tivating as an object of mere form and proportion. Words can neither define nor express the precise lines and dimensions which communicate this pure and vivid pleasure; but the faculties above named can feel the effect and perceive the existence of the cause. Sir Joshua Reynolds is quite correct, therefore, in describing pure form as a source of pleasure; but the pleasure may be called elementary, and it will be felt most strongly by those individuals in whom the organs before named are most largely developed and most highly cultivated. Artists belong to this class; and they, for the most part, ascribe more importance to the beauty of mere form and portion in works into which expression also should enter, than the cultivated public generally do. In the vase and column, forms and proportions evolving beauty are the alpha and omega of the composition. If they are present, and the beauty is felt, the mind desires no more. But the case is different in a statue. Forms and proportions are here subordinate to expression. They are to the statue what single words are to a poem-the mere elements, by the combination of which mind may express its grandest conceptions of mind as well as of matter.

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I shall revert to this subject in my next communication; but in the mean time beg leave to mention that I have enjoyed the pleasure and advantage of a free interchange of ideas on the views presented in this letter with Mr Lawrence Macdonald, one of the eminent British sculptors settled in this city; and have profited largely by his criticisms, which are founded on an extensive knowledge of Phrenology, Painting, and Sculpture. In stating that several of the principles on which I proceed have been long recognised by him as sound, and have been practically applied in his own compositions, I do not desire to render him in any degree responsible for what I have written, or even to support my propositions by the strength of his authority; but wish simply to acknowledge the obligations under which I lie to his judgment and genius in prosecuting my own studies and researches in this interesting field of inquiry.-I am, &c.

GEO. COMBE.

II. Early Shop-Shutting.—Address to the Merchants and Shopkeepers of Edinburgh.

GENTLEMEN, While a great movement has been made in London, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, and other large towns in England, which is successfully bringing about an

abridgment of the hours of business, it has been the subject of general surprise that more has not been done to attain that object in Edinburgh, where nine-tenths of the business is transacted in about six hours per day (between ten and four), while the average time of keeping the shops open is at least thirteen hours (from eight in the morning till nine in the evening). And it is for the purpose of calling your attention to the subject, and the advantages that would arise to yourselves, your families, and your assistants, by having one uniform hour of opening and closing your shops throughout the whole year, and SHORTENING THE PRESENT HOURS OF BUSINESS, without any injury to the interests of the community, that I now take the liberty of addressing you.

I am confident few among us would assert that they would lose anything by adhering to such an arrangement, and fewer still that less bread or beef would be eaten, less tea drunk, or fewer clothes worn, in consequence of the bakers, the butchers, the grocers, or the drapers shutting their shops at seven; while the benefit that would arise to all concerned would be very great, were the time thus gained properly spent. And I may say, in passing, that in all cases where the assistants have got an additional hour or two per day, it is now known that they have improved-not abused it, as has been gratuitously assumed, and have shewn themselves abundantly deserving of such a privilege; and I see no reason to doubt that, if the assistants and apprentices in our city had the opportunity, we should soon see them set about extending their knowledge, by establishing lectures, attending classes, and otherwise fitting themselves for the higher duties of life.

The attempt that was made last winter by one of the Trades to shut at seven was defeated; 1st, for want of a proper plan having been organized for carrying it into effect; and, 2d, the hour of seven was not found to be over convenient for some of those who live at a distance from their shops, and those who could not get away to dinner till near five o'clock, and disliked being hurried back from their comfortable firesides to wind up the affairs of the day and shut at seven,-forgetting all the while, however, that their assistants were remaining in comparative idleness in the shop, and not doing so much business as to pay for the gas that was consuming; and, 3d, by the selfishness of a few, in keeping open their shops beyond the hour agreed upon. In some of the towns above named, this third cause has been completely cured, by the "inhabitants withdrawing their support from selfish dealers, whose bad taste and avarice set public opinion and the general wish of their fellow-tradesmen at defiance, by keeping open beyond the

concerted hour;" and I have no doubt that, should a fair arrangement be come to in Edinburgh, the public will also mark any who, from sordid motives, refuse to add to the comfort and improvement of so large a portion of the community as assistant shopkeepers compose, by falling in with the wishes of their brethren.

The cure of the first and second causes of failure is in our own hands, and I hope all the leading, influential, and publicspirited men among us will soon take up the matter, and improve upon past experience. Let a general meeting of shopkeepers be called, and arrangements entered into for carrying out the proposal of opening and closing all shops at one uniform and exact hour throughout the year, or whatever resolutions the general voice of the meeting may agree upon (though the above appears to be the most approved plan in the towns referred to, and will ultimately work best). Let the town be divided into districts, in each of which two or three influential, but working, men should be appointed to form a Standing Committee to carry out the resolutions of the meeting, to wait upon all shopkeepers in their respective districts, and endeavour to obtain their consent to the proposed plan; and were additional Committees of two or three from every interested trade formed to act with them as auxiliaries, they might be very useful in managing any peculiarities or difficulties about their respective trades which stood in the way of shortening their hours. For instance, were it found quite impracticable for grocers to shut at seven, their Committee, by calling a meeting, or taking the general voice of that Trade, might manage to get them to shut at eight or nine, instead of ten, eleven, and twelve, as at present: and were these Committees to meet at a convenient hour in the evening once or twice a-week, and fully arrange the whole matter, I have little doubt that a satisfactory agreement would speedily and effectually be arrived at by a great proportion of the Trades in this city, to shut at latest by seven o'clock all the year round.

The shopkeepers in the business towns of the South are carrying this into effect, and I would rejoice to see the same abridgment of labour and consequent privileges introduced here; but the internal arrangements in England, where all the assistants are boarded and live with their masters in their places of business, are so different from ours in Scotland,where both master and assistants live generally at considerable distances from their places of business, and all separately, as to render it desirable that, should any change be attempted, the peculiarities of our circumstances should be taken into account, and such alterations made as would be most convenient, and

suited to those particular circumstances in which we are placed, and, at the same time, characterized by permanency; for I doubt it will never be found to work so well, shutting some months in the year at one hour, and some months at another, as having one fixed hour throughout, since it cannot be expected that the public will keep these changes in mind, and consequently irregularities and disappointments will follow.

I have thought over a plan which I am sure would suit a great majority of the trades in Edinburgh; and however absurd the suggestion may be thought at first sight, I shall submit it to your consideration, and explain, as shortly as possible, my proposals for carrying it out, and leave it for discussion, should any meeting be held. It is simply TO OPEN OUR SHOPS AT NINE, AND CLOSE THEM AT SIX DAILY; and I am confident, from inquiries I have made, that ample time would be found between these hours to transact more business than most of us are at present doing, and altogether answer our other arrangements in Scotland, better than shutting at seven. Were both masters and assistants breakfasting before their shops opened at nine, and taking a cold substantial lunch in the shops at mid-day, the business would proceed smoothly and unbroken; and by closing the doors as the clock struck six, all could leave instantly for dinner, and not be required to return. The assistants and apprentices could reach the lecture or class rooms by half-past seven, where they might spend two hours to much advantage. The additional hour gained in the morning would allow healthful out-door exercise, bathing, or time to prepare their studies.

If this arrangement were tried, ALL MEAL HOURS WOULD BE ABOLISHED: and who have not felt the endless annoyances arising from themselves and assistants going home to meals? In most shops, breakfast hours commence at eight, and continue till about eleven ; dinner hours about one, and seldom terminate till six. In fact, in shops where there are half a dozen or more assistants, you can scarcely ever calculate on having them all at their posts at once. In England, even where there are fifty hands in a house, dinner occupies only one hour for the whole; while in shops here, where there is seldom above a tenth part of that number, five or six hours are occupied, or, at all events, completely broken, by the present system of dining, and those hours, too, generally the very busiest part of the day. Each gets away at least two hours for breakfast and dinner; and it would come quite to the same thing as to time, were they getting those two hours after six, instead of during the busy time of the day, when they are chiefly required to be at the receipt of custom ;-nay, I believe the assistants would posi

tively prefer it. There would thus be only one uninterrupted spell at business daily; and the assistants would gain three hours, while only one would be given by the masters, supposing those who now open at eight and shut at eight, were to open at nine and shut at six.

Were this carried out, ALL HANDS WOULD BE AT THEIR POST DURING THE WHOLE NINE PROPOSED BUSINESS HOURS, and would undoubtedly do more efficient work than by the present going-out-and-in, broken-time system; while our business habits would be improved in activity, by condensing the work of the day into nine regular hours; for I am by no means advocating the abridgment of our hours in Edinburgh on account of any hard work:-quite the reverse: it is from the irksomeness of waiting at our shops so long, when so much shorter time would not only answer the same end, but give us all several additional hours daily, to cultivate and improve the faculties which our Creator has given us.

It cannot be wondered at, "that there is no class of society equal in status with us, who, as a body, are so unacquainted with science and general literature,-no class less familiar with the data and principles, whether of sound political, economical, or ethical opinions ;" when it is considered that we are generally apprenticed at twelve or fourteen years of age, and are occupied at business, on an average, twelve to fourteen hours a-day, which, as we advance in the world, is often increased by our anxious after-hours reflections how we may most profitably increase our business, and arrange our future plans. There is no obstacle more likely to impede the proposed change, or argument more likely to be advanced in favour of the present late hours of business, than "old custom," and the difficulties of getting out of our acquired habits. "But this monster evil is of modern growth. The old citizen was accustomed at four o'clock to quit his shop, which was left in charge of a mere lad till five o'clock, and then closed for the night. Fortunes were made, nevertheless, and the public convenience as well provided for as now ;" and it is only about a quarter of a century since an English philosopher exclaimed, when he no doubt saw this evil increasing, that " THE MAN WHO SUBJECTS ME TO TWELVE HOURS' TOIL IN THE DAY, MAKES MY SOUL A SLAVE, AND CONDEMNS ME TO PERPETUAL IGNORANCE ;”- -an awful truth, which "old custom" may never have called us to reflect upon, but which, nevertheless, deserves our most serious consideration.

It is now nine centuries since that great economizer of time, King Alfred of England, divided the day into three equal parts of eight hours each, viz. " eight hours each day he gave to sleep, diet, and exercise; eight to the affairs of government;