The Sun.
London, England, 1846-08-10 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON,

9 WORLD'S TEMPERANCE CON-
VENTION.
FIFTH DAY'S SITTING.
On Saturday there was a fifth meeting of the Convention,
although it was previously understood, according to the ar-
rangements originally proposed, that the great " monster"
demonstration at Covent-garden Theatre, on Friday night,
was to terminate the proceedings. In consequence, how-
ever, of the great mass of business that remained yet un-
considered, the committee having the management of this
Convention, thought proper to appoint an extra day for the
purpose of consummating their operations, and accordingly
the Convention met again at the Literary and Scientific
Institution, in Aldersgate-street. The chair was taken at
ten o'clock, by W. Cash, Esq. The meeting was but thinly
attended. After some formal matters of business had been
disposed of, a resolution was agreed upon referring a large
mass of papers, yet unread, back to the committee, as it
was impossible they eoula be considered by the Convention
within the time to which their sittings were limited. A warm
and animated discussion then ensued in consequence of cer-
tain observations made the night before by Frederick Doug-
lass, the escaped slave, at Covent-garden Theatre, by which
it was supposed by some members of the body that a charge
was made against the Temperance Society in America, of
supporting the obnoxious system of slavery. It.will be re-
collected by our readers, that after Frederick Douglass had
concluded his very able and interesting address upon the
night in question, the Rev. E. N. Kirk, from Albany, sought
to procure a hearing with a view of removing the impres-
sion which he thought the language of the independent-
minded Virginian negro was calculated to make upon the
public mind. He was, however, prevented from proceeding
with such explanation by the vociferous cheers with which
the speech just uttered by Douglass was received, which
cheers were continued for several moments after the object
of their admiration had resumed his seat. The subject was
therefore brought before the Convention on Saturday, in the
shsence"of Douglass, although we believe it was generally
understood that the man never had the smallest intention of
making any such representation against the temperance body
in America. The subject was at length dropped in cone.
quence of the interference of the chairman, and the regular
business of the meeting was resumed.
A resolution was passed, expressing their gratitude to Pro-
vidence for his goodness in bringing so many of their brethren
in safety from different parts of the world to aid in the ex-
tension of that great principle which they hoped to see every-
where adopted. This subject occupied their attention up to
the time of their adjournment, about one o'elock.

AFTERNOON SITTING.
A resolution was passed, which contained a recommenda-
tion to every temperance society in the kingdom of promot-
ing home missionary efforts.
Mr. DUNLOP then moved a resolution, to the effect "That
this convention are of opinion that, in order best to advance
the cause of temperance, those engagements ought to be pre-
ferred which, agreeing to personal abstinence from alcoholic
liquors, would also have the effect of restraining the parties
from giving or offering these liquors as beverages."
Mr. REID proposed an amendment to this resolution, and
a discus,lon ensued of a very antagonistic and excited
character.
The propositions before the chair gave rise to the oft-
debated question of the long and the short pledges, when the
most extreme opinions were uttered on the subject.
The Rev. JADEz BURNS was opposed to the adoption of
such a resolution, although he was a long-pledged man, and
he repudiated the old pledge, in which an exception was
made to liquor used "in the religious ordinances of the
Church ;" for, since he had become a teetotaller, he had never
permitted religion to justify the use of that which he con-
demned in the chapel of which he had the spiritual care.
(This sentiment appeared to have been share* in by a great
number of those who were present, if we were to judge from
the cheering with which it was received.)
' Dr. LOVELL was also opposed to the adoption of such a re-
solution, although when he joined the cause he had ordered
the beer in his house to be thrown upon the dunghill and
the wine to be made blacking of: He, however, had no ob-
jection to accept invitations to dinner (when his time per-
mitted), even though the usual decanters of wine were on
the table; but he had refused even to pass the bottle to a
lady of title, in order that he might keep his hand blameless
in assisting to procure that intoxicating draught for another
which in his conscience he so much condemed.

A third GENTLEMAN said that if the meeting passed such
a resolution he should feel that he had no right to be any
longer among them, for though he was a sincere and deter-
mined teetotaller himself, he could not' afford to carry out
the principle of such a resolution in his own house by intro-
ducing what would only be a subject of discord with his wife,
who was not a teetotaller, although she never touched a
drop of any intoxicating liquor except when (as she con-
ceived) the usages of society required her to offer a glass
of wine to a friend who visited her.

Dr. Beaumont, the Rev. Dr. Beecher, and several others,
having spoken against the resolution as well as the amend-
ment, a second amendment .was submitted to the meeting
with the view of getting rid of this vexata questio--namely,
" That this meeting proceed to the consideration of the
previous question."

The CIiAIRMAN having expressed a wish that Mr. Dunlop
would withdraw his resolution, as it was so necessary to pre-
serve unanimity in their body,
Mr. DUNLOP said that his conscience would not permit him
to accede to such a proposal. When he recollected that the
American, the Scotch, and the north of England teetotallers
had adopted the long pledge, he was the more anxious to
press this subject upon the attention of the convention. He
thought that the time was now come when a sudden start
ought to be made upon this subject. In the Peace Society
they had adopted two pledges—the one permitted a defen-
sive war, the other denounced war under any circumstances.
Ultimately, that society would not tolerate any person on
their committees, or in the capacity of agents, who would not
preach in favour of total peace, under all circumstances. He
merely asked them to agree to a resolution giving a pre-
ference to the long pledge.
The CHAIRMAN expressed his doubts of the competency of
the World's Convention adopting any such resolution.
On the question being. put, " the consideration of the pre-
vious question" was carried by a large majority, and the
resolution and first amendment were rejected.
The CILURMAN appealed to the meeting in favour of
carrying on their proceedings in a calm and dignified manner,
as he thought that tho state of excitement which pre-
vailed among them was totally unworthy of their proceed-
ing- --( Hear, hear.)
The SECRILTA rzy then submitted to their consideration an
address to the Wesleyan Conference, now sitting in Bristol,
culling for their support in aid of the temperance movement
throughout the world.
Dr. BEAUMONT having moved, and
Mr. JAMES S. BUCKINGHA3I having seconded the adoption
of the address, it was carried unanimously.
Mr. HAUGIITON, of Dublin, proposed a resolution to the
effect " That in view of all the information which has been
given to this Convention, our conviction of the immorality
of the manufacture, sale, and use of intoxicating drinks as a
common beverage is deepened and strengthened; and we
desire to enunciate to the world this strong conviction of our
mind," &c.

Mr. H. SOLLY, in seconding the resolution, read an address
to the manufacturers and sellers of intoxicating drinks,
setting forth the evils clnsequent upon an indulgence in
them, and appealing to them as Christians and as humane
men to give up such traffic, and to aid the Convention in their
efforts to advance the comforts and happiness of mankind by
denouncing the use of all such pernicious beverages.
Mr. ALEXANDER, said he was opposed to the adoption of
such a resolution as the one proposed by Mr. Haughton, in-
asmuch as he was not prepared to prove that in all cases the
use of intoxicating drinks was in itself an immoral act; he
believed it to be opposed to Christian expediency and their
duties as patriots and Christians. He could go no further.
The Rev. Mr. TABRAHAM thought that the resolution
ought to pass, for they should take care that the second com-
mandment was not violated—" Thou shalt love thy neigh-
bour as thyself."
Mr. J. S. BUCKINGHAM was also in favour of the reso-
lution.

Here an animated discussion again took place in reference
to the propriety of agreeing to such a proposition.
The question was ultimately put from the chair, and
was carried by a large majority, the minority being only
about four.

The address to the brewers, distillers, and sellers of in-
toxicating drink was then referred to the committe for some
verbal amendment:, after having received the concurrence
of the meeting.
Mr. CHRIMES then moved that a correspondence be opened
with all parts of the world, in order to ascertain how far
the formation of a " World's Temperance Union" would
meet with general approbation; and that a committee be
appointed to report in due time as to the result of their cor-
respondence. _

After some further discussion this resolution was carried
against a minority of only seven persons.
Mr. REED, of Glasgow, having moved that the convention
do recommend the establishment of day schools for the
teaching of the principal branches of education upon total
abstinence principles, which was agreed to, the usual thanks
of the meeting were given to the chairman, and the sitting of
the Convention was brought to a conclusion.

FATAL FIGHT ON BOARD A STEA3I-BOAT.—On Thurs-
day an inquiry was gone into before Mr. C. J. Carttar, at the
Eight 8.,11s public •house, Church-street, Greenwich, relative
to the death of John Finly, aged 24, late A fireman on board
the Sower Johnnie steam-tug, whose body was picked up in
the river at Bugsby's Hole, oti' East Greenwich. John Rat-
land, of 17, London-street, Ratcliffe, deposed that he is en-
gine driver on board the Souter Johnnie steam-tug. The
deceased was fireman on board the same vessel. On Thurs-
day, the 30th of July, they were on board getting. a barque,
called the Maryan, out of the West India Dock, in order to
tow her down the river on her passage for Quebec. Words
ensued between the deceased and another fireman, named
Andrew Grant. About five o'clock they were abreast of
Blackwell pier in midchannel. The master, mate, and
rest of the crew were on board. All of a sudden he
saw deceased and Grant struggling together. Deceased
had his clenched fists in an upright position, and
Grant had him grasped in his arms. In a moment
afterwards both fell over the rail on the larboard side
abaft the paddle-box, and rolled off the sponson
into the river. They sunk and came up together clasped
in each others arms. They again sank, and on rising a
second time they were about a yard apart, the tide running
up. The deceased rose again, sank, and was not seen after-
wards. A boat from the barque put off and saved Grant
as he was sinking a third time. A boat from the tug was
lowered, but having no skulls in her nothing could be done
to save deceased. Captain Wiggins of the Souter Johnnie,
afterwards took Grant on shore in the boat. There had
been disputes between deceased and Grant before leaving
the West India Deck, as well as on previous occasions.
Henry Holmes, mate of the Souter Johnnie, corroborated
last witness, and added, that Grant bad taunted deceased
about getting into trouble a few days before, and also with
getting drunk. After hearing some further evidence to the
same effect, the coroner adjourned the inquiry until Monday
next, and called upon Andrew Grant, who had been
present during the greater part of the examination, for
bail in 1001., and himself in 401., to appear at the adjourned
inquest.

BRITISH BOTTLFS.—The revenue authorities having
had under their consideration the reports of the principal
superintending officers of the landing department, upon an
application requesting that empty bottles of British manu-
facture returned to this country may be delivered without
being sent to the warehouse with the stores of the vessel,
and being of opinion that there appears to be no objection to
a compliance with the request, not only in this particular
instance, but also in all future cases of the kind, have issued
orders to the several officers of the various departments
throughout the port of London to permit the same in future
accordingly, upon the condition of a declaration in each case
being made by the master of the vessel that the bottles are
of British manufacture, and upon the officers being satisfied,
upon an inspection and examination of the articles, of the
correctness thereof, and of the bottles being of British make,
as stated by the party.
THE HEAT IN SWITZERLAND.—Letters from Switzer-
land state, that the snow on the top of the mountains had
me'ted in consequence of the excessive heat of the weather.
The melted snow had augmented the rivers, and c.msed them
in several places to overflow their banks. The summit of
Mount Blanc appeared like a naked rock, a circumstance
which hittl nc4 been obaurved for many year past