The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-10-15 00:00:00

AT a PUBLIC MEETING of the TRADESMEN'S
ASSISTANTS, held at the CLARENDON Rooms, on
TUESDAY EVENING, the 12th October, 1841,
It was unanimously resolved,
That the following Address be signed by the Chairman, on
behalf of this Meeting, and that it be advertised in the LI-
VERPOOL STANDARD and Mercury.

TO TAE TRADESMEN OF LIVERPOOL

SIRS,—We, your servants, approach you with unfeigned
respect, and with a sincere desire in this, as in all cases, to
aid in the promotion of your interests..

We lay before you our views and feelings with respect to
the long agitated question of the Houus of BUSINESS, in
the hope that you will receive them in a spirit of candour
and benevolence. _

We have long felt that, in this age of improvement—when
all other classes are advancing in intelligence—we alone are
precluded the rich advantages which are enjoyed by our fel-
low-men. That this state of things is owing to the system
of long hours of business; a system established by our fore-
fathers, and respected for its antiquity, but which is quite
inconsistent wiih the present more cultivated state of society.
That even at that period of the year when our labour is the
lightest, we are released from business at an hour too late to
enable us to participate in the instruction which our public
institutions afford. That unless we can be released from
business at seven o'clock these advantages cannot be made
available to us. That (wanting opportunities either for in-
struction or for harmless recreations) we are thus exposed to
temptations alike destructive to our health and morals.
That those who fall into the snares of such temptations bring
descredit upon our class, the majority of whom we confi-
dently believe are orderly and well-disposed men. That the
number of hours which are daily passed in unemployed
attendance proves that our duties might be performed in a
much shorter period, provided the Public would resolve to
visit the Shops only within more limited hours. That with
such a determination on the part of the public no loss of
trade could befall our employers. That many of our em-
ployers have expressed a desire to afford the relief we seek,
but have thought it impossible to gain the concurring aid of
the Public in carrying out their object. That we have there-
fore appealed to the benevolent sympathy of the British
people, and our appeal has been responded to in a manner
which encourages us to hope that the boon may be granted,
not only without loss, but with increased benefit to your pe-
cuniary interests. That this assumption is founded, first,
upon the indisputable fact that men who could labour actively
during a period of TEN Houus, are physically unable to
command the necessary activity for a longer term ; secondly,
upon a belief that a great moral effect would be produced in
the minds of the Assistants by your conceding the boon we
ask, and that a sense of gratitude would more than anything
stimulate their exertions in behalf of their employers ; and,
thirdly, that with an improved state of health and spirits.
and with more cultivated minds, the Assistants would ere
long become more estimable, and therefore more useful and
more valuable servants.

-
In all humility we submit these considerations to you, our
employers.
As humane and enlightened men we believe that you will
rejoice in alleviating our condition. We doubt not you will
perceive that our object is not founded is mere selfishness—
that while we hope, under more genial regulations, to be-
come wiser and better men, we expect that the advantages
of our improvement will be shared by all with whom we are
connected.
We entreat your early consideration of the subject, and
your reply, and, with great respect, subscribe ourselves,
Sirs, your most obedient Servants.
On behalf of the Meeting,
E. FLOWER, Chairman.
Clarendon Rooms, 12th October, 1841.