The Statesman. — London, England, 1818-03-28 00:00:00

_- • e• $ - • " s~ . *OF • MEETING IN SOUTIIIVANK, IN SUPPORT OF SLR ROBERT WILSON. • On Thursday night a numerous and respectable body of the Independent Voters of the Town and 'Borough of Southwark, met at ..the Nag's Head Inn for the above purpose, when George Ault, Esq. was unanimously voted to the Chair. The Criatassmr, in a concise address, expressed his • inability to preside over a public Meeting, and de • Blared that nothing but the cause, namely, the Freedom of Election, could have induced him to ac. opt of so arduous a titration. The purport of the Meeting was so return Sir Robert Wilson. Every person, he trusted, would obtain a candid hearing; but be believed the most regular way of commencing the proceeding was, by reading the Requisition • Fit e Meters of Southwark. Friends to Freedom of Election and Parham/108ra Reform, will meet on Tliersday evening west, at the Nag's }lend Inn, Bornugh, al six o'clock, for the impose of inviting Sir Robert Witsme to become a Candidate to repre s ent this Borate' in Parliament, at the next General Election. • Sonthwark, Monday, March 23, 1818." Mr. Rau. thought it necessary to inform the Meeting. from the prominent part be had taken, in conjunction with several of the independent enters of the Borough, that a few months titre. he had handed some Resolutions to Sir Robert Wilson res-ectittg bin becoming a candidate-for Southw•i k. Sir Robert at that 'wand thought himself bound to the elect .. rs of Maiditone. and therefore, in consequence, de dined the offer ; but circumstances having since changed, and a meeting taken place at Sir Robert's house, be bad most cheerfully accepted of their re. quest. Mr. Hall stated, that in conversation with Mr. Tiernr4 ••pon the sehject, this Gentleman had expressed himself highly (securable to Sir Robert NVilson, as a most eligible and independent character to represent the Borough 'of Southwark. Mr. Hall wished it to be most perfectly understood, that he had not the slightest intention of injuring the interest of Mr. Calvert; but, on the contrary, hetrusted that the latter Gentleman week' be retorned with Sir Robert. The representation would then be perfect; at the present inomeut it was well known that they voted in direct opposition to each other ; and, in fact, it might be termed no representation at all. But, in justice to Mr. Calvert, be felt it his ditty to observe, that upon all great constitutional questions his vote bed never deviated from the cause of independence. Be hoped they would follow the glorious example of the City of Westminster, in returning Sir Robert free from espence; and which conduct might stimulate other, places to do likewise He would no longer delay the time of the Meeting, but propose the fol. lowing Resolutions :- 1. That a dissolution of Parliament being at heed, it is es sential that the Electors adds Borough should I the into their consideration the propriety of propounds. at tae PPM Grerrill relKiiol3, it Gentleman of undoubted political imegri v. pus. se..ing great talents and an intelligent ni , nd. who would .04 1 represent he interests of his constituents and the maims at large. 2 Thai this Sleeting are convinced that the inhabitants of this Rortunth possess the means of relorniug two ledependest Member. to Parliament. "5. That in taking a view of Public men, Oeir proYessiousaad , their cosOuto, in a public capacity. thee do not hesitate so de. I stare that Sir Robert Vt ikon it the individual the. look (erased tq o its migraine expectations of becoming one of their Repre sAstatives, returned by the o ibought, uninterrupted, and dons _ te rested votes of t remove; desirous of setting an example to the co o ntry. hat they may he the weans of pesideting sheer pro wettings in other pans of the kingdom. 4. That this Nicotine do pledge I heesselvec severally to 'vitriol bit Hubert Nikon at the next General Election, provided he %overt. she present imitation. and declares himself a candidate to repres-ni .his Borough, pledging himself so support the ques tion of Parliamentary Reform, and as ou his general future con dors if resumed to the Howse of Commons. S That is the wooden duty of all Free and independent Ileetors to return their Representatives free of expense: and that this Meeting do recommend subvert wimp; to be opened for the purpose of defraying the espeace atteuding tbr decant' of Sir Robert St doin. 6. That the forego* Resolutions. signed ty the Chairman. no the pars of this Meeting, who will without delay forward the same to Sir Robert Wiliam. for his inspection. Mr. WEATHEIWITONT., previous to the Resolutions being put, wished to he informed respecting the po. Utica of Sir Hubert Wilson, as be had published a book concerning the poisoning of the troops at Jaffa, by the order of Bonaparte. Mr. lIALL wished to satisfy the mind of every elector upon that subject. The book in question was opposed to him on his trial for the escape of La. ' valette; hut Sir Robert had, with much manliness end candour, declared he had been deceived. He bad written it from no corrupt motive; and the in formation he then relied upon, hall since turned nut erroneous. Sit Robert had declared himself for Par liamentary Reform, and that his exertions should be directed to bring about so desired a benefit The speech of Sir Robert t. the electors of Maidstone, mot only contained some excellent principles, but 'what should be the political line of conduct he would pursue if he was returned as their Representative.— Sir Robert had always been a staunch Whig. The error committed by Sir Robert Witten in publishing the above book, Mr. Hall felt confident had been completely obliterated by that event, which all Eu rope bad viewed with admiration—his generous, true Englishman-like conduct towards the unfortunate Lavalette.—(Hear. hear! and applause.) • A person, who seemed disposed to create some confusion in the Meeting, put a variety of questions across the table to Mr. Halt. • Tile Cnaiatias requested his name, and desired be would rise and address the Meeting ; but he po. sitively refused to do either, and contitsoed to inter rupt the proceedings. He at length gave in the name of Robert Lamb. It turned out he was a " col lector of copper" to Mr. Barclay, end retired under marks of disapprobation. Mr. Lamb was requested by a voter to inform his master of their proceedings. Mr. Coorza seconded the Resolutions, which were passed unanimously. Mr. HALL apologised in again offering himself to their notice, but be bad omitted to state, that, its a conversation with Sir Francis Burdett, the lion. Raronet observed, be bad known Sir Robert Wit son for thirty years, and be was extremely anxious be should be a Member of the noose of Commons, as Sir Robert was in favour of Parliamentary Re form. This character, he thought, was sufficient. — (Hear, hear, hear!)—Sir Francis also wished the Electors of the Borough would come toe resolution to return Sir Robert Wilson free of expence, not merely to save his pocket from a few pounds, but its order that he should pot be liable to vexatious and litigious expences hereafter. Lord Cochrane bad paid 90001. for Honiton, although promised to be brought in free. When be (Sir Francis) put up for Middlesex, be did not Wen , to expend more than 15001., hot It ultimately cost him 00 3 0W1. A amber of persons 1 - ' ~-- THE STA' enrolled themselves in Committees, merely to serve their friend. by giving warts. He bad paid for pest-chaise 00001. and also for ribbauds 10001.; to correct this evil was highly necessary. Mr. Hall conloclod in moving that a deputation of ive voters and the Chairman, should wait on Sir Robert Wilson with the above Resolutions, for his acceptance, on Friday morning. The following Gentlemen were appointed accordingly, Messrs. Ault, Street, Wood: ward. Blocky, Mote, and Lesser. The Thank. of the Meeting were then voted to the Chairman for his impartial conduct. In pursuance of the above Resolution, the Gen tlemen deputed waited upon Sir Robert iVilson, at his house in George-street, Berkeley-square, yes terday (Friday) when Sir Robert accepted of the in vitation. A spirited canvass will in consequence mediately commence throughout the Boroegh. NA VAL INTELLIGENCE. DEAL, MAUCH W.—Sailed last evening, after pest, and early this morning, the outward-bound East and West Indismen, coasters and colliers, &c. for their different destinations, wish a fine breeze at North, except the Lady Carrington, which ship remains to repair her t..dder.—Arrived the Wakefield, Aaron, from London f,,r Antwerp, all well ; she was obliged to tan Into the Dawns last night, it blowing strong from the N. E.—Came down from the River and sailed, the Fame, Wilson, for Grenada ; and Ridley, Ridley, for Trieste.—Several yawls are coming oda of Runlets Piers, and are now passing through the Downs. Five o'Cr.ocu.—Remain his Majesty's ship Severn, and lady Cirritlion lodi tows. Pottzastouvu, Mattel' 57.—.-The *it'd having got round to the N. N E. it is all bustle in the Roat!,, and the nut ward-bound will probably be all off ere the morning should the wind hold.—S tiled the Castle Huntley, Ilippolyta, Recovery, and Briton, for Bengal ; Tottenham, with convicts, for New South Wales; Bombay Merchant, for Bombay; Camden, for Batavia ; Cape. Packet; for the Cape of Good Hope ; Juno, for ditto; Comet, for the South Seas ; Pluto., for Montserrat ; Equity. for the South Seas ; and the whole of the oetward-boond, except the Isabella, Wallis, for New South Wales ; Priucess Charlotte, for Tobago ; and the Prince Regent and Europe, for Bengal. Fauttoutn, M A RCU 25.--3 siled the Prince Ernest packet, with a Mail for Lisbon ; Steamer packet, with a Mail for Gibraltar and Malta; and Osborne. packet, with a Mail for the Islands ; and his Ma jesty's ship Lee and Dwarf cutter,-on a cruise. COWLS, MARCO '27.—EtzvEN O'CLOCK—The Castle Huntley Indianian is now passing the Castle, with a fait wind at N.E. Hammitt, Matecti '27.—Arrived the Earl of Lei miter packet, with a Mail from Holland. Doves, MARCH V.—Arrived off this port the Marchioness of Ely outwatd.bound East Indiamen ; also arrived the Wylam, Robinson, from Newcastle for the Brazils, with loss of anchor and cable, and her bowsprit sprung, in consequence of having been run fool of in the Downs. The Ganges, Brown, bound to New York, ran o►► shore in going out of dock at Liperpool on Wedoes. day, and has eight feet water in her bold. She has retnrned into dock to discharge• The Alcyon, Wardster, bound to Philadelphia, ran on shore at Liverpool uu Wednesday, and must discharge. Miss KELLY has been exceedingly attractive at the Manchester Theatre, so mach so, as to induce her to enter int, other provincial en(sgemeuts, which will probable detain her in the costar, until the opening of the English Opera.hoes#. Mr. Hoard completed his twenty-sixth day at the match of 1000 miles in 10(X) boars, on Tuesday, and was going on well. The fight between Painter and Spring will take phce nest Wednesday, a considerable distance from London, far 200 guineas. Six to four on Painter. gAceiLEcat.—A few nights since, the Parish Church of Charlton, in Kitt, was broken open, and robbed of the pulpit and desk hangings, the altar cloths, velvet cushions, and trimmings, with the gold lace, the Communion table-cloths, the napkins, the der opium's gown, scarf, surplice, &c. and the large Prayer Books belonging to the reading and clerk's desks. Thursday was the Second Day of Drawing of the State Lottery, and the following Capitals (all drawn that day)were sold by Rim : 4.706.... n Prize nf....X30,0120, In 16 Si 'went tit. No. 7,321, First Wink, entitled to Four Pipes of ' Port of Port Niue, sold iu 1 Quarter, 3 Eighths, and 6 Sizteeenths. 1,016 . . it 1,000 5438.. ......... .. :...111110 11.138 I too I 9.606 . . YOU 15.340.1.... e 4OO 19.850 ...500 6,814 St t) 12.4411 SO 9,191 sOO 15.722 IMO , 12.359 SuO 16,331 lll. 1.3,539.4 MO the. ere. • Btsn also sold Orton on the first day of the pre. Not lottery)— No. 6.963, First Blink, entitled to the fir.tt Fuse Pipes of Port Wine,sold in 2 Quarters, 2 Eighths l aili 4 Siateentha. 1 3,107 a Prize of .....E5,000 11.771 ... .£1,000 3.002 X3 l O 3,817 5%11 5.051 ..... ... .. .... sed 12,:10 5OO 5,075 t 863 4OO I 11.605 3.lti 11,958 The Capitals are divided into so many Shares, and gone to such an immense number of places, that they are too nemerous to specify particulars • but after the Lottery it over, T. Blur will state where they have been sold, awl he hopes to add the remaining Two of 230,000, and other Capitals, to hia already splen did List. . The fortunate Holders may receive their Money on demaud on npplicatiou at BlM's Offices, 4, Camila!, we 9, Charing-cress ; and those persons entitled to 'the Wine may order it of any merchant they think proper, and T. Limn will immediately discharge the bill for the same. Tile last day bill be 'Monday, the 91h of April, caber the Two Prises of £30,000, and 35 other ,Capitals, which yet :main in the Wheel, oust be dawn. 72 :77 ..., - I • • . • , • '7: -7 GASS OF THE TIAST'ER CHIMNRY-sWEEPERS AND THEIR APPRENTICES, AND OF CLIMBING BOYS IN GENERAL. • to;zl,u If the Masher Chimney-sweepers have defiled bringing their Casts before Parliament, it must not be imputed to them that they are therefore conscifius of the acts of " ilt usage and oppression" with which they are charged, or that they are indifferent about the consequences of the Bill now before Parliament. They have been silent, becalm they felt confident that the Legislature would not, in their case, depart from those wise and salutary roles which gevern their proceedings upon all other occasions, aid would not, without further enquiry, consign to cer taht rain and destruction an infinitely larger amber of persons for the mere chance of bettering the con dition of a few, and for no other reason, than be ,cause the the Master Chimney-sweepers have been the instruments through whom the persons said to 'be aggrieved have contribetid to the coodort and I safety of almost every family in the (hated King! dons. The object of this Address is, to point out the in jurious tendency of the Bill now before Parliament; to show the evil consequences that will inevitably result if the same be passed into. law,and to suggest, for the consideration of she Legislature, the outline of a Bill adapted to the necessity of the case, and consistent with those principles of sound policy which usually govern its proceedings. The necessity for eniploj big Chimney-sweepers, or Climbing Boys, soon followed the construction of chimney tines ; and as population increased, and the value of land improved, the contraction of the flues of chimneys was among other ti.ings resorted to lie order to give apace to the apartments of private dwellings. Straight or perpendicular flues were found the least liable to be choked with soot, and could be cleaned with little trouble; experience, however, proved, that such flues had their disad vantages. The apartments were not %infrequently filled with smoko, and the currents of air from the doors and windows increased the consumption of fuel : these inconveniences probably gave rise to the bends in Hues, and which not unfreqoently produced the desired effect ; iu proportion, however, as the bends became more numerous, or were more singe. tar, the difficulty of clestisina them increased, and the employment of Climbing B.iys was the necessary consequence. The first business of the Climbing Boy was, to cleanse the bends from the mortar which had accumulated whilst the chimney was building, and which not utifrrquently neatly filled the whale aperture of the flue: the operation is called cording and without this process, few chimneys would be of any use, though frequently attended with great la. boor and some danger. Population still increasing, and land continuing to rise in value, especially in large towns, the em ploy ment of small children was the consequence of the f ur ther contraction and crookedness of chimney flues. Children were every where found ready to be ap prenticed, and the offspring of . the illicit intercourse of the sexes not 'infrequently supplied the demand. As these children grow up, they outgrow their em ployment, and some become Journeymen and others become Masters. As Journeymen they assist is carrying the soot, and in teaching the boy how to perform his work. As Masters, they take Appren tices, seed some as itinerants trsr 0! toe country in pursuit of employment ; those sr Ito have the better fortune of establishing themselves in great towns, as in London, generally unite the business of Nightman with that of Sweeper of Chimneys, and many of them have risen to respectability And wealth. In the 28th year of the Reign of his present Ma jesty, an Act of Parliament was passed, entitled, "An Act for the better Regulation of Chimney sweepers and their Apprentices ;" and in the last year the llonoerable the House of Cemmons appoint. eil a Committee to examine the Petition. which had been presented against the employment of boys in the sweeping of chimneys. The Honourable Committee ezamined four Chim. ney.sweepers, and a few other persons, and in June made their Report. Adverting to that Report, it is to he regretted that the Honourable Committee had not examined smear the most respecteble Architects, and some of the re tired Mister Sweepers, as Mr. Porter, of Park. place, Mary-le-bonne; Mr. Beecher, of Dean street, Westminster; Mr. Page, of Camden Town ; and Mr. Goodluck, of Boston ; and such Masters as Mr. Watson, of Great Portland-street ; seed Mr. Tyler, of Bridgewater-gerdens, who are now in business, and employed in sweeping the chimneys of a large number of the public offices and buildings in London, as well as of private houses in and about town. From these persons such information might have been obtained, as would have given to the Re port of the Honourable Committee a very different feature indeed, from that which it now presents. — The Honourable Chairman of that Committee fol lowed op the Report in the present Session with a Bill, which has been reed a third time in the House of Commons, and a second time in the House of Lords, and now lays upon their Lordships' table fur confirmation, amendment, or rejection, as to that Right Honourable Bootle may seem meet. It will naturally be asked wheth?r any, and what steps were taken by the Master Chimney-sweepers respecting the Bill in its progress through the House of Commons. The Master Chimney-sweepers did present a Petition to that Honourable House, at the earliest moment possible after the Bill had passed through a Committee, and before which they could not know its contents. The Bill was ordered by the Honourable house to be printed on the 16th of Feb bruary ; on the 18th a print of the Bill was pro cured, on the Roth the Master Cbimney.sweepers presented a Petition, and ou the same evening re quested the Honourable Mover of the Bill to post. pone the third reading for a few days, to allow them an opportunity of being heard by Coansel at the bar of the Rouse; but that Gentleman espressed his determination not to delay the Bill one moment ; and it was accordingly read a third time and passed. TO THE BILL IN ITS PRESENT FORM There are many . and very serious objections.— The Preamble recites the Act of the 28th of his present Majesty, and declares its provisions to be in 'efficient to protect the boys who are apprenticed to Claganey.sneepers against various Acts of "illAsmge 9 , . . . • --61111 111111 —rrwmgeofit/ etbd.OM* deflarest sit ilia Riffs' •Pata #4llw•tikicillt. to ti•ento "lOW - 41. 114 !fouler Uistrr brreisr of t • the inveigles of reolptlppicitikue. fir the. votPettt bet admits, that a propeatiims of. speA l lises met Oh "tire some alteration. The neat clause repeals the former AefOln. ll *Rico* , that Overseers, with the catmint of Jetta ". way bind boys who are chargeable to the pod& as Ap prentices to Chimney-sweepers, free the ego of foe:teen lentil they are tinents.sas. • The objection to this chose is, that boy! bet wren, 14 and 21 yeses of age are of bat little ese in swop-, tag of chimneys, snipes they silt anosisally ottalikiet, that age, because there are not posy ihoss FillichrOtalk boys could climb. .• )to The sixth dense makes indenteres poses penalties on persons keeping ' • • ; • r 2 4 1.. . as-, r pr` • . . „ Affe; l l 4 lfilidn ' ,APProlst4aPa $s _ the age of fourteen; so that irate the hew the Wit passes into a law, all appriatiqrs seder the ego. q fourteen mast so Wager be employed ite alimisies chimneys. ..liwl-•i hoe The next clause declares, that all iedelattt:ttas Plat Wore the pessius of the Act shall gefsle„bittfoil fosse, but the following clause allows easy Master bn writing ander his band to discherge all such apgretekee as are under 14 years of age, can informs theeko what parish they belong. , Tap nest disuse informs the Masters, ! he tt a [ most sot totaigriw their service mere thaewissillgpeesat ' flees each at oise,and the same time, end directs tins tett of mark that shall be worn on their heads. 1 The neat three ekes*s describes the hoursin *high the boys may call the streets, and tells them ges. a Justice of the Peace is to determine all comtKints between these and their Masters. The s boy s aro also • informed, that they may recover evilest their Mastro' for any breach of covensot or agreement, but rims out no remedy for Masters against their apprentices for misbehaviour. The following chase dies monies on person* • employisg boys under the age of twentrone to climb chimneys after the Ist of May, 1819. Thus render ing all the former clauses of the Bill nugatory, be aten it is not probable that any one would be so unwise as to appliance out, or take an appreotics for one year. The neat clause directs how penalties are to be levied; and provides, that no warriut of diorese shall be i..sued for less ing eite.penalty or forfeiture, costs or chirps, until My days after his, offender . shall hare been convicted, and an order made anal erred upon him or her for payment thereof ; aed,as the Bill does not limit the tine in which penalties shall be sued fur, it follows that both time and pg.' willies may alike be endless. It is not difficult to foresee what consequences Ibis Bill, if ;passed into a law, would lead to. The smaller Apprentices would probably be discharged, -because their Masters could uo longer employ them in climb' lug of chimneys, these would naturally engage in some way or other with the older and larger Ap. prentices or Journeymen, and add to the number of those itinerants whose miserable way of life has brought upon the respectable Masters the disgrace and opprobrium now so universally bat undeservedly cast upon them. These itinerants would travel the town and country alternately ; and, as the Bill de clares, that no wai i +lot of distress shall issue unlit six days f.fter an offender shall have been convicted, and an order made and served upon him, it is erre than probable that the offender would, before the expiration of that time, be in another county,dratigieg with him the wretched boy discharged (by the opera tion of the Bill in question), able probably from a re. spec( Master,who had previously provided him with all the necessities, and, as far as the nature of the bu siness would admit, the comforts and conveniences of life : can any one say then, tbat the condition of these boys would be bettered by the change? The allegation in the Preamble of the Bill, which says, " Whereas the necessity of employing - sack Apprentices to cleanse chimneys by climbing Wel no longer (mists, in consequence of the invention of vs. rious machines for the plume, which may be adapted to every construction of flues ;" is contra. di. Ted by the nest sentence, which says, 66 but as a proportion of such flues may require some previous alteration, it is therefore expedient that the climbing of chimneys be further permitted, under certain re gulations, fora time to b.. linii.ed." These Rogow. flow, as the Reader will have already seen, are, that no boy under fourteen years of age shall, after the passing of the Act, be employed to climb chins. neys ; end the time limited is which boys moss fourteen years may climb chimneys expires 'text May twelvemonth, so that those chimneys which cannot he swept with machinery, must not afterwards be swept by Climbing Boys under severe penalties, de. mandabie at any time as well from the employer es the employed. That machinery may be used to sweep many flees cannot be denied ; nor can it be doubted, that if the Master Chimney-sweepers could use it in all cases, they wool(' be glad to do so, since they are well satisfied that most of their employers would readily pay for any extra labour which the machinery might occasion. Attempts have again and again been made to cleanse the dues of many of the public buildings, as well as of private bosses in the metropolis, by machinery, without success ;. and se anxious were the Directors of the Bank of England 'for the introduction of machinery for that purpose into the Bank buildings, that they caused Mr. Smut sad Mr. Mumfurd, the inventors of the machines, to be employed, but who, after trying leek utmost art, succeeded in cleansing only a small number of the lees. The danger of machinery consign; in its rub. Wog, and ultimately destroying, the mortar within the floes, called pargeting (and which meat, as the • Bill now stands, be afterwards repaired under a pop. pelt)), and where the pargeting is removed, it is impossibly to say what the consequences may not be, if the joints of the brickwork should not be close mortared, sod especially if there should be any bond timber, plug, or trimmer within the flue; nor can the bottoms of flees the least slanting, and not co. 'opted on the tap, be properly cleansed with the ma chine, because the rain which falls on the slants Winders the soot almost impervious to the scraper of the Climbing Boy ; anti when it is considered that this machinery mast be put together and worked within theapartineuts to which the flues brio it is viiii doubtful whether the mischief in this teepees . is not much morwserlees than all the iocou - tw which Cliatbiog Boys are wow& I!, %I. a+; .. . ' •