The Sun.
London, England, 1842-02-25 00:00:00

that I should say that the poop man, be his poverty what it may,
shall not be entitled to approach us on this or any other sub-.
ject ; but when we couple one thing with another, shall we be
told to take the opinion of persons so influenced for the guidance
of our conduct, as that of the plain, honest, intelligent opinion
of the people of Scotland.—(Hear, hear.) I shall not enter upon
the consideration of the religious part of this question—not
1 that I have any doubt upon this point; but I do deprecate
in meetings of a popular kind like this, the discussion of
subjects upon which I think men form the soundest con-
clusions when they consider them calmly and dispassion-
ately at their closets, with the aid of such lights as they can get,
Il rather than in the heat, pressure, and agitation of publio meetings.
—(Hear, hear.) I repeat, then, that I shall not enter upon the
theological part of the question ; but I must say, that I cannot
believe that the people of England—a people as moral, as intelli-
gent, and as well guided as the people of Scotland in every respect
_I cannot believe that a vast majority of that people have come
to the conclusions on this subject to which they have come in the
face of God's precepts, in the face of the teachings they have re-
ceived, and the lights which have been communicated to them as
well as to us. A few years back there was a bill passed to
compel railways to carry the mail on Sundays—(Mr. M. Crich-
. ton, " No, no.") I am ready to bow in all things compe.
tent to Mr. Crichton ; but perhaps it would be better if he
would reserve his negatives till he comes to the proof.—(Hear,
hear.) That Bill passed without a single remonstrance from a
I set of men as holy, as learned, and as pious, as ever adorned
I any age or any church. Did it meet with a single remonstrance
1 from the venerable bead of Protestant Christianity P Did It meet
with a single remonstrance from the learned and pious Bishop of
London, who, in his evidence before a Committee of the House
of Commons some years ago, said he could not condemn Sunday
I travelling ?—(Hear, hear.) Shall it be said, then, in these cir-
curnstauces—when this great undertaking has been achieved, in
a great measure, by the money of the people of England—for
poor Scotland was unable to raise the million and a half neces-
sary for the great work, and two-thirds of the capital has
come from England—shall it be said that, having got
their money, and without any intimation that we were
to shut the railway on Sundays, we will come to a resolu-
tion to shut it on that day because our religious views do not con-
cur with theirs ? I may be told that this is not a safe argument—
that this is a Scotch concern, and ought to be governed by Scottish
views and interests. I deny it. I say it is a British concern; but
if you act, as some gentlemen now propose, can you ever again ex-
pect to be able to make another railway in Scotland, or finger
another shilling of English capital ?—(Hear, hear.) We are told by
some of those excellent and worthy gentlemen whom we had here
to-day, and who pass their time chiefly in their closets, that to open
the railway on Sunday would change the character of Scotland. Sir,
I desire to change the character of Scotland in its bad parts. Mr,
M'Neill here proceeded to quote the opinions of Bailie Johnston of
Edinburgh and Sheriff Alison of Glasgow with respect to the
drunkenness which prevailed in these two cities on Sunday ;
and to argue that the railway offered the means of greatly
improving the habits ',of this class of the community. He also
quoted the opinion of Sir Charles Shaw, the Superintendent of
Police at Manchester, to show the good effects which had followed
the opening of the railway in that part of England. There was
testimony to the same effect from Newcastle and Carlisle. These
things weighed with him. He did not undervalue the testimony
of thp Rev. Gentlemen who had that day addressed them ; but he
agreed with the observation that had been made not long since,
that it was not the men that spoke, but the cloth.—(Cheers.) He
also read a letter from Mr. Routh, Chairman of the Blackwell Rail-
way Company, bearing testimony to the good order which prevailed
on that railway on Sundays. If this measure is carried (proceeded Mr.
M'Neill) I may state that it is the intention of the Directors to
institute such a strict system of police as will completely
prevent anything like drunkenness or disorder on the line.—(Hear,
hear.) In the protest given in by Sir Andrew Agnew—than
whom a more honest, single-hearted individuals was, I believe,
never engaged in a public cause—it was alleged that the running-
of trains on Sunday was contrary to the Statute-law of the land. Let
Sir Andrew bring this to the test. I desire nothing more than to
have this question brought to the test of the calm and dispassionate
judgment of those whose duty it is to expound the law; and I
only hope that Mr. M. Crichton and his friends will give us their
word that they will give obedience to their judgment when ob.
tained.—(Hear, hear, and laughter.) There is a threat held out
to us that this agitation will be continued if we do not yield to it
now; but if it is, I sincerely hope that they will find in the
united front of the Shareholders, both in England and Scr.t_
land, a wall of opposition that they will never be able to overtop.—
(Cheers.) lam quite aware that we shall be held up as irreligious
men—as men who have been guilty of a wicked act. But if we
are convinced that we have done our duty, we shall at least have as
much satisfaction as these gentlemen themselves, to whom I
accord the same credit of sincerity which I claim for myself—
the satisfaction that we have done our duty, and carried along
with us the public feeling of all those whose good opinion it is
at all times desirable to obtain.—(Loud cheers.) Mr. M'Neill
concluded by moving the resolution of which he had formerly
given notice:—" Whereas it is the duty of the Directors of this
Company to give implicit obedience to the law of God, and the
law of the land, in the management of the affairs of the Company
—and whereas it is the duty of the Directors to afford the fullest ac-
commodation to the public in the use of the Railway, which the
public exigencies require, provided always they do not violate the
law of God, or the law of the land. This meeting resolves, that is is
not inconsistent with the duty of the Directors, as aforesaid, and
they are hereby enjoined, to provide trains to be run from the cities
of Edinburgh and Glasgow respectively, in the morning and in the
evening of Sunday; but under such rules and regulations as to the
times of departure and arrival, as may enable the servants of the
Company, and persons bevelling along the railway, to attend divine
service."

This resolution was seconded by Mr. EAGLE HENDERSON.

A number of other Shareholders then addressed the meeting, but
Mr. M`Neill had exhausted the subject, and on a division the num.
hers stood thus Shares. Voters.
For Sunday-trains ... 7589 ... 1219
Against ditto

Majority for Sunday-traina .... 4113 ... 571

GREAT MEETING
CESTER.

AT GLOU-

UNION OF THE MIDDLE AND WORKING-

CLASSES.
(FROM OUR Own CORIUMPOITMENT.) -
GLOUCESTER, WEDNESDAY NlOHT.—Great excitement has ex-
isted in this city since Sir R. Peel's mountain has delivered itself of
the " sliding scale." Last week a requisition signed by a number of
the most influential and respectable inhabitants of the city was pre-
sented to the Mayor, W. M. Meyler, Esq., who, in compliance
therewith, called a meeting of the citizens, which was held this
evening in the large room of the Shire-hall, which accommodated
about 4,000 persons. The room was densely crowded, and a great
number were assembled in the passages leading to the Courts, who
were unable to obtain admission to the meeting.

Shortly after seven o'clock, the chair was taken by J. P. Herne,
the City sheriff, (in the absence of the worthy Mayor, who was pre-
vented attending through indisposition). [We are sorry we have
not room for the speeches, which were very voluminous, powerful,
and argumentative.]

The Rev. J. RODWAY proposed a resolution to the following ef.
feet:—" That by the conduct of Sir R. Peel, and his colleagues, in
supporting the selfish monopoly of the landed interest, they have
proved themselves no longer worthy the confidence of the Sovereign
or the support of the people." This resolution was seconded by
THOMAS STURGE, Esq., and carried unanimously.
The Rev. Mr. BREWER moved the adoption of a memorial to her
Majesty, praying her to dismiss her present Ministers. He declared
that he was equally opposed to the sliding scale of Sir R. Peel, and
the fixed duty of Lord J. Russell. (This announcement was re-
ceived with loud cheers.)

S. BOWLEY, Esq., seconded the memorial, and said that they
were convinced of the injustice of the Corn-laws, and they must
now unite to remove them, which be considered could only be
done by changing the constitution of the House of Commons.

The memorial was put by the Chairman, and carried by accla-
mation.

Mr. KNOWLES, after a long and powerful speech, proposed the
following resolution :—" That it is the opinion of this meeting that
the only way of repealing the Corn.laws, and all other monopolies
that oppress the many for the benefit of the few, is by destroying
their cause—class legislation ; which can only be effected by the
working classes being fully, fairly, and freely represented in the
Commons' House of Parliament."

Mr. BIININGTON seconded this resolution, which, on being put by
the Sheriff, was carried amidst loud cheers.

Votes of thanks were then given to Captain Berkeley and J.
Philpotts, Esq., the Members for the city.
Mr. SIDAWAY proposed, and Mr. KNOWLES seconded, a vote of
thanks to the Chairman, and the meeting concluded shortly before
eleven o'clock.—Dr. Cother, a celebrated Tory of the toy n, had
declared his intention of proposing a resolution in favour of the
Corn laws ; but when called on by some persons in the body of the
meeting, " echo answered, Where ?" The worthy doctor, like a
wise physician, refused to swallow the dose prepared for him, and
quietly "elided" away, "unnoticed and unknown." The men of
Gloucestershire are up, and prepared to assist in the coming struggle.
A crowded meeting was also held in Cheltenham to hear Mr.
Leach, of Manchester, at the Mechanics' Institution ; and but one
spirit appears to prevail throughout the county--opposition to
monopoly, and annihilation to monopolists and tyranny.

The General Steam Navigation Company's vessel
the Columbine, from Rotterdam, arrived off the Custom-house
yesterday at eleven o'clock, a.m., with the Dutch mail.

. .
_
We are authorised to state that the Mr. John
Robertson, who has been engaged in a correspondence with Mr.
Borthwick , M.P., is not the gentleman of that name long con-
nected with the City and a Director of the Blackwall Railway.
MADEMOISELLE DEJAZET AND THE NOVEL OF
" FASCINATION."—A peculiar interest attaches to the novel of
" Fascination," which bas just appeared, edited by Mrs. Gore. A
clever dramatic piece founded on the story, has been selected for
the debut of the celebrated Mademoiselle Dejazet at the French
Play : in order to appreciate which, it will be necessary for all the
frequenters of that fashionable entertainment to peruse the romance,
a work of the most original and piquant nature.
SIR HENRY MORGAN THE BUCCANEER.—WV will
not mar by anticipation (says a contemporary journal) the extraor..
dinar,' interest of this work as a narrative, but merely state that its
hero, Sir Henry Morgan, was known throughout Europe at the
latter end of the seventeenth century, as the boldest, most skilful,
and most fortunate of those buccaneering chiefs, who were called
into action by the then extraordinary condition of Spain and her
colonies, and which, added to the war between England and Spain,
caused the name of pirate or buccaneer to sound by no means so
harsh to " ears polite," as it may at present. In fact, buccaneer as
he was, Sir Henry Morgan came honestly and honourably by his
knighthood, and for some time bore the commission of an admiral
in the British Navy, and was appointed, at nearly the close of his
career, Governor of Jamaica; and that he moved in the highest
society of England at the period just referred to is unquestionable.
With regard to the fictitious portion of this singular work, it is
managed with great skill, and is only resorted to in connection with
those features of the narrative which are of a private and personal
nature. The loves, the friendships, the enmities, the family ties,
and associations, B:c., of the hero, are merely brought in aid of the
main design, which is that of a bona fide record of the leading
actions and the public career of the most distinguished ruffian that
perhaps ever lived.

- -
SIGHT AND HEARlNG.—Patronized by their
Majesties the King and Queen of Hanover, and their Royal
Highnesses the late Princess Augusta, the Princess Sophia,
her Serene Highness the Princess Esterhazy, the Princesses
Mary and Rosa, her Grace the Dowager Duchess of Bed-
ford, and their Graces the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the
Dukes of Norfolk, Devonshire, Manchester, and Marlborough,
Marquises of Hertford, Londonderry, Sligo, and Thomond, Earls
of Shaftesbury, Tankerville, Harewood, Powis, Bradford, Wick-
low, Verolam, flarrowby, Buckinghamshire, Meath, Somers, Ox
ford, Lisburne, and Ferrers, Bishops of Exeter, Blandford,
Lincoln, Cork, Elphin, and Kildare, Lords Hill, Cowley, &c. &c.
In addition to the above distinguished patronage to the Newly-
Invented Spectacle Lenses and Sound Magnifiers Invisible-
Operative Voice Conductor, Messrs. S. and B. Solomons, 39,
Albemarle-street, Piccadilly, opposite the York Hotel, and 76,
King William-street, City, state that their valuable inventions have
also gained the sanction and unqualified approbation of above four
hundred of the principal members of the medical profession. Imme-
diately these Newly.invented Spectacle Lenses are placed before
extremely imperfect vision, that mist and dullness which
appear before the eyes is at once removed, every object be.
comes clear and distinct, so that the most aged imperfect sight be.
comes bright and brilliant, and is brought to its youthful, natural,
and original state. Their Invisible Operative Voice Conductor
Sound Magnifiers for deaf persons, is not the least perceptible nor
uncomfortable ; they give immediate relief to old standing extreme
cases of deafness, and the faintest whisper at a public assemblytt
heard with exact distinctness. To be had only at 39, Albemarle-
street, opposite,. the York Hotel, and 76, King William.street,
City.—No connection with
in Ireland. persons of the same name, particularly
The chefs d'atelier of Lyons, to the number of
4,000, have signed a petition to the Chamber of Deputies, praying
for a reform of the institution of prud'hornmes.