The Sun.
London, England, 1842-03-03 00:00:00

rom Mr Blacklokwriter, Callendar, stating that out of two or
three htindred Dienes procured in that parish, fifty were those of
paupers receiving parish aid. He thee proceeded :—God forbid
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-
ieet ; 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
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,
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
have
to the conclusions on this subject to which they have come in
face of God's precepts, in the face of the teachings they 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
set of men as holy, as learned, and as pious, as ever adorned
any age or any church. Did it meet with a single remonstrance
from the venerable head of Protestant Christianity ? 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
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
mine from England—sha'l it be said that, having got
their money, and without any intimation that we acre
to shut the railway oil 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; hut
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 rod 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,
31` 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 t'se 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 the 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 Blackwall 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.) Its 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 1
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
uaited 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 1
accord the same cre.lit 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 isthe duty of the Directors to afford the fullest ac-
commodation to th epublic 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 travelling along the railway, to attend divine
service."

This resolution was seconded by Mr. EAGLE HaNinasoN.
A ~umber of other Shareholders then addressed the meeting, but
Mr. M'Neill bad exhausted the subject, and on a division the num-
bers stood thus Shares. Voters.
Fur Sunday.trains
Against ditto

Majority for Sunday.trsim ... 4113 ... 571

GREAT MEE'.: UNG AT GLOU-
CESTER.

Great excitement has existed here since Sir R. Peel's mountain has
delivered itself of the "sliding scale." A requisition signed by a num
ter of the most influential and respectable inhabitants of the city was
presented to the Mayor, \V. M. Meyler, Esq., who, in compliance
therewith, calk(' a melting of the citizens, which was held last
Welnesday iu. 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 aissence of the worthy Mayor, who was pre-
sented attending through indisposition), [We are sorry we have
not ram for the speeches, which were very voluminous, powerful,
and argumentative.]
The Rev. J. RonivAv 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 STURGH, 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 he 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. KNOWLEA, 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' [louse of Parliament."

Mr. BE NI NCTON 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; Eq., the Members fur the city.

Mr. Siiuwsv 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 caned on by some persons in the body of the
meeting, "echo answered, Where?" Die worthy doctor, like a
wise physician, refused to swallow the dose prepared for him, and
quietly "slitled" 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.

THEATRE ROYAL, DRURY-LANE.
THIS EVENING, MARCH 3,
Will be performed, arranged as a Drama, Handel's ACIS AND
GALATEA.—Polypheme, Mr. H. Philips; Acis, Miss P. Horton;
Damon, Mr. Allen; Galatea, Miss Romer.
After which, the New Comedy of THE PRISONER OF WAR.
To conclude with the New Farce, called THE WINDMILL.
Doers oiler at half-past Six, and the Performances begin at Seven.
Boxes es., Second Price 2s. 6d.; Pit 3s , Second Price 2s ; Lower
Gallery Is. td., Second Price Is. ; Upper Gallery Is., Second Price Id.