and it is absurd, therefore, to contrast More with St. Paul, and to represent the former as persecuting the faith which he once believed, since he never did imbibe the principles of the Reformers.

For the conduct of More towards the Reformers, on which historians are not agreed, we must refer our readers to the following brief extracts from the life of Sir Thomas More, by Sir James Mackintosh :

"His responsibility, in its most important and only practical part, must be contracted to the short time which extends from the 25th October, 1529, when he was appointed Chancellor, to the 16th of May, 1532, when he was removed from his office, not much more than two years and a half. Even within these narrow limits, it must be remembered, that he found the system of persecution established, and its machinery in a state of activity. The prelates, like most other prelates in Europe, did their part in convicting the Protestants of Lollardy, in the spiritual courts, who were the competent judges of that offence. Our means of determining what executions for Lollardy (if any) took place when More had a decisive ascendant in the royal councils, are very imperfect. If it were certain that he was the adviser of such executions, it would only follow that he executed one part of the criminal law, without approving it, as succeeding judges have certainly done in cases of fraud and theft, when they no more approved the punishment of death than the author of Utopia' might have done in its application to heresy."

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If, however, we examine the question on the grounds of positive testimony, it is impossible to appeal to a witness of more weight than Erasmus. It is,' said he, a sufficient proof of his clemency, that while he was Chancellor, no man was put to death for these pestilent dogmas, while so many have suffered capital punishment for them in France, in Germany, and in the Netherlands.""

For the remainder of the passage, which is too long to be inserted, and for Sir James Mackintosh's vidication of More from the charge of cruelty, which has been alleged, we must refer to the work itself.

The Early Closing Movement.

THIS question, however viewed, is one of the broadest indexes of the vital progress of the age. Not alone extraordinary for being the impulsive movement of classes, apart from religious, apart from political views, but for its involving within it some of the profoundest truths of moral and social progress. To the philosophic mind, it seems to realise by its advance man's destined progress from labour towards rest; not rest, as exemptions from that action necessary to his well-being; but from debasing, exhausting, physical labour, that emasculates the feeble races of populated towns, and deadens as well as brutifies at the spade

and the plough. It gives to the human mind, hope of a time, when equalising, co-operate industry, shall give bread to all in plenty; and when perfected, through still evolving wonders of machinery, shall be the thousand-handed slave, leaving man to develope his diviner and more spiritual nature; to direct, control, teach, advance, enjoy, and comprehend the glorious tendencies of humanity; as in this progression of his nature, he will recognise the true purposes of existence, and in fulfilling perfected benevolence, both in judgment and action, assimilate his mind to the benevolence which governs.

Simply viewed, labour, as it has advanced from its feudal relation, and becomes a mere matter of exchange in the widest democratic sense, equalises the relative duties of employer and employed; though the spirit in which these duties are conceived and brought into action, makes the wide difference between enforcement by a coercion bill in capital, and manly argument of reasonable conciliation. Let it be once but fairly considered, that service is a covenant of equal benefit, and no point which raises the advantages of that benefit will be disregarded. On this view, we think, rests the best argument of those connected with the early closing movement of this metropolis, and the provincial towns. Looking on the question in this spirit, employers will exercise their social duties as men, and men of advance; in this sense the employed ask a concession of time, in a spirit so wise and just as to proclaim, with its own voice, the comprehension of what they have to give in return as no less than earnest work, earnest higher faith; and let those who like scorn such evidence; we do not. Let the employer equalise humanity, and use in its true sense the virtual power which capital bestows! The influence of this abridgment will beneficially, as we conceive, permeate down upon the habits of the lower classes, favouring thought and method, and necessitating the payment of wages during reasonable hours.

Showing this great question to be really true and sound, its movers must not grow disheartened; for truth, though immutable, is mostly a slow progressing angel, as she often has to travel with worse hindrances than Mrs. Gamp's pattens. A better physical connotes with it a higher mental condition, as well as a better moral and social spirit. The men of this movement may leave the literary pap-boat, spoon, and bib, to such old ladies as may need them: the comprehension of civil rights, and the great truths of social and political progress, needs not their assistance, neither will there be lack of help from the press, or works to lead on this march of mind. And the social spirit, bless it! will have its day at last, and show what suavity, what kindliness, what grace lies in it! This in employers' homes too, where woman shares the labours, where her spirit shall humanise, whilst her mind progresses with the advance around!

Therefore, thou One Great City Bell, ring out your hour of six, now for some, speedily for all! Ring out loud enough, and tell far-off city bells, Norwich, Lincoln, York, loud enough for the broad brave West Riding, far enough for Manchester, and mighty heart of Birmingham, each day that man's stern hand-work is over; and now, and now as far as the short comings of humanity will let him, he strives to put on his angel better nature!-Douglas Jerrold's Newspaper.

MANCHESTER AND SALFORD EARLY CLOSING

ASSOCIATION.

On Wednesday, the 19th of August, a meeting of the members and friends of this Association was held in the Lecture-room of the Athenæum. Mr. Falkner, of Stevenson-square, occupied the chair.

The Chairman, in opening the proceedings, said the Early Closing Association was founded on the principle that the whole effective business of the day might be transacted within a shorter period than at presented was devoted to it, namely fourteen or fifteen hours per day; and that, therefore, the present long and late hours of labour are not only injurious to the comfort and welfare of both principals and assistants, but an actual waste of time. It was plain to all who had taken the matter into consideration, that all the business of the day, and all the varied duties to which man might be called, were to be performed within twenty-four hours. Each day should bring with it its appointed round of duties and of pleasure; and, unless both were taken together, it was quite impossible to support the exertion of labour. Touching on the practical mode of working out the views the Association held, he said it had two duties-first, to impress on the public the necessity of going to shops in reasonable time. The next duty was to prevail on the heads of establishments to exercise a well-considered and reasonable degree of independence, by closing their establishments at early and proper hours, so as, on the one hand, to give full time to the public to transact their business, and, on the other, to enable the parties engaged in the establishment to attend to personal duties [hear].

The Rev. Dr. Beard moved the first resolution:

"That this meeting believes the object of the Early-Closing Association to be consistent with all the principles of justice, morality, and true religion, and that it especially commends itself to those who have the moral and physical welfare of the people at heart."

He entirely concurred in the sentiments the resolution conveyed; he thought the Association had a very important object in view, which was entirely accordant with all the principles of justice, morality, and true religion. He had known many who had amassed large fortunes, and he had known some of them who, when they had amassed their fortunes, had not the means of rationally enjoying the opulence they had around them, because they had not, at an early period, had opportunities of self-culture. He had seen remarks made in connexion with the movement, that the settlement of the question depended very much indeed, if not altogether, on the will of the masters. He believed it did depend somewhat upon the will of the masters, and he was glad to see the Chairman in the position he then occupied; it was one highly honourable to him; he employed many young men, and he showed by his attendance there that night that he wished them to enjoy opportunities of moral and physical culture, and that he wished the day to have its pleasures as well as its labours. By the adoption of such a course generally a superior class of young men would arise up in their services, of whom he was sure the masters would find their advantage. He had

intimated his opinion that the settlement of the question lay with the public, and until the public could be influenced, and induced to make their purchases at early hours in the day, it was impossible the object could be obtained. What could be done? They must hold meetings like the present one, and above all secure the active sympathies of the ladies, for they would make the most effective missionaries on their side. They must say to those gentlemen who had provided parks for the people, "In vain is it you provide them unless you give the young men time to resort to them;" to those engaged in the publication of cheap literature, one of the most encouraging circumstances of the present day, "In vain is it you publish books if you don't give our young men time to read;" to those engaged in religious efforts for the elevation of the community, they must say, In vain you open your evening-schools, almost in vain do you open your Sunday-schools, if the young men, your hope, your confidence, to whom you must look, are so much exhausted with their toil that they have not energy in the evening, when indeed they have not time, to use them, nor on the Sunday, when they have time to engage in the efforts for the advancement of their race." The rev. gentleman concluded an able speech with the following words:-Making money seemed to be the only object of life to some people, and though he was no fanatic, not one of those who spoke of "cursed money ruining men," yet he did say, if a man made the accumulation of money the great end of his life, he committed the greatest mistake he could make. But it was this moneymaking propensity, leading to the stern competition which existed in the present day, that made the shopkeepers continue to perpetrate the injustice of keeping open their shops so late at night. They must work as much as possible on the people at large: there lay the greater part of the evil, and there must the remedy be most determinedly applied [hear].

The Rev. Dr. Nolan seconded the resolution in an effective address, observing, amongst other things, that he did think that there was no class, considering their previous habits of mind, the station in society from which they were not unfrequently taken, and their prospectsthat no class commended themselves more to the generous sympathies of the public to aid in releasing them from the wearying, and oppressive, and burdensome hours to which they are subjected, than the young men of our shops.

Mr. Baxter Langley, secretary to the Athenæum, briefly supported the resolution, He said, if in the terms of the resolution the object sought by the movement was consistent with religion and morality, then that practice which it was sought to destroy, must be inconsistent with them, and ought to be abandoned. Young men should have exercise; and it was proved that the change which took place in the lungs was only carried on in the sun-shining hours of the day; and therefore, for the proper functions of the body, it was necessary they should have this exercise. With reference to the part of the resolution touching upon morality, as Dr. Beard had said, it was a fact that persons of the greatest intelligence were most thoroughly religious and moral men. On the other hand, the morality of the whole community was affected by turning young men into the streets at times when it

was least desirable they should be there; and the perpetuation of a system which led to females making their purchases late at night. The people were now moving, however, among themselves—they were thinking out great thoughts. As the Hutchinson Family sung, "There's a good time coming, boys," only "Wait a little longer;" or, as Charles Mackay had said in one of his beautiful pieces :"There is a midnight blackness changing into grey;

Men of thought and men of action clear the way.

Aid it, paper, aid it type,

Aid it, for the hour is ripe;

And our earnest must not slacken into play;

Men of thought and men of action clear the way!"

The resolution was then put and carried unanimously.

Mr. Good, the secretary of the Association, moved the second resolution, approving of the mode adopted by the Early Closing Association to obtain its object, and pledging the meeting to support it in its further progress. He entered into a statement of the past proceedings of the Association, and gave a general sketch of the progress of the Early Closing movement in Manchester. He then proceeded to shadow forth the future operations of the Association. We hope to see every man recognised as a being made in the likeness of his God, with capabilities of enjoying a higher and nobler state of existence, to which this life is but the probationary course. We hope by this means to • extol the beauty of principle, and to make principle the ruling incentive to action, when one man will no longer be guided by the actions of his fellow-man, but when all will feel with powerful conviction, "that to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin." Having gained this point in Manchester, we propose to extend our operations through the various neighbouring town, and, if need be, from here we will sally forth throughout the kingdom, till the late hour system is looked upon as one of the things that were, and Manchester has proved herself the parent of a movement, which has socially, morally, and religiously improved the people of our land.

Mr. Birnie, of Hull, seconded the motion. It was supported by Mr. Tetly, and carried unanimously.

Mr. S. Pope, a member of the Athenæum, moved that the thanks of the meeting be given to the Directors of the Institution, for their countenance and support, in giving the use of their room for the meetings.

Mr. Dean seconded the motion; and the Rev. Mr. Godkin (the lecturer on Ireland) supported it; and the meeting broke up, after passing a vote of thanks to the chairman.

J. Hasler, Printer, Crane-court, Fleet-street.