terest; but, my Lord, I will endeavour to do what I can to supply his place. The well-being of the community has been ever a subject in which medical men have taken great interest, particularly with reference to the effects which different occupations have upon the constitution. The fact of great evils existing in connexion with particular localities and employments, has been known for years; but we have not, perhaps, been able to meet these evils effectually from deficiency of information: but, my Lord, what has been wanted by individuals, has been supplied by government, and we have now a registered account of the state of health of the whole country. We learn from that statement that there is an amount of disease in our large towns which does not exist in other districts of our country; we find that, by taking twenty of the largest cities, eighty thousand more of the population die in a given time than in other districts of the community, from physical influences which exist in cities and towns, but which do not exist in the country. This may appear an alarming statement, and one worthy of the utmost attention; and it is a fact deserving of the very greatest attention on the part of the British community, that so many thousands should be sacrificed, annually, by means which could be easily removed. But the question, as it regards the Metropolitan Drapers' Association, does not embrace the whole community; and I shall not dwell at all upon the effect of those physical evils which act upon the whole community, but upon those which affect the draper and young men employed in shops generally. We find that there are upwards of twenty thousand of them confined under circumstances that render it impossible that their frames should be fully developed, or that their mental and moral constitution should be what it ought. These causes are to be traced in the excess of toil they are compelled to submit to; they are engaged from morning till night, for fifteen or sixteen hours a day, which it is impossible the system can undergo without suffering. What then are the conditions which constitute perfect health that are departed from in this system? To define health is difficult; but when I say that there is no physical reason why every man and woman should not live to seventy, and as only from thirty to forty years of age is the average, there must be powerful causes at work acting upon the health of the community. What then are the conditions of a sound physical state? One of the first is that man should have plenty of the breath of heaven. It is through means of the atmosphere that we take in the vital air, which is essential to the health of the whole body. Every part of the human frame is built up by particles of blood; and if the blood is not properly exposed to the action of oxygen, the organs which are formed from it are not sound. Both the blood that has circulated in the system, and the blood just formed from the food, require exposure to oxygen gas before it can be fitted for the uses of the frame. If there is not exposure to oxygen, the blood is vitiated, and circulates through the system in an impure state; and thus it is disease is produced.

Now, we know, that in shops there is an exclusion of pure air to a very great extent; we know that the air cannot be admitted into these places freely, and the young men are exposed to this contaminated atmosphere. Not only is the air contaminated by the the consumption of oxygen, but there is a deadly poison, called carbonic acid gas, given off from the lungs, which, instead of giving pure air for the purposes of life only, throws into the system a deadly poison. If you coop up a small animal in a jar, it will consume the oxygen and give out carbonic acid gas, and the consequence is, the atmosphere is deteriorated, and the creature will fall down and die. Now, what goes on in the jar, goes on in a close room with men and women in it; and what takes place so quickly within the closed glass, takes place also, but more slowly, in the ill-ventilated shop. The oxygen is not taken into the system in sufficient quantity, and the consequence is disease. Now, in what way does this influence the system? We have, in the first place, the nervous system suffering. That is the system which distinguishes the animal from the vegetable kingdom, and by which man becomes cognizant of external things, and becomes the creature he is in the system of the world. What is the effect then upon the nervous system? It is imperfectly formed; the consequence is, it performs its functions imperfectly; he is less able to use his mental powers, and lassitude and debility is felt throughout the whole system. It is through the nervous system that he uses his muscles, and thus it is that lassitude is produced. And these young men confined, as I have been describing, complain of this lassitude; I have heard them, and seen them, and I know they must suffer. But this is not the only effect; let this cause go on, and you have depression of mind and lowness of spirits from disease of the nervous system. Some then attempt to seek relief in ardent liquors, but that only leads to further disease. This may, at last, lead to derangement of intellect, which may consign to the mad-house at last. But another system suffers. The blood is circulated to every part of the body, and amongst others, to the digestive system. These young men are obliged to take their meals very quickly, and perform work which requires a large supply of nutritious food, well-digested; but if pure blood is not sent to the stomach, digestion is not properly performed; and thus those forms of dyspepsia will be brought on, which lay the foundations of disease which are never got rid of. But, my Lord, these are only a part of the

evils of imperfect ventilation. I wish I could, or dare, read some extracts from a work in my hand, which every one should read-I mean the Report upon the Health of Towns Commission; they would then see the evils of bad ventilation in general. I have told you of its effect upon the nervous system, and of the digestive system; but there is a fearful Scourge, called scrofula, that takes the form of consumption, of which eighty thousand people die annually. This takes its rise from imperfect ventilation. It is the want of oxygen in the blood which causes the formation of an imperfectly-formed substance called tubercle, which produces those diseases which we know by the name of scrofulous diseases. This matter, when it is deposited in the lungs, produces an inflammatory action, which, when once established, can seldom or ever be arrested, and it is this disease to which young men in shops are particularly exposed.

The tradesmen of London are victims to a very large amount. You will find that Dr. Guy states, in his evidence in this book, that, on comparison with gentlemen, they are twice as subject to consumption as that class of the community. Now, my Lord, we have here something like a fact to proceed upon. We can trace scrofula to a want of ventilation; and we find that tradesmen are confined in these ill-ventilated rooms, and that they do die more than other classes that are not exposed to the same dangerous influences: and Dr. Guy is decidedly of opinion that this sacrifice of health arises from ill-ventilated rooms. But it is not alone from the confinement in shops that danger arises. These young men, from being exposed to the deteriorated atmosphere during the day, are again placed in bed-rooms in which this impure atmosphere is breathed. There is very little attention paid to the important point of ventilating bedrooms; and thus it is persons are exposed, and the foundations laid, for disease: they thus suffer in a double manner; and the ill-ventilation of houses in London is one great cause of scrofula and consumption, which carries off so many of its inhabitants. But there are other things, besides pure atmosphere, necessary for health. We find man is a physical being, and that he is composed of elements taken from the inorganic world, and the functions of his system are carried on by physical influences; and the influence of pure air alone is not all that is wanted for health: there is another agent, and that is, light. But I would not dwell upon this part of the subject, but you will find in this Report, in the evidence of Mr. Ward, that the system requires light as well as air. We all know that if we place a vegetable in the dark, it will not develope itself; and it is the same with man: expose him to the light of heaven, and you will have the functions of his body developed. There is also another thing required for securing health, which is often neglected among persons in this condition of life: I allude to that necessary repose which we call sleep. Now, unless a due amount of this be secured, it is impossible for health to be preserved: it is too much neglected; and we have been told to steal hours from sleep, that we may appropriate them to study; but this is the cause of the death of thousands annually. Are young men to be consigned to the grave because they have not time during the day to cultivate their minds? This is not so much the case with drapers; but their business occupies them too long for a due amount of sleep. Young men in booksellers' shops, especially on magazine nights, are kept up till late in the morning; and after this they are expected to be at their posts at the usual time. This produces physical exhaustion, and lays the foundation of disease. Man cannot tamper with this necessary of life. This want of sleep is a tremendous cause of disease, and is laying the foundation of future evils, which is not attended to, as long as persons are able to work. But I would not forget the milliners and dress-makers. I know, from painful experience, how these poor creatures suffer by the enormous labour they are exposed to; but the public is well acquainted with this fact. When I consider the amount of labour to which some of these poor creatures are exposed, I am almost ashamed of living among them, without the power of affording more than temporary relief. But, to recur again to the metropolitan draper. One of the conditions of health is, the use of all the organs and of all the functions of the body which God has given us. Now, unless an organ is exercised, it becomes debilitated and useless. We have an illustration of this fact in Indian devotees, who fix themselves in one position, and the arm becomes withered. It is thus with the body the organs not occupied, become helpless; therefore change is necessary. We are not made like a machine, to pursue one occupation from year to year. The meanest creature that walks has a form constituted the same as he who occupies the most prominent position, and requires the same physical change. Now let us apply this to the drapers: they are, to be sure, exercising their muscles; but some are in inactivity, and thus become debilitated. Now debility of one organ, will bring on debility of another. Thus one diseased part brings others into disease; and then excessive exercise of one set of organs, is always injurious to the whole, and the body becomes over-fatigued. But these remarks especially apply to the organ of thought. I mean the brain, not as the origin of the mind, but as the instrument of the mind. It requires for its healthy exercise that it should be duly occupied. Now, we find that man's mind is composed of

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distinct functions, which are performed through the medium of the brain; he is an intel· lectual being; he is also a social being, and has moral and religious tendencies. Now any system that would cultivate any of these faculties to the exclusion of others, would render the intellect one-sided. The man will suffer in his mind, and unless relieved by change of occupation, he will not be able to exercise his intellect as he ought. But the intellect may be cultivated to the utmost; but what is man without social and religious feelings? What would take place for want of exercising the muscles, would also take place with respect to the mind without the feelings. Why, the system in our large shops is almost as bad as that monastic system which we so often condemn. Here they are kept in shops, alone enough to produce disease; but, in addition, have to bear the burden of exclusion from the exercise of their social and religious feelings. This, my Lord, I believe is one great evil of this system. What opportunity has he, when engaged from fifteen to sixteen hours a day? Every hour is required for needful repose; and thus you see the social and religious tendencies are repressed; and thus it is that religion and morality suffer in the character of those thus employed.

The resolution, my Lord, pledges this meeting also to the benefit which would accrue to employers. Now I know it might look something like a doubtful question at first, but then the principle is forgotten that when a man is exhausted he cannot work as he should. At one time, I doubted whether we could reduce the hours of factory labour without materially affecting the produce of that labour; but that question has now been decided, for I saw yesterday, in the Times, that a large proprietor had reduced the time of working in his factory by one hour, and what was the result? why, that even more work was done in the eleven hours than in the twelve. Now if this is the case with factory labour, how much more must it be the case with the drapers, who are merely selling the produce of factory labour? This is a question to be decided, not by the employers or the employed, but by those who hear me now; it is not the draper who uses the articles he sells, it is the public, and particularly the female part of the public. Now I believe no appeal was ever made to them, coming as a question of humanity, but they have adopted it; and I feel confident they will join heart and hand in this movement. I am delighted to find so large a number at this meeting, and I hope that every woman that hears me to-night will go away with the determination of never entering another shop after six o'clock, and that she will use her influence with all her friends and servants to induce them to do the same. All banking business is got through without having recourse to late hours, and that is much more important than the mere selling of lace or tape; therefore, I say, if bankers can get rid of it in that system of business, the drapers may do so also; and what will be the consequence? why, their young men will then be enabled to cultivate their minds; in their present condition they are like slaves in the mines of Peru, surrounded by the riches of the world, and yet never know a single benefit to flow from them. Here are institutions rising up on every side, inviting young men to cultivate their intellects, and yet these young men are not able to take advantage of the opportunities held out to them; here we have, on all sides, something for them to do, some moral or religious purpose to carry out, and yet they cannot assist in it on account of this system. Oh, my Lord, when this system is abolished, then will these young men rise up in all the strength, and with all the rights of Englishmen, and exercise an influence of which we know nothing at present. It is these young men who are rising up to become masters themselves, to them will be committed the great interests of the state, and unless they are intelligent, moral, and religious men, how can they exercise their duties with credit to themselves or advantage to the community? Thanking you for your kind attention, my Lord, I beg to second this resolution.

The Rev. Dr. ALDER, of the Wesleyan Conference. After the very able manner in which the resolution has been moved and seconded, I shall not attempt to make a speech. but simply express the unfeigned satisfaction which it affords me to have this opportunity of expressing my entire approbation of the object and design of the Metropolitan Drapers' Association, and of the prudent and inoffensive means they employ for the accomplishment of their object. I have never yet heard but one objection urged against their design, and that is, that if the favour which they ask were to be granted to them, the Drapers' Assistants would not make a proper use of the time thus placed at their disposal. I am altogether of a different opinion; there are individuals who would perhaps abuse such a privilege, but, as a class, they would duly appreciate and rightly improve such an advantage; and, my Lord, if this argument proves any thing, it proves, that because the Sabbath is desecrated by many, the leisure it affords should be withheld from all. I am satisfied that great advantages would result to all parties if shops were closed at a much earlier hour than that at which they now terminate, and I have only further to say, I shall always feel great pleasure in promoting the object which has brought this assembly together.

JOSEPH PAYNE, Esq., then came forward to move the Second Resolution. He said.--My Lord, Ladies, and Gentlemen, the greatest writer our country has ever known has

said this: "Some men are born great, some men achieve greatness, and some men have greatness thrust upon them." You have an illustration of that truth to-night in the person of your noble Chairman and of my humble self. He is an illustration of the first two conditions, and I am an illustration of the last. He was born great, but he was not satisfied with that-he determined to achieve greatness for himself, and he has done so; and I, being called upon at very short notice to address this large meeting, in his presence, feel that I can truly say that I have greatness thrust upon me. I have also another difficulty to contend with on this occasion. I cannot boast of the possession of any large portion of diffidence, and it is known to many here that I am not altogether unaccustomed to public speaking; but I feel that I stand in need of your encouragement to-night, for I am in an entirely new position. I have had the privilege of making some hundreds of speeches on behalf of our various institutions, but this is the first time of my appearance upon these boards. But I have no hesitation in saying that I make my debut with great satisfaction, under such exalted patronage, and in so excellent a cause. It seems to me that I was necessary to complete the connexion of the speakers to-night, and I will tell you why. You have had an excellent Doctor of Medicine, and an excellent Doctor of Divinity, and you required a Counsellor. In arranging the speakers, they have reversed the order of things, for you know the old proverb is, "Law, Physic, and Divinity;" and we may now say, that Law, Physic, and Divinity unite the liberal professions to this most liberal cause, and do it by "a threefold cord " which cannot easily be broken.

It is not my intention to trespass long upon your time to-night. I remember a good man, a Scotchman, who had two graces before meat. One was a long grace, and the other was a short grace; and when the weather was very cold, or there was any thing exceedingly good for dinner, his children used to say, "Please, father, let us have the short grace to-day." Now I cannot say it is particularly cold to-night, but there is something exceedingly good to come after me,-for there is the Honorable and Reverend Baptist Noel-(loud cheers)--and I believe that vacant chair by his side is reserved for Mr. Charles Buller, the Member; and therefore I shall give you the short grace to-night. I feel that this is a question of great importance, and that this Association ought to be supported both upon principle and from policy. Upon the principles of philosophy and upon the principles of religion, it is entitled to our support. There was a man of the same name as myself, but no connexion of mine, and with whose sentiments I have no sympathy; he said a great deal about the "Age of Reason" and the "Rights of Man." I think we have arrived now at the proper time for these things, and I do not hesitate to say this is the true " Age of Reason," and these are the true "Rights of Man." This is the true "Age of Reason," when the public think it wisdom that young men should have that which is their birthright-liberty to breathe the pure air of heaven, and time to worship the God of their fathers, and cultivate that intellect which the God of their fathers has given them. Henry IV. of France once asked the Duke of Alva how many eclipses there were in a certain year; and the Duke's reply was, "I have so much business upon earth, that I have no leisure to look up to heaven." That which the Duke voluntarily submitted to, is the compulsory condition of thousands amongst us. I call this thraldom, and not liberty. The Christian poet Cowper, many years ago, wrote this well-known line,

"We have no slaves at home-then why abroad?”

That question was re-echoed through the length and the breadth of our land, and, at last, it was properly responded to; and by the aid of liberal and enlightened men--our Chairman among the number-the noblest Act of Parliament that was ever framed was past,an Act of Parliament which declared that, from a certain glorious day throughout the whole of the British dominions, slavery should cease for ever- (loud cheers). If Cowper had lived in the present day, he would have been obliged to reverse his question, and alter his line thus,

"We have no slaves abroad-then why at home?"

And I ask that question now. Let employers answer it. Let medical men answer it. Let the ministers of the Gospel answer it. Let the fair sex answer it-(cheers); and I am sure they will answer it well- (loud cheers); for I agree with Dr. Lankester, that they always nobly respond to appeals made to their humanity. The father of English poetry, old Chaucer, asks this string of questions,-What is better than gold? Jasper. What is better than Jasper? Wisdom. What is better than wisdom? Woman. What is better than a good woman? Nothing. Now, what is a good woman? She who tarries at home at night, the glory of the domestic circle; she who makes her purchases in the morning, and sits in the evening by her "ain fireside" happy with her husband and children, and determined that not one young man shall be deprived by her conduct of the means of preserving his health, and of worshipping his God in a proper manner. But I have said already that the Association ought to be supported not only upon

principle, but from policy. Now, if we support an institution of this kind, we shall in the first place have willing assistants. Were you ever on board a ship? The boatswain calls to the men, and bids them, "Heave with a will!" and up comes the anchor, and up go the sails, and away flies the ship through the trackless waters on its prosperous and peaceful voyage. That is working with a will; and I imagine, my Lord, that in all establishments, if the young men do but work with a will, a larger quantity of work will be done, and a greater degree of good result. With diminished hours of labour, we should have not only willing, but also cheerful assistants. What a delightful thing that would be! Wordsworth has given us a beautiful description of cheerfulness in the young, when he says,—

and again,

"I love to look on a scene like this."

"For it stirs the blood in an old man's heart,
And it makes his pulses fly,

To catch the thrill of a happy voice

And the light of a pleasant eye."

But how can you expect to hear happy voices if you suffer them to grow weak and faint by overmuch bodily exertion?-and how can you catch the light of a pleasant eye if you suffer it to be dimmed and saddened by continual labour, and toil, and watching? Would you have the enjoyment of both, you must support the Metropolitan Drapers' Association, and then you will see cheerful, as well as willing, assistants. But you will not only have willing and cheerful assistants, but you will also have conscientious assistants. I utterly deny the statement that if draper's young men are set at liberty, they will use their liberty for licentiousness. It is a fabrication unworthy of them. I was delighted to hear the evidence of our excellent friend, Mr. Pearce. It is impossible to undervalue the importance of evidence; and the more respectable the witness, the greater the experience he has had, and the higher his character stands, the more credit will he have with those who have to decide the question; therefore I put him forward in the front of the battle. He says, that in fact the young men do not abuse the liberty that is granted to them. But some people say that they cannot use it properly: now these people remind me of one of my own profession. A poor man was put in the stocks for some trifling offence, which did not seem to deserve so severe a punishment, upon which a friend of his went to a lawyer to complain. "Sir," said the lawyer, "they cannot do any such thing." "But, Sir," replied the man," they have done it." "But," rejoined the other, "I am a lawyer, and ought to know; and I tell you they cannot put a man in the stocks for any such thing." "But I say again, Sir," said the other," that they have done it." Well, then," added the lawyer, "I will not believe it." "Then," said the other, "come and see;" and away they both went together, and there sure enough, the poor man was in the stocks. And when they found it was so, the lawyer went away grumbling, but not satisfied. So, in this instance, if any one says their assistants cannot use the liberty they have received properly, let them go to Mr. Pearce's establishment; there you see it is so, and their argument is of no use. But do these people suppose there are no innocent means of attracting the human mind? Has science no charms? has music no powers? has courtship no pleasures? has wedlock no pure delights? Out upon such absurdity; there is no foundation for it. If some misuse their liberty, be assured the greater part will use it properly. Now I believe I ought to read the resolution I have to move, it is this:

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"That this Meeting, being of opinion that the Metropolitan Drapers' Association, from its past energetic, yet conciliatory measures, is eminently deserving the support of all classes, hereby pledges its hearty co-operation and encouragement in the furtherance of its object, especially by abstaining from making evening purchases."

A gentleman has suggested that I should say a word about funds. It is important that there should be funds, for extensive operations cannot be carried on without money; but people are apt to say, "You are always asking for money." These people remind me of Handel's German trumpeter. This is a place where Handel's sublime music is often heard, it is not, therefore, inappropriate to refer to him and his trumpeter; he used to preside sometimes at the performance of his own oratorios, and he had a German trumpeter. Upon one occasion this trumpeter did not play loud enough to please him. "Louder," said the musician; the trumpet waxed louder still: "Louder," said Handel again; and the trumpet waxed louder yet: "Louder," repeated Handel, when all on a sudden the sound of the trumpet ceased, and the voice of the trumpeter only was heard, as he looked up at the musician, and in broken English said, "Mistare Handel, it is all very well for you to say loudare, but I should like to know vhere's the vind to come from?"-(great laughter). And now I have arrived at my last observation. Members of the Metropolitan Drapers Association, persevere in this good work-what is it to persevere? I will tell you a little girl's definition of it. I was once walking in a village called Paulisperry, and I wanted to find out the clergyman, whose house was beyond the church. The village was very