The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-04-16 00:00:00

EARLY CLOSING OF SHOPS.
PUBLIC MEETING OF THE INHABITANTS.

On Wednesday evening last, a public mntingrconvened
by his Worship the Mayor, in compliance with a requisi-
tion numerously signed, was held in the Music-hall,
Bold-street, for the purpose of considering the most de-
sirable means of bringing into use such an amended sys-
tem of business in regard to the hours of attendance, as
might give permanent and effectual relief to a large and
deserving class of persons, the tradesmen's assistants,
without injury either to their employers or the public.
The room was densely crowded in every part, the audi-
ence in the reserved seats consisting principally of ladies.
On the platform weobseryed the following gentlemen:—
The Rev. H. M'Neile, the Rev. F. Barker, the Rev. D.
Ferguson, the Rev. 'l'. Nolan, the Bey. W. Bevan, the
Rev. D. Thom, A. Hodgson, Thomas Blackburn, John
Cropper, James Mulleneux, Esq., &c., &c.
The Mayor (Thos. Sands, Esq.) took the chair shortly
after seven o'clock, and called upon the Town-clerk (R.
Radcliffe, Esq.) to read the requisition upon which the
meeting had been called.
The CHAIRASAN then briefly stated the object of the
meeting, which he said was to take measures for bringing
about a mitigation of the hours of labour as regarded the
shopkeepers' assistants, by which a great number of per_
would be benefited, wh le none, he thought, would
shoenis njured. He then read the following letter from the
Earl of Sefton :

" April 8, 1844

" Sir,—l see, by an advertisement, that you have
thought proper, in compliance with a requisition to that
effect, to convene a public meeting, to take into conside-
ration the best means of promoting the `early closing of
shops' in the town of Liverpool. Having, sir, been in-
duced to sign that requisition to you, I think it right to
apprize you that it will not be in my power to attend the
meeting, but, at the same time, to express my most hearty
concurrence in the object of it, which, I think, might be
attained without injury to tradesmen or their customers,
and would confer an invaluable boon, both moral and
physical, on the assistants whom it is intended to relieve.
" I remain, sir, your obedient servant,
" SEFTON.

"Tothe Worshipful the Mayor."

The Nlayoß also stated that he had received a note
from one of the representatives—the Right Hon. Lord
Sandon—on the same subject, which he would read. It
was as follows :

" Ingestrie, April 9, 1814.
" My dear Sir,—A paper has been sent me, in the
shape of a kind of summons, to attend a public meeting
to-morrow, at which you are to take the chair. It was
sent me, hardly in the expectation that I should he able
to comply with it, which, indeed, is the fact, as I have
business which will detain me in this part of the country.
But I cannot forbear saying, that there are few objects
which I should be more desirous to promote than that,
and others similar to it, which you are met to encourage
—I mean, a shortening of the hours of occupation.
" I recollect Mr. Huskisson saying to me, many years
ago, that he believed there was no animal so much over-
worked in body and mind, in any country, as the English-
man. And truly I believe such to be the case.
" Competition among ourselves, competition with fo-
reign countries, the native character of the people, and
the stimulus given by our free institutions to activity in
every shape—all combine to produce this effect; and I
believe it is time that public opinion in some cases, posi-
tive law in others, should declare loudly that the English-
man shall have more time for healthy recreation, for
thought, and for the development of the social affections.
" In this view I have long taken great interest in the
exertions which have for some time past been made by
and for those who are employed in every branch of busi-
ness, that they may be released at an earlier hour. I, for
my part, cannot apprehend injury either to their employ-
ers or to themselves. Their employers will have more
willing service, and the employed will have more health
of body and mind to give.
" Believe me, my dear sir, yours, very truly,
" To the Mayor." " SANDON.
The Rev. F. BARKER moved the first resolution. The
case was simply this :—it was calculated there were about
15,000 persons in Liverpool occupied in the various capa-
cities of assistants, porters, and errand boys, working 13,
14, 15, 17, 19, or even more hours out of the 24, during
six days of the week,—that those individuals were preclu-
ded from every pursuit which might tend to the preserva-
tion of health, the improvement of the mind, and, what
was more important of all others, the salvation of the soul.
He paid a marked compliment to Mr. Flower, an assist-
ant, who had, during the last seven years, endeavoured to
bring about this curtailment of the hours of business; and
after showing the hardships, mental and physical, to which
the assistants were exposed by the present habit of keep-
ing open the shops to unseasonable hours, concluded by
calling upon the meeting for their hearty co-operation.
" Only," said he, " give us your assistance, and the thing
will be done.—say that yon determine ten hours is suffi-
cient for you to shop—l think it ought to be a sufficient
time for you to keep it open—say this, and the thing must
be accomplished." (Applause.)
Mr. THOMAS BLACKBURN, in the course of a long
speech, which analysed the question in all its bearings,
maintained that it was a great mistake to suppose that
the real and permanent interests of the employers them-
selves could be promoted by long hours, and insisted that
as much business could be done, and done well, with short
hours as with long hours, and that they would produce
no unfavourable effect in the day-book or the ledger, the
cash-book or the bank-book. (Cheers.) They would
produce good effects on all—the employers and employed ;
and there would be as good a balance sheet at the end of
the year in the one case as in the other. He had great
pleasure in seconding the resolution, and he did so from
a firm conviction, that if this object could be attained, it
would be hiebly advantageous, not only to the assistants,
but to the shopkeepers, and the whole class of the com-
munity; and he trusted that vast assemblage would not
only signify their approval of the resolution, but would
do something more—that they would consider themselves
pledged in signifying, by the holding up of their hands in
approval of that resolution, to do all that lay in their
power, by every honest and proper influence, to secure
the attainment of the object in view. (Loud cheers.)
Mr. ADAM HODGSON supported the resolution, for he
could not forego the privilege of raising his voice against
the wrongs inflicted on a large portion of society.
Twenty years ago, when he and his friend Mr. Cropper
were in the American trade, they were generally engaged
in business until nine o'clock in the evening, and occa-
sionally till two or three in the morning, and what was
the consequence? A resolution was come to to finish the
business at six, and since that time the American trade
had doubled or trebled in amount. The resolution was
carried unanimously.
The Rev. W. BEVAN, who moved the second resolu-
tion, made an effective speech, and concluded by remind-
ing the meeting of the mottoes of two great men, "Agi-
tate, agitate, agitate," and " Register, register, register,"
and he called upon them to adopt those mottoes, to agitate
in this good cause, and also to register their names in
support of it. (Applause.)
The Rev. Mr. NOLAN seconded the resolution. In
doing so he observed that the object aimed at by the
meeting was one of mighty importance, and the necessity
for taking some steps in the matter had already been ac-
knowledged. The inquiring portions of the community
had consented to it, and the associations in this and other
towns were sufficient to direct public sympathy to it—all
were ready to acknowled,;e. It had been admitted, also,
that their present position was one which cried aloud for
interference—that being so, there had been a desire felt
for doing something all along, but every effort had been
stayed by the magnitude of the difficulty that was met
with on the threshold. They knew it was necessary to
do something, but how was that something to be accom-
plished ? because, when dealing with things in which there
existed conflicting interests, there was required the nicest
adjustment, and the most mature reflection and conside-
ration. It was not their desire to advance the interests
of one portion of society at the expense of another : they
did not desire to promote bad feeling between owners of
shops and their assistants ; their only object was to carry
on the work in such a manner that equal justice might be
done to all. These difficulties had been felt, and so, for
a long time, a deserving and numerous class of the com-
munity had received nothing but barren sympathy from
the public, from whom they had a right to look for sub-
stantive support. So far from wishing to injure the em-
ployers, they wanted the hearty good-will and co-opera-
tion of the shopkeepers, and when that was once obtained,
it was by the mighty power of public opinion the work
was to be accomplished. It might appear difficult, but
was there ever anything accomplished without? If there
were no difficulties, then what was the use of their meet-
ing that night? He urged them not to remain silent to
the appeal of humanity that was then being made to them
on behalf of the oppressed of their fellow-townsmen, who
were living underthe same enjoyments and privileges that
they themselves possessed. He concluded by calling on
them to bear in mind the words of the Roman poet Te-
rence, which, during the performance of one of his plays,
were rapturously applauded by the assembled multitude
—" I am a man, and all that concerns man concerns me."
And surely, said he, the mighty influence of the gospel in
this professing Christian country forbids us to be stran-
gers to those impulses by which the mind of a heathen
audience was actuated. (Applause.)
Mr. JOHN SMITH was then called upon to support the
resolution, and said he could adduce many facts in aid of
the object in view, but considering the talent that had
preceded him, and that which was to follow, and having
the opportunity through another medium of urging what-
ever he thought useful to the cause (cheers), he would
not inflict a long speech upon the meeting. He trusted
the committee to be appointed would take cognizance of
statements which had reached him of the severe hardships
suffered by bakers, carriers' clerks, dressmakers, and
others, and that its labours would be successful in esta-
blishing a general feeling in favour of shorter hours of
business. Bankers closed their offices at three or four
o'clock, and yet no one supposed they lost any business
or any profit by so doing. (Hear, hear.) The Mayor
had just reminded him, in reference to the observation
made by Mr. Adam Hodgson, touching the public mar-
kets, that the subject of the late hours there had not
passed unnoticed. His worship and himself, accompanied
by a clergyman, and by a gentleman now on the platform,
had recently visited two of the markets and the neigh-
bouring taverns late on Saturday night, and had inspected
the state of their respective neighbourhoods after mid-
night, to ascertain what sort of a preparation for the Sab-
bath late hours of business could admit of ; and when the
subject should next Fe introduced in the Council, the
Chief Magistrate would be able to give it the effect of his
testimony. (Loud applause.)
The Chairman then put the resolution, which was car-
ried unanimously.
•
The Rev. HUGH M`NEILE, in rising to propose the
next resolution, was loudly cheered. He said a practical
resolution bad been entrusted to his care, and the best of
the proposal was, that it came at an auspicious moment,
because it was not practice in theory, if he might so speak
—it was not a recommendation of objects to be carried

out at their leisure, but the recommendation of an act to
he perfo-erred there. Having read the third resolution,
he proceeded to say, there was one advantage in propo-
singheld up to signify their approbation of it were
document
a resolution of this kind—that the hatmdsimwhmiecdhiawteerlye
called into action to sign their names to the ;
and therefore it ought not, in fact no resolution ought, to
he passed heedlessly, but that especially, and they should
think before they passed it. It was now three years since,
under similar auspices,—he meant the presidency of the
chief magistrate,—they were privileged with the opportu-
nity of advocating this cause. The progress of events
during these years bad but tended to confirm their con-
viction of the reasonableness and justice of the arrange-
ments they proposed, acd the advantages derived and in-
tended to be derived from their adoption. The practica-
bility of it, without any serious injury to any class, must
be easily seen by every member of the community. The
causes which justified them some years ago in agitating
this question still existed and justified them now. Tue
difficulties that stood in the way still existed, but he was
harpy to say not in undiminished force. Some progress
had been made ; and, as he was called to practical busi-
ness, he would read to the meeting a specimen of the pro-
gress which had been made. [Th Rev. Gentleman here
read a printed list of the shops in the principal streets
which are closed at seven o'clock.] That, he said, was
not a mere dead catalogue, but a Eying practical list; and
those parties were deserving. well deserving, a decided
preference from persons who) wished to employ such shops;
a preference not arising in exclusive dealing from any un-
fair, unjust, sectional, sectarian, or political feeling, but
in a pl,in, broad, practical det:rmination to make known
and make known by action, the determination of the pub-
,
lie of this town to carry out this measure, and to give
such support to shopkeepers who close at seven o'clock,
as to make them, instead of losers, actually gainers by it.
(Applause.) He believed all the difficulties which had
been so well expressed already would be overcome if
means of the right kind were adopted in the right way.
It was the property of practical Wisdom in all her opera-
tions, not only to consider the end in view, but also the
materials she had to work with, in order that she might
at every step overcome the difficulties which stand in the
way. Without enthusiasm they could not be truly de-
voted in a good cause at all times, and with devoted en-
thusiasm who could be perfectly judicious at all times ?
Energy without excitement, and sustained vigour without
any vain vehemence, was a cornbinaton difficult fur fallen
man to obta,n ; and yet such a combination was absolutely
indispensable in the immediate and practical carrying for-
ward of the cause in hand. Their object could not be
obtained by force—legislation was out of the question.
They did not contemplate and did not seek that ; and,
therefore, he did not think it necessary to enter into any
discussion of the opinion as to whether legislation in any
such case might be beneficially applied. He considered
that a separate question. The object could only be at-
tained by an amicable arrangement amongst all the parties
concerned—an arrangement which, by practical applica-
tion, will make every shopkeeper of Liverpool feel t.iat it
is his interest to enter into the arrangement and cordially
observe it. Such being the case, it would be unwise, in
the warmth of the discussion of the claims of one party,
to say anything to injure or irritate the other party. For
instance, to reprobate time existing abuses as if they were
willingly encouraged by the master, as if the master had
wanton satisfaction in tyranny and cruelty, would not be
the way to win the co-operation of the masters • and yet
the abuses must be exposed in order that the
public' might
see the necessity for improvement. To enlarge exclu-
sively on the claims of the assistants, was not the way to
gain the employers; and, on the other hand, to enlarge
exclusively on the rights of property, and the privileges
of employers to make the most advantageous agreernea
they could to carry on their work, would not be the way
to get the right information and promote the object in
view; yet the rights of property must be urged, the pri-
vileges of the employer respected, or, if not, there was an
end to all employment and all true liberty of society.- He
(Mr. M`Neile) would, therefore, rather affectionately re-
monstrate than excite strong .feeling in this work. He
would take the liberty, in all affection, on behalf of the
masters, to address the assistants, and then, on behalf of
the assistants, to address the masters, and afterwards,
on behalf of both, to address the public. (Applause.)
The Rev. Gentleman then proceeded to address the as-
sistants. He said they ought to remember, that hard-
ship was not peculiar to their case in this world, and
called on them to contrast their si.uations with those of
young men who were compelled to go abroad. He spoke
of the number of little items which were important to
their employers. He then said, religion was not to free
man from toil, but to sanctify him fur it. To the masters
he said, that whilst the rights of property and their privi-
leges in making contracts with the employed were re-
spected ; and whilst they respected their motives in their
practice hitherto, yet they ought to remember the parties
were not mere machines—they must think as well as toil.
If they required them to serve them not as eye servants,
but as servants of God, they must let them read the word
of God. They must give them out of their premises time
for something more than sleep. They were bound to give
them time to read, whether they occupied it as they wished
or not. He thought the practice would be. that all the
shops in the respectable streets would be closed, and those
that remained open would be in the back streets. The
Rev. Gentleman then addressed the public, advising them
not to make late purchases, and to patronize only such
shops as closed early. One of the speakers who had
preceded him had given them a motto. If they would
permit him he would give them a motto before proposed
at a meeting in this good cause. The Rev. Gentleman
then related the anecdote of the Highlander, who told
Napoleon Bonaparte that he could not play a retreat on
the bagpipes, and then said to the assistants engaged in
this work " No retreat ;" to the masters who had com-
menced and closed their shops, "No retreat ; " to the
public who were disposed to take the Rev. Mr. Barker's
advice, "No retreat." Mr. M`Neile then sat down amidst
loud applause, but rose almost immediately to say that he
had that moment been informed that some of the shop-
keepers whose names had been read had resumed late
hours. The only way, therefore, in order that the public
might discriminate, was for those shopkeepers who closed
early to have a bill in the window stating the fact.
The Rev. D. FERGUSON seconded the resolution, and
in doing so observed that it was the duty of every minister
to come forward in such a cause now that the ministry' bad been drawn forth, and that every minister who did
not avow his assent to it was guilty of a crime. Toil was
the lot of every man, but when a system was carried on
which was likely to bring the life-blood out of him and
shorten the period iif existence,—and he had been given
to understand the majority of shopmen did not live above
forty years,—it was evidently a sin, and no earthly gain
could compensate for its existence. In conclusion, he
besought them to bear in mind what had been said by a
more distinguished countryman of his than the one re-
ferred to by Mr. M'Neile, during the progress of a recent
agitation, " Retreat!—no, not a hair's breadth ;" and to
couple along with that the watch word whereby he
guided on his party, " Organize, organize, organize."—
(Cheers.)
The Rev. HUGH WNEILE was sorry to interrupt them,
but he wished them to bear in mind that there were books
for receiving the names of parties who were willing to
subscribe in aid of the cause they were advocating, and
as practice was that which brought principle to the test,
he recommended them to come forward.
The CHAIRMAN said he had seen a note from Lord
Sandon, in which he said he was willing to give £5 if the
matter were followed up.
The CHAIRMAN then put the motion, which was car-
ried unanimously.
W. B. HODGSON, Esq., said he would not detain them,
especially as they were now endeavouring to do away with
the late hour system. He moved the fourth resolution,
and hoped they would not merely strike while the iron
was hot, but strike till it was hot, and then continue
striking while it was hot. _

The resolution w s seconded by James Mulleneur,
Esq.. and carried. _

JOHN CROPPER, Esq., moved the fifth resolution, that
the resolutions he signed by the Mayor on behalf of the
meeting, and advertised in the papers, which was seconded.
by Mr. E. Flower; and a vote of thanks, moved by
Thomas Blackburn, Esq., having been passed, thanking
to the chairman for his services on the occasion, the
meeting broke up about half past ten.

MALT, Hors, AND BREWERS.—Mr. Benjamin Wood,
M.P. for Sontliw::rk, has moved for accounts relating to
malt and hops, and to the number of persons licensed as
brewers, victunllere, &c., for the year 1842-13. We find
that the total quantity of malt made in the United King-
dom during the year ended the 10th of October, 1843,
was 4,459,673 quarters, of which 3,171,441 quarters were
used by brewers and victuallers, and 394,857 quarters by
retailers. With respect to hops, it appears that the total
number of acres of land in Great Britain under the culti-
vation of hops in 1813, amounted to 43,156 acres. The
total amount of duty paid on hops of the growth of last
year was £243,796, viz., £133,508, old duty per lb., and
£98,680, new duty. It further appears that the total
number of brewers in the United Kingdom is 2.644, and
the total number of licensed victuallers 86,073; that
31,227 persons are licensed to sell beer " to be drunk on
the premises ;" that 27,009 victuallers brew their own
beer; and that the total number of bushels of malt con-
, sumed by brewers amounts to 17,719,938 bushels, and the
quantity consumed by victuallers to 7,651,603 bushels.
The quantity consumed by persons licensed to sell beer
" to be drunk on the premises" is 2,761,672 bushels.
MARRIAGE EXTRAORDINARY.—One of the Ojibbe-
way Indians, lately exhibited by Mr. Catlin, at the Egyp-
tian Hall, Piccadilly, has just entered into the matrimo-
nial state with a very pretty and interesting young lady,
of English birth, about 18 years of age, and of respectable
connexions, resident in the neighbourhood of the New-
road, Somers Town. The Ojibbeway thus honoured vvith
the fair hand of the youthful maiden is named Nottenakin
(the strong wind), and is one who acted as the interpreter
of the other Indians. He is tolerably well acquainted
with both the English and French languages. At an early
hour on Tuesday morning, St. Martin's Church and its
vicinity presented a gay and animated appearance. About
half-past nine o'clock a coach drawn by tour grey horses,
containing the Indians, their wives, and children, attired
in their native costume, followed by two carriages—the
first containing the bride, bridegroom, and bridesmaids,
and the second the father and friends of the bride—drew
up at the church, and the whole of the party entered the
sacred edifice, which was crowded by fashionably dressed
persons, the majority being ladies. After the solemn
ceremony was performed in an impressive manner by the
officiating clergyman, the party returned to their equi-
pages, and drove off amidst the cheers of the assembled
multitude. The name of the bride was Miss Sarah
Haines, the second daughter of Mr. Haines, of George-
street, Huston-square (she was eleg,antly attired, and ap..
peared tobe in excellent health and spirits)—that of the
happy bridegroom, Alexander Nottenakm, a native of
Upper Canada, but of French extraction. He was attired
in a blue military surtout and scarlet trousers. He is aIIC
- '
Ter) handsome man both in form and features,
fraIWYC,
•-- • •

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