The Sun.
London, England, 1846-03-02 00:00:00

take to answer the question in the absence of his broth
directors.
Ata.iot RictiArnsoN was then requested by the shareholders
to the committee, to which he consented.
A vote of thanks having been pased to the Chairman the
the committee, the meeting broke up, which was one of 91:
most stormy that we have ever attended, even of the Sort'
and South \Vales Railway Company.
The petition will lie for signature at the Hall of Col'
merce, in Threadneedle-street.

EARLY CLOSING MOVEMEN:per',3,
The fourth annual meeting of the Metropolitan D
Association was held on Friday evening, at Covent-gardeu
Theatre. The attendance, in point of numbers, enthusiast",
and respectability, vied with the League meetings. The in
and g.illeries were crowded, and on the platform we °WTI'
th Right Hon. Lord Ashley, the Right Hon. Fox Mame'
M.P., Colonel Fox, M.P., Reverend C. Ainslee, T. eke CO'%
L.L.D., &c.
Shortly after eight o'clock the chair was taken by the
Right HOll. Lord Ashley, who was greeted with loud plaudits,
The Noble CHAIRMAN said, that having the honour
to
preside as Chairman on the present occasion, be would, 15511
conformity with the established custom, proceed to add
them a few observations.—(Hear hear.) These must neces-
sarily be as brief as possible, that he might not inter.:
pose between the gentlemen who would addre;
them, not only because they poPsesscd more partial-1l;
knowledge of the subject than he did, but that they 114 b •
have the. opportunity of hearing those Members of Par 4:
ment whose long attendance there would be incompanu -
with their duties in the House of Commons. He did rejolecet
at %bat vast assembly congregated at such a meeting, at
assembled for such a purpose. He presided last evening
over a meeting for a similar object to the present, and ei
would repeat what he said on that occasion, namely, that he had
a kind of parental anxiety for the movement. If he shell,.
be deemed arrogant, he was ready to say, Non nobis 1)00*
He was a disciple of that doctrine which said moral e%
cellence could not exist with physical degradation. 3lne
had been already done, but much remained to be Reel;
plished for the object of the meeting.—(Hear, hear.) I`.„/
had with him letters .from various departments of
industry complaining of this movement. But what of
that? ? Their object was noble and great. Their success
~„.
would be the precursor of the success of other gnu.'"
movements ; and they would accomplish what the Seirt
ture asserted, that man goeth forth to his out
and to his labour until evening.—(Cheers.) 312
had been said on the subject before
It was asserted by many persons in business that mental in!:
provement disqualified for physical exertion, and that thaw
who.were emancipated would devote their time to tlisarriPad"
tion. Now, both of these he lustily denied. Tsrb
it been so among the operatives of the north
districts, in Manchester and elsewhere? Had it not, on
.1:a
contrary, been found that those measures which gave increase
time !Or relaxation had been more effective than a Saehat
Bill ?—( Hear, and cheers.) Now that was an overwhelnt
testimony which could not be refuted.--( Hear.) He thongate
that every patriot and philanthropist ought to seek to ere's,
and promote that feeling which led to the present moven:4llft.
Ho would conclude by calling on Mr. Nash to read the ref%
Mr. NASH (the Secretary) then read the report, from wlnwte
to appeared that a considerable increase in members, aon°
other features of prosperity, had taken place, which were in le
small degree ascribable to the efforts of the press, which, tee
withstanding the warfare of politics, lent its advocacy to
ken
present movement. Considerable improvement had tae
place since the last annual meeting among all the trau'i
Among the rest, were the booksellers; the foremost stalet
whom were Messrs. Longman and Co., who had set eT
example by closing their establishment at an early hour.t,o%
was determined not to confine the benefits of the ascot to
to the class for whom it was originally established, u"re,
embrace all trades, and to carry out that object it Was red
solved to raise a sum of 5,0001. A prize had been oile
dam,
tributed essays on the effects of early closing, which were 170.
tributed gratuitously. Towards the sum proposed te, to
raised 6001. had been already contributed, and the reee'Po
for the past year had exceeded the expenditure by. a °the
balance.—(Hear, hear.) After some fuether observations,
...h,
report concluded by a strong appeal in favour of the
closing movement. a tbe
The Right Hon. F. MAULE., M.P., said that if he had the
smallest conception of having to address a meeting like t 0
present, he should have pa'ased ; however, he trusted thaefe
this was his first appearance on the stage, he would reeeer'e
from a British audience that indulgence which wasineeet
withheld from a first appearance. The cause they to
to advocate was one that, if ever a movement was entiteled,
the term philanthropic, justly deserved to be so designs at
Their object was to assist a class utterly unable to aisle
themselvos.—( Hear, hear.) They had earned for theMse'oe
a name for assuaging slavery abroad; but perhaps, ask at
not unfrequently the case, they had neglected to 1101
home. What had been done in their own country? for
here they saw young men kept standing for thirteen or „,
teen consecutive hours. He would not speak of this as 'Tot
isting in a country of freedom. The present system %sr,. of
one of interest merely to the drapers or any other Cls7,
society, but affected the whole social system ; for that Oaese,
was calculated, not only to send thousands to an early gr the
but destroyed their morals altogether. Let them take but
case of a youth who was brought up under pious parenttrea
who was compelled to earn his living. He was
P
at one of those establishments which opened early andeloisiell
late, and a few months perhaps saw him destroyed in.fe, is
and body. It was the interest, therefore, of the puu,," not
destroy such a system.—(Hear, hear. ) They oott''tiott-
effect that by legislative enactment, but by peaceful agit_agare
—(Hear, hear.) That agitation was not the agitation fhiett
demagogue, seeking to set his foot on those institutions, woo
wisdom has reared.—(Loud cheers.) It was in their _ti,
power to do this. He would appeal to the ladies in Pato
cular to assist in this movement, to the success of which theY
could so materially contribute. By effecting the bened try,
now sought to obtain, they would earn for this wanes for
name as famed for morality and humanity as it wieoss
success in arms.—(Loud cheers) The Hon. Gent
concluded by proposing the first resolution. said
The Rev. Mr. HUGHES, in seconding the resolutiel", do
that the meeting which he attended last night. namely' the
Christian Instruction Society, which was an offshot o'noe.
present association, refuted fully the illiberal edger poi
that those whom they sought to relieve wou'idaled
employ their time correctlv.—(Hear.) The Times had ay
the League a great fact. He would call the present ni:ded
meat a great fact, for it demonstrated that an opPrs-Wee
class had discovered their rights; and as one great fact Lste
about to realise the object for which it was called into 'nape
ence, so he would say that the present fact would yet Geo,
to the same termination.—(Loud cheers.) The Rev rola
tleman then passed a high eulogium on the Noble Cha're
who, he said, was ever ready to come forward in the 1,00
of philanthropy, and to rescue his fellow-man fr. rel,tithee bite
hoof of every species of despotism.—( Hear, hear.) The see
Lord Ashley was opposed to oppression. 'He wished nes,
the name of England glorious—not for her success in to
nor for territorial pos ession, but for her efforts to eleval „ea.
character, and to contribute to the ha mess of her sloes.
(Hear.) He would prefer to sacrifice the national grearor
rather than sustain it by the suffering of his fellow-cut'
men.—(Loud cheers.) /'na
J. PAYNE, Esq., Barrister-at-law, then came forwardold
was greeted with considerable- applause. He said he There
not occupy their attention for any length of time..., th/
were some persons who might say, remembering wile7ga
then were, that the scene now enacting there was b.
Ado about Nothing," ori perhaps, " Love's Labour Los'eiltest
he would pause awhile, and they would see that" All's ~
ends Well."---(Loud laughter.) He, like the Prelates!
speaker, must congratulate them on having such a litglP
as the nobleman who presided, and with whom he bad ib
With ti
many battles in the cause of philanthropy. He met. bite
little quotation the - other day which struck
the
very forciby ; it was , -as f011ows:—" Tonc'
feelings and you will obtain the heart's verdict."—(Laugutiet°
As he was just rising, a little bit of paper had been Pethiel
his band, 'chicle contained this wise hint, " Say 50rhe es
about money." This he intended to have done, end eehelk,,
now to inform them that a collection would be made'
as their feelings had been touched by the eloquent 7,"-eitall
they had heard in behalf of the plaintiff, the bietr°l- a °
Drapers' Assistants' Association, they would retur
verdict, and damages 5,000/.—(Great laughter.) sebicil
The CHAIRMAN then read the following resolution,
was carried with loud acclamation : the ri°ll'
" That this meeting views with deep apprehension roe'
tinuance of that system of protracted toil which la s°,„lB3rding
lent in the shops and warehouses of this country; reeeceloir
it as destructive to the bodily health, to the mentaln'i atilt,
t
ment, and to the religious-feelings of those enloYed
,et conJae
and as tending to deteriorate the moral and physic,.
tion of the nation generally." .
made'
but t°,,
The collection was then attempted to be Ina--e, hat the+
chairman said that the house had become so crowded ',„ade a,
i
could not proceed with it at present, and it would he Colonel
the door. He would, therefore, call on the Lion.
Fox to propose the next resolution. . ober'
The Hon. Colonel Fox, after a few preliminary ,t ant.
vations, said that he would not detain them L assist
length. He denied that those whom they songllet
would be likely to misuse their time. At all even
not be the faults of those who were endeav°t--ituti°l3-
1
ameliorate their condition by continued and cone
agitation. Itr Srn:
George THOMPSON, Esq., said that he could deg.-Jot ad.
pathise with the speaker, who expressed his dillideacuebe bad
dressing the meeting. He would read the resolutin
;. rs
now to propoee, which wai as folh w •
" That this Meeting. being e at the pr°Pr',"t:b•
of shops would find it to theirpitristueraedsetdtot 'close theitetherl.
lishments earlier if the public would cease to fro:1,11.13 not °`
of an evening, and, therefore, that the habit on tu tr,,f the
the public of evening shopping is the main suPP,uerally ant
`Late Hour System,' hereby pledges itself,
Met' •
collectively, to co-op rate with the efforts of the bstain'
a
tan Drapers' Association to effect its abolition by . hat
front making any purchases after seven o'clock. how t
This was a practical resolution, showing thou" that tbatn°
they all could do something. Experience sb :iel'itiothroPt
object, bleed on religion, reason, morality, and lweipetinr,„,
could be witheld, if energy were concentrated fur. ts, of e
(Hear, hear). The most generous philanthre,.nt„teir
class in society, desirous for the well-being
o_ e eeneei
countrymen, were all in favour of uprootieg :web 9:00'34
they now sought to eradicate. That was an
in their way in accomplishing every benefitelf.fofnotrhllteacicee.lo'
they sought to assist, and was blighting then: tireeehe
hence. It was not necessary, he concaved;
adol;
an assembly, like the present, - not only upon
resolution he had the honour to second, but_tlioevnertpoiriete'te
The great maxim of that creed in which they he
to de pointy
most forcibly to the present subject, namely,,_
~,e_and
others as we would be done by—(
Hear,
ow]. a giittwe
Hear, n.7„l,„et Mr_ttr
they were called on to assist in carrying "title:l's Ifl3llriing
ment needed little demonstration.—(
brought lassitude when it was voluntary ki.nd_
l cheered, ine jh
must it be when it was forced, excessive, la n
hat
remunerated.—(Loud cheers.) He won °like It° with
prize in view, as the Noble Chairman wou d tell Writ' d
line of of observation that would lead to anythintgr
But this he would say, that they should pre
trite!)
their
hour u varies,
hthoousr..- sahnodp kdeiedp ers
not wshacorcifilocseedtthheeirir eatfe liaobwh_s rniess t
in;
and
selfishness. They might also go abroad asewenei feyiaa
say to those who refused to accede to tl,lauPL'e find
it to there"
"We like your good, we have no
too Wee_ and beef.)
you, but that you keep your shops open „.....uear, they
fore we will not deal with you any longeri.e
ofesvteinee the
night )thicolidigah
ltihgehyt
;coaunldd nbck)tualtlhbee
pthoeo
the al" quo*.
night, who saved the ship from wreck ma
this
_eat
humble lamp.--e( Loud cheers.) Let them it,:i_%.,ort leapibut
tion in a philosophic view. If reading mane.. Of
and thinkieg wise, how could they expect in t(fht
mental degradation from those who were n,_if,;,Zt, at 11:orb
tke most harrassing description till ten
owere ge
poor old worna:nl tonf her
He contended, also, that the employers others' oung
interested in this movement as any use y a
rnwoeunldwahsokmthetimieyif it were relaxati"n: ,ht, t°
suitable time, instead of turtling them outf
all that ~,110
lo y ed not
herd with the dissipated and depraved,
.nr •.reear )lo"
respectable were in their homes at that time
el "tnythereittel
eloquent gentleman here made a forcible app chiefly
present, with whom he said the matteeri.
object „sPe'
hoursbet better too: allow
a _all
awtere
He did not despair of the attaiement of their
he
the Pr— j eoroe •
more particularly as they were assisted
_were ha ,heat,
was glad to see that one of the metropolitan eft:o;4
forward with an article on the very subject
_as the az
—(Cries of "Name, name.") That-joar w