Victoria Rooms, to lay before the public the condition of the Assistant Tradesmen, and the measures pursued for procuring more leisure from the requirements of trade. The meeting was fully attended, and a very perceptible declension of evening trade has since then been witnessed. Cheltenham.-Friday, November 22.A Public Meeting, in pursuance of a requisition most respectably signed, was called in the Town Hall by the Magistrates, to adopt measures for the Abolition of Late-Hour Business. The Rev. Francis Close, M. A., was called upon to preside, and was supported by the Clergy and Dissenting Ministers, and by a numerous body of the most influential inhabitants of the town. The Hall was completely filled with a respectable assemblage, who testified the warmest interest in the cause. The result was an unanimous resolution to promote the closing of places of business at seven o'clock in winter and eight in summer. At the conclusion of his speech, the Rev. A. M. Brown said, "I am told that sometimes to meet the fashions at some of the Monday evening balls, in our own town, the Sabbath-hours are scarcely over, and one o'clock of a Monday morning is scarcely struck, when some poor, young, lovely, feeble girls are aroused to work, and from that time till within a short period of ten on Monday night, to attire the gay and giddy of the ball-room. Shame upon fashion! heartless fashion! thy gay attire is thus manufactured by feeble, faint, lovely, outworn, murdered woman! Yea! and that of a Saturday night, and on till Sabbath morning, to meet the wants of the Church and Chapelgoing of a Sabbath day, these poor things sit and sew;-oh! what a covering for a saint's heart thus fabricated!”

An Association has also been formed in this town, similar to that of London, to improve the condition of the Dressmakers.

Hereford.-At a Public Meeting, convened by the Mayor, and over which he presided, resolutions were passed condemnatory of the Late-Hour System, and recommending the adoption of an earlier hour for closing the shops; and the Tradesmen have commenced closing at eight o'clock throughout the year, with every prospect of permanency.

Hall.-The Assistant Drapers' Association of this town has recently held a Public Meeting, in the Jarrat-street Rooms, which has been successful in

rousing the sympathies of the public, and in causing a considerable portion of their customers to apply the most effectual remedy for the evil of Late Hours,-viz., that of abstaining from visiting the shops in the evening.

Lincoln. The Drapers' Association of this city has obtained an abridgment of the hours of labour to seven and eight o'clock, six months respectively.

Leamington.-The Drapers, Hosiers, Haberdashers, and Hatters have agreed to close their shops at seven, eight, and nine o'clock.

Liverpool.-Through the exertions of one individual, (Mr. Flower, President of the Assistant Tradesmen's Association,) the movement to shorten the hours of business has been eminently successful. The majority of the shops in this town are now closed at seven o'clock throughout the year; and it is affirmed that those which are kept open to a later hour are done so, not only without profit, but to an actual loss, from the consumption of gas.

Manchester. This great commercial town, which it might be thought would have been one of the last to adopt measures, seemingly in opposition to the acquisition of wealth, has stood forth, and battled manfully, in the crusade against the late-hour system. A Manchester and Salford Drapers' Association has been formed; and the endeavours of the Committee have been rewarded by a considerable improvement in the condition of the shopmen. In the wholesale warehouses, also, an agreement has been entered into to close those establishments on Saturdays at noon, which measure has now been in operation some time, and seems to give general satisfaction.

Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Five or six years ago, the Drapers of this town, in compliance with a requisition from their Assistants, agreed to try the experiment of closing their shops at seven and eight o'clock, to see whether the assertion, that if more time was granted to their young men, they would abuse it. The result of this experiment has been so satisfactory, that they have now determined upon releasing their Assistants at seven o'clock in the summer, as well as in the winter

months.

Reading. In this town the question of late hours of business has been taken up, almost enthusiastically, by the inhabitants. A large Meeting, called by the

Mayor, in compliance with a requisition containing one thousand signatures, was held in the Town Hall. The system of late hours was eloquently described and denounced by the clergy and other eminent individuals, (amongst whom was the Rev. Thos. Davies, the author of the Prize Essay on the Hours of Business,) and resolutions were unanimously passed that the shops should not be kept open later than eight o'clock, Saturday evenings excepted.

Banbury, Bedford, Boston, Bishop Stortford, Colchester, Coventry, Gateshead, Greenwich, Gloucester, Leeds, Lynn, Maidenhead, Nottingham, Portsmouth, Portsea, Rochester, Tavistock, Winchester, Woolwich, Warwick, Wolverhampton, &c.-In all these towns Associations have been formed for the same purpose, and more or less success has attended their efforts.

SCOTLAND.

For a long period the Shop-keepers of this country have in general retired from business at a much earlier hour in the evening than those of England. This may, perhaps, be attributed to the superior education given to the middle and lower classes of the people; for such will certainly be better able to appreciate the value of leisure, to pursue intellectual studies, and will be more capable of understanding the injurious nature of close confinement, defective ventilation, and over anxiety, than those whose minds are only trained to the pursuit of wealth, and to show a flourishing balance-sheet at the end of the year.

Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Dundee have all stood prominently out in upholding the principles of early closing; and, although much opposition has arisen from cavillers, it has but served to show that the cause is based on justice and truth, and has tended to render the reformation more firm and enduring.

IRELAND.

In Dublin, Cork, Belfast, Limerick, and have been made to lessen the hours of other cities and towns, great exertions from, the shops being generally closed trade, and much good has resulted thereat seven or eight o'clock.

VAN DIEMEN'S LAND. Launceston.-Even to this remote corner of the earth has the agitation spread, and the Shop-keepers are endeavouring to effect the same objects as their brethren in the mother-country.

[In collecting these statements, it is possible that errors may have crept in. We shall feel obliged by the Secretaries of these localities acquainting us with any they may notice, in order that such may be corrected. We shall also thankfully receive communications from other quarters, respecting the establishment of Associations, the holding of public meetings, or agreements amongst Tradesmen to close at an early hour; also, respecting the formation of Institutions, connected with trade, for the improvement of the Assistants.]

Mayor, in compliance with a requisition containing one thousand signatures, was held in the Town Hall. The system of late hours was eloquently described and denounced by the clergy and other eminent individuals, (amongst whom was the Rev. Thos. Davies, the author of the Prize Essay on the Hours of Business,) and resolutions were unanimously passed that the shops should not be kept open later than eight o'clock, Saturday evenings excepted.

Banbury, Bedford, Boston, Bishop Stortford, Colchester, Coventry, Gateshead, Greenwich, Gloucester, Leeds, Lynn, Maidenhead, Nottingham, Portsmouth, Portsea, Rochester, Tavistock, Winchester, Woolwich, Warwick, Wolverhampton, &c.—In all these towns Associations have been formed for the same purpose, and more or less success has attended their efforts.

SCOTLAND.

For a long period the Shop-keepers of this country have in general retired from business at a much earlier hour in the evening than those of England. This may, perhaps, be attributed to the superior education given to the middle and lower classes of the people; for such will certainly be better able to appreciate the value of leisure, to pursue intellectual studies, and will be more capable of understanding the injurious nature of close confinement, defective ventilation, and over anxiety, than those whose minds are only trained to the pursuit of wealth, and to show a flourishing balance-sheet at the end of the year.

Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Dundee have all stood prominently out in upholding the principles of early closing; and, although much opposition has arisen from cavillers, it has but served to show that the cause is based on justice and truth, and has tended to render the reformation more firm and enduring.

IRELAND.

In Dublin, Cork, Belfast, Limerick, and other cities and towns, great exertions have been made to lessen the hours of from, the shops being generally closed trade, and much good has resulted there at seven or eight o'clock.

VAN DIEMEN'S LAND. Launceston.-Even to this remote corner of the earth has the agitation spread, and the Shop-keepers are endeavouring to effect the same objects as their brethren in the mother-country.

[In collecting these statements, it is possible that errors may have crept in. We shall feel obliged by the Secretaries of these localities acquainting us with any they may notice, in order that such may be corrected. We shall also thankfully receive communications from other quarters, respecting the establishment of As sociations, the holding of public meetings, or agreements amongst Tradesmen to close at an early hour; also, respecting the formation of Institutions, connected with trade, for the improvement of the Assistants.]