Mae. 23,] 



THE NEWSPAPER. 



[1844. 



take the responsibility of giving: bis most decided dissent to the 

 amendment. lie contended that if the hoars of labour were 

 reduced the speed of machinery would be accelerated, and, 

 though those employed would be worked a shorter time, their 

 labour would be in fact greater and more injurious to their health. 

 Besides, a reduction in wages would inevitably follow. Refer- 

 ring to Lord Ashley's comparison between the labour of those 

 employed in agriculture and manufactures, he believed that, 

 taking the comparison as it bore on the happiness of the persons 

 in question, the agricultural labour was more pleasing, but 

 he doubted if it was more healthy, and whether, taking into con- 

 sideration the vicissitudes of weather to which he was exposed, 

 and the danger arising from wet clothes, the greatest chances of 

 health were not against the agricultural labourer. The master 

 manufacturers had given an honourable and willing assent to the 

 restrictions of the present bill ; but yet, on the understanding 

 that although they acquiesced in placing a check on infantine 

 labour, it was because they relied on Government that with 

 reference to twelve hours' labour for young persons, they were 

 resolved to stand firm after having given it the fullest considera- 

 tion. Sir J. Graham concluded by saying that he was satisfied that 

 holding the balance equally between the employers and the em- 

 ploy ed, and taking into consideration those topics which he had no- 

 ticed, that the humane portion of the Bill would meet with no oppo- 

 sition from the manufacturers— that in its present shape it would 

 pass without difficulty ; but he believed that if the motion of the 

 noble Lord was agreed to, the proceedings would be inverted 

 and the measure resisted ; that so far from benefiting the work- 

 ing classes, for whose interest it was intended, it would, if 

 carried, tend to decrease their wages, although they might enjoy 

 a shorter time of labour— and, above all, the commercial pros- 

 perity of the country would be sapped.— Mr. Gxbsox and Mr. 

 Ward supported Ministers.— Mr. S. Wortlky, Lord F. Egertov, 

 Lord Sandon, and Lord Uowick, supported the amendment. — 

 Mr. Bhight opposed it, and in alluding to the statements made 

 by Lord Ashley on the evils of the factory system, asserted that 

 his Lordship had made use of dishonourable instruments in 

 obtaining his information. One of them was a cripple, named 

 Dodd, who had stated to him that Lord Ashley had used him as 

 long as he could get anything out of him, and then cast him off; 

 that the noble Lord used to give him dinners in his house, and 

 showed him to his friend, and that when he wrote to Lord Ash- 

 ley for the balance of his account, his lordship wrote him an 

 angry letter, stating how many dinners he gave him as an object 

 of charity. — Lord A sulky insisted on Mr. Bright v s fully pursuing 

 this charge, and a scene of great confusion ensued, in the midst 

 of which Mr. Bright read some extracts from the letters of Dodd, 

 in which the above allegations were made.— Lord A sulky replied 

 that this cripple, Dodd, came to him and represented himself as 

 miserably circumstanced. He appeared a deplorable object; he 

 had lost his hand, and his appearance was altogether very 

 wretched. He did assist him. He believed the statement of his 

 indigent condition, and told him that he was perfectly welcome 

 to come to his house whenever the servants were at dinner. He 

 did come, and frequently dined at his house with the servants. 

 He admitted that tnis person did go down to the manufacturing 

 districts, and had written to hira a number of letters, but he 

 could state that never, unless in one instance, hsd he stated a 

 single fact on his authority.— Ou the motion of Mr. Warburtox, 

 the Chairman reported progress, and the discussion was adjourned . 

 Monday. — The Hou^e went into committee on the Factories 

 Bill, and the adjourned debate on Lord Ashley's amendment was 

 resumed by Mr. Warburtov, who opposed the amendment, 

 and argued that the free import of corn, timber, sugar, &c, was 

 the only remedy for all the evils complained of.— Mr. BscKETr 

 partially supported the amendment, and deprecated the argu- 

 ment used by Sir James Graham, that the agricultural labourer 

 being as badly off, therefore the factory labourer was to be left to 

 his fate— as unworthy of the reception of the House of Com- 

 mons. He was for an Eleven Hours' Bill to continue for a year 

 or two previously to the restriction to ten hours, if the change 

 was found to work beneficially.— Sir G. Grbv warmly supported 

 the amendment. Ten hours' labour in the clay was the time 

 fixed in every other description of work not settled by any law, 

 but as an arrangement between master and servant, with refer- 

 ence to the capabilities of the human frame, and upon no prin- 

 ciple of humanity or justice could there be a larger period of 

 labour allotted a manufacturer.— Sir J. Graham went into the 

 whole history of factory legislation. He afterwards entered into 

 details, in order to show that the difference between ten and 

 twelve hours' labour would involve a diminution of 25 per cent, 

 on wages ; and declared his strong conviction that nothing would 

 be more fatal than the adoption of a proposition which, under the 

 appearance of dimiuishingdaily toil bytwohours,would reduce the 

 returns on capital, luwer the remuneration for labour, and affect 

 the whole social comfort and convenience of the working classes. 

 If it were a meie matter of wish and feeling, he would join with 

 iord Ashley in desiring that no female might hereaiter enter the 

 walls of a factory. But we could not legislate on feeling ; and in 

 the artificial and highly complicated state of our commercial 

 system, resembling as ii did a house of cards, which could not 

 be touched without bringing down the whole fabric, any de- 

 parture from sound pohcy would be a precedent of the most 

 clangorous nature.— Mr. M'oeacby and Mr. CoLauHouN sup- 

 ported the amendment, and Mr. Labolchkue the proposition of 

 the Government. He refused the responsibility of voting with 

 those with whom he had been in the habit of voting. He could 

 not but regret that he differed with them, but haviug given the 

 subject his best consideration, he would give his cheerful yet 

 decided vote against the amendment of the noble Lord.— Mr. J. 

 FiKJ'BE.v denied that anything like ruin to our commerce and 

 manufactures would follow the adoption of the ten IiouiV 

 restriction of labour ; on the contrary, he felt convinced that 

 unless labour was restricted to ten, or yet fui trier to eight hours, 

 cur commerce and manufactures would most certainly be 

 ruined. He supported Lord Ashley's amendment, wishing the 

 restriction to be eight instead of ten hours. — Sir R. Pkkl con- 

 tended that though, nominally, the proposition of Lord Ashley 

 was a limitation of the employment of females and children, it 

 was reaily a restriction of the labour of adult males, who were 

 to be thus limited, with or without their own consent. As, 

 therefore, it would prove very injurious to the interests of the 

 labouriug population themselves, he must oppose it, even 

 though aware that many of the supporters of the Government 

 were in favour of Lord Ashley's amendment. It applied to four 

 of our great departments of manufacturing labour— cotton, 

 woollen, siik, and flax; and its efftet would be to reduce the 

 time of employment oy live hundred hours, or seven weeks in the 

 year. If you thus, by inreasing the co*t of labour, added to 

 the cost of production (supposing wages were not reduced), 

 what chance could you have of maintaining your position in the 

 »eutrai markets of the wcrid? It might be done tor a short 

 time; but how long? Foreign rivalry would compel the manu- 

 facturer to produce at the lowest rate of profit ; and it must ulti- 

 mately fall on the wages of the working population. If he were 

 persuaded that this restriction of the hours of labour would add 

 to the comforts of the working population, he would exclude all 

 regard to a mere rigid adherence to the rules of political economy. 

 But, Looking to an artificial state of society— recollecting the 

 hundreds oi thousands dependent on the prosperity of commerce 

 •recalling to his memory, what he would never forgt-t so long 

 i he lived, the appaliing condition of Pabtey, with its twelve 

 and fifteen thousand men out of employment in 1841 and 1842— 

 he could not treat thisquettion as one of mere humanity, wrhout 

 reference to other great considerations. Even agricultural em. 

 pioyment was frequently of long duration, as during the tune of 

 hay harvest ; and if he could carry his own wishes into effect, he 

 would willingly restrict much ot the agricultural labour to which, 

 at the most inclement seasons of the year, women were exposed. 

 But, omitting agriculture, look at the departments of industry 

 which were omitted from trie operation of this proposed lew. 



Cotton, woollen, flax, and silk factories were to be interfered 

 with ; but in a large multitude of those manufactures, classed as 

 the products of Sheffield and Birmingham, and in which large 

 numbers of women and children were employed, there was to be 

 no limitation. Large numbers of women and children were 

 employed in calico-printing, in the manufacture of earthenware, 

 in multifarious occupations involving severe continuous labour 

 in heated and unhealthy atmospheres— were they prepared to 

 legislate for all these ? [Several Members replied to this question by 

 loud cheers of assent.] Then, exclaimed Sir R. Peel/you must be 

 universal in your legislation, and include females engaged in 

 agricultural labour. [Another cheer of assent answered this 

 question, to the evident surprise of Sir R. Peel.] But be could 

 not enter on a task like this, beyond all human strength, and 

 interfering with the first principles of justice— he could not 

 commence a system of legislation which would require an inves- 

 tigation into the affairs of every private undertaking, and the 

 liberty of every individual. The Government looked only to the 

 general interests of the community, and no matter whether they 

 had a majority or minority with them, they were determined to 

 resist Lord Ashley's proposition as incompatible with the com- 

 mon good.— Lord J. Russell felt the extreme difficulty of the 

 subject. The speech of Lord Ashley, able as it was, had not 

 satisfied him, yet the Government, which now argued so very 

 strongly against any interference with labour, were yet by their 

 present Factories Bill sanctioning the principle, inasmuch as 

 they introduced for the first time in legislation a general limita- 

 tion of factory employment. The restriction of the employment 

 of women and children did not necessarily imply that of adults, 

 but even if it did, that would be no tenable argument for the 

 sacrifice of the health and comfort of those who were unable to 

 protect themselves. The subject of the Corn-laws could 

 not be excluded from a just view of the question; in this 

 country there was excessive toil and scanty sustenance, 

 and food was a prime element in the cost of labour. 

 He should, however, for the present omit that consider- 

 ation ; but in the hope that a limitation of the hours of 

 labour would compel us to resort to additional supplies of 

 foreign corn, in order to counteract the fall in wages, he would 

 vote for Lord Ashley's motion.— Mr. Hindley followed, depict- 

 ing the condition of the over toiled factory population, and con- 

 tending that it was a state of things which ought not to be 

 tolerated in a Christian country. The House became eagerly 

 anxious for a division, and indicated its wishes by noise and 

 inattention— Mr. Collett and Mr. Hardy rose together, the 

 former obtaining a hearing, deprecating all interference with 

 the rights of labour.— Mr. Hardy followed, amid tumultuous 

 expressions of disapprobation. He at last persuaded the House 

 to listen to him; he was followed by Mr. Muxtz, and Lord 

 Ashlky having finished the debate by a reply, a division took 

 place, when there appeared— for Lord Ashley's amendment, 179; 

 against it, 170; majority, 9. The result of the division was re- 

 ceived with very great cheering, the House both before and after 

 it exhibiting a scene of great excitement.— Sir J. Graham then 

 intimated that he was not prepared to adopt the principle of a 

 Ten Hours Bill, and that therefore there would be another 

 opportunity for the House on Friday to reconsider its decision. 



Tuesday.— Lord Ashley stated the course he intended to 

 pursue consequent upon the late majority in favour of his ten 

 hours' restriction on factory labour. On Friday he should take 

 the liberty of entreating the House to affirm the proposition of 

 ten hours* labour, by the substitution of the word "ten" for 

 j M twelve" in clause 8 of the Bill. Should the House affirm that 

 proposition, he would prepare a clause which should enact that 

 the present duration of labour, twelve hours, should continue 

 from the time at which they might pass the clause, for six 

 months, till the 1st of October, in this year. This would give 

 six months* notice before any change took place. From the 1st 

 of October, this year, the period of labour he proposed would 

 fall down to eleven hours, and continue at that rate for two 

 years, or till the 12th October, 1846, when the period of ten 

 hours' labour would commence.— Sir J. Graham intimated that 

 the Government were determined to oppose it to the utmost; 

 nothing would induce them to accede to any deviation from the 

 period of twelve hours.— In reply to Capt. Rous, Sir R. Peel was 

 not aware of there being any foundation for the rumour that her 

 Majesty intends to pay a visit to the King of Prussia at Berlin. 

 —Mr. Ricardo brought on his motion respecting commercial 

 treaties, and moved — "That an humble address be presented 

 to her Majesty, praying that her Majesty will be graciously 

 pleased to give directions to her servants not to enter 

 into any negotiations with foreign powers which would 

 make any contemplated alterations of the tariff of the United 

 Kingdom contingent on the alteration of the taiiffs of other 

 countries; and humbly expressing to her Majesty the opinion 

 of this House, that the great object of relieving the com- 

 mercial intercourse between this country and foreign nations 

 from all injurious restrictions, will be best promoted by regu- 

 lating our own customs duties as may be most suitable to the 

 financial and commercial interests of this country, without re- 

 ference to the amount of duties which foreign powers may think 

 it expedient for their own interests to levy on British goods."— 

 Mr. Ewart seconded the motion, and adverted to our commer- 

 cial treaty with Portugal, commonly called the Methuen, nego- 

 tiated in 1703, as strikingly showing the mischief as well as use- 

 lessness of reciprocity.— Mr. Gladstone opposed the motion, on 

 the general ground that it was highly impolitic and impractica- 

 ble to lay down abstract propositions which would preclude us 

 from availing ourselves of whatever circumstances might arise. — 

 Lord Howick supported it, believing that the present moment 

 was particularly favourable for its adoption. — After sjme obser- 

 vations from Sir. J. Hanmek, Mr. Himk rose to support the 

 motion, but. while he was speaking the House was counted out. 

 Wednesday.— On the motion of Sir T. Frkmantle, a new writ 

 was ordered for Hastings, in the room of the Right Hon. J. 

 Planta, who has accepted theChiltern Hundreds. — In answer to 

 Mr. Turner, Sir J. Graham said that it was not the intention of 

 Government to introduce any enactment which should prohibit 

 interment in ancient churchyards, where, from generation to 

 generation, families had fixed their burial-places.— The County 

 Coroners Bill was recommitttd, and the fifth clause amended, 

 after a division.— The Masters and Servants Bill was re-com- 

 mitted, and the three first clauses, with amendments, agreed to. 

 On the 4th clause, on the motion of Sir J. Graham, progress 

 was reported.— The Night Poaching Bill was read a second time. 

 Thursday, — On the motion of Sir T. Frkmantle, a new writ 

 was ordered to be issued for the borough of Christchurch, in the 

 room of Sir G. Rose, who has accep'ed the Chilte n Hundreds.— 

 Mr. Wtsb presented a monst r peti ion from Ireland, praying 

 for inquiry into the recent state prosecution. — Mr. Ewart 

 brought forward a motion "that it is indispensable to the main- 

 tenance and extension of the trade of this country, that tnose 

 duties be repealed which prets on the raw matciials of manufac- 

 ture, especially the raw materials of the woollen and cotton 

 trade: that it is expedient al*o that those duties be greatly 

 j reduced which press on articles of interchange in return for our 

 manufactures; especially such articles of interchange as, at the 

 same time, concern the subsistence of the people; being, (besides 

 corn, which is the subject of superior and separate consideration; 

 such articles as tea, sugar, coffee, bacon, butter, and cheese: 

 that it is expedient that those duties also be greatly reduced 

 which, by their amount, encourage smuggling; being at once 

 injurious to the revenue and dangerous to the morality of the 

 country ; such as the duties on tobacco, silk goods, and foreign 

 spirits: that whatever temporary deficiency of revenue be caused 

 by such reduction, ought, until the revenue n gain its former 

 amount, to be sustained by the property, a»:d not by the trade 

 aid labour of the country." During his speech it \vas moved 

 that the House be counted, and only thirty-eight members being 

 present the House adjourned. 

 Friday .—Among a great number of petitions on various sub- 



jects, Mr. O'Covnkll preseuted a number fromlrela^J — — 

 plaining of the manner in which the late Irish State tr *L^ m : 

 been conducted; and other petitions, signed by uiiwarH- , 

 150,000 persons, in favour of a repeal of the legislative nnXL 

 Mr. Gill called attention to the case of Capt. Brewster nft'iT 

 76th Reg., who has been under arrest for 8 months and Lw 

 for the production of papers.— Sir H. Harmnge said, he had t 

 greatest possible objection io produce the papers asked for WW 

 had been done had been sanctioned by the Com..in-Chief' and > 

 would be detrimental to the discipline of the Army, were thev t 

 be published. There was no imputation on the character of Ca * 

 Brewster.— Mr. Gill was satisfied with this explanation 2S/ 

 W. Pattbv presented a petition signed by tweuty-two nf 

 the principal firms of Preston, stating that the petitioned 

 had heard with the utmost alarm that the House had com 

 to a resolution limiting the hours of labour to ten a ° 

 praying the House not to consent to such an enactment — 

 Lord Ashlkt presented 91 petitions from various districts in the 

 West Riding of Yorkshire, in favour of a ten hours' clause.— Mr 

 Fiklden presented a petition in favour of limiting the hours of 

 labour. — The Speaker then left the Chair, and the House re- 

 solved itself into Committee on the Bill, when Lord Ashley (ou 

 the second clause being read) said, he thought it would be better 

 to reserve what observations he had to make respecting the laws 

 of labour until the eighth clause was under the consideratiou of 

 the House. 



CITY. 



Money Market, Friday. — Consuls for Money and the 

 Account^ have varied from 97f to 98$]; sales have beer? 

 made to invest in the Three-and-a-Half per Cents. Bank 

 Stock has reached 200£ ; Indian Stock, 293£, and Ex- 

 chequer Bills, 71s. pretn. 



GAZETTE OF THE WEEK.-BANKRUPTS._C. Staflu^ Soatlt 

 ampton, milliner— J. E. Ridout, of Ring wood, Hampshire, wool-draper^ 

 J. Deacon, of Whitevhapel-road, draper — H. Gokrtz, <■! New Windsor, Beik- 

 •hire, uuho'dterer — M- and R. Ramsay, of Scotawood, Northumberland, paper- 

 manufacturers — J. Finnbv, of \Voore, Shropshire, builder— J. Howarth, of 

 Lee-mill, Lancashire, cotton-spinner — G. Harding, of Carlisle, Cumberland, 

 tea-dealer— W. P. Ward, of Liverpool, grocer— W. Chapman, York-place, 

 New-road, surgeon — J. Gundrt, High-street, Hampstead, shoemaker— J. 

 Cowbn, Penrith, Cumberland, linendraper—H. S.Hewitt, Manchester, vic- 

 tualler— F. Ford and F. R- Brocklehurst, Bow-lane, wholesale* stationers— 

 G. and J- Wilkinson, Bishop Auckland, Durham, curriers— E. Kogkrs, New- 

 port, Monmouthshire, rire-brick manufacturer — H.^ Hurst, Newcastle-upon- 

 Tyne draper — T. F. Clark, Scotland -road, Liverpool, draper— H. \V. 

 Hkuswoeth, Trimrose -street, Bishopsgate street, wine-merchant— J Mews, 

 Langley-place, Commercial -road-east, hard confectioner — T. Honosox, 

 Grectta-bank, Lonsdale, Yorks:, biickmaker— T- Shiluto, Leed*, chemist. ' 



JWctropolfs nntt fts V tcfaftn. 



Royal Society. — The Marquess of Northampton, as 

 President of the Royal Society, held his third conversa- 

 zione on Saturday night, at his mansion in Piccadilly. It 

 was the fullest meeting this season, above 500 Fellows of 

 the Royal Society and visitors being present. The noble 

 President was sufficiently recovered from his recent indis- 

 position to be able personally to receive his visitors. 



The Duke of Sussex's Library.— By the will of the 

 late Duke of Sussex it was directed that if Govern- 

 ment did not purchase his library within one year after 

 his Royal Higliness's decease, it was to be sold by auc- 

 tion. The King of Prussia is now in treaty for the pur- 

 chase of the collection, which consists of upwards of 

 45,000 volumes, the whole of which have been catalogued, 

 and the list transmitted to his Majesty. It is not known 

 what value is placed upon them by his Royal Highness s 

 executors. Even at the average of only half-a-crown a 

 volume, they would realise nearly 6000/. 



Excise Prosecutions. — The Excise authorities hate 

 recently been very active in putting down the adulteration 

 of tobacco, by special inspections and prompt prosecution 

 and conviction where frauds have been detected. The 

 following cases have been brought before the local authori- 

 ties within the last few weeks, and the parties have been 

 fined in the sums named, viz., Mr. Tickle, of Bolton, 

 150/.; Mr. Laffer, of Liverpool, 300/. ; Messrs. Nichols 

 and Gough, of Chester, 300/.; Messrs. Wood and Son, 

 of Doncaster, 150/. ; Messrs. Gartons, of Lincoln, 2oOJ.j 

 Messrs. Gamble, of Gainsborough, 600/. The case at 

 Gainsborough occupied the magistrates the whole cl 

 Thursday and Friday last, and was conducted by Vr- 

 Bateman, of London, for the Excise, and by Mr- Cart- 

 wright, of Bawtry, for the defence. One of the witnesses 

 for "the Crown was Professor Graham, of London Lui- 

 versity, who had analysed the adulterated tobacco. 



Carlton Club.— At a general meeting of the Laruon 

 Club on Saturday last it was resolved to invite a com P** 

 tition of architects by offering premiums of 200f. lor 

 best, and 1U0/. for the second best plan for the intenac 

 club-house in Pall-mall. „ . 



The Order of St. Joseph and Mary.—V* f , , S 

 evening Mr. O'Connell was admitted a member ot i 

 Holy Order of St Joseph and Mary" by t.ie »* • 



J. Moore, at Virginia chapel, Ratclifte Highway. 

 O'Connell arrived in a carriage, drawn by four gr )- 

 about half-past three, at which time several W™" 

 persons, principally Irish, had collected, and gave i nun 

 enthusiastic welcome. Several gentlemen dined toge 

 in a house adjoining the chapel, and at seven o ewe* 



hapel, and at seven o "p- 

 religious services commenced. There were prese ut 

 300 members of the order, the females being ^""V^ 

 green dresses, with sashes and white bonnet*, tue 

 in green cloaks, trimmed with fur, white collars, ana, 

 similar to those worn at the Universities, i if 

 having been performed, Mr. Moore explained at 

 lengtU the origin of the » orders," or " guilds, ana ^ 

 he was happy to see among them one ot w lhc 



supreme pontiff had said, and truly said, that be = w» 

 most illustrious lay member of the church oi » 

 With Mr. O'Connell they all felt deep sympathy, ^ 

 there was not one amongst them who wo j^^ 

 heartily wish him a long and happy We. *» , w 

 litnre then commenced. Mr. OXonnell advance , 

 the steps of the altar, on which K - knpU - anu * 



the Sieps OI tne auar, ou wuiw »- -- - - wbtfe 



Moore placed on hira a green silk cloak, lined w i ^ 

 Silk, and trimmed with ermine. He also preset 



gold cross, and placed on his head a ™" . ,& 

 ul devotional exercises having been perioral , 



s 

 with a 



The usual uc»uuuu« hhwmi M «»..- e . forme 



congregation dispersed. A procession waa_ . titut i lD , 

 which mirched m order to the Philanthropic lnstituti 



