The Sun.
London, England, 1844-11-30 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR O 1 THE SUN.

Szu,—ln answer to your Correspondent, " An Old
Commercial Traveller," allow me to say that in the Society
he mentions as in existence, the object is not teetotalism,
n do so of , landlords,s e
eing
we
but an entire and perfect liberty to the traveller, so that
he may or may not abstain, as best suits himself. As to
the depressing
o
agre e
ttoh that a
your
system
wa
ree willquitenot willing
reasonable extra charge upon our meals or what else,
when we feel inclined to avoid intoxication. I leave it
to any one not that a vicious system which induces
every young man, coming on to the road, as a commer-
cial traveller, to become a drunkard 7—thus often blight-
ing the prospects indulged in by a fond parent, and
founded upon his previous good conduct. Ought not
such a system to be exploded ? And will the commer-
cial body allow the stigma to remain upon them, of being
in this respect the least reformed class of men (holding a
responsible station in society) now in the country 7 I
herewith beg to enclose a copy of our rules, which I trust
will meet your approval, and claim your assistance, and
beg to remain,—Sir, your most obedient servant,
THE SECRETARY TO THE COMMERCIAL
TRAVELLERS' PROTECTION SOCIETY.
Bristol, Nov. 28, 1844.
RESOLUTIONS FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE
MEMBERS OF THE COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS'
PROTECTION SOCIETY :-
Ist. That a society be formed to be denominated the
" Commercial Travellers' Protection Society," to consist of a
chairman, treasurer, and secretary, and of all those commer-
cial gentlemen who may travel occasionally, or regularly,
and who approve of the objects of this society.
2d. That the object of this society shall be to alter the pre-
sent mode of entertainment—that is to say, to dispense alto •
gether with the compulsory practice of drinking wine at the
dinner table, and also the customary practice of drinking grog
at night (thus making it perfectly optional for every gee-
man to use his own discretion). To abolish customs which,
though they have existed from time immemorial
foundation in reason, and are proved to be fraughtwith mis-
chief both in a commercial, moral, and physical point of view.
, have no
3d. That it shall be part of the duty of the secretary to re-
ceive communications of all commercial gentlemen who are
friendly to the principles of this society, and who wish to be
enrolled as members, and also from all landlords who are
willing to comply with this arrangement, whose houses will
in such case be uniformly patronised by the members of this
society.
4th. That it shall be considered a rule of this society, that
an extra change may be made for dinner, &c., so that the
landlord be :remunerated ; the simple object of this society
being not to lessen the landlord's profit, but to abolish a bar-
barous, though common practice.
sth. That it be an instruction to the secretary to obtain in-
formation from private housekeepers who may be willing to
open commercial houses in the event of the ordinary land-
lords declining compliance with the objects of this society.

BOTANICAL SOCIETY or LONDON.—The eighth
anniversary meeting of this Society was held last even-
ing, at the Society's Rooms, 20, Bedford-street, Covent-
garden; J. E. Gray, Esq., F.R.S., President, in the
chair. The report of the Council and Herbarium Corn-
mittee was read, from which it appeared that 17 members
had been elected since the last anniversary, and that the
Society now consisted of 173 members. Many valuable
plants had been presented, and the Society's Herbarium
had much increased in value. The plants sent to the
members had given the greatest satisfaction, the Society
having, through the liberality of its members and other
botanists, been enabled to distribute very valuable plants.
The report was unanimously adopted, after which a
ballot took place for the Council for the ensuing year,
when the Chairman was re-elected President, and he
nominated E. Doubleday, Esq., F.L.S., and Dr. Bossey,
Vice-Presidents. _

FIRE IN MOOR-LANE.—Last evening, shortly before
seven o'clock, information was received at the several fire-
engine-stations of a fire having broken out at the honse of
Mr. Plant, bricklayer, &c., 5, Moor-lane, City. The
outbreak occurred in a back room on the first floor, inha-
bited
by Mrs. Plant, mother of the occupier, who was
from home at the time. From the statement of one of
the parties resident in the house, it appears that during
the whole of the afternoon a strong smell of fire or burn-
ing soot had been noticed ; but no traces of smoulder-
ing fire could be found until the upper part of the build-
ing burst forth in a blaze. Engines from Whitecrosa-
street, Watling-street, and Jeffery-square stations of the
brigade were very quickly on the spot, and the New
River Company's mains furnishing a most abundant sup-
ply of water, by half-past seven o'clock all danger of the
extension of the fire to any of the contiguous buildings
was at an end, the violence of the flames fortunately
being confined to the house in which the fire originated.
The fire is supposed to have originated through the
foulness of the flue, which setting fire to the bond timber
in the chimney, caught the woodwork of the flooring,
and thus destroyed the upper part of the premises, with
a valuable quantity of furniture and effects. It is stated
that the parties are insured.
ROBBING CHURCH PLATES.—A gang of boys, some
of them rather young men, and well dressed, four or five
in number, have been for some time iu the practice of
committing thefts of money from the plates at church
doors. Their practice is to follow close behind one or
more ladies, as they go in, and when the former have de-
poeitod their offerings in the plate, the young thieves dip
in their hands, as if also giving something, and in this
way tuey Lave been known to carry off both silver and
paper money.—Scotch Paper.
STOCKHOLM, Nov. 19.—The Crown Prinoeis said
to be rather seriously ill at Upsal.