum
20 to 1 agst Lord Airlie's Clincher
20 to 1 agst Lord J. Scott's Cyprus—taken to 501.
25 to 1 agst Mr. Pedley's Sweetheart
33 to 1 agst Lord Chesterfield's Penang
40 to 1 agst Lord John Scott's Windhound—taken
40 to 1 agst Mr. Gratwicke's The Nigger
NEWMARKET HOUGHTON MEETING.
Special trains are announced for 8 30 A.st. on Monday
and !Tuesday, returning from Newmarket at 5 45 r.M.,
and for the convenience of visitors the regular up train
in the evening will not leave until 6 15. The ordinary
230 P.M. train will go through to-morrow, and will take
horses, Etc.

THE VACANT DIOCESE OF LLANDAFE.—Lftst
evening a public meeting of Welchmen resident in
London was held in the Freemasons' Tavern, to take
into consideration the desirableness of taking measures
for securing the appointment of a native of the Princi-
pality to the vacant diocese of Llandaff. Mr. Benjamin
Lawrence presided, and the meeting was addressed by
Mr. Gwmcwr, Mr. Owen Rowland, Dr. Evans, Mr.
Meredith, Mr. William Thomas, the Rev. R. Jones, the
Rev. M. Davis, the Rev. Charles Phillips, Mr. James,
and other gentlemen. It was stated that since the
house of Brunswick had reigned in this country no
Welchman had ever been promoted to a Welch bishopric,
the effect of which was, that thousands had been driven
out of the Church, and had joined the ranks of the Dis-
senters. \Vales had a national right to a Welch bishop,
and there only plan was to demand such an appointment
at the hall& of the Premier. The present system was
destructive alike to the people of Wales and to the
Church itself. Resolutions which affirmed the desirable-
ness of the appointment of a native of Wales to the
♦acant see having been adopted, a memorial to that effect
was drawn up for presentation to Lord John Russell.
A committee was appointed for the purpose of waiting
upon his Lordship, to ascertain his views upon the
matter.

THE HOP DUTY.—We are happy to inform our
agricultural readers that the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer has been induced to consent to the postponement of
the payment of the second moiety of the hop duty for
1848, until November, 1849, upon the planters giving
bond for its due payment at that period ; and we con•
gratulate the united deputation upon the tact that they
have done good service in persuading the Minister to
forego, for the present, this governmental demand,
which, in the existing
.state of agricultural depression,
would cause a great embarrassment to many, and
a serious inconvenience to all hop-planters.— li/wester
Journal.

Earl Granville returned to town on Wednesday;
from the north.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.
YORK, NEWCASTLE, AND BERWICK.
The delegates appointed at the several meetings of
shareholders which were held at London, Liverpool,
Manchester, York, and fourteen other places, on Fri-
day, the 12th instant, assembled, with the members
of the committee of investigation, at Lock wood's
Hotel, York, on Wednesday, the 17th instant, for the
purpose of considering and; determining on the proper
persons to be recommended to the general meeting of
shareholders fur election is the future directors of this
company.
Mr. 11. S. Thompson, of Moat-hall, was elected
chairman.

The LORD MAYOR, as chairman of the committee
of investigation, directed the attention of the ineetir4g
to certain imputations made by Sir John Easthope to
the effect that the committee of investigation had
formed a scheme for creating an office for one of their
own number, as managing director of the company,
which the committee most emphatically denied, and
he called upon Sir John Easthope for his authority
for such imputations.
After some discussion, Sir JOHN EASTHOFE totally
disavowed any imputation on the honour of the
committee, and any report which conveyed such im-
pression.

- The following summary of answers by shareholders,
up to the 16th inst., to the questions sent out by the
committee of :investigation, was then produced :
Answers received from 2,024 shareholders, holding
158,2.50 shares :—Approve that the number of direc-
tors be eight, 1,928 shareholders, representing 148,788
shares; disapprove, 96 shareholders, representing
9,462 shares ; in favour of one managing director, 696
shareholders, representing 54,095 shares; in favour of
two managing directors, 15 shareholders, representing
736 shares ; in favour of three managing directors,
977 shareholders, representing 65,068 shares ; against
the appointment of a managing director, 44 share-
holders, representing 6,398 shares ; approve of pro-
posed allowance to ordinary directors, 1,782 share-
holders, representing 139,274 shares; consider the
proposed allowance too much, 242 shareholders, re-
presenting 18,976 shares; approve of proposed allow-
ance to managing director or directors, 1,555 share-
holders, representing 128,567 shares ; consider pro-
posed allowance too much, 471 shareholders, represent-
ing 29,683 shares ; approve of audit as proposed by
the committee, 1,959 shareholders, representing
154,178 shares; in favour of a Government audit, 65
shareholders, representing 4,072 shares; give direct
approval in answer to sixth question, 1,642 share-
holders, representing 127,820 shares; do not give a
direct answer or disapprove, 382 shareholders, repre-
senting 30,425 shares.

Moved by Sir JOHN EASTHOPE, seconded by Mr.
PHILLIPS, and resolved unanimously, that this meet-
ing approves of the number of directors being eight.
The delegates then proceeded to consider the proper
persons to be recommended as directors, and dis-
cussed the qualifications of the several gentlemen
who were proposed. Such of them as were present
at the meeting retired during the discussion.

At the termination of the discussion a vote was
taken, when the following eight gentlemen were
found to have been recommended as the new board of
directors, by having the largest number of votes:—
G. Leeman, York ; J. Leechman, Glasgow ; Duncan
M'Laren, Edinburgh ; W. Lloyd Wharton, Dry-
burn, near Durham ; John Kipling, Darlington ; J.
Hodgson, Newcastle ; N. Flews, Darlington ; M.
Rutherford Hunter, Newcastle.

Mr. Thompson having been obliged to leave the
chair to attend another engagement, the same was
taken by the Lord Mayor.
A discussion arose upon the question of the ap-
pointment of managing directors. Some of the de-
legates objected to the authority of the meeting to
con,,ider that question, and declined voting. It was
eventually decided that the question of such appoint-
ment be delayed until the half-yearly meeting in
February next. The committee of investigation did
not vote on this question. The proceedings then
terminated.

CHOLERA AND DIARRHCEA.