456 Report of the Society for superseding C^AY, 



legislation" for this is the point upon which we look for opposition, 

 however worthless it is surely such a difficulty ought only to be 

 raised by persons totally ignorant of the laws relative to our Excise 

 and Customs, or by those who are prepared to say that it is matter of 

 pecuniary interest alone that can be worthy the attention of the legisla- 

 ture. Because, for " petty legislation," there is scarcely a detail, how* 

 ever minute, in trade with which, where revenue has been concerned, 

 we have not interfered, as matter of common usage. A man cannot let a 

 horse without a licence. If he lets a post-chaise, he pays a tax, not by 

 the day, but by the very mile that it travels. At this very hour, if a 

 man powders his footman's hair, he pays a tax. If he employs a 

 gardener more than so many days in the year, or keeps a mastiff to 

 scare thieves from his premises, he is subject to a duty.* Watermen, 

 porters, drovers, hackney-coachmen, all are taxed, and their callings 

 regulated as public convenience seems to require. We make a law 

 for the accommodation of the scavengers: a resident in London has 

 not a right to the contents of the dusthole of his own house; nor can 

 any but one licensed individual take or receive it, without being 

 subject to a penalty. We have a law open to a good deal of possible 

 abuse (although a very sound and excellent law) which protects cattle 

 from ill-usage in our streets. And surely it is too much, with all this 

 before us, to talk of " petty legislation," when a simple act is proposed 

 for the benefit of an unhappy class of little beings, whose misery is the 

 observation of every body, but who, nevertheless, unless by some legis- 

 lative provision, will be materially protected or assisted by nobody. 



The only objection which would deserve to be listened to, in a discus- 

 sion upon this question, would be that which should shew some serious 

 inconvenience, or probable danger, arising to the public out of the course 

 suggested. We profess ourselves unable, at present, from our own plan, 

 to perceive either the chance of danger or inconvenience. No prohibition 

 of the right to use the climbing-boy is intended: all that the legislature 

 does is to tax a commodity of which it desires to limit the use, in favour of 

 one of which it desires the use should be increased : the most heavy conse- 

 quence which can result to the community would be, that some few per- 

 sons in possession of old-fashioned houses might have to pay an addi- 

 tional tax of five shillings a year ; a consideration too slight to be 

 allowed to interfere with any measure of general propriety. 



On the other hand, we find it impossible to doubt that a law of this 

 character would advance the use of machinery certainly and extensively. 

 The common principles which determine the conduct of men would 

 apply upon this, as well as upon other subjects. People in general would 

 be anxious to have their work done so that it was done competently 

 and effectively in the cheapest way. The master chimney-sweepers, 

 too, as soon as they had to pay a duty (which should always be levied in 

 advance) upon the employ of children, would at once become anxious at 

 least to keep no more than they were sure of finding work for. By 

 degrees they would find the machine which could lie idle without loss 

 -the more convenient engine for their business ; and the employment of 

 climbing-boys would only be resorted to in cases where such service 

 might be really indispensable. 



As we adhere to the intention expressed in the beginning of our 

 article, of stripping this little discussion of every circumstance that might 

 confuse or encumber it, we have very little now to add. We can have 



* If a chimney-sweeper keeps a dog, he is clearly obliged to pay a iluty upon him. 



