which now presented itself to the inhabitants of Birkenhead ought to be taken advantage of, for Birkenhead was not like Liverpool or London, where, from long habit, bad principles were fully developed. As a medical man, he had had opportunities of seeing the bad effects which the system had upon the health of the assistants, and the variety of illnesses it led to. It was intended by the Almighty that the mind should have rest while awake as well as asleep, which, however, it could not under the late-hour system. The Scriptures gave us many hints, which are not often noticed; for in one part it is said, "Man goeth forth to his labour till the evening," but it does not say that man should labour during the evening.

Mr. Shore seconded the resolution. He thought it was the interest of every body to shorten the hours of labour. It was desirable that there should be one uniform hour for closing shops; for till there was the objects of the Meeting could never be properly carried out. The speaker then made a few observations on the necessity of closing shops at eleven instead of twelve o'clock on Saturday evenings.

The Chairman observed that one of the causes why the shops were kept open so late on the Saturday evening was the late hour on the same day at which mechanics and others were paid their wages. The only way to diminish that evil was by paying wages on Friday evening.

The Rev. J. Gardner moved the second resolution:

"That the numerous appeals which have been made to the inhabitants of Liverpool, on behalf of the shop assistants, have called for the strong sympathy and the active cooperation of a humane and thinking people; that the very general avoidance of evening shopping, on the part of the public, has enabled many tradesmen to close their establishments at seven o'clock; that, where this regulation has prevailed for any length of time, results have followed, not only in the improved health but in the elevated character of the assistants; and it is the earnest desire of this Meeting to see so wise and salutary a rule adopted by the shopkeepers of Birkenhead."

After expressing the pleasure he felt in attending the Meeting, the reverend gentleman said,-We have heard a great deal of the slavery practised in foreign lands, and much had been said about it by sentimental writers, but we had forgotten to look at the slavery at home. We are bound by the laws of God to do good when we have an opportunity, and the object of the present Meeting demands our warmest sympathy and co-operation. We had been told that

if the shops were closed at seven o'clock, the assistants would abuse the privilege. This argument had no foundation in what was called logic, for the abuse of a thing can never be an argument against its use.

Mr. Hicklin, in seconding the resolution, said,-That, after the remarks he had just heard, it would scarcely be necessary for him to say anything in support of the object of the Meeting. It was a libel on young men to say early closing would drive them to vice; and he was happy to say that, in most instances where the system had been tried, the boon had been properly recognized. The speaker afterwards alluded to the good effects which early closing had had both on his bodily and mental powers, and concluded an eloquent speech by calling on the tradesmen of Birkenhead to be unanimous in support of early closing.

The Rev. Geo. Goodman moved the third resolution:

"That the following gentlemen be appointed as a Committee, with power to add to their number, to take such steps as may appear desirable in furtherance of the above objects; and that within three months from this time the said Committee do report to the inhabitants of this township the result of their labours:-Rev. A. Knox, Rev. C. Hamilton, Rev. John Hancock, Rev. Geo. Goodman, Rev. J. H. James, Rev. John Gardner, C. Harper, Esq., W. Potter, Esq., W. Cole, Esq., C. Bentham, Esq., R. Fry, Esq., Mr. John Shore, Mr. James Macgregor, and Mr. Orange."

The reverend gentleman remarked that the principal object of early closing was to give the assistants an opportunity for spiritual and intellectual cultivation. He had frequently observed placards on the walls with the words "Enormous Reduction-Unprecedented Attraction;" he should like to see them altered to "Enormous Reduction in the Hours of Business-Unprecedented Attraction in Healthful Assistants." How can assistants come to church and listen with profit to a sermon while the words cash, ribbons, &c., were ringing in their ears.

Mr. Richard Fry seconded the resolution. We owed a deep debt to the apprentices, &c., and it was our duty to liberate them from their thraldom. He was sure that, if the shopkeepers looked to the facts of the case, they would find it their interest to close early.

Mr. Hicklin then proposed a vote of thanks to the Chairman, and the Meeting separated.-A collection in aid of the funds of the society was made at the doors.

LEICESTER. In the early part of March it occurred to one or two young men here that it might be possible to form an Associa

tion of the young men employed in the retail trades of the town, for shortening the hours of labour. They called a Meeting, enrolled Members, chose a Committee; that Committee prepared an address to the employers, and circulated it. They then appointed a Deputation to wait on and ascertain the feeling of some few of the principal employers on the subject. They found those gentlemen favourable to the movement; so much so that two of them, Mr. Baines, hosier and hatter, and Mr. Berridge, draper, agreed to go round to the various shops and endeavour to obtain their signatures. The result is, that those gentlemen succeeded in obtaining the signatures of all but two engaged in the drapery trade, all the hatters, booksellers, printers, ironmongers, and some few others; so that this year presents a decided contrast to last. Many of these shops being then open very late, and none closed before nine o'clock. The time they now close is eight o'clock, being the same time as during the winter months.

HULL.-The Second Annual Meeting of "The Hull Assistant-Tradesmen's Association, for curtailing the Hours of Business," was held in the grand saloon of the Mechanics' Insitute on Friday evening, May 9th. Humphrey Sandwith, Esq., M.D., occupied the chair, in the unavoidable absence of Sir W. Lowthorp, the Mayor, who had consented to preside on the occasion. The platform was filled by the clergy and dissenting ministers of the town, and a number of employers. The following resolutions were passed:

1. "That the attempts to correct the evils arising from the late-hour system having received the sanction of so many of the humane and .intelligent, amongst whom the question has been discussed, and that the public having distinctly expressed approval of the same, it becomes the duty of every assistant, and especially of this Association, to pursue, with unabated perseverance, such measures as may secure the closing of shops at eight o'clock in the evening in summer and seven in winter."

2. "That the respectable portion of the public having desisted from late-shopping, the co-operation of the humbler classes but remains to be obtained; and while therefore it continues necessary on the part of this Association to issue periodical appeals, in the form of handbills and circulars, it is earnestly to be desired that all who have

dependents will give them an opportunity of making their purchases in the evening." BEVERLEY.-The following agreement has just been signed by the principal drapers and hosiers of this town, and published by them:

"The inhabitants of Beverley and the neighbourhood are respectfully informed that the undersigned drapers, hosiers, &c. have acceded to the request of their assistants, and others in the trade, to abridge the hours of business, as it will afford additional opportunity for exercise and mental improvement to those by whom late hours are felt to be irksome, and in many cases inju rious to health; and as it is becoming so general throughout the country, they trust the public will approve of the alteration, and assist as far as possible in the accomplishment of this object, by making their purchases as early in the day as is convenient to them.

"They will in future close their shops each evening, from the 1st April to the 30th Sept. at eight o'clock, and from the 1st Oct. to the 31st March at seven o'clock; excepting Saturdays, on which evenings they will close at nine o'clock throughout the year."

MANCHESTER.-The booksellers have agreed to close their shops on the Saturday afternoon.

WHITEHAVEN.-The following is an extract from a letter showing the state of the movement in this town:

"In February last, following up the early shop-shutting, an Association was formed by the young men in this town for general improvement. Our proceedings were opened by a course of lectures on the "Natural History of Fossils,' by Rymer Jones, Professor in King's College, and by a little agitation we had soon members to the number of 120. The subscription is 7s. 6d. per annum; and this, with between £30 and £40 liberally contributed by the masters, has enabled us to proceed much better than we expected. For the last three months our library has been opened, and has as yet been well attended; volumes at present about 500, and from 15 to 20 monthly periodicals. In connection with the library is our lecture-room, (both of course merely rented,) where classes are carried on. A museum has been set on foot, and through the kindness of friends, we hope to succeed well in this also."