The Sun.
London, England, 1844-05-10 00:00:00

fiARLY -CLOSING OF TRADES-

- MEN'S SHOPS. ---
The Lord Maydr yesterday stated at the Mansion-
house that his attention had been called to a subject,
which appeared to him of a very important nature. A
highly respectable firm in the borough of Southwark
who, to their credit, took an interest in the intellectual
and moral, welfare of that numerous class of persons,
shopkeepers' assistants, had urged him in a letter, backed
by an address from the town of Liverpool, to make an
effort for the limitation of business hours in the metro-
polis and its environs.
The following are the letter and address to which his
Lordship alluded, and the publication of which would, in
his opinion, materially advance the great object of the
humane writers':—

" TO THE RIGHT HON. THE LORD MAYOR.
" My Lord,—The receipt of the enclosed address from
one of our correspondents in Liverpool has again forcibly
impressed our minds with the necessity for shortening
the hours of labour in the retail, wholesale, and manu-
facturing establishments of the metropolis and its en-
virons.

" The spirit that is at work at Liverpool and other
provincial towns would, we doubt not, spring into lively
exercise in the metropolitan city under the influence and
sanction of your Lordship.
" My Lord, when you reflect upon the immense
amount of moral good that may be effected, the de-
velopment of intellect, the comfort of families, and, above
all, the promotion of Christian principles, likely to arise
from the adoption or measures so wise and salutary, we
feel confident that your Lordship will not hesitate to
bring them before the public in that way and manner
which may be most accordant with your Lordship's views.
" Christianity, philanthropy, interest, all demand that
this •subject should be seriously considered; and should
your Lordship be pleased to take the lead in a course so
noble, we feel assured that a victory would be achieved
that would gladden the hearts of thousands who are
living 'under your Lordship's judicial influence.—We
have the honour to be, my Lord, your Lordship's obe-
dient servants, " BICKERTON AND SONS.
" 51 and 52, Castle-street, Southwark."
" COMMITTEE
" For promoting the Closing of •the Shops at Seven
o'clock in the Evening. His Worship the Lord Mayor
in the Chair :

" Rev. H. • M'Neile, Rev. Fielding Ould, Rev, Thomas
Nolan, Rev. F. Parry, Rev. F. Barker, Rev. D. Raffles,
Rev. W. Bevan, Rev. John Kelly, Rev. Dr. Crichton,'
guson, John Cripper,R Esq., D r
ci
Rev. C. M. Birrell,
..
Robertsonßeaumont,
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B. Hodgson, Esq., C. Bushell, Esq., J.
Shuttleman, Esq. (Treasurer)Esq', Thomas Blackburn, Esq., John
meetingAsmdaitAztEasti,vv.
Hodgson, Es
of the Committe held in the Town-hall
of Liverpool,
ADDRESS
sn
ToTuTeustcla TRADESMEN 26 1844, it wa
OF
LIVERPOOL.
" The Committee appointed to carry out the designs
of the public meeting,s re
:1
held en the 10th instant, consider
that they would fail in their dutyif they did not promptly
call your attention to the object they have in view with
reference to the • hours of business. They disclaim all
desire for officious interference. They have no wish to
prejudice your.. interests ; but they cannot remain in
silence -when humanity and justice demand vigorous ef-
forts in behalf of 15,0001 persons, retained in your em-
ployment, and
in whose character. and wellbeing your
own prosperityis materially involved.
"The Committee are persuaded that to many of your-
selves the inconvenience and injury resulting from late
hours, are as great as to your
assistants, and that you
would hail a longer evening for personal improvement
and family comfort with delight. They are in posses-
sion of information which leads them to believe that in
many cases the gains of these houses are small, and in-
adequate to compensate for the sxpenditure of money,
health, and time ; that in a few no real profit accrues
from nightly transactions; and, hence, that many among
you would soon appreciate the economical argument.
They are, also, firmly of opinion, and this opinion they
place prominently in the view of, your customers, that
all the demands of general convenience may be met in
every department of business before seven o'clock in the
evening, while provision may be specially made for the
unfrequent cases of urgent necessity ; and, therefore,
that you would be in every point of view the better, but
in none the worse, fur the adoption of their principle, and
the release of your assistants at that hour.
" The Committee combine
,with, their appeal to you
an earnest call npon the comniunity at large. They
will endeavour to sustain a system of operations
which, in its " effoct upon the public mind, will
be productive of advantage. rather than damage to
yourselves. Their object is not .to secure immuni-
ties to one class at the expense of another, but to pro-
mote the weal of all. They desire to destroy all neces-
sity for the extension of your business hours beyond the
suggested limit, not that your business may be con-
tracted, but so concentrated within a reasonable time,
that your profits may be increased. Not less do they
seek that you should have the satisfaction of seeing your
assistants enter into the proper enjoyments of their
being, having time both for obtaining and doing good.
At present they have neither ; and it is no matter of
surprise that they should seek, as the only brief grati-
fication they can command, that which is alike ignoble
and prejudicial.
" The Committee are gratified in observing in some of
the shops a notification (honourable to those who have
spontaneously put it forth), that henceforth they will
be closed at seven o'clock. They wish you all to co-
operate in the plan, and prove that you respect the rights
of men, of minds, of souls, in those whom you employ.
" The Committee consisting, as it does, of not a few
ministers of the Gospel, attached to various religious
denominations, feel assured that if the opportunity were
afforded, measures would be taken to advance the moral
and spiritual improvement of your assistants, while
through other channels they would obtain the means of
intellectual elevation. Is it wise, is it just, is it safe,
that they should be as they now are, entirely cut of?
We appeal to you as those who are accustomed to esti-
mate the profit of every transaction, whether it be not
more advantageous to you to be surrounded by persons
of intelligence andyirtue fitted to discharge aright the
social duties under the commanding influences of the
Christian religion?
"The Committee solicit from you the recognition of
their principle—its conscientious adoption—its constant
observance. Let all -your assistants be released from
business every evening at seven o'clock. Let it be the
honourable distinction of the tradesmen of Liverpool
that they stand foremost in this beneficent movement.
Those who refuse so equitable and expedient a proposal,
will then be held in public estimation as the known sup-
porters of a system which public opinion, public mo-
rality, and Christian principle have concurred to con-
deirin.—Signed, by order of the Committee,
n THOMAS SANDS, Chairman."
The LORD MAYOR observed that there was everything
in the important results of such a change.to recommend
it to the adoption of every thinking man, and nothing,

so-far as he could perceive, to discourage the attempt as
impraeticable: lie understood that in Liverpool the ex-
periment was in progress, and, he was happy to say,
with every prospect of success. Why should it not be
equally successful here? He could only say, for his
own part, that he would most willingly apply his endea-
vours in any way that could be pointed out to forward a
proceeding so benevolent in its objects, and so truly bene-
ficial in all its consequences. Under the existing custom of
keeping the shops open until late hours, the whole
time of those who attended was occupied in busi-
ness, without affording any opportunity for mental
culture and reflection, at a period of life when
it was of the utmost importance that the mind should be
exercised in useful and virtuous pursuits. These young
persons who were employed in shops were so wholly
occupied in business that when the hour of relaxation
came they were too much exhausted to employ it in
mental exertions. It was true there were numerous in-
stitutions and libraries at which, for a trifling expense,
knowledge was to be acquired ; but of what use were they
to the young young man whose whole time was occu-
pied in his daily employment ? The most common me-
chanic was better off in that respect than the poor people
whose case the Liverpool Committee was so warmly
advocating. The mechanic's work was over at six in the
evening. Now, if the shops were closed at seven o'clock,
ample time would be afforded for business, and some
portion of that invaluable possession, with the whole of
which no man ought to be required to part, as it in-
cluded in the bargain a surrender of intellectual, and
moral, and religious advantages, which degraded him as
a thinking and responsible being, from the station he
ought -to maintain—a portion of that invaluable posses-
sion would be left for the improvement of his mind, and
his general elevation in the scale of existence.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.
TATTERSALL'S.—YESTERDAY.
THE DERBY.
1000 to 10 agst Dawson's lot—taken
5 to 2 agst Mr. John Day's The Ugly Buck
8 to 1 agst Mr. Crockford's Ratan
18 to 1 agst Mr. Wood's Running Rein
25 to 1 agst Mr. Scott's Bay Momus
30 to 1 apt Sir G. Heatheete's Campanero—taken
30 to 1 agst Mr. Osborne's Mount Charles—taken
30 to 1 agst Mr. Bowes's T'Auld Squire—taken
30 to 1 agst Sir G, Heathcote's Akbar
40 to 1 agst Mr. Ongley's King of the Gipsies--taken
40 to 1 agst Mr. Ford's Qui Tam—taken
1000 to 7 agst Mr. —'s Nisrock
2000 to 5 agst Mr. Bradshaw's Sir Isaac
1000 to 12 agst Nisrock and Radnor
2000 even between King of the Gipsies and Loadstone
1000 even Mount Charles agst King of the Gipsies
300 even Orlando agst lonian
It was impossible to make any mistake as to which of
the two favourites had the advantage ; 5 to 2, taken
once' to a small sum, having been the outside offer agst
the Ugly Buck, while 3 to 1 went begging against Ratan ;
one even bet of 500 between them was laid early in the
afterrtoon, and 300 on the field against them•joiotly, the
field having a decided call at the dose. Several attempts
were made to back Col. Peel's two at 10 to 1, but with-
out success, no biddings whatever having been made
against them. Takers of 20 to 1 about Running Rein, and
of 30 to 1 about Mount Charles and T'Auld Squire. Sir
G. Heathcote's two went back to 30 to 1, and Bay
Momus from 23 to 1 taken to a pony, to 25 to 1, layers.
The King of the Gipsies retreat is the consequence of
Roderick's defeat for the Tankerville Stakes at Shrews-
bury. 1,000 to 5 was laid agst Sir Isaac, and double the
odds afterwards offered agst him.
OAKS.
6 to 1 agst Mr. Osbaldeston's Sister to Martingale—taken
and afterwards offered.
8 to 1 agst Mr. Gregory's Barricade—taken.
14 to 1 agst Lord Exeter's Merope—taken.
25 to 1 agst Mr. Rawlinson's Charming Kate—taken.
100 even betweeit Crenoline and Merope.
Sister to Martingale was backed for 100/., Barricade
for a " rouleau," Merope freely, and Charming Kate for
a pony, at the price returned..
GORHAMBURY RACES.
The Cure it is said will not go for the Gorhambury
Handicap.

NEWMARKET SECOND SPRING MEETING.
(CONCLUDED.)
THURSDAY.—So feeble a prospect of sport did the list
hold out, that at least three-fourths of the company took
flight yesterday afternoon, putting Derby or any other
betting out of the question, and making the reading of
the list an empty ceremony. The select few who re-
mained were agreeably surprised with two races, one
more than they calculated on. They came off as fol-
lows :

Sweepstakes of 25 sovs. each ; for two yrs old colts, Bst
71b, and fillies, Bst 41b. T.Y.C. (3 Subs.)
Lord Lonsdale's b c by Emilius, out of Rint (Rogers) • 1
Col. Anson's f by Emilius, d by Taurus 2
Lord Exeter's Petrowna 3

6t04 on Petrowna. The Rint colt made all the run-
ning, and won cleverly by a length.
Sweepstakes of 10 sovs. each; for 3 yrs old, 7st 71b; four,
Bst 91b; five, &c. 9st, T.Y.C. Winner to be sold for

2001. (4 Subs.)
Lord Orford's cby Clearwell, out of Nininka (Price) 1
Cola Peel's.c by Slane, out of Jason's dam
Lord Exeter's Mocha
Mr. Rogers's Clara
Even on Nininka, who followed the example set her
in the first race, made all the running, and won by a
length.
The following matches were made in the course of
Tuesday and Wednesday:—
NEWMARKET JULY MEETING, 1844.

Tuesday.—Lord E. Russell's Glen Fishie, 3 yrs, Bst
121 b, agst Lord Exeter's Petrowna, ; yrs, 6st 121.
T.Y.C. 100 h ft.

SECOND OCTOBER MEETING, 1844.
Thursday.—Duke of Rutland's Crenoline agst "Lord
Exeter's Merope, both 3 yrs old, Bst each. R.N. 200,
h ft.