184 LIFE OF SIR JOHN LUBBOCK 



CH. XIII 



however, though sympathetic, is not very con- 

 vincing : 



Green Bank, Liverpool, E., 

 29th December 1871. 



My dear Lubbock — Many thanks for your note of 

 yesterday. 



I have really not studied the question sufficiently to 

 know whether such a Bill as you propose, fixing rigidly 

 the number of hours a shop can be kept open, would be 

 desirable. For instance there might be cases in which 

 a relay of hands might be desirable, say in the mining 

 districts. These things are sometimes better regulated 

 by public opinion than by direct enactment. I will, 

 however, make some enquiry among those interested 

 in the question and let you know the result. 



I am afraid after the decision about Emanuel Hospital 

 we have not much chance of the Endowed School Bill. 

 Public opinion seems running too much the other way 

 for the moment, but you have much better advisers 

 than I am on the spot, as Hobhouse and others will 

 know better whether we are likely to help or hinder 

 their work by pushing it just at present. Whitbread is 

 as much interested in this question, and might give you 

 valuable information, I fancy. 



I wish they would make him Speaker. How splen- 

 didly he would keep us in order and how well he would 

 look it. — Yours faithfully, Wm. Rathbone. 



Sir John Lubbock, Bart., M.P. 



