METROPOLITAN DRAPERS' ASSOCIATION. that may be said in reference to the evils of society, it cannot be denied that the tide is ment. of this question very rapidly. We believe, first, that the remedy for the evil is in the hands of the people, and that if they take it in hand the object is accomplished; secondly, we believe that the proper mode of carrying out the object is not by coercion, not by shutting the shops and saying that customers shall not come into them, but by reasoning with the people calmly, temperately, Christianly, and upon sound principles. Let light once dawn upon the London women's hearts, and on the spirits and understandings of persons in this metropolis generally, and the whole question is for ever settled. Now we must have money-(hear, hear.) Mr. Wakley says that even a clergyman must have money. Very true; and the surgeon will not give the use of the Lancet without the fee-(laughter). Every man requires and is entitled to live by his profession. We cannot get on in this work without such an agency as that which has existed hitherto; and that agency cannot be maintained without the sinews of war. How are we to get them? In this way. Let each individual do something. There is a man drowning, and we are stretching out our hands to save him. I am standing in the middle; and if I give way just as he was going to be saved, I go home and feel that it was the withdrawment of my single arm which caused his death. Had I been but firm, energetic, and manly, he might have been rescued from the grasp of the destroyer. Again, we must not only strive individually, but also collectively. We must not content ourselves with abstracted and desultory efforts, but all must combine. The motto in this work, as in every other good undertaking, should be, "Each for all, and all for the common good;" and especially in this case, the motto of employer and employed should be, "The man for his master, and the master for his man." We must all do what is in our power, only remembering that we are not to get in debt and not to rob others in order to carry out our object. Acting in this manner, and upon these principles, the work will be well and nobly done. Young men, in your hands, next to those of the public, is placed the success of this effort. If you use the liberty that you obtain well; if you are industrious, kind, sober, active, and compassionate; if, in a single word, you try to realize the character of a British tradesman, "not more civil than industrious, and not more industrious than honest, and living by the honest sweat of his brow or his brain;" if you seek to realize rights that character, and to act on that principle, your cause is safe—your interests, and your (for I hold them to be rights), and your moral liberty and improvement will advance hand in hand-(cheers.) A Gentleman was then rising, without being called upon by the Chairman, to address the meeting, stating that he wished to move an amendment. He was interrupted, however, by calls for Mr. Owen, and loud cries of "chair, chair." He stated himself to he Mr. Nunn, a draper, of Regent-street, and alleged that his object was to speak to a point on which he conceived the Chairman was in error. The Chairman decided that the resolution under consideration should first be disposed of, and the Gentleman would then be at liberty to propose an amendment. on the very kind Mr. OWEN, of Great Coram-street, on rising to support the resolution, said,-My Friends, I know the value of every moment that you have now to spare in this hall; and knowing the old motto that "the end crowns the work," I am anxious that the work in which we are engaged this evening should be crowned well indeed, that not one person should leave this room without a practical proof and expression that he is indeed and in truth attached to this cause. You have had all that eloquence can give you to show you your responsibilities; and I will, in a few moments, give you what I think will confirm your feelings, the example of some kind friends who are now platform. The first name which I have the pleasure of announcing to you is that of Mr. Lund, a donation of 5.; Mr. Grainger, a guinea; Mr. Baker, 17.; our friend, to whom I am sure we all feel greatly indebted, Thomas Wakley, Esq., Member for Finsbury, 107. 10s.—(loud cheers). And now, my fellow-masters, with a great deal of unfeigned delight, I am going to introduce to you another name. I say with unfeigned delight, because this Gentleman's whole character accords with what he is now going to do. If he had asked me to present this donation to you to-night, and I did not know what I do of him, I would not distinguish his name; but when there are numbers present who can testify that every single act of his life as a master, within the last few years, has borne testimony in his favour, it is with delight that I come forward to mention the name of Mr. Hitchcock in connexion with a subscription of 100/-(loud cheers). I should tell you that when he gave me permission to make over this 1007., he wished me to present it in any name rather than his own. Although all whom I see cannot give 100%, and it would not be right for them to do so, I hope that not a gentleman will arise from this platform without giving us some taken of his good will-(cheers). The collection was then made; and during its progress the following additional subscriptions were announced:-Mr. Bennock, of Wood-street, 5.; the Assistants of Lambeth House, male and female, 101. 10s.; Mr. Redmayne, 107.; Mr. Parton, of Pimlico, 1. 18.; Charles Cochrane, Esq.. 51. 5s.; Mr. Owen, the amount of the prize for the essay for distribution, &c. &c. METROPOLITAN DRAPERS' ASSOCIATION. The CHAIRMAN then put the resolution, which was carried unanimously. CHARLES COCHRANE, Esq., said,-Ladies and Gentlemen, I am certainly taken by surprise in being called upon to perform the pleasing duty of submitting to your consideration the propriety of returning to our noble and excellent Chairman a vote of thanks on the present occasion. But when I bear in mind that this is a duty which neither requires talent on the part of the speaker nor distinction in his position, the proposition itself being so good that it needs no recommendation from me, difficult as I might otherwise We should all bear in mind, that find the task, I anticipate your unanimous approval. however good a cause may be, however popular in the breasts of the public, yet, in order to have a numerous assembly, it is not the least important part of the preparations for a public meeting that there should be selected a good and popular Chairman; and I must confess that in my humble opinion-an opinion which will I expect be most cordially approved-had the whole world been searched, a more fitting Chairman could not possibly have been found. We have all, I am convinced, received intense gratification this evening-a gratification arising not only from the numerous and able speeches which we have heard in support of the object for which the meeting was convened, but from the vastness of the assembly and the unanimity by which it has been characterized. Ladies and Gentlemen, I will do no more than now submit to your consideration, or rather put to you for your unanimous approval, a vote of thanks to the noble Chairman for his very able presidency on this occasion. Several donations were here announced, which will be found in the subscription-list. Mr. REDMAYNE, on rising to second the resolution, said,-Before I speak to the resolution, let me express a hope that every man, according to his means, will contribute to our cause. In one morning I obtained for the Dressmakers' Association 4007. If you all employ your best eloquence-the eloquence, not of the tongue, but of the heart, in the gentle spirit recommended by the noble Lord, there will be no difficulty in obtaining funds. I have very great pleasure in seconding the resolution. We have had this evening a Chairman who is worthy of the post he has occupied ; and I hope you will all simultaneously, with one heart and voice, render to him the expression of your thanks. vent. The resolution was carried by vociferous acclamation, the whole meeting standing. The CHAIRMAN said,-Ladies and Gentlemen, I beg to thank you most sincerely, and from my heart, for the kind expression of feeling to which you have this moment given I trust that in all that I do, in my public as well as my private conduct, I am directed by my own conscience; but I am not so little human as to be insensible to such an expression of approval by so vast and respectable an assembly. That, Gentlemen, must may have deserved it, it is, I constitute the reward of every public man; and little as assure you, most grateful to my mind. It would be quite unpardonable were I at this late hour, having already trespassed at such great length on your patience, to say one word more on the general subject. I will merely add, that if I was delighted at being invited to take part in this meeting, I am still more so at having taken part in it; for I confess that, after the speeches which have been made, and the judgments which have been delivered, I look upon the triumph of this cause as much nearer than I had before thought it possible that it could be-(cheers). The meeting then separated. THE LATE-HOUR QUESTION. INTELLIGENCE. THE grand feature of the early-closing movement during the past month has been, of course, the great Public Meeting of the Metropolitan Drapers' Association, held in Exeter Hall, on Tuesday evening, November 11th, in aid of the £5000 Fund. A full report of the interesting proceedings on that occasion appears in another part of our pages, and the space it necessarily occupies compels us to defer some portion of our intelligence, and compress the rest into as small a compass as possible. We lay before our readers, however, the principal topics of interest which have received attention in the PROCEEDINGS OF THE CENTRAL BOARD. October 29th.-Resolved, "That 10,000 copies of a hand-bill for the Tottenhamcourt-road District be printed." "That it be an instruction to the Visiting Sub-committee to take the necessary steps for getting up the public meetings of assistants in the various districts in aid of the £5000 Fund." November 5th.-The Report of the Select Committee appointed to reorganize the various Standing Sub-committees was adopted. One of its recommendations was, that a Council be formed for the more efficient conduct of the affairs of the Association. It was accordingly resolved, "That a council be appointed, to consist of the chairmen of the nine Standing Sub-committees, and four other members of the Central Board." This new feature in the organization of the Association is now in active operation, and meets weekly. Nov. 12th.-Arrangements for holding a General District Meeting in the Eastern Institution, Commercial-road, were brought under the consideration of the Central Board. The meeting will take place on Tuesday evening, December 2nd, G. F. Young, Esq., will take the chair; and Mr. Under-sheriff Wire and other influential gentlemen will address the meeting. Resolved, "That the Statistics Subcommittee be appointed to take the necessary steps for procuring members to the Linendrapers', &c., Institution, to be given in at their annual dinner." A meeting of the assistants of Waterloo House was recently held, for the purpose of electing eight representatives in the District-Committee, at which the majority of the assistants were present, and a spirit of activity was evinced in the cause far greater than on any preceding occasion. The duty of all assistants to aid the Committee in carrying out their projects was strongly enforced, in addresses from the chairman and other gentlemen present; and the numerous attendance at the meeting, with the increased and ready payment of the quarterly subscription, create a hope that the young men of Waterloo House will soon become as distinguished for their advocacy of early-closing as their employers have long been for their practical acknowledgment of its beneficial influence. Other important meetings have been held in several of the districts, but space will not permit us to refer to them in detail. Mr. W. Owen announced as his subscription, the amount to be offered for the Prize Address. Messrs. John and Chas. Saward.. The Assistants at Lambeth House. Mr. Harris Mr. Brooke. Mr. Ferneley Mr. Paul Mr. Mills.. Mr. Hume Mr. Greaves Mr. Wood Mr. Robinson, City District 1 1 0 Mr. Lord, ditto 0 10 6 Mr. Symons, ditto.. Mr. Samson, ditto.. 0 10 6 Mr. Cockett, ditto.. Mr. Kipping, ditto 0 10 0 Mr. Fiveash, ditto... Mr. Johnson, ditto Mr. Taylor, ditto Mr. Thomas, ditto.. Mr. Ross, Strand District Mr. Field, ditto... 0 5 0 Mr. Hornblow, ditto Mr. Honey, ditto 0 5 0 Mr. Lilwall, Chelsea District Mr. Darby, ditto 0 5 0 Mr. C. Mayhew, ditto Mr. Evans, ditto Mr. Rennie, ditto Mr. Manicom, ditto 1 1 0 Mr. Rogers, ditto Mr. Berry, ditto.. 1 1 0 Mr. Greenfield, ditto Mr. Hanks, Tottenham Court Road.. 0 10 6 Mr. Jones, Strand District. Mr. Booth, ditto 0 10 6 Mr. Evans, Tottenham Court Road District... Mr. Martin, ditto 0 10 6 Mr. Feddon, ditto 0 10 6 Mr. Dixon, Islington District. 0 10 0 Mr. Wearing, ditto Mr. Durrant, ditto Mr. Dixon, Oxford Street 0 10 6 Mr. Williams, ditto Mr. Flint, ditto. 0 10 6 Mr. Jameson Mr. Bryant, ditto 0 10 6 District Committees. 1 0 Mr. Dalton, ditto Mr. Horseley, ditto Mr. Biggs, ditto.... Mr. Burden, ditto. 1 1 0 1 Mr. Jameson, ditto 0 5 0 Mr. Hargreaves, ditto 0 2 6 Mr. Gatrell, ditto Mr. George Molesworth Mr. Chandler Mr. Reynolds. Mr. Rice, ditto Mr. M. Jones, ditto 1 1 0 Mr. J. Wilson, jun. ditto.. 0 10 6 Mr. Ewan, ditto.. 0 10 6 Mr. Ashenden, ditto 0 5 0 1 1 0 Mr. Caldicott, ditto 0 5 0 Mr. Purday, ditto Mr. Baker, ditto Mr. Hills, ditto 0 10 6 Mr. T. Jones, ditto Mr. Merrishaw, ditto 1 1 0 Mr. Marshall, ditto 0 5 0 Mr. Ingold, ditto Mr. Hindley, ditto.. Mr. Andrews, ditto 1 1 0 Mr. Hall 0 10 6 Mr. Nicholson, ditto Mr. Howe, ditto Mr. Long, ditto. 0 10 6 Mr. Warlow 0 5 0 Mr. Buck, ditto.. 0 5 0 Mr. King, Chelsea Mr. Lappage, ditto Mr. Grover, ditto A Friend, ditto Mr. Holder, Islington 1 1 0 1 1 0 Mr. Wackrall, ditto 0 10 6 0 5 0 Mr. Nichols, ditto. 1 1 0 Mr. Oades, ditto 1 1 0 Mr. Ritcher, ditto 0 10 6 Mr. Tuck, ditto 1 1 0 Mr. Fricker, ditto.. Mr. Carruthers, ditto Mr. Downey, ditto... 1 1 0 Mr. Garfit, ditto.. 0 10 6 Mr. Phillips, ditto. 1 1 0 Mr. Bourne, ditto 0 10 6 Mr. James Johnston, ditto Mr. Rowe, ditto.. 0 10 6 Mr. Parker, ditto Mr. Roach, ditto 0 10 6 Mr. Robinson, ditto Mr. Hughes, ditto.. 0 10 6 Mr. Read, ditto Mr. Kay, ditto 0 10 6 Mr. Dawe, ditto.. 0 10 6 Mr. Cherrington, ditto. 0 10 6 Mr. Shellard, ditto Mr. Empson, ditto 0 10 0 Mr. Lees, ditto Mr. Strong, ditto Mr. White, ditto Mr. Hart, ditto Mr. Roberts, ditto. Mr. Pattrick, ditto Mr. Rees, ditto Mr. Fox, ditto 0 10 Mr. Judd, ditto Mr. Yell, ditto Mr. Carter, ditto 6 Mr. Ely, ditto Mr. Everett, ditto.. Mr. Wallace, ditto.. 0 10 6 Mr. Mills, Shoreditch 0 10 6 00009900 Mr. Bracegirdle, ditto 1 1 6 Assistants at Messrs. Bartrum, Har Mr. Wyatt, ditto 6 vey, & Co., Holborn. Mr. Blight, ditto Mr. Stokes, ditto Mr. Davies, ditto Mr. Taylor, ditto Mr. Booth, ditto... Mr. Loader, ditto 0 10 6 Mr. Bateman, ditto 0 10 6 Mr. Bing, ditto.. 0 10 6 Mr. Marsh, ditto 0 10 6 Mrs. C. Mayhew 0 10 010 6 0 10 6 0 10 6 0 10 0 10 6 Assistants at Mr. Martyn's, Whitechapel Collected by Mr. Feddon, Tottenhamcourt-road District.. 3 3 0 1 2 6 196 2 2 0 0 10 6 |