The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-10-01 00:00:00

MEETING OF SHOPKEEPERS.

On Friday night, a meeting of shopkeepers took place at
the Clarendon-rooms, in order to carry out the arrangement,
which worked so well last year, for the earlier closing of the
shops during the winter months. At eight o'clock, the time
fixed for the meeting, the attendance was very slender, but
it improved considerably as the proceedings of the evening
advanced. Mr. Woolwright was called to the chair.
The CHAIRMAN, in calling attention to the object for
which they were assembled, expressed his regret that greater
publicity had not been given to the present meeting. They
were called together at a short notice by means of a placard,
and from a very unfortunate omission, the newspapers did
not contain the advertisement of their meeting that evening.
This was the cause of the limited attendance. It would be
in the recollection of those present, that in November last
year, resolutions were adopted at a public meeting, pledging
the shopkeepers to close earlier than they had previously
done. Though not universally observed. yet being the first
season, a much greater unanimity prevailed with regard
to the regulation than could have been expected—greater in-
deed, than he had seen in other towns where a similar under-
standing prevailed. Some dissentients there were, and they
acted under the mistaken impulse that their business would
be injured by an earlier closing. But they (the meeting)
had now reason to hope, that such dissentients, finding tl e
inaccuracies of their views, would give way to public feeling
and succumb to the general good. The committee think
that the closing will be more generally observed this year
than last. At the former meeting it was urged that some
plan ought to be devised for enabling the young men to em-
ploy their leisure time profitably, and accordingly an institu-
tion was formed for carrying out that object. The success of
that institution had been as great as could be expected.
During the summer quarter, (the least favourable period of
the year) there were from 210 to 220 subscribers, and when
it was considered that all that season they could not get out
until late in the evening, there was every reason to believe
that the October quarter would be even better attended.
After a few introductory observations, the Chairman called
upon the secretary, Mr. Willacy, to read the report.
The SECRETARY read the report, which gave a detailed ac-
count of the proceedings of the shopkeepers, from their orga-
nization last year to the present time, dwelling on the work-
ing and advantages of the young men's association for im-
proving their moral and intellectual character.

Mr. FERGUSON, in moving the adoption of the report, said
that although there existed some little cause for regret, there
was still more for congratulation. Some persons had, it was
true, obstinately, perversely, and unjustly refused to acquiese
in the system of early closing ; but he hoped that these would
speedily become converts, and that the next annual report
would be even more favourable than the present. There was
abundant cause for congratulation at the exertions made to
ameliorate the condition of their dependents—exertions which
had met with encouragement from so many good men, and
the success of the past was a guarantee for,the future. (Hear.)
Mr. B. WILLIAMS seconded the adoption of the report,
which was carried unanimously.
Mr. MINTON moved a resolution to the effect, that the
shopkeepers of Liverpool close their shops at eight in the
evening, from the Ist October to the 31st of March, and at
nine from the Ist of April to the 30th of September, which
he hoped would meet with their approval. Having some
time back been one of those who canvassed the town in order
to effect the object for which they were assembled, he could
speak personally of the grateful manner in which the propo-
sition was received by the bulk of the shopkeepers, and even
where objections existed, those objections were founded on
necessity—the peculiar nature of certain kinds of business,
and such like feelings, than on principle. The non-shopkeep-
ing part of the community had given their sanction to an
abridgment of the hours of business, and he could not but
express the debt of gratitude which they owed to the press
for the assistance it had rendered them in carrying out their
views. Already they had effected a great social reform. It
was never intended that a man's life should be occupied be-
hind the counter from sunset to sunrise.—(Hear, hear.)
He has mental, moral, and physical qualities to cultivate, and
how could that cultivationlproceed without rest and leisure ?
After drawing a striking comparison between the many hours
which a shopkeeper devotes to business, as compared with a
mechanic, a merchant or a labourer, Mr. Minton concluded
by making a forcible appeal to the meeting in favour of the
resolution.

The resolution was seconded by Mr. PHILLIPS, and car-
ried unanimously.

Mr. JEFFRIES said the company would be anxious to learn
from him some information respecting the institution for
mental improvement, which the assistant drapers had formed.
It was the opinion of many, when the subject of early closing
was first mooted, that their assistants would be rather in-

jured than benefitted inCl;;;c7er-Q habits if they had
more time at their disposal. To meet this objection, the
young men memorialized their employers, that if they would
grant the boon of early closing, it would not be abused ; and
when their wishes were acceded to, an institution was esta.
blished by them under the name of the " Assistant Drapers'
Institution." The number of members originally was 150 ;
but in consequence of a deficiency of that essential requisite,
cash, for effectually working it, 89 members withdrew. It
occurred to the principals, that the success of this institution
for the improvement of their dependants, was immediately
connected with the system of early closing, and, accordingly,
on the first of May, a directory, consisting of thirteen prin-
cipals, was formed for its management. The number of mem-
bers now belonging to it is 206-167 assistants and 39 princi-
pals. The attendance during the summer months has been
good ; but of course it will increase in the winter months.
men The young evince every disposition to improve them-
selves, for which praiseworthy purpose they have formed
classes for mutual instruction. At present there are three
classes—the first, a grammar class (they began at the right
end by learning correctly the principles of their own language,)
—the second a French class, in which they have the services
of a French tutor—and the third a class for acquiring a proper
knowledge of book-keeping—an indispensable requisite for
men engaged in business. The institution has received very
liberal support ; 220 volumes (many of them valuable works)
have been presented to it. LOrd Sandon and Mr. Cresswell
sent a donation of £5. each. In Liverpool, donations to the
amount of £lO9. 10s. have been received, and elsewhere do-
nations amounting to £55. 6s. The speaker proceeded to
state, that when the directory was formed, the institution was
£l4O. in debt, which the young men themselves nobly in-
sisted on liquidating. But it would require 340 members at
15s. each to meet the current expenses of the institution ;
and he urged upon the principals coming forward to support
it. The subscription was moderate, considering the advan-
tages it held out—for a principal, 21s.—an assistant, 15s. and
an apprentice, 10s. The institution was not limited to
drapers—it included all grades of tradesmen, their as-
sistants, and apprentices. It waa gratifying to see the ap
pearance which the institution presented, and many young
men frequent it who formerly spent their evenings in the ale-
house. The speaker in conclusion, stated, that arrangements
were being made for the delivery of a course of lectures, and
he trusted that the institution would receive the cordial sup-
port of the classes for whose benefit it was designed.
Mr. WILLIAMS hoped that employers would give the in-
stitution their assistance. It was well entitled to it, and in
serving it, they served themselves.
The meeting was subsequently addressed by Mr. Orange,
Mr. Tait, and other speakers. A subscription was made for
liquidating the treasurer's balance against the society, and
after some further business, thanks were voted to the chair-
man, and the meeting separated.

A WONDERFUL HORSE.-It may not be generally known
that Isaac, an aged gelding, who has, by his victorious ca-
reer as a racer, created quite a sensation in the sporting
world, is the same horse that run at our Hurdle Races in
1836, in the name of our townsman, Mr. Speed. At those
races he was unsuccessful in both his efforts, and was beaten
in indifferent company. At the time we allude to he was the
property, of Mr. Speed, conjointly with Sam Darling, the ce-
lebrated jockey, who we are told parted with him to his pre-
sent owner (Mr. Tome) for a trifling sum, without the con-
currence of Mr. Speed. Since this the horse has been run-
ning with varied success in different parts of the country, but
this year his performances have been most extraordinary, he
having won no less than twenty-one races out of the twenty-
three in which he has been engaged, beating many of the best
horses of the day. His late running at Shrewsbury is one
proof of our assertion ; and it is thought by many, bad the
horse been entered for the Goodwood Stakes, he would have
walked off with them, Isaac having since vanquished Barna-
cles, the winner of that prize, and other horses of greater ce-
lebrity. Indeed, his doings on the turf have no paralel since
the days of Dr. Syntax, Reveller, and old Euphrates. Isaac
was originally purchased by Mr. Speed for £36, and at that
period was little thought of as a racer. We have heard that
Mr. Speed has still an interest in the horse's winnings, which
is allowed him by Sam Darling, in consequence of the latter's
never having had Mr. Speed's sanction in the disposal of this
most extraordinary animal. From the repeated winnings of
Isaac, he is at all times heavily weighted, and it is not un-
common to see him running three or four heats for a raoe
after having carried 10st. in the preceding one. The quantity
of work the horse is made to undergo renders his success the
more surprising, many horses breaking down with a tithe of
the labour. In verity Mr. Tome must have been a " cunning
Isaac" to get possession of so rare a bit of horse-flesh : his
winnings must be great.---Chronicle.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.-Flu D AY.

UTTERING FORGED BANK OF ENGLAND NOTES.

A consumptive looking Irishman, Owen Sherry, and his
wife were placed before Mr. Rushton on a charge of uttering
forged Bank of England notes. There were four cases against
Sherry—in three of which he had succeeded in passing £5
notes, and in the fourth instance, he made an unsuccessful
attempt to pass a £lO note. The first witness was a Mrs.
Ashton, who keeps a public-house in this town. On the 20th
of July last, the prisoner came to her house and called for
two glasses of ale, for which he tendered a £5 note (produced)
in payment. Mrs. Ashton requested the servant to take the
note up stairs to her master, and ask his opinion about it.
Mr. Ashton, on seeing the note, expressed his suspicion of
its being genuine, and told the girl to take it across the way
to a neighbour (Mr. Holmes) and ask his opinion of it ; the
girl did so, and the opinion beinc, favourable, the note was
changed, and the prisoner departed. The note remained in
the possession of Mr. Ashton until it was tendered to Mr.
Ackers, the brewer, when the forgery was discovered. In
the second instance, the victim was Mrs. Farraday, who keeps
a public-house in the neighbourhood of Canning-place. The
prisoner came toiler house and bought a barrel of sour ale,
the price for which was 16 shillings. This occurred on the
18th July. He tendered a forged £5 Bank of England note
for payment. Mrs. Farraday sent her daughter to a neigh-
bouring house for the purpose of getting it changed ; the
party who changed the note made the girl write her name on
the back. It was subsequently paid by Mrs.' Farraday to
Mr. Richmond, the spirit merchant. The note produced in
court bc re the girl's signature, which she identified. On the
same day the prisoner paid a £5 note to a person named
Gillen, who keeps the Dolphin Inn, Burlington-street. He
owed Gillen an account of 16s. and received the balance. Mr.
Robert M`Laughlin stated that on the 16th inst. the prisoner
came to his house, and as he (the prisoner) owed him an ac-
count of £3 18s, he asked him for it. He tendered a £lO
Bank of England note, and said he would pay the account if
witness would give him the difference. The witness looked
at the note, and believing it to be bad, told him to call in the
morning for the change. Witness asked him for his address,
which he wrote on a slip of paper—" Owen Sherry, 38, New
Bird-street." This address was false, the prisoner having
left his lodgings in that street some time previously. The
note which the witness produced was numbered 72,256, and
bore the signature "J. Robinson." It was badly executed,
as indeed were all the others, and could hardly fail to be de-
tected by the least experienced eye. The prisoner, on being
asked what he had to say, replied that his wife found the
notes and he believed them to be genuine. He had asked the
opinion of a person in Cleveland-square, who assured him
that the notes were good. The prisoner was remanded until
Thursday, in order to afford time to consult with the Attor-
ney-General ; and there being no evidence to implicate his
wife, she was discharged.

-YESTERDAY.
A YOUNG RUT PRACTISED THIEF.

A 'mere boy, named William Wellington, was placed at the
bar, charged with having stolen a large block from one of the
docks. The article was too unwieldy to be readily portable,
and he was consequently detected. Enquiry being made
whether he was known, Mr. Parkinson said that be had been
seven times committed, and fourteen times discharged. He
was sent to the House of. Correction for three months.