The Sun.
London, England, 1850-09-06 00:00:00

CONDITION OF YOUNG MEN
ENGAGED IN COMMERCIAL PURSUITS
PRACTICALLY CONSIDERED.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Sra,--The condition of young men is a subject,
the importance of which will always be felt in a
country in proportion as that country obtains correct
views of the sourcss of its strength, end of the methods
by which to secure its advancement ard happiness.'"
Catiline saw the influence which might be exercised
through the instrumentality of young men, and see-
ing it, sought to corrupt them, with a view to the
overthrow of the liberties of Rome.
Judging from the utterly neglected state in which
the great MVPs of our commercial youth were al-
lowed to continue till within the last few years, it
would appear that the leaders of public opinion in
this kingdom were far less shrewd than Cetiline. Of
late, however, a great change has taken place. Think-
ing men, of all classes, at length have begun to per-
ceive that it is not only an unchristian thing and a
cruel thing for young men and young women to be
overworked, as they are, in our shops and workrooms,
but that it is also an exceedingly impolitic thing in a
national point of view; such overwork having been
proved to exercise the most baneful influence—morally
and physically—on the tens of thousands of persons
who have to undergo it,f and through them, more or
less, on society at large.; It is true, there are some
persons even in this, the middle of the nineteenth
century, who, trampling under foot first principles,
still assert that young men would only abuse their
liberty if they possessed it, and that therefore it
should be withheld from them. Bat these individuals
are so comparatively few, and so obviously in the
wrong, that I will not now stop to do more than
merely caution them against the jeopardy into which,
by the preaching of such a doctrine, they place them-
! selves; for, I presume, if the argument, that because
a portion of a class of persons would abuse their
liberty the entire class should be deprived of it, apply
to shopmen, it is also applicable to all other classes of
the community—and if so, then of necessity to the
sections to which these individuals respectively be-
long; and, as there was never yet known any section
of society, the whole of the members of which were
immaculate, these gentlemen are entrapped by their
own philosophy—they have themselves, upon their
own showing, plainly no right to be at large.
I have already said that thinking men have begun
to perceive that the late-hour system is not less
widely spread than disastrous ; and that they are,
consequently, desirous for its abolition. This is all
well, so far as it goes ; but the mere perception of a
truth is only valuable so far as it leads to the carry-
ing out of the principles whic:i it involves ; and it is
much to be lamented that, in the present case, the
discovery specified has not, to the extent that could
have been desired, produced this practical result. No
doubt a great change for the better has taken place
within the last few years, in reference to "closing."
The very existence of such excellent societies as the
" Young Men's Christian Association," the " Church
of Eng!and Young Men's Society," and the " Even-
ing Classes for Young Men," go far to prove this ;
inasmuch as, prior to the establishment of the Early
Closing Association it was simply impossible for as-
sistants, excepting on Sundays, to avail themselves of
such provisions for their improvement.§ But great
as is the change for the better which is thus made
apparent, it sinks into insignificance when compared
with what remains to be accomplished ere business
can be said to be restricted within reasonable and
proper limits. This never can with truth be asserted
to be the case till, at. the latest, seven o'clock for
winter, and sight o'clock for summer, are generally,
adopted as the hours for closing. And if the ques-
tion be only taken up with an amount of spirit at all
commensurate with its importance—with that zeal, in
fact, which is often employed (and properly) on
objects connected with foreign countries, there is no
conceivable reason why—commencing the reforma-
tion at once—closing this winter at seven o'clock
should not be as general as heretofore it has been
rare. All persons may, more or less, assist in bring-
ing about this desirable consummation. Much good
may be done by those benevolent and enlightened
shopkeepers who are desirous to see early closing
carried out, canvassing their respective localities, with
a view to the achievement of that object. Assistants,
too, haVe a vast amount of power in their own hands.
By theirstudying how most to promote the interests of
their employers whilst in business and by exert-
ing themselves unceasingly,. after its suspension, to
secure their emancipation, they will give the best
of all proofs that they both desire and deserve
it ; and they will furthermore, by FO acting,
create an influence in their favour which must
ultimately prove irresistible. For a time the move-
ment will, doubtless, continue to be opposed
in some districts, both of the country and metro-
polisdi in all cases, where argument and persuasion
prove insufficient to overcome such opposition, an ap-
peal must be made to that more formidable power—
public opinion. Effectually to secure the aid of this
power, the pulpit and the press—those mighty levers,
without the aid of one or other of which few good,
and still fewer great, changes have been wrought in
this country—must be brought into active operation.
The service already rendered the early-closing cause
by those two all-powerful agencies proves the abun-
dance of desire and ability to assist us which exist in
both those quarters.
Impressed, therefore, with a conviction of the holi.
ness of our cause, and of its paramount national im-
portance, and encouraged by the past, we would,
through you, Sir, earnestly, and confidently, but
respectfully, call upon ministers of religion and gen-
tlemen of the press to do their utmost, where neces-
sary, to arouse the public to a due sense of their
duty in the matter. By observing the following
rules, heads of families would materially contribute
towards the accomplishment of the object under

review :

First, by abstaining from evening shopping them-
selves, and causing others to do so, especially in the
case of their servants; and,
Secondly, by patronising, as far as possible, those
tradesmen who close early.ll-
- so acting they will protect those who deserve it,
an convince every one of the unprofitableness of late
trading.
Sir, I do trust that early closing will no longer
be spoken of as merely desirable, but that by means
cf all persons who have hearts to do good, thus lend-
ing their aid according to their respective stations and
opportunities, it will soon become a practical, tangible
thing. In proportion as this is the case, shall we find
the members of our various religious and literary so-
cieties increasing in number. This will necessarily
result in the moral elevation of our young men; their
physical powers (under the more healthy system)
may also be expected to increase in the same ratio ;
and with their minds and bodies thus strengthened
and improved, who can doubt that they would soon
become not merely more efficient salesmen, and in all
points, more valuable assistants, but also, under God,
active instruments in the great work of national re-
generation ?

" Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy
might," is a scriptural command. That this divine
injunction may be speedily acted upon by the advo,
cates of early closing, and that their number may be
increased a hundred-fold, is the heartfelt desire,
Sir, of your obedient and obliged servant,
JOHN LIL WALL,
Sec. of the Early Closing Association.
Offices, 32, Ludgate- hill, Sept. 3, 1850.

* "For it is obvious that the mass of the young—
look but a few years forward—is society. Those who
are now amongst us constitute the future population cf
this earth. . . What they aro or what they become,
the age must be when their immediate predecessors
sleep with their fathers."—Prize Essay, Our Young
Men, by Dr. Cox, p. 238.
t "1 find, from papers lying at Somerset House, that
a thousand lives are annually sacrificed in the metropolis
alone by the late-hour system, and that the health of at
least eight times that number is made to suffer from the
same cause."—Horn a Speech by Dr. E. Lankester,
delivered at a Meeting of the Early Closing Association
in 1849.
"By contival confinement to the shop, ycung men
are made incapable of intellectual improvement; they
are excluded from social intercourse, and are thus often
driven into that course which is destruction to their
bodies and ruin to their souls."—Front a Speech delivered
by the Bishop of Oxford, at a Meeting of the Early Closing
As.,ociation in 1848.
t To show the bcaring of the Early Closing Move-
ment upon the welfare of the nation, it is sufficient to
mention that it is estimated acre are engaged in busi-
ness in London alone upwards of a hundred thousand
young persons, the chief portion of whom are, more or
less, the victims of the late hour system.
§ " I am thankful to know of the existence of institu-
tions, that by the blessing of God upon them shall help,
and lead, and guide the minds of our young men; and I
know enough of the operations of these institutions to
be satisfied that they are gathering into their fold very
many who, but for the operations of the Early Closing
Association, would have been altogether destitute of the
privileges which they now enjoy."—Froin a Speech by
the Rev. George Fisk, LL.B., Minister of Christ Church,
Malua-hid.
11 If an account were taken of the business done in
the several retail shops in the United Kingdom, after a
given hour in the evening—Say six o'clock—and if the
profits of such business were compared with the ex-
penses which attend its transaction, it is believed it
would, in most cases, prove to be a source of positive
pecuuiary loss to tradesmen, and had therefore better to
sacrificed than cultivated; but, when it is remembered
that such business would not be sacrificed if shops closed
at an early hour, the folly of continuing the late-hour
system becomes still more palpable.
" When you see a trader close at seven, note that
man, and, it possible, have your dealings with him : he
is a public benefactor, and entitled to support."—Front a
Screw s 1)/1 re Rev. Jameg Hamiton, if the .Scotch

divisinLs.

. MARK'S COLLEGE.--eullsiderable prcgt es has
been made with the new buildings at St. Mark's College.
The roof is on, and it is expected that the whole of the works
Till 14 c9InPI9OCI 41 time fu oreA.thg A quiglias.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.
We announced yesterday the cordial reception with
which the order referring to the admission of assistant-
surgeons into the ward-room was received by the
officers of the comm( dore'd ship, in the Tagus; but we
regret to observe, that in several of the ships now fitting
out in the home ports a very different feelieg has pre-
vailed, and in ono we hear the captain has xpressed
himself very strongly on the subject, and has even de-
clared, that rather than allow an assistant-surgeon to
have a cebin he will devote it to the youngest midship-
man. We trust this will not be passed over by the
Lords of the Admiralty, particularly as we hear that on
board the Fox and the Dragon the assistant-surgeon is
still doomed to vegetate in his steerage and cockpit
hammock.
We conceive that this subject has been too lightly
dealt %Sidi. Surely Sir Francis Baring is too experi-
ercsd a man cf business to allow a resolution of the
House of Commone, and the petitions of more than a
hundred of the most distinguished bodies in the United
Kingdom, to be lightly passed over.—herald.
PORTSMOUTH, THURSDAY.—The Dutch frigate Prince
Hendrick, from the Texel for Batavia, passed the Bight
this morning.
The Termagant steam-frigate, 24, la; been removed
from the basin to-day, and taken to the moorings lately
occupied by the Illustrious, 72, ordinary derot ship, the
Illustrious being removed alongside the Britannia, 120,
to turn her officers and ship's company over to her.
The Apollo troop-ship, Commander Rawstorne, is
being re-copfered. A Lumber of additional scuttles
have been cut in the sides of this ship, which has much
improved the ventilation. Iron bedsteads will also be
provided for the troops.
The Blenheim, 60, screw guard-ship, Captain lien-
derscn, C. 8.; the Fox, 42, Commodore Lambert; the
Thetis, 38, Captain Cupar; and the Dragon steam-
frigate, Captain Giffard, remain at Spithead.
PreratouTn, THURSDAY.—IIes Majesty's steam-vessel
Flamer arrived on Tuesday from Portsmouth. She went
into the Sound yesterday, and will be paid wages to-
day and sail for the coast of Africa.
The Fearless steamer arrived on Tuesday from Porta.
month, with seamen gunners for the Portland frigate,
and returned the same day.
The brigantine Pandora will be placed in the stern•
dock on Monday, for examination and repair previous to
being commissioned.
The Plymouth yacht having been lengthened and re-
paired will be launched on Saturday, the 7th inst.
The merchant-steamer Brunswick, of Ply-mouth, Cap-
tain Thomas Russell, in making her accustomed pas-
sage from Guernsey to Torquay on Wednesday morn-
ing, the 4th inst., about half-past oee o'clock, it being
very dark, unfortunately ran down a boat hailing from
Brixham, which was drifting for pilchards. Two men,
aged 60 and 65, sunk with the heat; the third, 22, son
boat, which was promptly
ot one of those drowned, was saved by the Brunswick's
lowered and manned; he was
landed at Torquay. It is stated that the fishing-boat
had no light.
Captain Washington, R N., surveyor of harbours, has
been on an official visit of inquiry- in this locality during
the present week.
PEMBROKE, SEPT. s.—The target practice of the
Artillery Companies of the Royal dockyard battalion
has been resumed, and the precision and correctness
shown by the men in their various trials prove that they
now
en. form a very Efficient and well-disciplined body of
m The boat brigade of the corps is likewise in a high
state of efficiency. The appearance of the battalion at
the late review and inspection by Sir T. S. Pasley, Bart.,
was most creditable, and the precision and regularity
with which the various manoeuvres were performed
elicited the warmest praise from several experienced
military officers who were present. The following is a
list of the evolutions, and it will be seen that to execute
them with anything like precision a considerable know.
ledge of military tactics is requisite:—
rear 1. From the right of companies pass by files to the
, and wheel into line, fire by companies from
right to left.
2. Advance in line, and from the right of companies
pass by files to the front, equate on the leading division,
fire from the right of faces, resist cavalry, re-form
round
columnthe, adcentre.vance, and et:muter-march by sub divisions
3. Deploy on the centre company, fire from centres to
flanks.
4. Change front obliquely to the left on the No. 8,
right thrown forward, fire from left to right.
5. Change position obliquely to the left on No. 3, left
thrown back, wheel into line, and fire from centre to
fisnks.

6. Square en the
.two centre F:nblivisions, fire from
he right a#' faer, rt,sldt cavalry, ruid,s fi7ne, 1-e-
-r4ca atili Lire E:. tiles trona gl

7. Form ciosE 0,,1ua,1i on No. I, ;:ght lufroue, hth,L;liee
and whe,l t.) the lett.
8. Deploy on centre company, fire by files from the
inward Hanka of companies.