The Sun.
London, England, 1844-12-03 00:00:00

"'.'4 WWEUVANCE F `II.IE

( ) ( t±t:'' 'Qd'::

RUBRIC.

,)F ifiio,.'F,H.:F
1)N )11:-4:1CV OF TilF-RUiIRR!
-N 141 E &ON. ;I;' CoMMO:.: YEF,.--13
HENRY LOt }
D BISII01! OF eXEIF,R.

cc" Bishopstovve, Nov. 19.
Rev. atsd Dear Brethren,—l address you on a
subject of very deep interest to us all—the diversity
of practice in the worship of Almighty God—which,
‘a
Concurrence with other unhappy causes, has
threatened to involve us in aatstate of painful, I had
almost said perilous, disunion.
" That the mischief has not been felt so strongly in
'this diocese a.s in some others, while it calls for our
especial thankfulness to Almighty God, may, we
11epel be ascribed in no small measure to warm and
:,"Idy attachment to the Church on the part of the
143', and not less, I rejoice in thinking, to the gene-
ral soberness and discretion of you, the clergy.
" But even here we are very far from being ex-
empt from the common evil. There are parishes in
Devonshire, and still more in Cornwall, in which
•graye misunderstandings have arisen between the
minister and the people, from causes for which
neither he nor they have been primarily responsible.
" Discussions of important principles in other parts
Of the Church, though they found among us no vehe-
eent partisans on either side, have led, in several in-
ancea, to very painful results. While they have ex-
cited in many of the clergy a livelier sense of the re-
sponsibility imposed on them by their engagements to
the Church, and have made them solicitous to follow
I:kilt its requisitions to their full extent; they have at
same time indisposed the laity to the reception of
fa?, °range by exhibiting too many instances of the
7`al consequences of change, introduced, as it has
esevihere been, by private individuals, whether from
6ltnPle desire of novelty, or as part of a systematic
atternpt to bring back our Church nearer to the cor-
°Pt usages from which it was reformed.
pt." It was therefore actual experience of great, and
"sing, and growing evils, which recently induced
ras;
to have recourse to the unusual, but strictly
tt-Uhr"'rdeal, expedient of seeking the advice of those
‘..1,44e5e office and standing, and I may truly add
th-ese high personal-qualifications, pre-eminently fit
ern to form the Council of their Bishop.
4 Sixteen members of the General Chapter of the
41thedral of Exeter, together with the Archdeacons
Tntiles and Barnstaple (the Archdeacon of Corns
„b eing unfortunately absent through illness), met
""a Chapter-room and gave me the benefit of their
esit ea
ben," deliberations. Another distinguished pre-
Ili;:jarY (reluctantly detained by sickness) sent to us
,th- Judgment, founded on lOng experience in one of
ssZitu. 'lst Populous and important districts in Corn-
ll rr,
andieY Were unanimous in deploring existing evils,
,not aPPrehending greater, if some timely check be
applied., And, if they were not unanimous in ad-
atitng What that check should be, this very want of
its:ll4Y gave to me the advantage of more fully
ieng all that could be urged by able and expo-
Thrticed men on either side. - After a discussion of
has- hours; more than two-thirds of the whole num-
utiaa.gread in advising the, that thd only proper, and,
ricir God, the only effectual remedy, appeared to
ts'th`' °nee to restrain all undue change, and to look
of the law as our sole guide. Of that law, the law
that e "hole Church of England, including under
ale comprehensive term not the.pastors and teachers
laws but the people also—that is, the State—of that
tioa' on main and leading object, since the Reforma-
ns..„' 'las ever been to establish uniformity of public
il,lers and administration of sacraments, and other
sq" 3 and
ceremonies.'
%vile his object, • ble,
tntn
good in itself, becomes inestimable,
ntt we look to the evils which it alone can prevent.
layiniforrnity, it is manifest, can only be secured by
if vrt? down one rule. This the law has done. And,
Prast7„ess Of time have introduced some relaxations in
itl, issuing in the great evils we now deplore,
evils- co issuing
proof that the true remedy for those
vanselli,u4 be sought in returning to a faithful obser-
-I,cir the Act of Uniformity.
have on t Act has, in truth, every claim a law can
task the dutiful and cordial obedience of Church-
d 4,111 "ed on the soundest principles, recognizing
i -r,ng the liturgy itself to be purely spiritual
enfos,ng,4l' and applying temporal sanctions only to
th me use of it, this illustrious statute bears on
Ch: character of a solemn compact ; by which the
ehsi,ttb' having provided for the nation a pure form of
la•oteja.n Worship, received for that form the assured
estate "IN and support of the Crown, and all the
tett ~-ea 0f the realm ; a statute which, for this very
18 holden to be essential and fundamental,'
Ast- 80 declared to be in the great Constitutional
iiisi the Act of Union between the realms of Eng-
,;t4d Scotland.
F?w, Ido not say, that every departure from
6 11s,s4.4ntlte direction of the Book of Common Prayer
to wined as it is in this fundamental law, deserves to
Lat ilgenatised as a violation of the national compact;
not bell% that the duty of strict obedience to it can-
der tap strongly felt by any—least of all, by the
nrilljai. To this duty we pledged ourselves in our
41 Ws len v°vvs. We renewed that pledge, as often.
1,1 tioa„
-4144 rwok the cure of souls, or were otherwise
thteed to serve in any office in the house of God
flt;t, strict
shi nfai fulfilment, therefore, of that duty, no
Minister of God's Word will think it a hard-
tsthchat 1113 b.
A-ashop should now recal him. He will
theti:ll°l(llY recognise the fitness of recurring- to it,
11'"t oni;of general doubt and difficulty, as the one,
rule, by which our practice in Public
t Andr's er
be honestly or safely regulated.
14nfiil - while a willing and hearty obedience is thus
PtehentlY anticipated from the clergy, can we ap-
th"" less
thttt e part ready acquiescence in the same course
,11 the laity ? Assuredly not-provided,
,ha inr!,viously instruct them in the nature of the
;titodu'f dilced, and of the reason for whichbtto they
feet 'ed---not from love of change, a p
°lirseo!e----to enable us, at length, to find a rest
tn'ts amidst the fluctuation of usages around
ht, :IN it in strict obedience to the law.
is-t",ility, 4: add, that this very purpose of ensuring
sr, well as uniformity in our public worship,
dared ia end and object a the statute, as thus de-
Qth Preamble—' In regard that nothing co.n-
ich eto the settling of the peace of this nation
uo•qtkr oesired
reli„; of all good men), nor to the honour
Ala,ersal `l.4'n and the propagation thereof, than an
‘sitf,.Rhty agreement in the public worship of
Wieln '"; and to the intent that every person
biste" he t; 4realm may certainly know the rule to
414ntlatiotl o,.'n conform in pubic worship, and admi-
4-11',11 of the sacraments, and other rites and cere-
is tl,os th,"e Church of England.'
sqll',ltsaL,‘„e reasons I scruple not to address you all
or 471 ti',4ll,lze of most earnest entreaty—entreaty.
buttitteee acknoa ledge, after the experience
thanllT'llieh /Years, you have never yet disregarded,
With ever n°lll put forth with far greater anxiety
us i in
(i'fore testified—that" you will all concur
Isstet,P parti Isnonntenancing every attempt to divide
Mall 'ul otee;., by rendering a steady, uniform, and
Altng In ah`'er-ce to the laws of the Church, espe-f
tJtelithty ;hat relates to the public worship o
411141)a I,°", as enjoined in the Rubric of the Book
and
raYer• If to this my earnest entreaty
tl4,,,ried bound to add, the language of autho-
kt 1,0
Bapfcter, You will, I am sure, see in it only
ilstin cow. ettln and stispsrt of your own desire to
waie i
Letabs th your own deep feeling of your
derhor,resent from entering into details..
tli„ prse„ aril, say that I advise a very cautious
- salt‘s..
Yrl4 arty, as I.n tone in all that respects the duty of
ssst 4re bcin down in the Rubric. For instance—
, ,to_ tal to read 44. rY when at least one sentence of the
tut
.ever the Communion service shall be
i•ss,,,q rem
more` left to your discretion whether you
;,',e a Collections
in other words, whether you should
it, -oeetion.
every L
courch in which the congregation.
`';':)re"of prepared to regard the collection as the
th eye
,Eth Christian privilege—the privilege
Ter
Plod giving to him of hi.' own—
th~l...„t,r
the tnat a collection be always made. But
and high
nrd_loervadints tone and feeling is not yet of
hstteWitb 1,117, be patient; strive, but strive gently,
hot theirud
;3 er to God, to raise your people to a
rs„_ ,sr and till they have attained to it, shock
ray I.l,ee.tudices, irritate not their selfishness, it
deeei:n tr worldly
-mindedness. Only let them
itt:l°,it
1.% e theaisel •
etsi;emlet.,them see and feel that you
Tell them the truth in
it Oise feave the rest to God. alinourther caution I would add, though I hope
ss Wh- St needle,s.
th Ile I
Itub . Urge you to return to a full observance
tik4hc,thi, jle—falling short of your prescribed parti
pattiers atTihaWare of exceed'
‘vc,t4 epitift;ne tines, a 3 well as itnhge lrevailinpteoenue of
cad upon you most powerfully, as you
u 1 off Deing they 'tit else le number of them through
es es• come 'to forbear all unnecessary inno-
at Worst ksind
th peciaily a
he recently had occasion to
of innovatiOn, the revival of

" I refer to the use of the surplice in preaching, a
matter so inconsiderable, that it could not, of itself,
excite any strong feeling in any reasonable man. But
the more unimportant it is in itself, the more mani-
fest is the necessity of stripping it of that factitious
importance which is given to it by its being made the
symbol of disunion. This can be done only by re-
quiring that there be no longer any diversity,' that
all either use or disuse, the surplice when they
preach.
"If there were no law, one way or the other, there
might be difficulty in deciding which to require. But
the law, on due investigation, is clear; however com-
plicated may be the inquiry which is necessary to as-
certain it.
"That law, beyond all question which can now
arise, requires that the surplice be always used in the
sermon, which is part of the communion service • and
as to all other times, whenever a sermon is part of the
ministration of the parochial clergy, there is so little
reason for question, that I resolve the doubt, by re-
quiring (as it was required in the dixese in which
my own ministerial life was passed, the diocese of
Durham, and there by the order of one of its most
distinguished prelates, and of our most eminent ri-
tualists, Bishop Cosin) that the surplice be always
used.
" There remains one matter on which there is no
rubrical direction, as it was not contemplated when
the Book of Common Prayer was compiled :—I mean
the sermon at the time of evening prayer. The power
of the Bishop to order it rests on a modern statute,
which does not control his discretion in ordering how
it is to be introduced. I therefore direct (and Ido so
with the express sanction of his Grace the Arch-
bishop), that, where there is a sermon in the evening,
it be delivered after evening prayer, in the accustomed
manner—that is, preceded by a collect (unless the
bidding prayer be used), and the Lord's Prayer, and
followed by the blessing. I hope it is unnecessary
for me to add, that there must be no prayer of your
own composing either before or after the sermon.
" I conclude with entreating you to join with me
in fervent prayer to Him 4 who is the author of peace
and lover of concord,' that He will accept and
bless this our humble endeavour to promote peace
and concord among us within his own house, and in
his own immediate service.--I am, reverend and dear
brethren, your affectionate friend and brother,
" H. EXETER.
" P.S. I avail myself of this opportunity to suggest
a different subject to you—that you apprise me, some
time before my visitation, of any matters of moment
in your several parishes which may require special
consideration when we meet."

DISTRESSED NEEDLE-WOMEN.
A public meeting of the Society for the Protection and
Employment of Distressed Needle-women and for
clothing the poor, was held yesterday afternoon at
Willis's Rooms, St. James's. The Right Hon. Lord
Ashley, M.P., presided.
There were several noblemen and gentlemen on the
platform, and we observed many ladies of distinction in
the body of the meeting.
Mr. Roper (the Honorary Secretary) read the first
annual report of the Committee, which stated—
" That every precaution had been taken to avoid de-
creasing the funds unnecessarily ; and it can only re-
quire to be known the good that has been effected by
such limited funds fur the public to continue their sup-
port of this Institution. Although the Society had been
established only nine months, the Committee felt confi-
dent that the benefits of the charity would be extended,
and the Society prove to be one of the most useful and
philanthropic institutions in the metropolis. Since the
establishment of the institution not one instance had
occurred of work being detained by, the persons em-
ployed ; thus exemplifying, that a fair price for work
done was the surest preventive of workpeople pawning
goods entrusted to their care. Many of the class of
females employed by this institution were persons who
had moved in a superior sphere of society, and who were
anxious to hide their miseries from the public eye.
" The number of day workers recommended from the
Institution, and engaged at wages not less than nine
shillings per week, are
Upholsterers
Assistant dressmakers
Shirtmakers lB3
Staymakers 27
Laceworkers
Shoebinders
Stockmakers
Flowermakers 2B
Needlewomen to private families
Cloakmakers
—975
Showing that 975 females of good character have been
recommended by the Institution since it was established,
independently of those to whom work has been furnished.
This number, however, is only about one-third of the
applications that have been made to the Institution by
respectable and unemployed females. The Committee
only ask one-third of the support for their own country-
women that is so benevolently bestowed upon foreigners,
who no doubt well deserve the support that is given
them by a British nation. This Society will give full
protection to the benevolent from the frauds practised
by what is termed the " begging-letter system," as many
females make it a practice, and, indeed, some a living,
by calling upon the charitable with a long statement of
their wants. If they really are deserving, their miseries
will be removed by employment being given them by
this Institution.
" Amongst the work-people employed by the Society,
and now earning 9s. per week, are a number of persons
who were obliged to make shirts from lid. to (seldom
exceeding) is. per shirt. But this payment was made
by the person termed the middle-woman,' who, in fact,
gets the best remuneration, for she takes a large quan-
tity of work from the shop or workhouse, and employ s
as many hands as she can procure, who will work at the
lowest price ; thus dealing out to those poor creatures
work at a rate almost impossible for them to exist upon,
and not exceeding 2s. per week. The rate of prices
that have been paid by the Institution are from 2s. to
3s. 6d. per shirt.
" It has been stated that the Metropolitan Visiting and
Relief Association would be the means of assisting the
unemployed needlewomen ; but there is a material dis-
tinction between the one society and the other, the des-
titute poor being generally persons reared up in humble
life and accustomed to labour, whilst the semps tresses
are in most instances daughters of parents who have
moved in a different station of society, and who suffer
the most acute privations in silence."
The Secretary stated that the Committee had to ac-
knowledge the receipt of several contributions of goods
to the Society, such as flannel, shirting, needles, sewing
cotton, &c. It appeared that the cash received in do-
nations already amounted to nearly 500/., and that 336/.
worth of needlework had been sent in to the Society,
making a total of 792/, 500/. of which had been paid by
the Society in the shape of wages. After defraying all
necessary expenses there remained a balance in hand of
nearly 4001.
The following notification has been put forth by the
Committee :
" That all work sent to the Society shall be charged at
the following prices, viz.:—

s. d. s. d.
A trimmed shirt
A plain ditto
A ditto
boy's
I 4 to 2 0

A shift
A night shift 1 3 to 2 6
A night jacket 0 8 to 2 0
Petticwats 0 6 to 2 6
Sheets, per pair
Pillow-cases, per pair 0 6 to 1 0
Towels„ per dozen
Dusters, ditto
Cambric pocket handkerchiefs, ditto
Common ditto, ditto 1 oto 1 6
Table-cloths, each
Neck-handkerchiefs, per dozen .. 1 6 to 4 0
Napkins' per dozen ' 1 0 to 2 0
Children's shifts
.
Pinbefores 0 4 to 1 0
Children's petticoats
Frocks
Marking, per dozen 0 3 to 0 6
Hemming, per yard 0 Oi to 0 1
"No charge made for cotton or thread. All work to
be washed and cut out before it is sent, and, if required,
a pattern with it. An extra charge of 3d per shirt is
made, if cut out at the office.
" The work is done for ready money only, and no ar-
ticle-allowed to be given out till paid for. The super-
intendent is empowered to receive the amount, and to
give a receipt if required."

eut le :wired i.y law, V. hich are as,o- . The report having been read,
eie eei to ii,:. .joils .1 the people with the supersti- The Hoe. Wtheriem COWPER moved that it be re-
toes il. 'i Itto' !`' clt Mme. ceived and adopted.
nA,
,Ir. A.,..1(47-in,n FertEnuoTrrert seconded the motion.
lite. e: -, e will r. Q'• you through your Deans
ihe Nulee CHAIRMAN said that, before he put the
Itteett ; ;tai I : iviee you to comettiniente together in
question to the rtetetill;;:, he wished to call their attention
eetue severei titeteeri,s ; thus of yourselves you will
to the special object fur which they were then assembled.
on most points come to art accordance. Should It would, however, be' unnecessary for him to enter into
'doubts arise, the Prelate to the Book of Common a statement of the circumstances which rendered the ex-
Prayer, ' concerning the service of the Church,, tells - istence of such a society as the present necessary in so
you how to act. You are to have recourse to your geeat a metropolis as this. Tho destitution and distress
Bisnop, who, if he be in doubt himself, is 'to send to ' which prevailed among the class who were employed in
the Archbishop for the resolution thereof.' needle work was too obvious to need any lengthened
" I also advise that you make no deviation from detail. It was impossible to take up any one of the daily
the mode in which you may be now severally in the journals- without seeing a record of the cruel
feiwd uelalo.hea:
ncrar
habit of performing Divine service, until there shall rowingre have sufferingsendure
endured.
whichrhe
that portion of o
have been an opportunity of collating the different t
showed, however, the great good that might be reporteffected they had heard read
practices and propositions of the different deaneries.
" We may too, perhaps, be thus enabled to profit by such and similar institutions as this,
.and demonstrated
that, by their energetic efforts, it was in their power to
by the construction put on the rubrics in other lameliorate much of the sufferings of those who were the
dioceses, if any similar consideration of the matter immediate objects of this Society ; but the more especial
meanwhile be had elsewhere. purpose for which this meeting had been called, was to
" One great advantage must arise from this delay, stimulate the charitable portion of the public to
that it will enable us to make all the change, which provide funds to meet the necessities of the coming win-
shall be found necessary, at once, and thus to avoid ter. . This was a period of the year which pressed most
future change. heavily upon those suffering under destitution. They
" A very few months at the utmost will more than
of e
trleie new ;upon the close of the old year, and at the beginning
w
suffice to enable you to bring all questions to a deci- and it did so happen that about this time
sion. Should it be necessary for me to explain the there was almost invariably such a stagnation, to which
grounds of the resolution of any of the doubts sub- they whom God had blessed with affluence were very
little alive, but to which those who lived upon their labour
mitted to me, an opportunity will soon be afforded, if were most alive, and felt most acutely. This Society was
it please God that I have health and strength to hold founded for • the purpose of carrying out a grand and
my visitation in the next year which it is my present unquestionable truth, that the labourer was worthy
intention to commence immediately after my ordina- of his hire,—(Cheers.) He held in his hand a state-
tion on Trinity Sunday. went of various sugg,stions of moans by which that
" There is one ' diversity,' `for the quieting andattained, but the Committee had
desirable end might be . .
appeasing of which' I will now `take order.' This rejected many of them on account of the difficulties
I feel myself called upon to do, because, unhappily, that would attend their adoption. Some persons had
proposed taking a large building, and disposing of the
the ' diversity' to which I refer is regarded by many goods fabricated by the needle-women employed by the
of the people as exhibiting the badges of party, on Society. But this was considered likely to make the
one side, at least, if not on both. It cannot, there- remedy worse than the evil, because it would interfere
fore, too soon be settled. with the interest of the general trader. Again, it had

been proposed by some that large houses should be
erected, where the women should assemble and work
together, but to this there were many grave objections.
In all the charity which they proposed to bestow, in all
the advantages they took upon themselves to give, it
was their object to do all that in them lay, to encourage
that mainstay of the social system—that institution of
God himself—the domestic—that system by which the
woman might be kept at home, there to learn and exer-
cise the high and holy calling of a wife and a mother.—
(Cheers.) It was likewise the object of this Society to
obtain for all those who might be employed by means of
its funds, a remuneration of at least 9s. a week, with mo-
derate hours of work. Some persons had said the
Society ought not to confine the amount of remuneration
to 9s. It was by no means the wish of the Society to
limit it to that surn„'much less did he intend to affirm that
9s. was an adequate remuneration for a mother of a
family;. but the object of the Society in putting the
remuneration at that limit was to prevent a greater evil ;
for the Committee felt:that if they were to contribute
more than that sum, they would, in many instances, be
creating the evil they sought to remove, for they would
be possibly enabling a party to set up an establishment
in which some wretched girl, taken from the workhouse,
might be made to undergo the very privatiens which
that party was now herself enduring, and from which
it was the object of the Society to rescue her altogether.
(Cheers.) Another object of the Institution was, to sup-
ply the poor with medical aid; and in that very little diffi-
culty would be found; for his expericace had convinced
him that medical men were everready to offer their services
in the cause of charity ; provings:as he had always found,
that their profession was characterised by everything
that was kind, generous, and self-denying.—(Cheers.)
He wished to advert briefly to an objection which had
been urged against the Society by persons who had expe-
rienced disappointment, in not having the objects of their
recommendation assisted. Now it did sometimes happen
that persons were sent to the Institution who were either
aged or unskilful in their business. But, although such
persons, were entitled to every charitable consideration,
still a committee in administering the contributions of a
charitable fund must be guided, and act upon, certain
specific rules. Now, this Society was specially founded
for the purpose of giving aid to professional needle-
women, who had no other means of subsistence, and who
were the only really skilful workers in that business.
In some instances work had been given persons who were
inadequate to its performance, and the consequence had
been that those who had sent the work were much dis-
satisfied with the mode of its execution. It was by no
means the intention of the Institution to interfere with
the trade in general, or with the shopkeepers in par-
ticular. The great wholesale dealers in many instances
had given the Society their most effective support, and
the Committee never thought of doing anything, directly
or indirectly, that could do injury to such parties. If,
however, injury should happen to fall upon other parties
—upon those whose object it was to grind the very faces
of the poor, he did not think there was any one in that
meeting who would feel the slightest compassion for their
loss.—(Cheers.) But he was most anxious to impress
upon the meeting that which he felt very deeply himself,
namely, the great evils that were arising in all directions
from that constant and unceasing effort on the part of
every one, to get every single thing—he meant not the
trifles of life, for them the did not care, but every neces-
sary that could be done for them by a human being at the
very minimum of remuneration—at the very smallest
amount that would keep any mortal, being just within
the limits of this side of the grave. Look at some of the
cases where women have been ground down to the lowest
amount of remuneration that could sustain human exist-
ence. lie himself knew of an instance of a woman who had
worked twenty hours a day, day after day, without in-
termission—(Hear)—but what was it that worked them
down to this wretched condition ? First, there was the
workhouse.—(Hear, hear.) Work was taken in at those
places to a very great extent, to be performed by parties
who were maintained at the public expense. These per-
sons often made shirts at a id., and even sometimes at a
ad. apiece, and thus the public fund raised to relieve the
poor was brought into competition with these wretched
sempstresses, who were struggling to support themselves
and their children, from the very houses that were held
up as places of terror to them ; and yet those very houses
were made the instruments of their ruin.—(Bear, hear.)
To put an end to this system was the first remedy to be
applied. He did not mean to say that work ought not
eithermat e
s
lteot bi et
bs performedeon ficonfined
int
owsourpkphloyui
nsh
o"f'ert7hesoin
re-
muneration,g
so that no undue advantage should be given
tebuwetinftist
themselves, or else taken in at the market rate of
—not to the poor people themselves, who do work in
those houses, but to the public, by the diminution of
the rates—that advantage being purchased by the enor-
mous sufferings of those wretched creatures whose cause
you are now met to support.—(Hear, hear.) The same
argument which applied to workhouses would also apply
to prisons, and the same remedy was equally applicable
to both. He, in company with Alderman Farebrother
and their worthy Secretary, had the honour of waiting'
upon Sir James Graham upon this subject, and that
Right Hon. Baronet was pleased to express deep sym-
pathy with the suffi rings of the needle- women, and pro-
mised he would do his best to abate the mischief arising
from the causes which he (Lord Ashley) had been stat-
ing. Aye, but there was another description of place in
which much mischief was done—he meant the schools of
the metropolis.—(Hear, hear.) Work was taken in at
the charity schools and done upon terms most inade-
quately remunerative. It had frequently happened that
when applications were made at the house of this Society
to know upon what terms work would be done, and when
those terms have been stated at -the lowest possible
amount that it would give, he would not say an ade-
quate, but a decent remuneration, the parties had gone
away, saying they could take their work to the schools
and there have it done for next to nothing.—(Hear.)
And this was what was called charity !—(Hear, hear.)
Before he sat down he was happy to have it in his
power to announce that her Gracious Majesty had
permitted him to declare that she would con-
tribute to the funds of this Society to the amount
of 50L—(Loud cheering.) He felt assured that
meeting would express its hearty gratitude for the mu-
nificence and charity of their beloved Sovereign.—(Loud
cheers.) Another illustrious lady, the Queen Dowager,
had empowered him to add a si coed donation of 101.—
(Cheers.) And, moreover, she had given them the pri-
vilege of enjoying her name as the patroness of this In-
stitution.— (Cheers.) He had also to announce that
Prince Albert had empowered him to say that he would
be a contributor to the amount of 251., and he accompa-
nied his donation with the expression of sympathy and
kindness for the objects of the Institution. He (Lord
Ashley) hoped that these royal examples would stimu-
late the public, for it was to the public, through this
meeting, that they made their appeal, appealing, also,
for assistance from the public press, which -always showed'
itself forward and zealous in advocating the cause of the
destitute and the oppressed. He did hope that these
royal examples would stimulate all parties to come for-
ward and do something effectively for the relief of the
present destitation that prevailed among so large a class
of their fellow-creatures.—(Cheers.) It is hopeless (said
his Lordship), nay, it is useless, to attempt any social or
moral improvement of those classes so long as they re-
main in their present state of destitution and suffering.
(Cheers.) Food and raiment are indispensable prelimi-
naries, and unless these demands of nature be supplied,
it is vain, it is almost cruel, to talk of amelioration.—
(Hear, hear.) Just consider what a multitude of women
are concerned in this appeal. There are many mothers
of families who are wholly unable to make provision for
the proper discharge of any one of the maternal duties.
Neither at home nor at school is there any possibility
for their offspring to undergo any domestic or religious
training. I have often said, and I do venture to say
again, and I will say it even to gaiety, that the women
of a country are the chief sources of its virtue and of its
vice, and that unless something be done to raise this class
from their present state of destitution and disgrace,
there will be very little hope for the prosperity of the
British empire.—(Cheers.) When the Emperor Napo-
leon asked Madame Campen what he should do for the
benefit of France, that excellent woman replied, " Train
up for us a race of mothers." This is as true as holy
writ, because it is derived from it ; and I do hope that
from this day we shall be doing something effective
towards that great consummation, and that we shall not
be content to say, "Be ye warmed, and be ye fed," but
that if a brother or sister be naked, we shall at once be
ready joyfully to acknon ledge the relationship, and
prove that we are the children of one common Father.
The report was then received and adopted.
Mr. Alderman FAREBROTHER observed, that as her
Majesty the Queen Dowager had graciously conde-
scended to become the patron of this Institution, their
noble friend in the chair was necessarily superseded.
The first thing, therefore, they had to do was to request
his Lordship to accept the office of vice-patron ; he ac-
cordingly moved that Lord Ashley be vice-patron of the
Society.
Mr. REDMAYNE seconded the resolution, which was
unanimously adopted by the meeting.

The Noble CHAIRMAN expressed his readiness to ac-
cept the honour the meeting had conferred upon him.
The Hon. W. COWPER, M.P., then rose to move a re-
solution, pledging the meeting to use their utmost
endeavours to promote the interest of the Society, which
had such strong claims upon the public support. No
class of persons, in his opinion, was more entitled to
commiseration than ,the needle-women—they were more
susceptible to misery than persons belonging to the
lowest class, because they were generally persons of
better education
,reduced to a condition of destitution.
The competition among them was enormous. This was
taken advantage of, and they were compelled to toil day
and night fur a pittance that would hardly sustain life.
The cruelty of their case was, that they did not receive
the full amount paid by the trader for the labour be-
stowed. A middYe-woman stepped in between the mas-
ter trader OM the sempstress, and took the greater por-
tion of the money actually paid for the labour. The
object of this Society was to remedy this evil, by secur-
ing to the person who actually gave the labour a fair
proportion of the wages paid for it. The Society would
not at all interfere with the wholesale or retail trader ;
bat it might perhaps curtail the unjust gains of the in
termediate parties ; and possibly might supersede the
" middle-women and middle-men" altogether. Those
who gave a halfpenny and a penny for makiug a shirt,
must be making their fortunes out of the blood and
sinews of their fellow-creatures. By restoring to the
sempstresses that to which they were entitled, full and
fair wages, the Society aimed to do justice rather than
to bestow alms.. They were a friendless, helpless, and
destitute class, and being near to the doors of the
wealthy, aid could be afforded them more promptly and
effectually than to those in remote regions, on whose
behalf the thoughts and imaginations of the benevolent
were oftentimes sought to be excited.—(Cheers.)
JULiEN J.CIFFREYB, Esq. seconded the resolution.
Some politico-economical objections bad been made to
this Society. It was said that poverty must always
abound, and that the real remedy was for the persons suffer-
ing to manage not to multiply their numbers. But it
should be borne in mind that women laboured under
great disadvantages. They could form no union societies;
they could hold no periodical meetings, to confer upon
what affected their interests ; they had no strikes for
wages ; and thus they were powerless as to effecting any
remedy for the evils they suffered under. If the hours
of labour of women were limited to ten a day, it was
his belief that there would not be a sufficient number in
the metropolis to supply the demand in the labour
market. What was required, however, was to create
such an extra demand for the labour of women, as should
lessen the present lengthened hours of work, and in-
crease, by some amount, the present rate of wages. This
he thought might be done by this Society, as it would
afford temporary employment to the extra hands, leaving
the rest to work moderate hours at full wages. It was
astonishing how greatly one or two redundant hands
affect the interests of a large number of workers. An
excess of one in fifty would introduce a state of compe-
tition prejudicial to the whole body. The present Insti-
tution would remedy that evil; and therefore he cordially
gave it his support.
The resolution was then put and carried.
Mr.REDMATER moved the appointment of a Committee
to administer the funds of the Society. He considered it
the-duty of all who were in circumstances to do so, to
stand by those who could not protect themselves, which
was the case with the unhappy objects of this Institution.
All parties were now studying to curtail the hours of
business and labour, for not only were the warehouse-
men closing their establishments at one o'clock on Sa-
turday, but the carriers would not receive goods after
three o'clock on that day. Women, however, could not
combine to procure relaxations of that nature. He
should like to see aigood strike:amongst the needlewomen,
for he thought it would be productive of great benefit.
It was said by some, that it was vain to undertake
such objects as the present, because the evil was too
deeply seated to be removed by any efforts that
these societies could make ; but it was a suffi-
cient answer to say that, if they could not remove
the whole mass of misery that existed, they would very
much diminish its amount. As Christian men and
women it was their duty to do something, and he was
sure the ladies of England, when they sat by their fire-
sides and reflected upon the privations and sufferings of
the numbers of femals who were compelled to ply the
midnight needle, would feel a wish that they could put an
end to all employment of so cruel a description,
Dr. Pewroen seconded the resolution, and it was car-
ried unanimously.
Letters were read from the Earls of Mountcashel and
Hardivicke, the Bishop of Llandaff, and others, express-
ing regret for their unavoidable absence, and declaring
their sympathy in the objects of the Society. A list of
subscriptions was also read
Alderman FAREBROTIIER said that as the business of
the day was about to conclude, he was quite satisfied
that the meeting would be unwilling to separate without
offering to the noble Chairman their best thanks for his
generous services, sad for the courteous manner in which
he had conducted himself in the chair. As President of
the Society, he begged to say a few words upon the pur-
poses for which it was intended. He would not occupy
the time or harrow the feelings of the meeting by nar-
rating the many cases of distress which had come before
him as a magistrate ; but perhaps it was in consequence
of some of those eases that the present Institution was
founded. He never professed to thank, and he never
should thank, an enlightened British public for contri-
buting their money for purposes of benevolence ; he
rather congratulated them upon possessing the privilege
of bestowing a portion of their superfluities upon needy
and deserving objects. We were all dependent upon
each other, from the highest to the lowest. The rich
could not live without the middleman, nor the middleman
without the poor person. It was our duty to give com-
fort to the afflicted,' to wipe away the tear from the eye
of the widowed mother, and to enable her to protect her
children and to nurture them in kindness and affection,
and with the benefit of her sound instruction and admo-
nition. He moved the cordial thanks of the meeting to
Lord Ashley for his able and judicious services, and for
the courteous manner in which he had conducted himself
in the chair.

The Rev. Jostrii BROWNE seconded the motion,
and exhorted all pres-eut to remember, after they left
that room, the resolution to which they had volUntarily
come, to do all in their power to promote the purposes
of the Society.
Lord ASHLEY said Alderman Farebrother had laid
down in such excellent and unanswerable terms the prin-
ciple that none are entitled to thanks for the perform-
ance of their duty, that he felt embarrassed bow to re-
ceive the thanks of the meeting for the slight trouble be
had taken in this cause. He did feel that very little
thanks were due for the performance of a duty imposed
upon us by the responsibility of our situation. If, in-
deed, we thought that we came into the world by chance,
it would be all well and good ; but if we were placed
here for an especial purpose, and if our existence was a
gift which was to be accounted for, there certainly were
little thanks due for the discharge of duties so impera-
tive. At the same time, he was not indifferent—far
from it—to the thanks of his fellow-citizens. lie con-
sidered it not only as an honour which ought to be
highly prized, but as a resolution on the part of those
who offered it to co-operate with him in. his efforts for
the general amelioration of the condition of mankind,
and in that sense he thanked the meeting heartily, and
he should, with God's blessing, so long as he had the
power, do all he could to remove some of the evils of his
fellow-creatures.
The meeting then broke up.

PRESBYTERIAN ADDRESS TO
LORD HEYTESBURY.

On Friday an address was presented to Lord
Ileytesbury by a deputation from the General
Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, recently
assembled at Cook's-town. The following is the
reply of his Excellency. It is much, more guarded
than his reply; a month or two since, to the Remon-
strant or Unitarian Synod, to whom he gave an assu •
ranee that his mission in Ireland was one of general
conciliation :

" Gentlemen of the General Assembly of the Pres-
byterian Church in Ireland,—Your address of con-
gratulation upon my arrival in this country, and the
flattering terms in which these congratulations are
conveyed, demand my warmest acknowledgments.
" There can be no doubt, gentlemen, but that the
Presbyterians of this country, under your spiritual
jurisdiction, have been distinguished for their enter-
prising and industrious habits—for their moral and
peaceable conduct--and for their hereditary attach-
ment to the House of Bruniwick.

" Your patriotism and steady loyalty—your zeal
for the prosperity and unity of these kingdoms—will
ever receive that royal approbation which secures you
in the enjoyment of your religious privileges, and
which, as you are pleased to state, greatly assists and
encourages you in the discharge of the duties of your
sacred calling.
" I rely with confidence, gentlemen, upon the as-
surance you give me of your deternaidation to assist
me, by every means in your power, in the arduous
duties which have been entrusted to me. As her
Most Gracious Majesty's representative in this
country, I can have no other wish than to secure to
each the free exercise of his religious opinions and
worship—to disseminate in as wide a circle as pos-
sible the advantages of moral as well as of general in-
struction—and to contribute in every possible way to
the development of that industrial prosperity of which
so many encouraging symptoms are daily manifesting
themselves in every part of this beautiful kingdom.
" HEYTESBURY."

SIIITHFIBLD CLUB CATTLE SHOW.— The exhibi-
tion this year, it is believed, will exceed, both in the
quantity as well as quality of the stock, that of any pre-
ceding one, and in order to afford facilities for such in-
crease, not only have the proprietors of the bazaar had
removed an extensive stabling which formerly occupied
the noith-western corner of the grand marquee, but the
entire of the spacious carriage department (only a small
slip thereof being appropriated formerly) has been placed
at the disposal of the Club. His Royal Highness Prince
Albert, the Duke of Richmond, and Earl Spencer. have
made entries as competitors in various descriptions of
b tock.

HER MAJESTY'S BUCK Hourins.—A small field,
numbering between 40 and 50, were at the meet, yester-
day, at Brick-bridge, where the stag was uncarted be-
tween eleven and twelve o'clock, going away to Thatchen-
end, nearly to the windmill, whence it doubled back to
Brick-bridge, on to the Hayes, making for Hay-bill,
Hawthorn-bill, and. Warfield Church, to IVinkfield-row
and Hatchet-lane, and was taken at Sawyei"s-gate, near
Sunninghill, after a run of little mere than an hour. It
was all road bunting to the take, after leaving Wink-
field. The meet on Friday will be at the One Pin, at
Hedgerley,