taste to appreciate such works; and, adequate remuneration not being afforded, the experiment failed. Taking into consideration all these circumstances, he thought that institutions such as this at

the object of which was to improve and develop the taste of the artisan, and to enable him to work with more skill than he had hitherto displayed, were eminently deserving of encouragement and support. It was most satisfactory to find that our exportation of works in which beauty of form and combination of colour were required had largely increased during the last few years. He alluded in particular to manufactures of glass and china. Formerly France enjoyed almost a monopoly in such matters; but we were now her equal, if not her superior. This fact alone was, he thought, a sufficient justification for the assertion that the establishment of schools of art had been a source of wealth and material prosperity to the country. They had assisted not only in forming the national mind and the national taste, but in enabling us largely to increase our exports to foreign countries. He would now turn to another part of the question -the enjoyment which schools of art afford to a large number of persons in the country. Let it not be supposed that these schools were intended alone for the artisan class. They were as important to the rich as they were to the poor. With regard to the upper classes, he might remark that the Kensington Museum was daily attended by many of them, and there the artisan had the means of improving his taste. These schools of art were rising up in various directions in London, and also in towns like which

could not be called either agricultural or manufacturing towns. But in many agricultural towns schools of art were being introduced, and he confessed that, when he entered the meeting, he

had no idea that he should have met so large an assembly as he had now the honour of addressing. He could not have believed that a school of art would have excited so much interest in He did

not think that anything could be better adapted to the improvement of the working classes than these schools of art. Their establishment had tended to the extension of similar institutions in different parts of the country. Having dwelt upon generalities, he would now say a few words upon particulars before delivering the prizes. His occupation had not given him many opportunities of inspecting the produce of schools of art, but he was perfectly convinced that they were proceeding in the right direction.. His experience had led him to believe that those who send their children to those institutions expected too much from them at first. Now, no person could do anything well unless he began at the beginning. Many persons were apt to imagine that when they had been a week or two at a school of art, they could produce sketches of trees, or houses, or other things, of a perfect character; but that was a great mistake. But some persons had told him after some months' training at Kensington, that their previous notions had been wrong; and that the more they studied principles, the better artists would they become. The object of schools of art was to give a good knowledge of the elementary part of drawing, leaving the pupils to carry out the principles which had been instilled into them. Unless they were well grounded in these principles, they would never hold a high position. He sincerely hoped that the progress which had been made during the past year would be an encouragement to the friends of the school, not only to maintain it in its present high position, but to place it in one still higher.

MISCELLANEOUS.

SPEECHES ON THE EARLY CLOSING MOVEMENT.

Mr. said it was a very important subject which called them together-to consider the best means of reducing the hours of labour, so as to relieve the very numerous class of assistants who were employed throughout this important town. He held in his hand a resolution bearing on the subject which he read to them. In supporting that resolution it was necessary for them to consider, first of all the requirements and necessities of employers, and after that to see how far the assistants had a right to ask for the advantage of a reduction in the hours of labour. It was admitted-and that was one advantage to the promoters of the movement-that a diminution of the hours of labour should be granted; and the only question now for debate was, on what day this reduction should be made. Several in the town considered that Saturday was the day most suited, whilst a still greater number thought Wednesday would be more convenient to the shopkeepers and the general public, and more beneficial to the employés. No doubt there were strong arguments to be advanced in favour of either day by different trades living in different neighbourhoods; but

taken on the whole he believed the majority of the tradesmen would prefer to close on Wednesday at five o'clock in preference to Saturday, and therefore he submitted this proposition. He wished it to be thoroughly understood that he moved this in no spirit of hostility to those who had determined to close on the Saturday, but in order that they might arrive at a conclusion which day would be the most convenient and best adapted in order that they might secure one or the other, so as to make the cessation general throughout the town. Although the granting of the holiday on the Saturday evening would be a great boon to the assistants, he believed it would be found altogether impracticable to carry it out; whereas if Wednesday evenings were adopted, coming as they did in the middle of the week, it would not interfere with trade to the same extent, and would cause a break in the week's toil, which the assistants would look forward to, at the commencement of their week's labours on the Monday morning, with such pleasure as to stimulate them to unusual exertions, knowing that after that the remainder of the week is of short duration, and then comes the advantage of Sunday. He had heard some arguments urged against Wednesday, and some even went to this extent: That supposing the masters granted the holiday on Wednesdays from five o'clock, the assistants would abuse the privilege by going to theatres, music halls, and that class of entertainments, and would not devote the time to mental instruction and their own educational advantage. He thought that sort of argument was not altogether fair, because they could not judge until they had given them a trial; and he believed the assistants would seize with avidity the opportunity to improve themselves; and that ultimately the

employers would find that the granting of the boon would turn to their own interest and benefit. He believed also that they would have the advantage of two gentlemen present, who would give them entertainments which would amuse and instruct them. A very great complaint was now made, not only by the Clergy, but by many inhabitants, that their quiet on Sundays was very much disturbed by excursionists; and he believed that the excursionists coming amongst the shop assistants on that day caused them to depart from a proper observance of the Sunday-to give up the religious part of their duties, and spend Sundays, the only day they got to themselves almost entirely as a day of pleasure. If Wednesday evenings were granted them they might use that time in healthful amusements, and would feel a greater inclination to keep the Sabbath as it should be kept. The decision of the question did not rest so much with the employers as with the public itself, and they might depend upon it that if the public took the matter in hand and would not purchase after five o'clock on Wednesday evening, the trading community would be only too happy to follow.

Mr. was an advocate for early closing, and had always made a rule of allowing the young men in his employ leave of absence one evening every week; but he very much doubted if, especially with persons in the same line of business as himself (family grocers) -would be able to comply with the request of the Mayor, for it was frequently necessary for them to fulfil orders at a moment's notice to meet the requirements of the upper ten thousand to whom they had to look for support. He was glad, however, to see the matter taken up in the manner it had by the drapers, and hoped they would carry it out as far as