The Sun. — London, England, 1845-04-03 00:00:00

TUE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY MORgING, APRIL 3 1845. ---- - the Bill ; but he thought there would be great difficulty in carrying, its enactments into effect. Lord JOIIN RUSSELL thought, that after tl.e expression of a hope by the Noble Lord at the head of the Woods and Forests, it would have been better had this measure been deferred until after the introduction of the Health of Towns Bill. He should, under these circumstances, vote against the second reading of this Bill ; at the same time he gave every credit to the Honourable Gentleman for the ex cellence of his intention, and for the pa'ns he had taken in the details of the measure. He granted that a great nuisance existed, but he did not agree in the particular mode of remedy advocated by the Honourable Gent etnan. Mr. BROTHERTON said that the details of the Bill might be greatly modified and improved. In that case, he hoped that the lion. Member would not press for the second reading of the Bill. He should remark that there were chimneys belonging to certain inanuictories in Manchester, where there was a strong feeling on this subject, from which there was no more' smoke than from a private dwelling-houso. There was no doubt that great attention wont f be paid to the correction of the Bill by the Select Committee. Sir ROBERT PEEL said that no one could be more competent to make a suggestion on the matter than the impossible to Gentleman who had just spoken. I t was to make any rule with rep et to the suppression of a general nuisance which would not create some local nui sances. The Select Committee would consider whe ther the paivisions of this Bill could be safely adopted. He was 'l - cry certain that the time of the C, mmittee would not be lost. Under standing that the Bill was not to to pressed until the measure for improving the sanitary condition of large towns was before the House, he thought there could be no objection to the second reading, and refer ring the Bill to the consideration of a Select Commitiee. Mr. HAWES was perfectly satisfied with the course proposed by the Right Honourable Gentleman, but he should like to know whether the Committee would have power to take evidence upon certain points of the Bill ? Mr. RICARDO reminded the Hon. Member for Lambeth that the Government were going to introduce a Bill affecting the same subject, and it would be there-- fore all labour lost to make any inquiry into the nature of this Bill. For his part, he would rather the matter should rest with th.e Government, entrusted to the hands of a Committee. There were two parties affected by this Bill. The one was the party who was annoyed by smoke; the c ther, was the party who lived by smoke. Now he could only say, on the part of his constituents, that they would have to give up business altogether if they were not allowed to smoke. They NI/Ere now in a state of uncertainty, and there was no doubt they would re main so until the intentions and measure of the Govern ment on this subject were before the Howe. Mr. WILLIAMS said a few words, after which Mr. MACKINNON said he wished to say a few words in explanation. It should be recollected that a Com mittee of that House reported that the nuisance of smoke could and ought to be prevented; and added, that if the Government did not take up the matter with a view to legislation, some individual Member ought. Was not that recommendation worthy of regard? He had merely followed the recommendation of the Committee. The Right Hon. Member for Taunton had accused him of putting himself forward on this occasion, when the matter might better be left in the hands of the Govern ment. But in fact, he had done nothing more than act upon the instructions of the Committee. If the Noble Lord (Lord Lincoln) did not feel inclined to proceed with his measure he (Mr. Mackinnon) should proceed with the present Bill, but not otherwise. The amendment was then withdrawn ; the Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be referred to a Select Committee. INFEFTMENT (SCOTLAND) BILL. The LORD ADVOCATE postponed the second reading of this Bill till this day week. HERITABLE JURISDICTIONS (SCOTLAND) BILL. This Bill was read a second time. CALICO PRINT WORKS. Mr. M. GIBSON, having inquired whether it was the intention to proceed with Lord Ashley's Bill for the regulation of calico print works, present e d five petitions from various manufacturing places against any restric tion of their labour. Mr. HAWES presented petitions from West Ham, in Essex, and other places, to the same effect. Lord ASHLEY presented a petition from 500 opera tives at Crayford, in Kent, expressing th e i r desire that the measure should pass into law, suggesting some amendments ; and stating their wish that even a modi fied measure should be passed, rather than that the Bill should be altogether lost. On the motion that the Bill be read a second time, Sir J. GRAHAM said that when the Noble Lord first brought the measure before the House he deemed it his duty to give it his most earnest and anxious con sideration. He believed the Bill was introduced on the 12th of March—(Laughter)—and with a view to the discussion which must certainly arise on the second reading, he had endeavoured, with the assistance of his colleagues in the Government, t o institute such inquiries as should place them in the posses sion of the fullest information respecting ever y portion of its details that it was possible to obtain. F. investigations purpose he had made it his business to extend his to every part of the manufacturing dis tricts of the United Kingdom. The House was aware that the factory inspectors had certain districts assigned them, in which they had respectively appointed sub-in spectors. It was the business of these sub-inspectors to place themselves in personal communication with the individuals most looked up to among the indus trial classes. Into the hands of every one of these sub-inspectors a copy of the Bill had been placed, with instructions to ascertain the effects its clauses were likely to hare on the manufacturing community; and since the first reading, on March 12, he had assembled these factory inspectors, and a portion of the sub-inspectors in London, in order to get the most precise infor mation, and the fullest information which through their inquiries had been obtained. He bad given to the Bill itself, and to the information which he had received, his most earnest attention. As he had stated to the House at the time this Bill was introduced, and as he stated now, it was his most anxious desire to give his full acce dence to the measure of the Noble Lord (Lord Ashley), and it was a sewn of duty alone which restrained him from giving his support to the object of the Noble Lord. and been received, inquiries whicha to h a t d h e determined information which himself d He would further state what had be en the resuhlitsofctohle_ leagues as to the course which they intended to p u r s ue with respect to this Bill. If he assented to the second reading of the Bill, .he begged it to be distinctly understood that neither himself uor the Government would consider themselves for one moment as pledged to all the details of the enact ments proposed by the Noble Lord, .many of which it would be his painful duty, but still his duty, to resist. He was bound to say that there were many pro visions in that Bill to which he could not assent, but still he was not prepared on the part of the Government to deny that some regulation respecting the employment of children and females in- print-works was necessary ; and, admitting that necessity, he could not oppose the second reading of the Bill.—(Hear, hear.) When as senting to the principle of a Bill on but second reading, It was not usual to go into details, wh i he recol lected the importance of the interests involved, he thought it was right that he should state to the House what were the provisions of the Bill to which he ob jected, and what were the amendm ents whi▪ ch he, in Committee, intended to suggest as preferable to the pro. visions proposed by the Noble Lord. In the first place, he objected to the great extension o f the objects of the Bill, which was apparent from compa rin g. the interpreta tion clause with the title. The extension which must take place in consequence of the c onstructi▪ on which Bill, must be put upon the first clause o f the he had the ly most insuperable objection to. The ti▪ tle of the Bill referred on to the labour of children em ployed in calico print-works, but by the inter pretation clause the operation of the measure was extended far beyond print works. By that clause the provisions of the Bill were extended to all mills, or d .se parate houses where dy in g , bleaching, or calenarmg was carried on. If this was grounded on analogy with the Factory Bill it would be found than no analogy existed between them. In factories the labour was de pendant altogether on machinery which might be stopped at any fixed hour. But the converse of the fact applied to the subject at present under discussion ; it was un connected with machinery and depended almost entirely upon the state of the atmosphere. He was bound fur ther to state that it a ppeared, as far as his inquiries ex tended, although in print-works childr e n were exten sively employed , y et that in dying, bleachin g an d calen daring, the numb er of children employed was very few. His dyi ng mauu e ? , first ßiil objectiond p r int-works to bleaching grounds,factori and calendaring works. w as to extending the provisions of this There were peculiar iti es connected wi▪ th those works, which he had specified at considerable length on former occasions ; and one of the most painful circumstances connected with the trade, was that the demand, and consequen tly the labou r, was not continuous throughout the year. There was a very great demand for labour at certain periods, while at other periods there was a reat falling off. The trade, during th e s p r i ng and autumn, gave employment to an increased number of wor k e rs, and dema nded an extension of the hours of labour ; but aft er that period the demand relaxed, and many of those workers "ere, comparatively speaking, unem ployed. During this period c !)- the time, every thing depended on the work being execute d w i t h the greatest possible dispatch. Everything, in fact, w as secondary to the promptit u d e with which the market was supplied ; an d h e so f a r t h ere f o re disagreed with the Bill of the Noble Lord, that its provisions did not meet these peculiar circumstances. He was not, therefore, prepared to assent to that part of the Bill which enacted that children should only work eight hours each day, or o n alternate day s t we l ve hours. H av ing stated his objections to the 13111 of the Noble Lord, he should now refer to those pro v i s i ons , a ft e r the secon d reading, to which be would be ready to assent. He would say, on the part of the Government and for himself, that they were quite prepared to accede to that part of the Noble Lerd's measure whi c h res t r i c ted the hours of labour of children under eight years of age. He agreed to t he p rovision of the Bill which proposed to do away night-work by children, because the same principle bad been more than once affirmed by the House in reference to females. In the Act of last session the House thought it right to regulate the night labour of females in factories, and he was therefore now prepared to agree to that part of the Bi which provided that hilden b etwe en the ages of eight ll and thirteen should not r be employed in calico factories at night. It now became ne cessary for him to make allusion to the Noble Lord's definition of a night. The Noble Lord proposed to establish a double definition, vat, ing in winter and summer ; but, , upon the whole, h e (Sir J. Graham) was i nc lined to thinkit would be better to have only a single definition of the night.----(Hear, hear.) He would, how- ever, assent to that part of the Bill which proposed to allow children to work during the sweeper months from nine in the morning till niee, because in that time there was generally no necessity for artificial light. It hap pened that in the slack time of the year, when the chil dren employed at this business were more at liberty, the schools fer the education of the children belonging to that class were generally shut. Depending upon the experience which he had had, he would offer a sugges tion to the House that, as in the case of the other fac tories, they ought to make provisions for the education of the children, there were circumstances which called forth for provisions of the same nature. For tour months out of the twelve they could very safely afford seine education to the children. The arrangements which he would propose was, that for one hundred days in the year, about one-third of the whole year, the chil dren employed in these factories who had not attained the age of thirteen years, should attend a school insti tutedfor the purpose, for three or four hours in the day. ITe thought that this would be found applicable, and it' adopted would turn out as he had hoped; the Noble Lord ( Lord Ashley) te (erred , and with great accuracy, to the fact that in America the course now suggested to the House was adopt: d ; during that part of the year in which thi re was a slackness of business, there was a por. tioe of the day appropriated for the education of the fac. tory children. The same system was adopted in Aus tria. lie hoped the House would see the necessity of the education of these children ; and he would state to the Noble Lord that, if the House should be of opinion that such a reformation as he had suggested should be adopted, it would be very advantageous that the Bill should be made a substantial measure. The Bill, as it now stood, had reference to many other matters to which he would not now allude, for he did not think them objectionable ; but if it should be adopted with the amendments suggested, he did think it would prove very advantageous, and make the future regulation of the trade perfect in all its parts, as far as the calico printing trade was affocted, without affecting the regulations of any other branches of the trade.—(Hear.) The Noble Lord (Lord Ashley) having paid much aeten tion to this subject, he might be prepared to go much further in proposing modifications, that he (Sir J. Graham) was not acquainted with ; but, on the whole he hoped the Noble Lord would consent to limit himself to the boundary he (Sir J. Graham) had proposed, and when they went into Committee upon it, he would give it any assistance in his power, so as to enable it to go through the third reading at as early a period as possible, so as to bring it to bear with effect with the least possible delay. With these considerations he begged to say, he should give the Bill his assist ance.— (Cheers.) Lord ASHLEY said he was yesterday made ac quainted with his Right lion. Friend's intentions in respect to this Bill, and therefore he could not say that the course now announced by his Right Hon. Friend had taken him by surprise. He looked upon the result of the amendment to be, to a certain ex tent, disadvantageous. For instance, the Bill did not go to the extent he wished in reference to the bleaching, dying, and calendering branches, which were in some measure connected with calico printing. The next ad vantage he lost was the protection to children under thirteen years of age for a limit to labour ; and though they would be protected from night work, still they would be liable to be compelled to work sixteen hours in the day time. The Bill now proposed a protection to children at and under eight years of age, by which they as well as females of all ages were excepted from night work. He should admit also, that he would gain a great many other advantages by the concessions of his Right Hon. Friend ; for instance, he (Lord Ashley) would be spared the necessity of wearying the House by long and fruitless divisions, and he would also have the benefit of the approval and co-operation of many great proprietors and capitalists.—(Hear, hear.) This he conceived to be a great advantage, for any . law carried in opposition to them, could be rendered either ineffectual or exceedingly vexatious.—(Hear, hear.) Therefore, although he would reserve his opinion for a future occasion, yet he would say he received with thanks the offers now made ; and he was delighted to find that many of those heretofore opposed to him, were now about to-co-operate with him.—(Hear, hear.) He would accept of the offer which the Government had made, and he did it with satisfaction and delight, because he hailed it as the commencement of a grand co-opera tion on the part of all employers—for one great and grand effort for the improvement and protection of the working classes of the British empire. Mr. M. GIBSON said it was a matter of fact, that at present a great number of the calico printers did not take children under the age of eight years into their employment, and did not suffer children to work at night. It was a matter of great doubt whether they should legislate, where there seemed to be a disposition, on the part of individuals, to perform what legislation could but imperfectly accomplish. In reference to that part of the proposition which referred to education, he thought it overlooked one most important considera tion—it was designed to educate the children during the " slack," or the times when they were unemployed ; but these were precisely the periods when the masters had no control whatever over them, and could not, therefore, be held responsible. If they proposed to raise the character of the labouring classes at large they should look to the agricultural dis tricts, which sent an almost continual stream of labour ers into the manufacturing districts. This labour coming from a poisoned source was identified with that which naturally belonged to the manufacturing districts. Until they directed their attention to the moral training of the whole population he contended they would not effect any great practical good, if any good at all. The Noble Lord did not define what he meant by " work," which was necessary, for a person might be in a print work for many hours, but it did not follow that during all that time he was employed in work injurious to health. The question was whether the amount of work usually performed there was so injurious to health as to call for Parliamentary interference in order that its du ration might be lessened. Until somebody showed that the whole existence and condition of the factory la bourer would be benefited by the diminution of the hours of toil, nothing was proved. The true way to im prove that condition would be to cheapen the price of the necessaries of life, so that by working a fewer number of hours he could purchase as much food as at present. It was not fair to diminish the poor man's fund, even though motives of philanthropy were the assigned cause. Why could not the Legislature compel the farmer to require the children whom he employed to produce a certificate that they had been so many hours at school as well as the manufacturer? If it was right in one case it was equally right and proper in the other.— (Hear, hear.) This was done by the farmers in Ireland. It was rather hard upon the capitalists and employers in the manufacturing districts that when they were im proving the moral condition of the people around them they were compelled to submit to legislative regulations for the hours of labour and for education, whilst at the same time people utterly uncultured, who had not the advantage of any moral training, were con stantly poured in upon them, and the odium of their unlettered condition thrown upon those employers. They should at once proceed to deal with the agricul tural districts, and he called upon the Noble Lord to attend to the moral training of the poor in Dorsetshire. Mr. Horner, the factory inspector, in a pamphlet pub lished three years ago, recommended that a general plan of education and moral training should be adopted throughout the country. There should be no further delay in the adoption of this principle. After what had fallen from the Right Hon. Gentleman the Secretary of State for the Home Department, he did not think it ne cessary to make further observations at present, but would reserve his opinions until the details of the mea sure were brought before the House. Mr. COWPER wished to see the same principle ap plied to the manufacturing as to the agricultural dis tricts, but thought their condition differed a good deal. The same class of persons were not unemployed in the one as in the other—none so young were employed in agriculture as those commonly employed in manufactures. He liked the principle of giving leisure to the labouring classes, and was glad to see that principle was gradually gaining ground. He felt entirely satisfied at the course pursued by the Right Hon. Gentleman. It was most desirable that there should be as much unanimity as possible on a question like the present ; and he thought they should advance gradually with public opinion in changes of this important nature. Mr. HUME said that he did not see the necessity of inttrfering with the use of labour at all, but that if they did interfere to any extent, they ought to interfere with every class in the community. Let the children of all classes be cared for equally, and he would not find fault with a well-intentioned but erroneous object. He did not believe that the children in manufacturing districts were at all worse off than those in the agricultural dis tricts. He had himself seen, during the late inclement weather, in several parts of the country, children exposed to all the severity of frost and snow, for the day to gether, in the care of farming produce, and engaged in keeping birds from the land, and these were children whose tenderness of years was such that he was con vinced they were more in need of the care of the Noble Lord than the children in the manufacturing districts. His Hon. Friend the Member for Manchester (Mr. M. Gibson) had stated that children under fourteen years were never employed by manufacturers in his district. Mr. M. GIBSON—Eight years, not fourteen. Mr. HUME—WeII, under eight years then. Now, if the condition of these children was to be complained of, what did the cause of complaint arise from ? Why, from this—that they were the introductions from the agricultural districts, and brought up in such a state of deplorable ignorance that they . were subjected to all the evil influences of the vice and immorality of large com munities. What he wished for was, that some compre hensive measure should be introduced by the Govern ment, which should embrace every class of the commu nity ; and what he did complain of was, that with a profession of the greatest philanthropy, the Government were suffering a new generation to rise in ignorance and vice. He thought it was the duty of Government to provide a sufficiency of education for every class in the country ; and he did consider them deeply responsible for all the evils which arose from the neglect of which they were guilty. The Noble Lord who had introduced this measure made a pretence to a degi ee of feeling for the lower classes which, lie was sorry to say, was but little borne out by the acts of the Noble Lord, and those who acted with him. They professed that the people were overworked, and yet on every occasion they voted for measures to keep food dear, and thus compelled the over work of which they . complained. This was only a mea sure intended to interfere with commerce, and he thought that the better plan was to leave commerce alone, but if it was to be interfered with, let it be done by Par liament, and in a direct manner. The business which the House had now to do was to diffuse education, and not act so as to prevent the exhibition of those natural ties which all over the world proved the best protection for children, and, in his opinion, by attempting to make food dear they destroyed, or at least largely marred, that natural affection which all parents were disposed to show to their children. They kept food up as hi g h as possible. They tried to keep wheat at 80s,, then at 603., then at IM.ILERIAL PARLIAMENT. The awe famous cattle and ~heep market at Morpeth, which for a long series of years was :ei.ond only to Smithfield, may be said no longer to exit. It has l iterally dwindled o nothing, all its hu,tness having passed over to its formidable neighbour of Newcastle- Von-Tyne. The Earl of Falmouth has contributed 501., and Lady Bassett a donation of 100/., to the local fund for the extension and improvement of the Penryn Docks and Fal mouth Harbour. CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT.-From accounts issued by order of the House of Commons, it appears that in the year ending January 5, 1844, there were 1,881 officers of the several grades and classes employed in the Customs depart ment in the port of London. The expense in salaries and pay was that year 248,350/. Ifis. 2d., and there was a further expense of 11,281/. Bs. 11d. for extra clerks and extra day pay officers, whose services were occasional. In the year ending sth of January last 1,858 officers were employed in the like duties; and the expense was 251,8051. Bs. 4d., and 13,8441. Is. sd. for extra clerks, &c. Thus, in the last year there were fewer men than in the preceding twelvemonth by 23, and increased expenses by upwards of 6.0001. CHAIR or Music, EDINBURGH.-On Saturday, the 29th inst., the Principal and Professors of the University of Edinburgh elected John Donaldson, Esq., to be professor of the theory of music. We understand that there were in all fifteen candidates for the vacant chair, two of whom, however, Sir Henry Bishop and Mr. Muller, withdrew their names be forethe election. caied oan Mercury PRIZE Non e e rcu o r f y t . he other candidates were nomi nated.-PRIZE MONEY. -BURMESE Boom-The receipt from India of a further sum of money, on account of her Majesty's ships Alligator, Arachne, Boadicea, Cham pion, Larne, Liffey, Slaney, Sophie, Tamar, Tees, engaged in the Burman war during the years 1824, 1825, and 1826, having, by direction of the Lords Com missioners of her Majesty's Treasury, been made the means of remedying some irregularities in the scheme framed in India for the former distribution ; notice is given to the officers and crews of the said ships, and their legal representatives, that payment, on the adjusted scale, calculated according to the prize proclamation, will be made at the Naval Prize Department at Somerset House in the first week in May. The following sums of prize money, for the undermentioned captures, will be paid to Lieutenant J. Foote and the officers and crew late of the Fawn, at J. P. Muspratt's, Abchurch-lane, London, on Friday, April 18. For the Portuguese slaver Venus, captured on the 29th of April, 1841, 1,322/. 3s. :-Flag, 821. 12s. Bd. ; Lieutenant commanding, 154/. 18s. 10d.; second class, 1121. 16s. 10d ; third, 56/. Bs. 5d ; fifth, 18/.165. Id ; sixth, 12/. 10s. 9d. ; seventh, Cl. s s. 4d. For the Portuguese slaver Dandade, captured 30th Jan., 1840, 964/. 14s. Id. ;-Lieutenant commanding, 1601. lls. 9d. ; second class, 123/. 10s. 7d. ; third, 61/. 15s, 3d. ; fourth, 41/. 3s. 6d. ; fifth, 20/. 1 ls. 9d. ; sixth, 13/. 14s. 6d.; seventh, 6/. 17s. 3d. For the Portuguese slaver Rosa, captured Feb. 24, 1840, 6441. 6s. 10d. :-Lieutenant commanding, 801. 10s. 10d.; second class, 6 9 /. 12s. 10d. ; third, 31/. 6s. sd. ; fourth, 20/. 17s 7d. ; fifth, 10/. Bs. 9d; sixth, 61. 19s 2d. ; seventh, 31. 95. 7d. "I HE SCOTCH BANKS.-- The principal features of the contemplated measures of Sir Robert Peel, in reference to the Scottish banking system, are said to be, that the existing banks are to be limited to their present circulation, and that they will be forced to keep an amount of gold equal to one tiftfi of that circulation, with the option of having one fourth of that fifth in silver ; so that if a circulation of a bank be 200,000/., it must keep 40,000/. in sovereigns to meet the demands upon it, or else 30,000/. in sovereigns, and 10,000/. in silver. Any bank that exceeds its present circu lation must have gold to meet every pound of such excess.- Caledonian Mercury. RAILWAY ACCIDENTS - On Saturday last, as a pas senger train was corning up the Halifax branch, and when just coming out of the tunnel, a stone fell into one of the third• class carriages, which considerably alarmed, but fortu nately without injuring, the unprotected passengers. On Thursday morning an early luggage train coming up met with an accident from the same cause. A stone had fallen on the rail, and with the jerk of the engine running against it, the chain connecting the train broke. Ihe carriages, laden with fine fat pig s, of course, ran down the steep incline, ac quiring such ce in the descent that they ran (it is said) nearly to Brighouse before they stopped. Fortunately no train was passing at the time, or the consequences might have been awful.-Halifax Guardian. SINGULAR RAILWAY ACCIDENT.-011 Sunday last as the pilot engine was proceeding towards Loughborough, and when just beyond the Barrow station, a hawk, attempt ing to cross the line at the moment, was knocked down by the engine. On returning from Loughborough, the hawk was found on the spot with its head cut completely off, and a snipe in its mouth, which, from the wounds at the back of the head, had evidently been killed by the hawk, and being too heavy, prevented the hawk's flying with its wonted rapidity, and thus was the cause of its death also.-Leicester Chronicle. BRUTAL CASE OF MANSLAUGHTER.-011 Saturday, a man, named David Leigh, was committed to Chester gaol, for the manslaughter of Peter Whittle, aged 24, at a village called Enterpogy, in the above county, under circumstances of a very brutal character. From the evidence at the coroner's inquest on the body of the deceased, who was a blacksmith, it appeared that on the 20th ult. a party of nine young men, among whom was David Leigh, the accused, went to the Bull's Head public-house, in the village, for the purpose of collecting chat are termed the Easter pennys. 'Whilst there they met with the deceased, and after merrymaking with them for some time, he invited the whole party to his own dwelling. In a short time they returned to the public-house, where they commenced wrestling and run ning races together. In the midst of their sport, it seems, the deceased felt aggrieved at something that had been done to him, and whilst he was engaged in scuffle with the prisoner, he pushed or threw him to the ground, and then struck him with a stick. Leigh instantly jumped up, and both being evidently in liquor, a serious fight ensued. The deceased was ultimately knocked down by his adversary, and the stick having been wrenched from his possession, Leigh commenced hitting bins violently over the head and ears. On ceasing, the deceased was found to be utterly insensible. Medical assistance was promptly called to his aid, but he never showed the slightest symptoms of recovery, and expired in less than twenty minutes afterwards. Mr. Renshawe, the surgeon, who was called to the deceased, stated that the blows of the stick over the head had caused the rupture of some of the principal blood-vessels, which had produced death. The jury returned a verdict of " Man slaughter" against Leigh . IMPORTANT DISCOVERY.-A scientific gentleman, residing at Ipswich, Mr. Frederick Ransome, engineer, has lately discovered a method whereby the hardest stone can be brought into a consistence resembling common putty, so that it can be cut and moulded into any shape, for useful and ornamental purposes, without altering its general character and appearance ; for it becomes as hard, and in some in stances even harder, than when subjected to the process. An other peculiarity of the process is, that any colour, or variety of colours, can b. 2 imparted to its solid substance, so that an endlt.ss variety of shades can be produced, and, a. , :t is capable of being polished, it effectually resists the action of the weather. It can also be used as a cement, and can be brushed ever the surface of wood, so as to render it fire-proof.- Sheffield Mercury. ---- - HOUSE OF COMMONS, April 2. The SPEAKER took the chair at Four o'clock. The "'whey Gas Bill was read a third time and passed. Mr. W. PATTEN presented a petition against the Liverpool Guardian Gas Bill. THE GRANT TO MAYNOOTH. Mr. ORMSBY GORE presented a petition from Wrockwardine (Shropshire), against the increased grant to Meynooth College. Mr. SIL; ET presented petitions to the same effect but the designations of the petitions were not heard in the gallery. Lord RENDLESHAM presented similar petitions from Wycombe and several other places. Lord ASHLEY presented several petitions to the same effect, and also several against the sale of intoxi cating liquors on the Sabbath. Colonel VERNER presented petitions from places in the north of Ireland against the grant, and in favour of the Church Education Society. Mr. STAFFORD O'BRIEN and other Hon. Mem bers presented petitions against any increased grant to Maynooth College. Mr. M. GIBSON presented three petitions from Bury St. Edmund's, Sudbury, and dnothi r place in Suffolk, praying that no grant of public money should be given to any description of priests whatever.—(Laughter.) PROSECUTIONS FOR POOR-RATES. Sir J. EASTHOPE rose to present petitions from Ann VVard and Thomas Lakin, prisoners in the House of Correction, in the county of Leicester, complaining of their imprisonment, with hard labour, for the non payment of costs arising out of their inability to pay poor-rates. These persons were now undergoing a sentence of imprisonment, with hard labour, in the prison of Leicester for the non payment of poor -rates, and he was so convinced of the illegality and injustice of the whole proceeding, that he had requested his Hon. Friend the Member tor Finsbury, in the event of his (Sir John Easthope's) absence, to present these petitions, so that not a moment might be lost in laying before the House the case of the petitioners. When he explained the nature of the petitions, he thought the feeling of the House would be so generally in favour of the prayer of them, that no impediment would be allowed to interfere with the speedy redress of the grievances complained of. Thomas Lukin,it appeared, was assessed in the sum of five shillings to the poor rates of the parish. He could not pay it, owing to the poverty of his circumstances ; he was summoned by the magistrates at Ashby-de-la-Zouch, and a distress war rant was issued to raise the amount u;'on his goods and chattels. He had not, however, sufficient in his house to defray the assessment, and he was in consequence, on the 11th of July, committed to the gaol in Leicester. The inhabitants of that town, hearing of his great poverty, paid the rate, and he was released from prison. In a short time after he was summoned for the costs, at least four times the amount of the principal ; but if he had not had sufficient to pay the rate he certainly could not be expected to pay the costs. He was not heard before the magistrate, but was again incarcerated in the gaol of Leicester. The petitioner prayed that imme diate redress should be given. He (Sir J. East hope) might add that the petitioner had a wife and tour children. He could refer to his employer, and all wbo knew him, for the excellence of his character. The next case was that of Ann Ward, and it was very nearly similar to the other. She was a widow, her husband having been killed eleven years before. She lived as al , )dger with her daughter, and was assessed to the poor-rate in the sum of three shillings. She was also committed to prison, and the people of Leicestershire interfered, and paid the money. A distress warrant was aftera arils levied for the costs, and the petitioner was committed, with hard labour, a second time to prison, in default of payment. It was his impression that these cases required redress, and he hoped the House would take the earliest opportunity of giving it. The SPEAKER said that according to the rule of the House, the Hon. Baronet should have previously given notice that he would move that the petitions be printed, before calling the attention of the House to his motion. He could now move that the petitions be printed, and then take the first opportunity of bringing the matter before the House. Sir J. EASTHOPE lamented exceedingly that he had not done so ; but he would now move that the petitions be printed with the vo.es, and to-morrow he would bring his motion before the House. IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT. Lord SANDON presented a petition from Liverpool, signed by 1,400 persons, praying for the repeal of the enactment abolishing imprisonment for debt, passed last session, upon the grounds of no equivalent punishment. Mr. COBDEN presented a petition from the calico printers of Stockport, praying that the Bill brought in by Lord Ashley, should not be passed into law. NAVY HALF-PAY. Captain PECHELL presented a petition from one hundred masters and paymasters in the Royal Navy, complaining of the manner in which they had been treated b) the Board of Admiralty, in not awarding to them that portion of half pay which the late Com mittee of Inquiry into the state and condition of naval officers had awarded to them. The Hon. and Gallant Member 'tit the same time intimated that he would draw the attention of the House to the case of the petitioners, when the navy estimates came under discussion on Friday, on which day he would move that the petition be printed with the votes. DUTY ON MALT. The HON. and GALLANT MEMBER also presented a petition from . the maltsters of Brighton and Lewes, praying the Howe to abolish the duty on malt. NOTICES OF MOTION. Sir HOWARD DOUGLAS gave notice, that on the House going into Committee on the Army Estimates, he would call attention to the present condition of regimental staff officers, paymasters, &c., with a view to Parliament taking into consideration the expediency of extending to that meritorious class of officers the privilege of retiring under certain circumstances upon full pay. INSOLVENT DEBTORS' ACT. Mr. H. BERKELEY gave notice of his intention on a future day to move for leave to bring in a Bill to amend the Insolvent Debtors' Act, passed in the last session of Parliament. The Hon. Member also gave notice that on the 25th instant he would move for a Select Com mittee to inquire into the past operation of the same law. MAYNOOTH. Sir R. INGLIS presented several petitions from places in the counties of Oxford, Cornwall, and other parts of England, against any further grant to Maynooth. Colonel SIBTHORP presented petitions from the mayor, clergy, and a great number of the inhabitants of the city of Lincoln, and from another place in the county of Lincoln, to the same effect. SMOKE PROHIBITION BILL. Mr. MACKINNON moved the second reading of this 8.... Mr. lIAWES opposed the Bill as impracticable, and be should therefore take the sense of the House upon it. He hoped that the Hon. Gentleman would withdraw the Bill for the present, and wait for the general Bill of the Noble Lord opposite. Mr. BORTHWICK supported the Bill. Mr. ORD had but one or two observations to make in reference to this measure. The Hon. Member assumed that there existed a smoke nuisance which could be put down, and the provisions of the Bill had particular reference to the occupiers of chimneys and furnaces. Who were occupiers of chimneys?—(Laughter.) He and other Hon. Members on that side denied the practi cability of complying with the requisitions of this Bill. The Earl of LINCOLN said that a Bill should be introduced for the purpose of constituting local bodies to take into consideration the effects of smoke in their dis tricts ; it would be peremptory to appoint inspectors before that could be done If the Honourable Gentle man still persevered in his intention to refer the Bill to a Select Committee, he (the Earl of Lincoln) would vote for the second reading of the Bill. He was sure, when the Hon. Gentleman reflected upon the large amount of property destroyed by the smoke nuisance, he would not be inclined to throw any impedi ment in the way of legislation upon this subject. A short time ago a nursery-gardener in the neighbour hood of this metropolis was iu the habit of raising ex pensive and valuable plants, but, from the erection of two extensive chimneys, he was compelled to abandon a lucrative occupation. Now by the introduction of some patent apparatus into the two chimneys be believed the gardener was afterwards enabled to resume his business with his former success. The experiment was tried, and the nuisance was abo lished. He did not wish to tresms longer on the atten tion of :he House, but would con@lide by saying that if the Hon. Member pressed his motion to a division he would vote for it, but ho would earnestly recommend the Hon. Gentleman to postpone the second reading until the Sanitary Bill had been introduced. Mr. LABOUCHERE thought the best mode would be to withhold the consideration of this matter for the present, as the Government had announced their inten tion of bringing forward a measure which would embrace it. It would be a mere waste of time uhder such circum stances to refer the matter to a Select Committee. He would vote against the second reading of the Bill. Mr. SPOONER hoped his lion. Friend the Member for Leamington would postpone the second reading of this Bill. Suppose the most complete apparatus were to be employed for effecting the object which the Hon. Gen tleman had in view, there was nothing to compel the workmen to put it into effective use, and without their co- operation it would be utterly futile to at tempt to carry the Bill into effect. Besides, there was a very great doubt whether the consumption of smoke would not compel a very much larger consumption of fuel. The Hon. Gentleman oppo site (Mr. Hawes) had complained that this Bill was a mere waste of legislation, but he (Mr. Spooner) would go further and say, that if they attempted to carry this Bill into effect they would excite such an amount of op position throughout the country as would not only entirely prevent any benefit being derived from it, but which would also very greatly militate against any really good mea ,ure. Another inconvenience arising from the measure, as it stood, was, that every manufacturing interest was claiming to be exempt from its operation. He believed, indeed. that there was a notice on the books for exclud ing the iron trade ; and if the iron trade, why not the glass trade, or any other trade ? He trusted, therefore, that the Honourable Gentleman would not press this Bill to a division, for he believed that it was quite an impracticable measure. He did not be lieve that the smoke from manufactories was any greater nuisance than that from dw,lling-houses, even if it were a nuisance at all; and he trusted that he would therefore withdraw it, and leave an opportunity for a really good measure to be introduced at a future period. wd FRANCIS EGERTON said that he could not possibly assent to the assertion that the smoke from manufact Ties was no nuisance, or even a small nuisance, for he knew that in the place which he had the honour to represent it was felt to be a great nuisance, and he conceived that to talk of this period for legislation on the subject being too early, or that discussion was unnecessary in that House, was quite beside the facts of the case. Ho was favourable to the object of SHRE WSBUR OLVEI HAm TON, AND BIC.:'INGIIAM A meeting of tee r.shareheLie rs et* this Cempse) e ns held ye4torday in the London Coffee-house, Led, ute hill, fur the pill pst! of tatting into consideration the re port i,f 't the e: , ,noniti. e , :t I..qee;ry," aii,i , o) cow: , to a deci-ion therain. Toe Foceedi , e s e - er: tixe,; to take place at eleven Ali , but tor s.iine time boort: :list hour a considerable number of p , aeons had assemb. , e•e; in ! the room. For a shorttileebefore the chair was taken,.. and for a long time afterwards, a gr, at de at of c, pi vailed at the eat ranee-dour of the room, owing . to i.elr fact of the party eettuste , t with the power of tea ite ; eligibility of - rho-.e who pre-ented tteenite s tor adinissii,n as Sharetiold , re having been do d not upon any pr. lA-bet. .hatever, to acmit any one (reporters exc pad), who had nut asoup about him and produc• d it. '1 he consequ , ace was that several individuals applied for adinissien who had no anch document to produce, not having been aware that such would be necessary. and were te,uaed admission, and retired at once—others, apprehending some mistake, remonstrated ; but on, er two more in resolute than the rest, resol ved that they would go, and thence follo wed a trial of physical strength between the applic ant and the . door keeper, th e o ne pushing, pummelling, awl vociferating, the other holding in his iron grasp , ro und the waist, the what he conceived to b • the would-be intruder. Amid the din and confusion that such a scene creased,Mr. Atspitews was yelled to the chair, upon taking which he said—Gentlemen, this tweeting of the scrip holders of the • Shrewsbury and Na olv! alia,9ten— (Laughter, and cri , aof Scr i p -h o lders, inched, and great confusion.) I pretaicne that the gentlemen who have called it are here, and will say why it has been called ; but I cannot be exp,cted to go into the---(Con fusion at the door.) A GENTLEMAN here stated that he should have been refused admittance if he had nut happened by mere chance to have had a scrip about i , i m ; but his brother in-law, who was also a large shareholder, was now at the door, but could not be admitted without the scrip, not having brought it ; if he had ha d any intimition that such was necessary, he iveuld have done so, but he had not. Here the confusion became worse confounded. Several persons, taking advantage of the manner in which the door-keeper was engaged with one or two in a trial of personal strength, slipped in very quietly; and no sooner had they done so than they broadly stated that such was the means by which they had gained admittance, declaring at the same time that they were large shareholders, but had not brought a scrip. This was followed by loud appeals to the chair for order, silence, and business, which, of course, had only the effect of producing anything rather than either order or silence. One individual cried out that an attempt was being made to swamp the meet ing by trying to enforce the admittance of those who could not show their right to be present, while others called " the whole thing a mere farce." After the lapse of nearly an hour, which was consumed in this ir regular and noisy procedure, The CHAIRMAN read the report, which was of considerable length, and which slated, amongst many other change s, that 67, out of the 91 members who composed the board of management, held no shares whatever in the Company. Having concluded reading the repert, an indi vidual, who said his name was ENGLAND, and thst he was a large shareholder, after denouncing the practice of excluding others because they had not their scrip about them, said he had attended here as an utter stranger, who looked not to the right or left, and had no concern whatever in steck -jobbing, but had come here for the purpose of ascertaining the actual position of the affairs of the Company. He would call upon the meeting to pause and consode r well before they adopted such a report as that ju-t read by the chairman. lie had heard of names having been forged to certain documents ; and if such were the tact, he would tell the meeting they should not throw stones from a house of glass.—(Cries of " Hear," and " No, no."). He had heard something said about the Grand Junction line ; but he would ask, was this Cempany to succumb to the wishes of that ?—(Cries of " Hear, hear.") He could pledge his honour that he never had had any communication with the Committee upon this subject; but he would now put a question to the chairman, and upon the answer he should receive would depend the manner in which he should vote. Ile would wish to know from the chairman whether he, or any of the other four whose names he had seen appended to certain resolutions, were shareholders in the Grand Junction Railway ? The CHAIRMAN said he could, without hesitation, de clare that he was not, either directly or indirectly, con nected with the Company. Several other persons made the same declaration on behalf of the other parties. Mr. MILLER. conceived that Mr. England was not speaking to the question.—(Clamour.) The CHAIRMAN said his opinion was that this was a bond fide meeting.—(llear, hear, and confusion.) Mr. ENGLAND, amid great confusion, said—Well, I'll bring the matter to a conclusion at once ; I propose that this meeting do adjourn ti ll this day six months.— (Loud shouts of " Hear, hear," " No, no," and clamour.) Mr. CHADWICR said he would speak to the resolution. He was a practical man, and knew all the particulars Connected with this transaction. He felt satisfied that if there was &feeling in a certain quarter in favour of the Shrewsbury line, the Shropshire men would be in favour of it also. However, be was perfectly prepared to say that it was impossible that the Bill for this line could be passed this session, for the standing orders had not been complied with, and there fore it would be a complete delusion to bring the Bill n ow before the House. In fact, it appeared to him that the int en ti on of the Committee of Management was to have the line re-surveyed. Mr. W. B. Coeeerr, M.P., said he had not attended there as the deputy either of the Committee or Direc tors, or at the su ggestion of any personwhatever ; he merely attended of his own accord, in order to hear what was to be said, and to explain any circumstance that might require explanation, if in his power to do so, in connexion with the Committee. He knew the sin cerity of his own views and objeets, and therefore had no reason to fear the fullest discussion. He had been a very active member of the Committee, and had been, until a very late period, under the impression that this Company were to have been joined by the Grand Junction Company, and it was much to his astonish ment he had heard that that Company had withdrawn from this.—(Cries of " Shame, shame.") He had heard that complaints were made by parties calling at the Secretary's office, and not being able to get satisfactory answers to certain questions touching the state of the affairs of the Company ; but he could say that while he felt assured that there was no disposition to withhold any such infor ma ti on , y e t ho.v was the Secretary to give answers without knowing the applicants ? With respect to the Committee not, being shareholders, he begged to say h e conce i ve d t h at to be a recommendation in their favour, because then it could riot be said that they, some of them being ::,eem bers of Parliament, had hail an) interest in the line which they should recommend for adoption or reusal.-- (Hear, hear.) With regard to the affairs of the Company having been mismanaged, tie, had been said, all he could say was that he hew held 300 :hares ; and surely, if the Secretary said that a large per tentage could now be had upon those shares, it would hardly admit that it was a fact that the affairs 0; the Com pany had been mismanaged. With respect to the alleg , tion that the funds had been squandered, in reply to tout he begged to say it was welt known that Leo-thirds of the money had been paid into the Exchequer, which had not since been touched, and only about one-seventh of the remainder . had been expended in t h e necessary out lay. The Billitself was net mor e d e t ect i ve t h an the generality of such Bills, f o r i t was im possible to have the standing o r d ers com pli e d with ; but if errors had been c ommi t te d, i t was owing to the hurried manner iu whi c h th e Bill h a d b een got up ; but it was thought better t o t a k e c h ance w ith I t ; and he would therefore suggest that the meet ing should await the result of Mr. Gore's motion. Ile also begged to assure the meeting that he had nut the least doubt but that every la,ndo weer along the line wonld asse n t to it s being made.—(hear. hear.) The Hon. Gentleman having spike at considerable length, and denied that it was the intention to have the line " re-surveyed," as had been stated, con eluded ; and then ensued a s cene o f c l amour and confusion still greater than that which preceded his speech. Seven or eight persons essayed to speak at the . same moment, some asking questions of those eppo site, others calling out " Mr. Chairman," who appeared to be most heartily regretting that he had given him self.. a , claim to that title, while sh o uts of " c h a i r , " order, order," and " hear, hear," arose in deafening rapidity from all part s o f the room. Amid the din, STRANGE STORY. We find in the :few Bedford litereuru (American paper) a long and minuv account of a mutiny which oc curred on board the whaling ship Sharon, in Nov., 1842, and of the manner in which the ship was retaken from the mutineer! , by a single ly,rson, Mr. Clough, the third mate. Tin , Sharon, after a cruise new the C,roline ishinbc, pri,ur.ll supplies at Ascension, and was preparing for the voyage, when eleven of her crew deserted, and were eot reoa'ken. Sl;e shipped a new crew of 17, in cluding six natives of the is:ands, On Sunday, Novem -19.-T 6. in latitude 2 degrees 20 seconds north, longitude 162 d , grees east, both heats were lowered in cha-e of v‘hales ; Captain Norris, a Portuguese boy who acted as stew aid, and three of the natives being left on board. 'l he • boats soon captured a whale, which the ship took alongside, and the boats went in pur suit of another. At 3 o'clock p.m. the boat of Mr. Smith, the mate, being about a mile and a half from the ship perceived a signal fly hg, and pulled ton arch her. On coming within hailing distance, they were told by the boy, who was aloft, that the natives had killed Captain Norris, and were in posses sion of the ship. Just then, one of the natives, entirely naked, leaped upon the taffrail, and, brandishing a s;,ear, dared the ci ew to come on board. An armed native stood guard at, each side, and hammers, belaying pins, and other missiles had been collected for th-ir use, and were burled furiously at the boat, though without much injury. The mate then waive" for the other boat, and con sulted as to the best n.ethod of retaking the ship. It was proposed that the boats shouk advance and board her, one upon each side, at the same time ; but Mr. Smith, the mate, who had become master by the captain's death, proposed that both crews should make the attack with one boat, and leave him iu the other. This proposal was received with no favour, the men declaring they would sooner start for the nearest lard and risk the chance of escape. Mr. Clough, who acted as Mr. Smith's steersman, had several times darted his lance at the savage on the tuffrail ; but the distance was too great and he re quested to be rowed nearer ; but Mr. Smith thought the danger too great and refused to approach the ship. Mr. Clough proposed several other devices, but, in default of aid fr.m other , , resolved to re- take the ship himself. He accordingly, after dark, was taken by the boat ahead of the ship at some distance to avoid exciting suspicion, and taking a knife in his teeth to defend himself from sharks, which had been attracts d by the whale, swam to the ship, after a hard struggle of an hour and a half, during which two sharks kept him company, but did not offer to molest him. Having reached the ship he dived under, seized the rudder at the heel, and climbed to the star board cabin-window, through which he made his entry. Laying aside his clothes, and ascertaining that no suspicion existed of his being on board, he groped ab. ut for arms, and found two cutlasses and two muskets, which he loaded. While loading on* he heard some one descending the stairs. Running thither he grasped a cutlass, and a struggle en sued. Mr. Clough succeeded in throwing his an tagonist, thrust out one of his eyes, and left him for- dead, having been severely wounded himself iu the contest. No sooner had he left his supposed victim, than he got up and firrioush renewed the at tack, but finally fell d, .wn from 1 , ss of blood. Mr. Clough, going again to the gangway, saw another person with a cutting spade : he shot him from below, through she heart, but just as he fired the spade was thrown at him, and dis abltd his left arra. A third person camp to the ganrway, with another spade, but soon went forward. Mr. Clough then hailed the boat , , which were very near, told them he had killed two of the mutineers, and was himself dangerously wounded, and urged them to come at once on hoard. They refused, as they had heard but one dis charge, fearing only one had been killed, and they did not think it sate. After about bali . an hour, hearing no noise, they carne aboard, struck a light, and went into the cabin. The man with whom Mr. Clough had first con tended was found on the transom, his eye hanging on his check, and his body covered with gore. He did not move, but merely groaned, whereupon Mr. Smith the mate, fired a musket at him, and one of his men thrust him through with a nutting spade; he was thrown into the sea. The deck was track. d with clotted blood ; the headless body of Captain Norris was found, with that of one of his murderers. The other mutineer jumped overboard, but returned, sur rendered, and was taken to Sydney. The Sharon com pleted her voyage under Mr. Smith, Mr. Clough act ing as second mate. This is an extraordinary nar ' rative, and in some of its details almost in credible. If it be entirely true it is difficult to tell whether most to admire the heroism and daring of Mr. Clough, or to despise the cowardice of Mr. Smith and the crew. The Mercury says that the owners of the Sharon have given Mr. Clough the command of a fine ship, which, if the narrative be true, he has well deserved. We believe the fact of this mutiny was reported some months ago, though its details have never before been so fully stated. Mr. aHADWICK was heard loudly contending that the Bill could never pass in its present state, owing to the number of blunders it contained. Mr. ABRAHAM made a long statenunt in proposing the first resolution, but it was of a nature so personal to the parties he had named that we must decline publish ing it. Mr. COLLETT followed in the same strain, making some assertions, in reference to an individual present, of a very serious nature, but as they also were personal and not relevant to the question at issue, it is unneces sary t o p u bli s h them. He concluded, by sugiresting that he would recommend the Committee of Manage ment to call a full and general meeting of the share holders after the House of Commons had decided upon Mr. Gore's motion. Mr. CHADWICK contended that such a course would be uiterly useless, fur the Bill contained so many blun ders that it could not, by any possibility, be passed. Then followed another scene of clamour and confusion, which was raised to a most vociferous pitch, when The CHAIRMAN called upon the meeting to decide for or against the adoption (A the report. Those for and those against it went to either side of the table, and the Chairman, amidst shout s an d c h eers, d ec id e d t h r mlo lity in favour of the adoption of the report, which was followed by renewed cheering. Mr. ABRAHAM then moved a resolution, which was seconded by Mr. CHADwlcic, and carried its the affirmative. It was to the effect, that " from the facts contained in the report of the Committee oi 100 airy. the Committee of Management had forfeited the con- Adence of the shareholders." Several other resolutions were proposed, and each ereted a renewed burst of angry and warm discussion, whicli ended in the adoption of them ; and a vote of thanks ha v i ng b een passed to the Chairman, the meet ing broke up shortly after three o'clock. 50a., and it was this which obliged the overwork of • had had some previous information, which would enab which they complained. The parents of these children him to answer the questions put by the Hon. Baronet. were driven by distress to the manufacturing districts, He was also prepared to allow that great excitement did and their parents thought that it was better to send the prevail in Leicester on this subject. He had had copies children to work, in order to obtain a subsistence, rather of the petitions sent to him at the Home-office, and on than suffer them to starve. He (Mr. Hume) thought, as receipt of these, he had thought it his duty to make in he had previously said, that it was better not to interfere quirt' into the circumstances of the case. He bad re with commerce at all. The Right Hon. Baronet at the ceived a return on the day before yesterday in eaplana head of the Home-office had referred to the several ob. Lion, and he (Sir J. Graham) was bound to say that jections taken to the system upon the continuity of the that explanation was not satisfaetory.—(llear, hear.) days or the term of day-work which the children were He thought the cominilting magistrates acre wrong in required to perform. Now, it was well known that the not ?Mowing the parties to appear at the sessions. They manufacturing industry of the country was supplied by had been summoned to appear betore the judges but they children from the agricultural class, and he thought that were not allowed to enter the room. They were asked the protection of these children might well be left to if they brought the money and alien they answered in the natural affection of the parents, and to the common the negative they were sent to prison. Ile conceived this feelings of the community ; and he thought if any mea- a gross violation of the libe r ty of the sub j ect. On the sure at all were passed, it should be introduced by the non-payment of the rate it was competent to issue a Government, and be a comprehensive measure, affecting warrant, for not only the amount of the poor-rate but every portion of the industrial classes—the farming the amount of costs also. In this case a warrant had children as well as the children in the manufacturing been issued and a return made of nulls bona. It was districts—and not be of that character of partial legisla- then competent to issue a warrant to attach the person, den exhibited by the Bill before the House, but the parties ouelit to have been admitted into the Mr. I'. BORTHWICK said that he rose to eongratie presence of the magistrates befere they were committed late the Noble Lord on the extent of success that he li e d to prison. lle had tilt it his duty in this ease to : dvise achieved, and the position which he had attainel by his her Majesty to order the immediate liberation of these laudable efforts. The Hon. Members for Manchester persons from prison, and he only regretted that he had and Montrose had stated their belief that the protection not been enabled to recommend this course at an earlier of the children might well be left to the natural affection period.—(llear, hear.) of the parents, when, by their own showing, the children Mr. T. DI"NCONIBE thanked the Right Hon. Baronet were already grievously neglected. Ile thought, under in the names of those persons. The parties who repre all the circumstances, the Noble Lord had done a isely sented the petitioners had called upon him last week, in acceding to the proffers of the Right Hon. Baronet and he had recommended them to adopt the course of the Secretary for the Home Department. bringing the subject before the house. The Right iron. Mr. T. DUNCOM BE said that, in the present state Baronet (Sir J. Easthope) was out of town, but he (Mr. of the debate, he might be permitted to allude to a 'eel- Duneombe) assured those persons dint the lion. Baronet Lion which lie had presented the other night from a very would be very happy to present the petiti, n. He (Mr. large body of operatives in Lancashire, who complained Duneombe) believed that every circumstance stated in that they were frequently compelled to work fifteen, that petition was perfectly true. The parties were now twenty, thirty, and even sometimes forty hours at a time, suffering imprisonment with hard labour, and that. too, in these print-works. This, of course, included night- after they had been liberated on payment of the original work. It was right to observe that they did not asse nt di ht. They were not allowed by the police to enter the to the principle of the Noble Lord. Their position went magistrates court ; and their committal, under these farther than the Bill before the house ; for they de s ired circumstances, he contended was a gross act of illegality to impose a restriction on machinery, and they thought and oppression. Unfortunately for those parties, the that if there were an imposition on machinery, there remission promised by the Right Hon. Baronet had would be no interference with their labour. Ile had come too late, for the terms of their sentences thought it right to caution them from expecting any expired the day after to- morrow.—(Leughter.) encouragement, and he was glad to find, from the repre- Were these persons then to have no redress ? \Vas this sentations of the Noble Lord, that some of the masters unfortunate widow, fifty-eight years of age, who had had also petitioned for the restriction of the hours of lost her husband by an accident in a coal-mine, who was labour, and, above all, for the abolition of night-work. only a lodger with her daughter, and who hail been sen. He had intended to oppose the second reading of the tenced to imprisenment with hard labour—was she, he Bill, but he must say that the concessions of the Go- asked, to have no redress? He trusted that the Right vernment, as expressed in the declarations of the Right Hon. Baronet would go further, and advise her Majesty Hon. Baronet at the head of the Home-office, had placed to strike these magistrates off the commission of the the matter in a very different position, and he thought peace, thus preventing in future their power to commit the Noble Lord had exercised a very wise discretion in those gross acts of tyranny and injustice.—(Cheers.) acceding to the proffers of the Government. Mr. BUCK, as chairman of the Leicester court of Mr. ESCOTT said that he was entirely opposed to quarter sessions, could not anew the remarks whit h had the whole principle of this Bill, and he was astonished, just been made upon the conduct of two of his col lifter all the previous declarations of the Right Hon. leagues to - Pti - S . S unnoticed. They had, to his own know- Baroret at the head of the Home-office, to hear him ledge, been in the commission of the peace for a con accede to the second reeling of this Bill, until he found siderable time, and it would he extremely harsh to dis that the Right Hon. Baronet had accompanied his ac- miss them for this single act of indiscretion. They were cession with the reservation of striking out, in the Corn- highly respected in Leicester, and he was sure their die mittee, all those clauses which might be obnoxious to missal would result in serious inconvenience to that town. him ; and he (Mr. Escott) felt convinced that the Right He could assure the House that it was quite impossible Hon. Baronet would take care to make such alterations, those Gentlemen could have been actuated by any cor es would make this Bill a very different Bill when it rupt or unworthy motives in dealing with the case then came out of the House, to what it was when it went under discussion. into it. The Hon. Members for Manchester and Mon- Mr. HUME was sorry to say anything agairet the trose had made speeches against the Bill, and yet would character of two individuals of whom he knee, nothing, not give any decided opposition to it, although they re- excepting . of course this single act ; but he should be ex presented large manufacturing districts. He believed ceedingly glad to know if the Right Hon. Baronet agreed that great mischief had been wrought, within the last with the recommendation of his Hon. Friend the Mem few years, by this sort of piecemeal legislation. Many ber for Finsbury. Was there no means by which these attempts had been made, during thelasttwenty-five years, poor persons could obtain redress ? If there was not, he to direct the use of labour ; but it was a well - known hoped the Right Hon. Baronet would mark his sense of circumstance, that not a single Act had passed through this Act, by making an example of the magistrates. Parliament, which had not proved a grievous wrong, Sir J. Gil AIIAISI said it would be unbecoming in a . and which did not require another to remedy the evils Minister of the Crown to make any declaration upon it produced. If they looked only to the measure which the conduct of these magistrates, until they had had had been passed for the regulation of apprentices, what some opportunity of vindicating their character, or was the effect of that ? Why, that another Act was making some recompence to the aggrieved parties. He immediately required to interfere with those who were should take the earliest opportunity of releasing those not apprentices. And what was the consequence of parties, and for the present it would be most unwise for that ? Why, that an immense number of women were him to do more. brought from different parts of the country into the Mr. HUME remarked, that under those circumstances manufacturing districts. And last year they were the Right Hon. Baronet had done everything he could, obliged to interfere with the labour of these women. with an alacrity that did him credit.—(Hear.) The Hon. Member for Montrose had said that they After a few words from Mr. F. FRENCH, which were should introduce some measure of this character into the not audible in the gallery, agricultural districts. He would tell the Noble Lord Sir JOHN EASTHOPE rose simply to express his that he dared not introduce such a measure into the acknowledgments to his Right Hon. Friend for the hand agricultural districts.—(" Hear, hear," and a laugh, some manner in which he had met the case, and to iw- - from Lord Ashley.) Well, then, what be meant to say plore him not to allow even the first post to-morrow to was, that they could not carry such a measure into effect pass without giving an order for the release of these in the agricultural districts. It was, in his opinion, poor persons. unwise and inexpedient to attempt to legislate on these Sir J. GRAHAM had not power to accede to the evils. The law of England was sufficient for the pur . request. ~ pose already, and the evils would remedy themselves, Mr. ESCOTT wished, if any further investigation and he thought, therefore, that the Bill was unnecessary took place, the Government would ascertain whether, and might be mischievous. under the existing law, these magistrates had the power Mr. BROTHERTON said that he totally disagreed in of mulcting these poor defendants to the amount in what had fallen from the Hen. Member for Winchester. which the y had fined them. The Ac t of Parliament He had had large experience during the last thirty years certainly gave them costs, but it did not specify the in the manunicturing districts ; and lie well remembered amount, and he very much doubted whether the law what was the case thirty years ago. He had at that time sanctioned so heavy a fine as 11. stood almost alone in the attempt to obtain legislative Mr. GISBORNE wished to know if he rightly lin. interference for protecting the children in those districts. derstood the Right Hon. Baronet to say that he had The late Sir Robert Peel was the first individual to in - ma de a pe rs o n a l a pp l ic a tion to these magistrates to know troduce a Bill for the restriction of the labour of children the grounds upon which they acted ? in manufactures, his object being to reduce the labour to Sir JAMES GRAHAM replied, that he had made \ ten hours and a half each day. At that time it was nut an application to the Clerk of the Peace, who had for at all an uncommon thing for children of six and seven welded a very full explanation. years of age to be kept at work for sixteen, seventeen, The matter then dropped, and often eighteen hours in a day ; and he (Mr. Bro- Mr. lIUME had come down to the House that even therton) thought that the restriction to twelve hours was ing, fully expecting that the lion. Gentleman the Se a great boon. He therefore rejoiced in the concessions of cretary-at-War intended to make some statement the Right Hon. Baronet at the head of the Home De- on the subject of the Army estimates. lle understood partment, and he thought that the Noble Lord had used now, however, that it would be more convenient to a very wise discretion in consenting to agree to the Eight Hoe. Gentleman to take the vote for the pre them. It would not only be well for the sent, without discussion, but if he consented to this children, but also for the masters themselves. lie course ke hoped the house would consider thou as not thought that the legislation advocated by the Noble being prejudged —(llear, hear.) Lord had been most advantageous to the working classes, Mr. B WILLIAMS reminded the House that, pre and he begged to congratulate the Nobles. Lord on the viously to the Easter recess, they quietly voted up wisdom exhibited in acceding to the wishes of the Right wards of 2,800,000/., without any account being given of lion. Baronet. He trusted that all his measures would its intended disposal. True, they were then told that tits be equally beneficial to the manufacturing population. opportunity would be afforded them for entering 'at Loud F. EGERTON said, as far as his experience length into the question, but no discussion afterwards ' went, he believed that on the whole a great and sub - t ook place. lie remembered, too, th a t about three years stantial benefit had accrued from legislation upon this ago, his Hon. Friend the Member for Montrose assented subject. It required, no doubt, great watchfulness in to a similar course to the one which had been proposed the framing of such measur es, and he therefor e con - that ni g ht, but when, on a subse q uent occasion, his -Hon. gratulated the Noble Lord on the wisdom of the mete. Friend proposed to reduce the army by 20,000 men, he sure which he had brought forward that evening. It did was met by roars o a f e la ,o u i g nf h ot t ro e ,f r a . fftaec, voted Now, it' voting tghaetwhaa-ey thevnoumr ted b ih h e o s olfe e himself great credit, and would be of p ermanent utility o7f9,tohoeoamrmenyun they, est in t point to those that were to be bene fi t ed b y it. Mr. P. AINSWORTH thanked the Noble Lord, in men, they could hardly refuse the money to pay for the name of the constituency which he represented, for them. But a vote of this nature had never, to his know. his exertions in their behalf. He thought that the ledge, been taken on a Wednesday, and he could see no measure before the House that evening would be of the reason why they should, on the present occasion, depart greatest service to those engaged in print-works, from their former custom. If, therefore, the Lord ASHLEY trusted the House would allow him Right Hon. Gentleman the Secretary-at-War was de to refer to a letter which he had that morning received termined to proceed at once with the vote, he should feel from an operative in Lancashire. The writer stated, it to be his duty to propose a reduction ; but before pro• that in the very mill in which he had worked since ceeding to state the nature of it, he should be glad to 1826, the improvement in consequence of the Factories' know if the Right Hon. Gentleman bad any objection Act was so marked in the morals and manners of the to postpone the vote till another time. children, that they did not appear to be the same per- The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER in sons. formed the Honourable Member that the precise number The Bill was then read a second time, and this day of men required for her Majesty's service could seldom week was appointed for the third reading. or never be ascertained, and therefore it was that a larger On the motion of Mr. EWART, the Museums . of number was always specified in the vote. But it did not Arts' Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be follow from this that the whole of them would be re read a third time on Wednesday next. quired, indeed it was quite evident they would not, and then SUPPLY.—ARMY ESTIMATES. the Hon. Member had an ample check on the number to On the order of the day being read for the Com- be implied in voting the money to pay them ; for upon mittee of Supply, the amount voted of course depended the number to be Mr. SIDNEY HERBERT said, that if the House raised for the service. The Hon. Gentleman, however. would not object, he should propose to take the vote did not appear to be aware of the inconvenience be upon the third estimate, relating to time increase of the would cause by throwing obstacles in the way of number of men, as the assent of the House was ne- taking the votes that night.) The Hon. Member perhaps cessary to that vote before introducing the Mutiny Act. was not aware that it was absolutely necessary that the The House might take the discussion on the vote for Mutiny Act should be read a first time and printed be the amount of money required. He trusted there would fore tke 25th instant, but this could not be done until the be no objection to this proceeding. rate of men had been agreed to. PROSECUTIONS FOR POOR-RATES. Mr. WILLIAMS said it was impossible for any ace Sir JOHN EASTHOPE hoped that, before going countant in England to calculate the expense precisely into a Committee of Supply, he might be allowed to of 10,000 or 20,000 men, and he therefore bad no means call the attention of the House to the two petitions of ascertaining how much a vote ought to be reduced to which he had presented at an early period effect a saving of so many men to the country. In fact, of that evening. He would take up the the whole question rested with the number of men, and time of the House as shortly as possible, in- not the money. explanation of the circumstances to which these petitions The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER would, referred. The petitioner complained that he had been for the Hon. Member's satisfaction, undertake to furnish imprisoned in consequence of the non-payment of a poor- him with the exact cost of any given number of men. rate. That rate had been paid by persons in Leicester Mr. WILLIAMS would state then the number of men ra show by them that e u ,0 om who, hearing of his poverty, felt it an act of charity to he wished to reduce from the army. Ever since he had do so. He was then liberated, but afterwards, a warrant heard an y arguments in favour of the vast extent of our was taken out against him for the amount of 20 s. co s t s. standin g army, he had always understood that it was on. He was ordered to appear before the: county magi strate, ke p t up for the purpose of relieving the re g iments sta but when he attended, was not permitted to g o before tioned in the colonies. N p o r wh n e t couldarmy him, and it was stated that if he had brought no mone y they could just as well accomplish that object if they to pay the costs he must go to gaol. He did g o to the consented to reduce the present gaol of Leicester, and he now lay there. lie (Sir J. There were for instance three regiments of Life Guards Easthope) had written to the committing magistrate, which performed no duty in the colonies, and there were stating his intention of bringing the subject before the also three regiments of Foot Guards which never per- House that evening, and requesting him to communicate formed any duty whatever in the colonies. None of the the facts of the case to some Hon. Member, but he (Sir Horse Guards had performed any duty whatsoever in the J. Easthope) in endeavouring t o p rocure redress to the colonies since the termi nation of the war, with the ex one party, should unintentionally injure the other. lie ception of on e b atta li on i n Canada. These s i x regi had received an answer from - Leicester that morning, meats consisted of 6,561 men, and cost the country up• and he was exceedingly grieved to say that that wards of 110,0001. per m letter admitted, in su bstance, the facts as to deprive her Majesty a o n f n u an; di l s t pl w ay as wh n i o e t leis desire letter _nigdheta he had stated them. Th ere was no denial that those pleasing to her. But he was convinced that all the pure parties had been committ ed, on the second warrant, fur poses of royal display could be answered, and a reduc the longest period it was posible for a magistrate to corn- tion effected equal to the cost of 10,000 men. mit them. There was no denial that the parties were Dlr. S. HERBERT understood the Hon. Member for not heard in the second instance. It was said, indeed, Coventry to suggest only a reduction of cost, and not a that the parties had been summoned, but had not at- reduction of men. tended. The petition affirmed, however, that the poor Mr. WlLLlAMS—Precisely so. man and woman did appear, but were prevented from The House then went into Committee, and a vote for going ',into the magistrate's room, because they had 1,111 men, exclusive of those employed in her Majesty's brought no money. They were prevented by the very territorial possessions abroad, was agreed to. parties t a k e whose duty it wa s to them before the ma- The H o use resumed, the CHAIRMAN reported pro gistrates, and, without the opportunity of a hearing, they gress, and obtained leave to sit again. were sent to gaol. It was a most painful case ; and he could assure the House that it was with the utmost pain that he came there to represent the circumstances PUBLIC MUSEUMS—DESTRUCTION OF TREASURES OF ART. of it. On the reading of the order of the day for the Cora- The case had produced the greatest excitement, not only mittee of the whole House upon this Bill, in the town he represented, but throughout the Sir J. GRAHAM moved that it be an instruction to county also, and eve r y p erson t h ere was watching the Committee to introduce a clause extending its previe with the most earnest attention the determination sions to the protection of works of art in the possession to which the blouse might come upon this subject. of private individuals. Ile would beg leave to ask the Right Hon. Baronet, e he. Mr. BOUVERIE thought that the provisions of the ther the facts of the case had come to his knowledge, Bill ought to be extended to the protection of private and if so, whether he had made it the subject of a ape- property of every kind. cial inquiry? He begged also to ask whether any return The Bill then passed through Committee pro form 4. had been received from the committing magistrates? and POOR LAWS (SCOTLAND). whether it was the intention of the Right Hon. Baronet The LORD ADVOCATE moved for leave to bangles to take the proper steps se as to prevent the necessity of a Bill for the amend ment and better administration his (Sir John Easthope's) again troubling the House of the laws relating to the relief of the poor in Scot upon the subject ? land. It had often and long been complained of that Sir J. GRAHAM said that the Hon. Baronet had there was no adequate provision for the relief of the been so obliging as to notify to him that morning his poor in Scotland. He did not speak of the poor incases intention of bringing the subject under the considera- of occasional distress, which must be met by extraor tion of the House. He had, in addition, at an early dinary efforts—but of the poor in their permanent CCU*. period of the evening, presented two petitions having re- dition. In 1838, the General Assembly of the Church Terence to the same circumstance. He (Sir J. Graham) of Scotland appointed a Committee to inquire into tbt'