The Sun.
London, England, 1849-10-04 00:00:00

T H r,ll

VG-
" 1 1314 this meeting feels persuaded that any plan
which brings the mails into London on the Sunday
morning, and requires the attendance of the clerks and ,
letter-sorters to receive, asiort, and transmit them, must
nide/lately had to a delivery of letters on that day in
London also."
The statement from the Chair had been so clear and
conclusive, that it required little from him to induce
the meeting to cordially acquiesce in the resolution.—
(Hear, hear.) He thought, however, that it was most
desirable that they should clearly ascertain what the
Post office proposed to do. At the present moment
he understood that thirty bags, containing mails
from abroad, came into London early in the morn-
ing, and these were opened for the purpose of taking
out letters addressed to the Government, a practice
established at the time of the war. This duty required
the services of five persons.—(Hear.) it was now
proposed, however, that the whole 620 bags coming in
on a Sunday should be opened ; and though it was
said by the Post-office authorities that this duty would
only require the services of twenty-five persons, he
was quite sure that it was apparent to every one in
the meeting that that number would be perfectly
insufficient to perform the duty.—(Cheers.)
There was at present a second—an afternoon arrival.
Twelve bags came in at two o'clock on Sunday af-
ternoons, containing foreign letters, and the same
number of persons who performed the duty in the
morning made the selection of Government dispatches
in the evening. Now, was this proposed change called
for?—(Cries of "No.") It certainly was not.
It was attempted, but successfully defeated in
1838, and he was confident that the hankers who
opposed it then would do so now.—(llear, hear.)
It had been ascertained that during five years
upwards of 300,000/. were extracted from letters
passing through the Post-office, but if a system were
adopte in the Post-office establishment that
would have the effect of demoralising its
servants, was it not more than probable
that Post-office robberies would be greatly
increased ?—(Loud cheers.) It was, then, for the
pecuniary as well as the moral interest of the mer-
chants, bankers, and traders of the city of London,
to oppose this proposed change in the -Post-office.—
(Cheers.) Let them take all the large towns—
Liverpool, Manchester, York, Bath, and Bristol—
and they would find that they had all sent memorials,
signed by clergymen, magistrates,bankers, and others,
against the desecration of the Sabbath. The feeling
of London was against such a change, and he
rejoiced at it, because we should be the more
likely to enjoy the blessing of God. The word of
God said, " Those that honour me I will honour ; but
those that despise me shall be lightly esteemed."
He rejoiced that the public press had taken up the
subject, and that the Times had satisfactorily
shown that the advantages of the proposed
change were as nothing when contrasted with the
disadvantages that would ensue.—(Hear, hear.) It
was said that the change would relieve the country
offices from a great portion of their present burden.
This was altogether a fallacy, for those who
resided in the country knew well that at present
the country post-offices were closed during a
portion of the Sabbath, and if this change
took place the same regulations would
prevail, so that he could not see that increased facili-
ties would be afforded for the persons engaged in
them attending public worship. Bat whether this
would be so or not, they had a principle to establish.
—(Loud cheers.) Do not let them countenance any-
thing which could by any possibility deprive the poor
man of the greatest blessing he enjoyed—the rest of
the Sabbath ; and let them bear in mind that just in
proportion as they respected the law of God could
they expect his blessing.—(Cheers.)
Mr. R. HITC DINS wished to say, on the part of
the Stock Exchange, and of those who transacted
business in it, that they did not desire any change in
the present system pursued by the Post-office.—
(Cheer;) They were satisfied with the six days
which God had given them for labour, and did not
want to infringe upon that day which God had given
to both man and beast for rest.—(llear, hear.)
Resisting minor evils at the commencement, was the
proper way to prevent greater ones, and hence he was
there to oppose the commencement of a system which
would ultimately extend itself. When God appointed
the Sabbath for the rest of his chosen people, the Jews,
he fenced round any infraction of his command-
ment with respect to it the most tremendous penal-
ties, telling them that though the Sabbath was
made for the rest of man, it was at the
same time appointed for his honour. He agreed with
Mr. Labouchere, that if letters were conveyed to
towns distant from London and delivered, that the
tnerchants might find it necessary, in consequence of
their pecuniary interests being in danger, to be at
their offices on Sunday, and to require also the at-
tendance of their clerks. He trusted- no Christian
i man would advocate the change.--(Cheirm) •
The resolution was carried unanimously.
Sir E. N. BUXTON, M.P., said, it gave him the
most cordial satisfaction to be present at so magni-
ficent a meeting, which, considering the state of the
weather, and the hour of the day, might be said to be
unparalleled in the city of London for number and
influence —(lleer, hear.) He entertained the most
profound respect for Lord John Russell, and con-
sidered if they had had the honour of his company—
(Laughter)—he could not entertain any mistake as
to the views of his constituents upon this matter.—
(Hear, hear.) He believed if be saw the opposition
of the merchants and traders of the city of London
to this attempt to increase the work in
the Post-office en Sundays by reducing it in the
week—(Laughter)—that he would not consent to
any alteration.—(Hear, hear.) The proposed evil
was a small one compared with the many evils that
must unquestionably result from it. Many of the
gentlemen entrusted with the management of the
Post office merely observed the Sabbath out of re-
spect to public opinion, and would not hesitate to go
further, and open the Post-office on the Sunday, if a
step like the one proposed was not denounced.
If the merchants and traders of London wished to
have the Sabbath to themselves they must prevent
the driving in of this wedge.—(Hear.) He agreed
with one of the gentlemen who had spoken, that it
would be well if Sunday labour could be entirely
done away with throughout the whole country.—
(Hear, hear.) The moral and social advantages of
a proper observance of the Sabbath were con-
ceded cn all bands —by merchants as well
as agriculturists ; but the proposed change should be
viewed in another light. The Post-office clerks were
obliged to be at their posts early in the morning, and
had quite enough of work to do for the money they
received—(Hear, hear)—without having to give
another day's labour. He was sure he but expressed
the general feeling of the meeting when he said that
those in the service of the country should have the
Sabbath to themselves.—(Loud cheers.) The Right
Hon. Baronet concluded by proposing the succeeding
resolution, embodying the memorial :
" That on these grounds it appears expedient to ad-
dress to the Lords of the Treasury the following mo-
moria.l, and that the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor and
John Masterman, Esq., be requested to present the same,
"TO THE LORDS COMMISSIONERS OF lIER MAJESTY'S

TREASURY.

" The Memorial of the undersigned Merchants,
Bankers, Traders, and others, of the City of
London, humbly showeth—
" That your memorialists have heard with the deepest
regret that it is intended by the authorities at the
General Post-office to commence, very shortly, the re-
ceipt of mails from the country at large, and the trans•
mission of mails into the country, on the Sunday, as on
other days of the week.
" That your memorialists feel convinced that such a
measure will inevitably lead to a Sunday delivery and
transmission of letters in the metropolis.
" That your memorialists, therefore, appeal most
earnestly to your Lordships to prevent the adoption of
a measure so repugnant to the feelings of the community
at large ; and which has been desired by no class,
while it is deprecated by all.
" And your memorialists shall ever pray.'"
Mr. J. D. POWLES next addressed the meeting.
He said they were not there to denounce any act of
wickedness on the part of any portion of the people,
but to denounce an intention on the part of the Go-
vernment to subvert the ancient law, that the
Sabbath should be kept holy.—(Hear, hear.)
In I83!i he was one of the deputation
that waited on the Government to oppose their
intention to deliver letters on Sunday. In twenty-
four hours afterwards the intention was abandoned;
and what had occurred in the eleven years which had
since elapsed to justify recurrence to such a course?
Now, when the electric telegraph extended over the
whole of the country, and when, indeed, the
means of inter-communication were much improved,
he was at a loss to understand why Sunday work in
the Post-office was indispensable ; for it was a farce to
say that the labour of men within Post-officetheostoffiee
Letwas
not equivalent to the opening of the P .
them bear in mind the extraordinary number of Post.
office prosecutions, and let them tell him whether this
new, system would not promote tbern.—(Hear, hear.)
hear.)chey placed men at the criminal bar whom they
had taught not to espect_ the Sabbath.--(llear,
prop The language ofr. the Post-office in respectthe to
0 sedardaesehcrati3n.
.of the Sabbath was most
irreligious
the advantage and
Lig
cdriftical.—(Hear, hear)—.and
for was. altogether fallacious
imnsotanece, a letter arrived
and extraordinary. If,
from Hamburgh directe'd toorhi Saturday,-.bee night, .
or Sunday morning, it would notn (
tha deliveredh.arun
Monday, and he did not wish it—
but if he were a hundred miles away it iwo-(hear,
delivered on the Sabbath.—(Hear, hear.) Thus hee
was at a loss to understand how the country offices
were to be relieved by this new system of any por-
tion of their labour. He then seconded the resolu-
tion, which was carried unanimously.
Mr. J. WiLsorr proposed—
" That the cordial thanks of. this meeting be given to
the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor, M.P., for his kindness
in presiding over this meeting on this occasion, and for
his able conduct in the chair, and for pledging himself to
assist in carrying into effect the resolutions which have

been now passed; and likewise to John Masterman,
Esq., MY., for his kindness in taking the chair and his I
able conduct therein afterwards when necessarily vacated
by his Lordship."
The Rev. Dr. CROLY seconded the motion, saying
that the observation of the Sabbath was the primi-
tive law of men ; and in an eloquent speech, which
was much cheered, denounced the proposed change.
Religion and virtue was, thank Heaven, much on
the increase, and now that vice was declining,
it would be a most ungrateful return for the •
blessings of God, if after recovering from
the late fearful:epidemic, we commenced a desecration
of the Sabbath.
Mr. HINToN said he was a Dissenting minister of
the city of London, and he was there to say that
his bretheren would go heart and hand with them
in the object of this meeting.
Mr. EVENESS, an accountant, also supported the
resolution, and denounced the proposed change as an
innovation upon Christianity.
The resolution was then put and carried unani-
mously.
The CHAIRMAN briefly acknowledged the compli-
ment, and the meeting broke up.

FRANCE.
The following is the proposition laid before the
Assembly by M. Napoleon Bonaparte :
" Considering that generosity, grandeur, and justice,
are the best auxiliaries to found and fortify the Repub.
he; considering that reasons of state can no longer be
interposed; considering that Governments have never
been saved by laws of proscription and violence; the
undersigned proposes the following decree:-1. The
laws of the 10th of April, 1832, and of the 26th of May,
1848, which exile the family of the Bourbons, are
abrogated. 2. The decree of the Constituent Assembly
of the 27th June, 1849, is revoked. The insurgents of
June, transported without trial, shall be set at liberty.
" NAPOLEON BONAPARTE."
Speaking of the riots at the theatre near the Porte
St. Martin, the Univers say s :
" A piece called Rome was represented on Saturday
night at the Porte St. Martin, and the journals of yes-
terday analyse the plot and performance. We have not
the courage to do so. The authors pretend to repre-
sent the life of Pius IX., such as ridiculous accounts
give it, and the Sovereign Pontiff is seen on the stage
from his earliest youth to these latter times. Sach
are the • examples given by Fraece. When the
Ministers of the Grand Turk expose the empire in order
not to fail in the duties of hospitality, the Ministers of
the French Republic permit that a living sovereign, the
Sovereign Pontiff, the head of the religion of the country,
should become the sport of play-actors. This silly and
savage indecency—this brutality without name and
without example, immediately received a first punish-
ment.
The representation was a riot, and aroused
in the people the passions which raised the bar-
ricades of June. One scene represents the assasi-
nation of M. Rossi—the people applauded the murder,
Another scene, the entrance of the French into Rome,
was so hissed that it was necessary to let down the cure
tain. These hisses were directed against the French
uniform. We trust that there will be found in the As-
sembly a Catholic to interpellate M. Dufaure on the
ignominious offence of which the Sovereign Pontiff is
the object. Children of the Church, we want to know
what is this party of order to which it is desired to bind
L us, and the heads of which authorise against the Church
such degrading indignities."