CHAPTER XXII 



INSTITUTION OF THE LONDON COUNTY 



council (1888) 



(Age 54) 



In 1888 Sir John took 39 Berkeley Square on a 

 lease for five years. 



On February 7 he attended a meeting at the 

 Memorial Hall in support of Early Closing. 

 Parliament opened on February 9, and he at once 

 introduced the Early Closing Bill, a Bill on behalf 

 of the Collecting Friendly Societies, and also a 

 Bill to amend the law relating to factories. 



The Early Closing Bill provided for the general 

 closing of shops, with some exceptions, at 8 p.m., 

 but he intimated his willingness in Committee 

 to accept some extension for London if thought 

 desirable. The principal London doctors and 

 clergy of all denominations, including the Arch- 

 bishop of Canterbury, the Bishop of London 

 and Cardinal Manning, petitioned in favour of 

 the Bill, which, nevertheless, was thrown out on 

 Second Reading (May 2) by a large majority. 

 This convinced him that it was impossible to 

 have one fixed time, and that each locality must 

 be left to decide for itself. 



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