The Sun.
London, England, 1869-05-06 00:00:00

EDINBURGII CLUB-ROUSES.

A correspondent of the Sheffield. Independent, Mr.
Taylor, gives an account of the working of tho
Forbes Mackenzie Act in Scotland, which at the
present time is not without interest. Mr. Taylor,
as a friend of the - temperance cause, was
much rejoiced at the passing of the Act, regarding it as
the precursor of a similar law in England. The Act
provides that all public-houses shall be closed at
eleven o'clock on 'week days, while on Sundays
they shall be closed altogether. Since the introduction of
this measure the police reports skew that drunkenness has
very much decreased, but the writer discovered the
existence of a number of so-called clubs in Edinburgh,
which are the property of a new class of dealers in intoxi-
cating drinks. He obtained admission to twenty-five of
these, and found them crowded with men and women.
These were drinking most excessively, but were not allowed
to leave the houses until the effect of their deep potations
'hal worn off. The houses are of different kinds, and
classes ; and the visitor was much discouraged by his visit,
coming to the eonclusion that the Forbes Mackenzie Act
was a failure. Mr. Taylor, however, had great difficulty
in obtaining access to these places, having to be made
"free" of them. The open public•houses, on the other
hand, would entrap the unwary.

STRANGE OCCURRENCE AT THE
PRESTON RAILWAY STATION.

The Liverpool Courier reports a strange occurrence at
Preston on Tuesday. Shortly before four o'clock the
express approached the Preston station. There was
a cry of "Look out—a man naked" raised, and
on the train getting nearer,. a gentlemanly-looking
man, with sandy whiskers and flowing hair,
was seen leaning out of the window of one
of the carriages with not a particle of apparel upon him.
In a rnakint or two afterwards the train was brought
to a stand, and on the door of the carriage
whence the party in question was observed leaning
brit "being opened there was seen a stalwart
person stark naked, in an excited mood, seated near
the door. He was kept in the carriage until a pair of
stockings, trousers, and an overcoat were procured. He
was considerably agitated when taken from the carriage,
but afterwards became quieter, and talked very rationally.
In reply to questions put to him, he said that he had not
been well for a considerable length of time ; that he had
bad certain family grievances ; that he fancied his rela-
tives wished to put him into a lunatic asylum ; that he left
Falkirk that (Tuesday) morning, and " slipped " some of
his friends further south; that at Carlisle he got some-
thing to drink from somebody, and felt ill afterwards;
that at Oxeuholme be gave thirty-ono half-sovereigns to
the conductor Of the train ; that between Lancaster and
Garstang he stripped himself, having an idea that he was
going to die, and that he might as well leave "something
behind him to mark his identity ;" threw away his coat
and waistcoat, containing a gold watch, having appended
to it a guard and seals ; also his trousers, boots, shoes,
stockings, and silk shirt. He had with him on arriving at
_the Preston station half a sovereign in one hand, also a
bank-book and a cheque-book. His friends in the north
lave-been communicated with, and he will be immediately
conveyed either to his home or an asylum.

DEPUTATION TO THE HOME SECRETARY
FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM ALLIANCE.

On Wednesday a large and influential deputation of the
council and supporters of the United Kingdom Alliance
had an interview with the Right Hon. 11. A. Bruce, the
Home Secretary, to press upon his notice the importance
of Sir Wilfrid Lawson's Permissive Prohibitory
Liquor Bill. The following are the names of a few only
of the gentlemen who were present :—Archbishop
Manning, Mr. Bazley, M.P., Sir Wilfrid Lawson,
M.P., Mr. Thomas Whitworth, M.P., Mr. Blake, M.P.,
Mr. Saunders, Mr. Bennett, Mr. Pope, Alderman Carter,
Mr. Stenthal, the Rev. Dawson Burns, the Rev. Canon
Jenkins, Mr. Barker, Mr. Raper, Mr. Rodway,— Mr.
Hastings, Professor Kirk, Mr. Strahan, Rev. J. Jones,
and Mr. Smedley.
The deputation was introduced I y Mr. Dazley, who
pointed out how materially the duties of the Home Office
and of the magistracy throughout the country would be
reduced if means could be devised to get rid of the
enormous amount of drunkenness which at present pre-
vailed.

Mr. PorE, Recorder of Bolton, drew attention to the
memorial which bad been adlpted by the United
Kingdom Alliance. Sir Wilfrid Lawson's bill would
not embarrass or impede any efforts which the
Government might think fit to make for the amendment
of the licensing system, and it was applicable in its pro-
visions to each of the three kingdoms.

Archbishop MANNING, as the result of a thorough prat.
tical knowledge of the subject, did not hesitate to say
that no statistics that had yet been furnished gave any.
thing like an adequate idea of the extent of the evil pro-
duced by drink. There was nothing oppressive about the
bill. To carry its provisions into effect a majority of two-
thirds would be required. He believed that the poorer
class of people especially, if they had such a machinery
placed in their hands as would enable them to get rid of
-the evils of drink would.hail it with delight.
Mr. BRUCE, who much regretted that he was compelled
at once to go down to the House of Commons, as an im-
portant matter was about to be brought forward by the
Government, said he need not assure the members of the
deputation that he had the most hearty sympathy with
those who were striving to get rid of the enormous evils
resulting from intemperance. Whether the precise way
which they suggested to do this, or some other way
that might be devised, was best, was a matter
which remained to be seen. The subject would
be fully discussed in the House when Sir Wil.
frid Lawson's bill was brought forward, as he
understood it would' be, next week. Once more
expressing his regret that for the reason stated above he
wit* compelled to retire, Mr. Bruce intimated that
Mr. Knatchbull-Hngessen, Under• Secretary, would
remain to hear anything further that the members of
the deputation might desire to say.
Canon Jenkins, Professor Kirk, Mr. Raper, and several
other gentlemen having spoken, Mr. Knatchbull-Hugessen
assured the members of the deputation that the subject
they had so ably brought forward was one which had
received, and would receive, great attention at the hands

The deputation expressing their gratification at the
manner in which they had been received, then withdrew.

The Judgeship of the Landed Estates Court is not
yet actually filled, but the Irish Times believes there is no
doubt that the selection will fall on Mr. Stephen Wonlle
Flanagan.

A Dublin correspondent telegraphs that the
National Association has passed resolutions expressing con-
fidence in the promises of Mr. Gladstone and Mr. Bright to
bring in a moasure dealing with the Irish land question.
There seems no prospect, as yet, of a settlement of
the dispute in the building trade at Sheffield. The master
builderatif Sheffield, and the master carpenters and joiners,
last evening passed tosolutious dL ciditig to adhere to their
intention of payment by the hour system.

The Marquis of Salisbury has given notico of his
intention to call the attention of the House of Lord•, on
Friday to the views of Irish policy which are re-
ported to have been expressed by the President of the
Board of Trade ; and to ask how far they are to be taken as
the views of the Cabinet.

A movement is on foot in the county of Cork in
favour of having agriculture taught at the different national
schools in the country. Mr. Maguire, M.P., has intimated
that he will do all in his power to promote the object. Mr.
Portescue has acknowledged resolutions of the Cork Agri-
cultural Society forwarded to him on the ku bj et, but in
•
doing so expresses no opinion.
The Church News Fiats Church
LA_ the Associa-
tion has set on foot prosecutions against Mr. Lowder, of
Bt. Peter's, London Docks ; Mr. Le Geyt, of St. Matthias's,
Stoke Newington; and Mr. Rodwell, of St. Etholburg:t's,
Bishopgate. All these clergymen, wo believe, have refused
to comply with the ritual judgment, and still burn altar
lights and use incense.

The last stone of the new spire erected at LlandalT
Cathedral has been Execl by the bishop of the diocese. Tin+
spire is 183 feet high. The last stone was hauled up by n
winch, which the right rev. prelate turned in a workman-
like manner," After having set the stone, Lis lordship made
AU address, LI which he gave a lucid history of the Noon-
li9ll9t CiOetiral frEga its commencement.

I VP 7 ;f 1,, !
it- II I ()A

.NOTICE.

The Third Edition of " The Suit" of last Evening, wat,
published in time for delivery in town at 7.13 p.m.

SUN OFFICE, 7 O'CLOCK.