The Sun. — London, England, 1847-02-11 00:00:00

THE I () e gislative inteefeerence manufacturing entet'prise 0* since set at rest. He would ask that House of Commons was it the year 1832 she hours of labour had been reduced for all prepared to throw back to another Parliament the settle- Persoas above 13 years of age from 74 to 69 hours, for all ment of the question which had enlisted in its favour the affec rereons metier 18 they bad been reduced from 74 to 36, and tions of the working men and women—which came to them an every ease the best possible results had followed the adop- supported by the opinions of the clergy, the medical profession, ?ion of - the measures.—( Hear.) Looking then at the past, and all the enlightened and impartial, which was based upon the and relying upon practical exnerience for the future, they experience of the past, and which appealed to past results I were eustified in calling upon the opp onen t s o f thi s Bill to , for future benencial effects? Would the House of Commons :alike out a most irresistible case, to demonstrate by facts reject such A measure as the present, because some :and figures, which could admit of no dispute or cavil, that ! Honourable Gentlemen are pleased to assert that the 'wages of the workmen would fall in consequence of the it does not. altogether steer with their notions of pawing of this measure, which was another of the arguments political economy? He trusted not; but should it use! by the opponents of the measure.—(Cheers.) !he se, and should the House come to a conclusion But, ev e n if this fell of wages were to take place, ! adverse to the second reading of the dill, the Gentlemen on it would be in seine sort compensated by :• his side of the House would retire from the contest gis-i ng to the workmen facilities for household economy, undismayed and undeterred, cheered and encouraged and for the mental and moral improvement of the inmates of by the reflection that they had done their duty, the cuttag,e.—(llear, h ear .) Th e peop l e wor ki ng i n t h e f ac - an d th a t th e T or y gentlemen of England had maintained t °rim were told that, with tae repeal of the corn-laws, the ! their historical position—(Laughter)—and had, consistently chief element of their expenses would be materially ! with it, fought the battle of the poor against the rich, of redacted. (Hear, h ear .) H ow t h ose prom i ses had their poorer fellow-subjects against the mighty and the been fulfilled, the Proeent prices would abundantly testify. i strong.—(Hear, hear.) He trusted that the Bill If the corn-laws were to reduce the food of the people at ! would pass into a law, and that this protracted least one-third, san e l y t h ey were ent i t l e d to h ave t h e i r h ours I strugg l e wou ld now b e terminated ; and if such of e lebor relaxe.n. was willing to leave this matter to was the case, he could assure the House the measure would decided , by the practical experience of the operatives ! be received by a grateful and loyal people amidst the accla v,teelefelelelvee, r , ut yet it was a difficult question, and one on mations of millions. , t would be difficult for them to deal The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, that if shirewith the . .t. employers. Fortunately, Lancashire and York- the Noble Lord had abstained from those allusions which ‘7 other.ere not exclusively populated by manufacturers; he had deprecated in the commencement of his speech , he lived in them who were competent to judge by their I (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) would not have addressed knowledge, o f th e con di t i on o f t h e operat i ves. Th ere were t h e H ouse . H e h a d b ee n willing to believe that the question 'o Alan egerst Dissenting ministers—th ere wer e the Dean o f might have been discussed without any party feeling being nieester, the Vicar of Leeds, the Rector of Brad- expressed. And if the Noble Lord did take credit for his ford, all f S% nom were competent arbitrators, to party, he would surely allow him to claim, for the Gentle w Join he should feel satisfied to leave the decision of the men with whom he acted, the merit of a measure which I .netter. Now, when they came forward and told them that gave to the mass of the people the main article of for the sake of their spiritual health it was necessary to pass subsistence at the cheapest possible rate. He did not wish to this Bill, and when the surgeons in the large towns said it pursue the subject further, or to say much upon the present was necessary for the emprovement of their physical question, which had been so repeatedly before the House. Oa 'condition, and when they and the landed proprie- the last occasion that the Bill was before the House, it was tors were enanimously of this opinion, he considered opposed by the Government as a Government measure. it was incumbent on the House to comply with their wishes. His Noble Friend near him, and the Ri g ht Hon. Baronet He had been entrusted with a letter on the subject from Mr. near him, would support the measu re under certain modifica- Fletcher, the well-known surgeon of Bury, dated Feb. 7, thine, but he supported the same opin ion u p on the 1847, which d eserve d the serious attention of the House, present as upon ' former occasions. And he considered which was as follows :—" I have been professionally so much himself bound to Stand up and declare himself, so engaged that 1 did not know till yesterday that the second that the question might not go forth with the reading of your Factory Bill is fixed for Wednesday next, or weight of Government authority. He was as much a friend I would hae ve ea r lier communicated a few statistical facts, to the poor man as any Gentleman in t hat House, and if which so strikingly illustrate the e ff ec t s o f th e presen t sys - he were disposed to overlook the immense interests which their infants by mothers empl o y e d i n th e m ill s , that you he would not give his consent to such a measure, ntay, perhaps, consider them worth using on that occasion. as he believed it would be most injurious in its results. He 'They came to my knowledge during an inquiry into the had no hesitation in granting a limitation to the hours of sanatory condition of different parts of this town, for the labour for children, but he would oppos e an y interference Purpose of giving evid ence en an Improvement Bill. Some with those of adults. By such a measure they would take years before, while preparing a report for the health of away one-sixth part of the earnings of the labourer. towns commissioners, my attention had been attracted to By diminishing the hours for labour they would increase the greater m or t a lie y especially- of infants, in the factory the coat of production , and that cost would either fall upon districts of the town and neighbourhood, compared with the profits of the manufacturer or the wages of the artizan. those in wench few mills existed. I therefore, on this He would take the cases of the different mills. In the first occasion, in calculating the average are at death in the mill all the operatives signed in favour of long hours; in the better awl worse conditioned localities, carefully dis. second mill, 169 signed in favour of long hours, and 75 linguinitetd the factory operatives from the other working against it; in the third, 59 only signed for long hours; and al classed.. !, The result proved the average age attained by the though an announcement was made by the masters, that in factory workers and their infants to be somewhat less than the month of October following they should commence one-half that of the other operatives in the same districts. working short time, before that day of working short time —(Hear, hear.) In order to prevent any doubt as to the came the workmen sent a deputation to the owners request accuracy of these calculations, I may mention that on finding ing that they should work for long hours. In the fourth the , age at death of the factory population in one district so mill it was agreed also to work for long hours; lota as eight years, which appeared really incredible, I went for in consequence of working short hours the wages of the over the registers a second time, being assisted by a friend people would have been reduced. In one mill many of the accustomed to such researches, when, finding the extracts operatives were so anxious to earn high wages, that they and calculations perfectly correct, an explanation of this re- continued working at tea thew when their hours were re markable result appeared in the fact, that of every 100 deaths duced. These parties worked by piece work, and in their a fraction over 61 are infants under the age of two rears, anxiety: they worked during the half-hour allotted fur tea, while of the other operative classes, in the same locality, the thus working the same time as before, only in a smaller deaths under two wears are a fraction less than 33 in 100. I compass. In these instances the experiment had been give below the average age at death, and the deaths under two fairly tried, and the question had been fairly put years of factory and other operatives, in three districts, to the workmen, and they preferred long hours 'which, differing materially in their sanatory condition, and with high wages. If any of the operatives were anxious for. containing a large proportion of factory people, afford a short hours it was in the full belief; and in which belief they fair comparison. The first is a town district, extremely ill- would be disappointed, that they would continue to receive conditioned as regards ventilation, drainage, and cleaning. the same amount of wages. lii another mill which he would In this locality the average age at death of factory operatives mention 400 hands all signed in favour of long hours, and is eight years; other operatives, fourteen years; deaths of in another a majority of 50, in a third a majority of 40, in a Infants under two years, of factory operatives, 61 1- sth per fourth a majority- of 50, and in a fifth a majority of 103, cent. ; other operatives 32 3-4tba per cent. In the registra- signed in favour of long ho urs. In a sixths mill 2i 6 signed tion district of B ur y ' North, exclusive of the above, the for lung hours , and 125 a g ainst them. It was average age at death is, of factory operatives, 9ir years; other his firm belief, that long hours were preferred by other operatives, 19 years ; deaths of iefants under two the workmen, as it was their conviction that a reduce years, of factory operatives, 54 3-sths per cent. • other tion of the time of work would be followed by a reduction operatives, 33, 1-3 d per cent. In Woodhill district, lying a of wages, and they were told that they did not consider the short distance from the town, and particularly well situated interest of the workmen when they demurred to a measure as regarcis the health of its population, the general mortality which would inflict an injure:. He would, therefore, by no of the 'northern suburb, of which it forms a part, being 1 in means accede to the request of the workmen, even if they 4 4 F-10ths, which is, I believe, about the average of all were in favour of this measure much more generally than England, and being in this particular locality 1 in 40, the he believed them to be. He was really so little able to ad cottages of the operatives being also more roomy, better dress the House, that be would not venture to make ventilated, and more cleanly than is generally the many further remarks. The question concerned Case, we find the average factory age 10 years ; not only the interest of the artizans in the that of the other operatives, 21e years ; the deaths of in- mills, the interest of the manufacturers, and the rants under two years, of factory parents, 56 per cent.; other large interests of all persons dependent on the cotton operatives, 33 per cent. In some other districts the disparity mills, and of all dependent on the production of the raw ma appears even greater, but the proportion of factory workers terial consumed in the mills, and of all persons who were en is as small that Ido not consider the test a fair one. I have gaged in the preptratien of the material : it affe cted also al Only further to state that these calculations are made on an those employed in the after p rocesses, and if they reduced average of seven years, and include every death that has oc- the raw material consumed in the mills, and there became in , tarred in these l oca liti es . Th e y a pp e ar calculated to rebut consequence a deficiency in the p roduction of the manufactured the assumption, that it is the condition of large towns, and produce, the various stages it ha d to g o through subsequently not the employment in factories, which produces the awful they would affect th e interest, not only tof the manufacturers mortality, particularly of the infant population, iu the mane- themselves, but the interest of large bodies of men on either lecturing districts. This, you are well aware, has been side, who had no opportunity of expressing their strongly maintained by several medical practitioners and opinions, b u t whose interest , nevertheless, was ma others. It was to disprove this fallacy that I ende avoure d, terially injured. He thought that these were con as far as possible, in making these investigations, to aster- siderations of vast importance, which ought not to tain the relative effect of the two sources of disease and pre- be left out of the question. He had taken it upon the flare mature mortality, and I am the more especially induced rowest grounds—those grounds upon which they generally to forward you the above extracts from the tables I have agreed, viz., that the interest of the workmen was materially constructed, as Sir George Grey appears to have adopted affected, and it was upon those grounds that lie felt it to be an opinion which lam convinced will prove to be founded his duty to oppose the measure. on a hasty end superficial examination of this important The Marquis of GRAN BY said that the patient endurance question. From a report which was presented to of the operatives, and at the same time the conciliating tone the House in 1834 he found that out of 1,000 deaths in Man- they adopted towards their masters, would naturally cause a chester, 424 were children tinder two years of age; that in desire to grant their wish. The Right Hon. the Chancellor Liverpool the number of children under two years of age, out of the Exchequer had said that the wages of the opera of 1,000 deaths, was but 362 ; whilst in London, out of 1,000 tives would be reduced. He was ready to admit that, deaths, only 308 were infants under that age. if they reduced the number of hours the operative (Hear, hear.) This showed the great want of sanatory had to work, the master manufacturers would find it necen improvements, and that the mortality against these child- sary to make up the deficiency by employing more hands. ren would be less if they were taken more care of by their He thought, likewise, that if they did employ more parents. The subject had been submitted to them in every hands, the number of workpeople, as an inevitable cones possible way : they had been shown how the homes of quence of the principle of competition between the masters factory workers were left comfortless, in consequence of the would be benefited. He thought that this measure would be protracted: hours' of labour—how the Saxon mother conferring a great boon on the operatives in the manufacturing refused to be comforted because her children could not par- districts, and it would not at the same time materially re take of it—(Hear, hear) —but then when one died she duce their wages. He; was for some time per knew that it had ceased to suffer from prolonged and severs plexed by the argument, that if they did not toil, and that it had gone to join the army of innocents in reduce the wages there would be no ether heaven.—(Hear, hear.) He would ask the House means of raising the same quantity of manufactured produce whether a sufficient case had not been made as they did at present. He thought that with regard to the out for passing the measure ?—(Hear, hear.) It was women who were now labouring twelve hours per day in in vain for them to provide parks and athenxums those factories, the reduction of their hours of labour would for the recreation and instruction of the people, if they did not be followed by so material a reduction in the produce not at the same time provide them with a few hours to par- as was anticipated. The labour and wages would be more take of their advantages. They were agreed to the end :it equally distributed over the surface of the manufacturing was the means only that were objectionable; but if he thought population, who would thereby be materially benefited. On there was a reasonable chance of an arrangement being come these grounds he should give his support to the Bi ll. to between the masters and th e i r labourers he might possibly Dr. 130 W RING said that he acknowledged the philan alter his opinion, especially if 1,000 manufacturers in Lance- thropy of the Noble Lord, but it would not be what was called shire would sign a bond to reduce their hours within the philanthropy to suppport that which would bring misfortune limit he thought necessary, and pay down a quarter of a upon the labouring community. The discussion was one million as the guarantee that they would fulfil the condi- which should be entered upon free from all prejudice, and tions.—(Hear.) But he should think the acute labourers dupes with minds inaccessible to all facts likely to prejudice the if they consented to any arrangement unless they had judgment. He did not approve of the present measure, for ample security that it would be carried out. That House he felt convinced that it would not be of any practical' was not in the habit of waiting until rival steamers in the utility to the poor.—(Hear, hear.) He had heard Thames had agreed to regulate their speed in the pool, to one of the principal manufacturers in the borough adopt measures to compel them to do so, supposing he had the honour to represent offer to his workmen such a step were necessary ; or until master- to engage them for eleven hours a day, but he did not builders agreed to improve the sanatory regula- attempt to disguise from them what the result of the altera tions of the houses they build ; chimney-sweepers not tion would be. He told them that if they did not produce the to use climbing-boys; proprietors of collieries and butties to same amount of work as in the twelve hours he could prevent the harnessing of naked women.—(Hear, hear.) not be expected to pay them the same amount of wages. They did not stop until the proprietors of slaves in the West Ile (Dr. Bowring) understood that a large body of the most Indies could make some arrangement with their slaves for influential, the most intelligent, and the most wealthy menu their emancipation; in these and a thousand other instances facturers had been testing the consequences of the Bill should they did not want for the parties to come forward, but it become the law of the land, and the y all a g reed on this brought the "imperial majesty of the e law," to whom all point, that it would occasion a general reduction in the were subj ec t—the lowe s t as well as the greatest— value of produce in the cotton manufactures. Ile and which has for its object the vindication of the rights of spoke not of the silk nor of the flax manufacture, but confined those ordained by God."—(Hear.) It was all very well for his attention to cotton alone, and the return showed a di the Hon. Member for Montrose to say, in accordance with minution in the value of production to the extent of 12i per the doctrines of that school of philosophy to which he belonged cent. Now he might just inform Hon. Members that the that they ought not to interfere, and to allow the labourers value of the cotton manufactured in this country exceeded to remain at the mercy of their employers; but were 30,000,0001.; the number of bales required for working up kings and legislators to do nothing? If they were not to amounted to a million and a half, representing in value interfere, he was at a loss to understand why they had in- 15,000,000/. sterling, and before it left the manufactory the terfered with various thincs.and were continuing to interfere, united cost of labour and capital would increase the sum to If the interference proposed be- the Bill be not satisfactory, 30,000,000/. sterling. The statement added, as the result of let them point out to him, if they could, a more advisable, a a limitation of the hours of labour, that the annual loss more safe, a less objectionable mode of intervention, or which would be from 1,800,000/. to 2,000,0001. sterling. Now he had more noble or more glorious reasons for interference. would inquire on whom this loss would fall. It ap- Unless the factory operatives came before them and declared peered to him that it could only be borne by one of that all their past legislation on the subject had been pro- three parties. The first was the consumer, and perhaps ductive of the. desired good, and that there was no need of it might be more generally distributed in this way at the the proposed interference, or that danger would result to least amount of individual sacrifice; but the question was them from it, they were bound to pass the Bill. He ought would the consumer pay this loss—would they rest con almost to apologise for touching this part of the subject tented with the extra price which would be charged them. after the eloquent speech of the Honourable Gentleman the They had already, by their measures of lest year, taught Member for Edinburgh last year.—(Hear, hear.) He was the people of the country that the only true principle was to glad that that city had, by its representative, spoken in buy in the cheapest and sell in the dearest market. They had favour of the Bill.—(Hear, hear.) In a late number of the decided that they were entitled to she benefits of that Edinburgh Review he found an article, from which he would principle, and the people had a right to require that read two or three passages which appeared to him " germane they should give effect to it.—Tear.) The consumers to the matter." Talking of the principle of interference arid therefore would pay no portion o the 2,000,0001. sterling. the probable consequences to which it led, the reviewer pro- But then they might say, 'The manufacturers are gorged ceeded in this fashion :—" Once admit the principle that Go - w it h enormous profits, the manufacturers must pay, and vernment may rightly exercise such influence—and the usage they are affluent and successful men, wrest, therefore, of every day sanctions it—and every case seeming to call for from them a portion of their ill-gotten gains." But was it is argued on its own merits. And so it must be with re- it the fact that the gains of the master manufac ference to the limitation of the hours of labour—the most turers were so large as to enable them to continue reknotty question of the c l ass now b e f ore the Public- its sup- manufacturing, when they b y their legislation ex porters urge th a t the duration of labo u r which men engage to acted from them an am ount of 2,000,000/. sterli ng undergo istoo much f or t h e i r bodily and mental health. annually. It was not likel y the y would do so, They say that even hi g h wages thus acquired bring little of and therefore after all the loss would fall upon the opera blessing with them to men, spiritless from over exertion, in fives themselves. The Hon. and Learned Member then homes rendered squalid and uncomfortable, neither time nor inclination left fir ductiu because there is proceeded to show by the evidence of Mr. Gregg hold economy. They say that hasty the exercise of house- that the profits of the manufacturer,. after de t, constant improvidence, brutish and ' marriages, early deaths, the 5 per cent. interest on his money, did not exceed 2 1 / 2 irregular habits of living per cent. If the consumer and the ca p italist would are the necessary concomitants of a state of thi ngs i n which not pay the burden must fall on the labour the whole six days are devoted to toil. The y even a affirmss take w n g away population, and thus, instead of gran tin g a that man deteriorates with _these evil influ ences, not only in boon, the House would, by pass i ng t hi s measure, his higher qualities , but also in his infe r i or capacity with shorter from them the means of education and t he machine for production , and that, labour, he ability to procure the comforts of existence. The workmen might do more or better work. The time is surely past for were, in effect, to be told that one-sixth of their earnings answering these arguments with mere assertions of general was to be withdrawn, and however willing they might doctrine. Fair reasons mu st be given for supposing that the be to work for the extra hour, the manufacturers point has been already reached (some point there evidently wou l d have no power to accede to the i r w i s h es must be) at which further interferenc e would do more harm by this enactment of the Government. He (Dr. Bow by diminishing the productiveness of the fu nd for the main- ring) h a d during his whole l i fet i me b een t h e a d vocate tenance of labour than it could do good by its influence on of the working mac; he had ever sought to obtain for him the character of the labourer; and since every step which an influence in that House of which he was as yet de the Le g i s l a t u r e has taken in the same direction has been prived ; his sympathies were all enlisted on his side, and met by similar objections and denunciations, none of which it was forthatreason, to lower itwa becausei sc!d o thoughth it joo thattheewould present have yet been realised, the burden of proof seems t o bo measure was calculated rather on the opponents than the supporters of further re- oppose the further progress of it. form." te e (Lord J. Manners) hoped he had stated the Mr. P. HOWARD, in rising to support the measure said case fairly, and that he had said nothing to irritate or that he would not detain the House with any lengthened wound any person in the course of his observations. The observations. He could perceive that they were desirous of Honourable Gentleman talked of Russia, and Germany, testing the q uestion b y a division, and he should and A mer i ca , b u t s i nce 1839 no p erson un d er s i x t een years therefore , no t tres p ass for any time on th e i r a ttenti on . of ag e , i n Germany or Prussia, was allowed to work more The House had already seen that any arrange than ten hours.—(Hear.) Throughout Prussia the average ment between the employers and the employed hoUrs o f wor k of all classes was 11 ; and then the case in was out of the question, and it was therefore necessary for the America to which he referred was not a good example in Government and that House to ood of g legislate up on th e favour of his argument, as the committee came to subject. He had hoped that the ma nu f ac t urers the opinion they did ow i ng t o th e presents o f E ng land would have copied the example of the of circumstances which could n o t h e contr o lled.—(Hear) agricultural warty who iuske {'rear sacrifice fo r t i lt . What couetry entered most into comp e ti tion wit h us . W as it their country—(Laughter) — !met he might yet ask th em to not America? They compelled the Americans, against their make some little sacrifice, to offer some tribute on the altar wills, to employ their labourers longer than they desired, by of their country. He would give his most cordial support enforcing their competition. He considered that the to the second reeding of the Bill. statements which he tied taken the lib er ty t o air, eiteNTz t oo k th e trouble to go to Manchester to sa read must satisfy every gentleman that their tisfy himself of the position of the working classes foreign trade had not suffered from a reduction and the manuferterere, and the result of hie in ie yea e ed no c•ae , -; ha•l • Out SP2C r i' ,l was. OA .1.11 the ei t eeeee had been rnede - heir 6, l eigit trade would stiff: r. Ile ,s old there- were entirely for the of the manufacturers, and not for - .• • dint ,11.3 time had arrived. - tee sake of tle the workmen —(t' ) The alteration hi the fipcod t.l working men, and for the sake of the working women of th e the mac hi ner y, at m t he number o f spiudles lied been n of England, and also for the sake of the master menu- creased threefold, and the quantity of work done facturers themselves, that this great question should be finally ' was of course double. Though the manual labour I.IroIiMMEMINg ae name not for lence his was the measure )f a dinst )erativee, r to fulfil re by the tment.--• which, SUN LONDON, THURSIIAY employed was rather less. It was therefore self-evident that a young girl attending to those spindles must have an increased amount of duty to perform. The question was, was this a sort of labour for such persons? It was said the labour was not hard; granted. He would like to know how Hon. Members would like to be kept walk- . ing up and down a slippery floor for 13 hours,• in an mince sphere ranging from 65 to 80 degrees? Why it would be bad enough to shut an Hon. Member up in a hothouse heated to 80 degrees, even if he had nothing to do.—(Cheers.) Se' he, the people of Birmingham would be ashamed to see . such person , as these factory-girls in their town.—(Cheers.) Mr. BRlGHT—(llear, hear.) Mr. MUNTZ—Did the Hon. Member suppose that none but a cotton-spinner could tell whether a girl looked healthy or unhealthy?—(Laughter.) The lion. Member himself got up a petition in the year 1833 in favour of the Ten Flours' Bill, and paid all the expenses of it himself. If the Hon. Member had altered his opinions since that time, he ought to explain the reason of his change to the House.—(Cheers.) The manufacturers complained of being compelled to work only ten hours a day; why, upan an average for the last ten years. no mills had worked more than ten hours a day ; they could not,therefore, lose anything by the passing of the present measure. He believed the greatest enemy the manufacturers had were the manufacturers themselves.—(Hear.) It was competition carried to excess that did the mischief. This competition came home to the manufacturers here at last, even in those cases where competition had begun with the foreigner.—(Hear.) He was satisfied if the workpeople were required to work only ten hours a day, that they would neither lose in their wages, nor make less produce.— ( Hear, hear.) It was asserted, however, if a different regulation was made in the hours of labour, a differ ence would be made in the rate of wages. Why should this be? But then we were told it was wrong to adopt the principle of restriction; why, then, adopt it with respect to omnibuses? why not let as many get in to ride as chose? Why limit the cab charges? - Why prohibit the growth of tobacco? You had already interfered with labour, and with advantage, not only to the labourer, but to the manufacturer. The Honourable Member for Dur ham (Mr. Bright) paid for wages to his card-loom hands, in the year 1820, 85. per week ; in 1830, Bs.; in 1844, Bs. 6d. ; in 1846, 9s. Did this, then, bear out the assertions of those manufacturers? It was only fair to ask the lion. Member, or some other lion. Member, to explain to the House how it was that such an amazing alteration had taken place since the year 1815, when only 6,000 bales a week of cotton were spun, and in the present year the quantity spun was 30,000 a week, being an increase of five times the quantity. It seemed extraordinary that while there should be this increase the value of the goods produced should have also been one-third less, contrary to the opinions of those " feelosephers " who maintain that nothing but the application of the principles of political economy should be allowed, and that all in terference should bo deprecated, and yet that, in spite of the interference of the Government, there had been an increase in the rate of wages paid to the workmen.—(Cheers.) The consumption of cotton was— In the year 1815 6,000 bales. 1846 The price of the raw material was— In 1815 ls. 7 1 e icl. per lb. 1846........... The selling price in 1815 1846 lod. per lb. The number of revolutions per minute of the throttles of the machines was in the year 1815 1846 The number of spindles to each mules was iu 1815 lBO 84 These wer l efa 6 cts demanding the most attention of the House.—(Cheers.) The rooms in which the operatives were, were of the most unhealthy nature, no current of fresh air was allowed, and it seemed to be necessary that the unfortunate creatures of factory labour should be kept in a state of continued perspiration, in order the better to perform their work.—(Cheers.) Since he bad had a seat in tt:at House he had never given a vote against his conscience, but he never gave a vote in that House with more honesty of feeling than that which lie should give upon this occasion in support of the present measure. Mr. BRIGHT hoped, after the pointed allusions which had been made to him by the Hon. Members for Dorsetahire and Birmingham, and by several other Hon. Members, that the House would allow liim to state the grounds on which he was compelled to differ from many Hon Gentlemen on this important question. In addition to the means of udging, which many Honourable Members possessed from political economy and from other sources, he possessed this additional knowledge. He had lived all his lifetime amongst the population for whom they were legislating; he was very largely connected with this particular trade, and had not a farthing in the world beyond what was invested in it; but in his op position to the Bill he was actuated by no belief that it would injure his property or prospects, because it was clear to . him that if the measure was really cseculated to advance the interests of the 1,200,000 persons more or less dependent for their support upon cotton spinning mad other textile employments, that his interests would be consulted. The agitation in factories in favour of a Ten Hours' Bill had been conducted on the political economy of the lion. Members for Birmingham and Oldham, and of the late Michael Thomas Sadler, on those principles of poli tical economy which that House last session declared un sound and rotten, and which, if persevered in, would injure the great interests of the coo-try and de stroy the menufacturing and commercial supremacy of the kingdom.—(Hear, hear.) When it was first commenced, it professed to have only the labour of children in view, and Lord Spencer brought in a Bill with that view but last session. The late Secretary of State for the Home Department carried a Bill through the House, which limited the labour of children under thirteen years of age to six hours a day; but, not satisfied, those who pro fessed themselves the friends of the workers, now asked the House to interfere to prevent young persons from 13 to 18, and women of all ages, from working more than ten hours a day; but their object really was to interfere with the hours of work of persons of all ages, and of whatever sex, engaged in labour in this country, in the belief that the pre sent rate of wages would be maintained—a higher rate than their labour could command in the free markets of the country. Many-of the exaggerated statements which had been put forward by Lord Ashley had not been urged upon the House on that occasion, but the Noble Lord the Member for Newark (Lord J. Manners) had read a letter from Mr. Fletcher, physician, in Bury,which however hedid not consider more worthy of belief than official documents furnished by persons appointed to make such investigations. From them it appeared that, in 1831, the mortality in Leeds was lass than in 1801, and less than the mortality in Bristol for the same Liver p y o e o a l r : i e n m s u o o r t r a t i t t l y l m i n o r lN t l a a l t c y h i e n s t l e a r rg was a l n e u s Ms a than manufacturing in towns was not larger than in other towns in which there were no manufactories. Dr. Phillipps, who had published a book on " scrofula," had stated that the health of those engaged in factories was not worse than the health of the rest of the population employed in large manufacturing towns. It was stated that the labour of women in factories was long and severe, but he considered the fact of women being so employed was conclusive evidence that the work was not laborious.—(Ohl) If Hon. Gentlemen doubted this, let them make inquiries, and they would find that he was correct. If it Was so severe as it was stated to be, why did not women forsake it, and work as stonemasons and with spades ?- -(Oh, oh!) They did not, because factory work was superior ; they naturally turned to it. They must turn to those employments where they were sheltered from the weather, and which were light. The experiments in France had been equally con clusive, that there was nothing injurious in factory labour to females. (The Honourable Member then read a long extract from a report of the Committee on the Ten Hours' Bill appointed by the Con gress of Massachusetts on the 12th of March, 1845, which went to show that manufactories did not injure the health of those employed in them.) And the report further stated, that in the town of Lowell the hours appointed for manufacturing labour far exceeded those appointed in these countries for textile manufacture. Let him not he misunderstood: he was not advocating a twelve hours' labour Bill, he was only defending himself, and arguing against the state ments put forward in behalf of the present Bill ; and let the Hon. Member recollect that children up to thirteen years of age were exempt from the system now complained of. lie himself never went to school after he yeas fifteen years of age, and he held himself to be a proof that some kind of infbrmation might be obtained up to thir teen years of age. Under the old system their forefathers used to put out every person to earn at fourteen. And to show that those employed in manufactories were not so wholly uneducated and immoral, he would tell them that Dr. Peirce had divided the community into twenty classes, and amongst the first and the worst of these were grooms, such a class as most gentlemen in that House were in the habit of employing. Number nineteen in that class were domestic servants, and number twenty were females engaged in factory la bour. There was not a magistrate in any manufacturing town that could not bear witness to the sobriety and good conduct of these operatives. The Hon. Member said that he presented a petition from Manchester, signed by twenty-two thousand persons. Now, when he (Mr. Bright) presented a petition in favour of the repeal of the corn-laws, the same Honourable Member would not pay the slightest regard to it. He was as much in favour of paying attention to the evishes of the poor as any man, and he would go farther than the Hon. Member, for be was prepared to give them votes, by which they would be enabled to send men to that House to represent their feelings and wishes. But if the short time was enforced, they would be obliged to receive loss wages. He could not conceive a guilt more dreadful than the prac , tieing of such a delusion on the working classes, a delusion likely to bring upon them the most serious disappointment, and greater evils than any other measure had ever inflicted d publication snst aTat, ileclproportion thatHarok e t ' ha T t h upon them. He had in his hand a publication called at civniarletuhuemeu loe: r ts s ss ' eca A nrnte t ded l Advocate," sdtt o t e l t ) datedtad December n thse rfirst , ancon nexion with the question, advocated the fact that the effect of y ts the Ten Hours' Bill would be a diminution of wages ai a lc ri ac t t h s e tuipi r ep e rl d ey u ,i, c ,fe t airoennna article numerous e i r n o t u e s , increased s s t es where the hours had been reduced and the rates of wages were advanced. Mr. Oastler said, in speaking of Mr. Ackroyd, in Halifax, that if he were one of the operatives, and he were asked to sign for the Ten Hours' Bill at the present rate of wages, he would not do so, as any re duction in the hours would b e f o ll owe d by anincrease, in order to show how these persons endeavoured to persuade the working classes that they would have the same The Ten Hours' Advocate said that when children wer were wages ade. to work only six hours, their wages had been increased. m Such was not the case, for, in every instance, the wages were reduced in exactly the same proportion as the time was reduced ; and a child twelve years and eleven months old, and working only six hours, received only half of the wages that a child 13 years and one month old re ceived. With regard to the case of foreign competition, he believed that it was not properly understood by the Hon. Member for Oldham. He had in his hand a statement of the raw material consumed in the manufacture of this country. In the cotton trade alone 600 millions of pounds of cotton were used, and in the wool and worsted trades there were not less than 260 millions of pounds used. In the flax trade there were 177 millions of pounds imported, and in the silk 600.000 pounds, making in all 12,000,175,000 pounds. If that were divided by six, it would give a diminution in the consumption of the raw material of 176,000,000 of pounds, and how was it possible to dispense with one-sixth of this description of munufacture? The difference in the revenue would alone amount to 7,000,0001 annually. net was a questiorr worthy of the considera•ion if the Chancellor of the Exchequer, as it would make a reduction of 7,000,0001. per annum in the expenditure. lie had attended many meetings at Manchester, and was aware that not one single individual of the working classes would accept of this Bill if he did not believe that no reduction would take place in the rate of wages, Many of the work -people lie employed had petitioned that House in favour of the Bill, and 1 he was gist that they bad done ee, as it showed that 1 they were independent, and could act, for themselves. carry 4 That 1,7 N the CS :1111 many of the largest and best establish ennt e c i o i theirtusrainge d the t N r s a ,o d r i li ; in ti g u but I l i a e ss e e v s ar t n o ed co t in he e I t l o ou t sf l , st at ou if se th f e o y r legislative enactments to limit their hours of labour, and to FEBRUARY PATENT MILE INDEX. VENING, fix their scale of salary, .that every manufacturer would be obliged to unite in self-defence—(Loud cries of " Divide, divide")—and that, he was sure, would do away with the good feeling whiclt at present existed between the manufacturers and their workmen.—(Renewed cries of " Divide divide.") He would not detain the House, but he understood that it was intended to bring forward in Committee a clause to. limit the &tars of working to eleven and not ten hours. Now he thought that the House would at once concede that the workmen were or were not right in this demand—if right it was cowardly for Hon. Members to depart from their prin,^ipies, if wrong, they had only to op pose the Bill altogether. He could not consent to the second reading of this measure. The Hon. Member for Durham then expressed his astonishment that the Government had left this an open question. He had expected that the Noble Lord at the head of the Government would have adopted a holder and more straightforvard course, and he thought that he was introducing a strange anomaly in legislation by sanctioning the principle that the workman should be pro tected against the capitalist. Sir ANDREW LEITH HAY moved the adjournment of the debate. Lord JOHN RUSSELL said that he rose only to say a few words to the House, in consequence of the attack which had been made upon hint a few niinutes before six o'clock. If the Hon. Member for Durham (Mr. Bright) had intended to have made this attack, he (Lord J. Russell) thought it should have been made at five o'elock—(Continued cheer ing)—and he really thought that the Honourable 31ein ber, in his anxiety to make the best defence on behalf of the cotton manufacturers, liad departed from that candour and courtesy to which Honourable M embers who might differ in opinion from him were fully entitled. The Hon. Member said that this was a question of principle, he (Lord John Russell) did not view - it as such. lie conceived that the difference between ten, eleven, and twelve hours was a question of degree, and not a question of principle. This was 110 new principle, as the Hon. Member had been pleased to allege. The limitation of the hours of labour had been introduced before into that House, and it would be found that it was carried out in the statutes of the realm.—(Hear, hear, and cheers.) Neither was it a change in the old law, for the old law protected apprentices against their mas ters: it was, therefore, no question of principle ; it was merely a question whether the Legislature should throw the shield of protection round the younger workers. That was a mere question of the day, on which the mem bers of the Government might differ without at all differing on any principle. If the Honourable Member differed from that principle ; if he thought the Legislature were wrong in the course they had adopted, he should have proposed the repeal of the laws on the subject. He knew not that it was necessary now for him to enter into this question. He had stated what he thought was the general principle, and if this debate came to be adjourned he would not detain the House by any length ened observations. But if the House were pleased to listen he would not address himself more than a few minutes to the question. He considered then, as he had already stated, that it was not a question of principle, but of degree; and that young persons of 13 years cf afire, working twelve, thirteen, or fourteen hours a day, were taxed too much, because their bodily frame was not sufficiently matured. He considered it was too much to give time for their moral or mental improvement, and he conceived that it was so tar a question of degree, inasmuch as a shorter ' period of labour would be more fitted for them. The Honourable ss.nlier for Durham had expressed a fear of foreign competition. That was another qi estion, and with regard to it he would only say that the same objection had been urged in every previous arrangement that had been made from 1831 to the present time, and he was happy to say that the manufactures of the country were still flourishing, white the factory - operatives had been greatly benefited. The limitation of labour had given them three or four months in the year for the purposes of improvement. He would not have troubled the House so long but for the attack of the Hon. Member for Durham.—(Cheers.) The debate was then adjourned till Wednesday next. The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and the House Adjourned at Six o'clock. PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS. From the Votes and Proceedin (!f the House of Commons.) WEDNESDAY, FEB. 10. The following Railway Bills were presented, read a Brat time, and ordered to be read a second time : Cheltenham and Oxford—" for making a Railway from the Great Western Railway at Cheltenham to join the Oxford and Rugby Railway near Oxford, with a Branch therefrom, and fot other purposes." Glasgow, Paisley, and Greenock (Branches at Port Glas gow, and to the Caledonian Railway and Diversion of Canal) —" to enable the Glasgow, Paisley, and Greenock Railway Company to mike certain Branch Railways at Port Glasgow and to the Caledonian Railway at Glasgow, and to divert part of the Glasgow, Paisley, and Ardrossan Canal." Caledonian ( Edinburgh Station an.l Branches to Granton, Fie.)—" to enable the Caledonian Railway Company to ex tend their Station in Edinburgh, and to make Branch Rail ways to Granton, to the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway, to Wilsontown, to Fauldhouse, and to Biggar and Broughton." Liverpool, Manchester, and Newcastle•upon- Tyne Junc tion and Northern Counties Union Amalgamation—'‘ for amalgamating the Liverpool, Manchester, and Newcastle upon-Tyne Junction and Northern Counties Union Railway Companies." Boston, Stamford, and Birmingham (Peterborough and Thorney Line)—" to empower the Boston, Stamford, and Birmingham Railway Company to make a Railway from the Syston and Peterborough Railway, at or near Peterborough, to the Stamford and Wisbech Line of the Boston, Stamford, and Birmingham Railway, in the parish .of Thorney and Isle of Ely." London and South-Western (Andover to the Bishopatoke and Salisbury Branch, &c.)—" to enable the London and South-Western Railway Company to make Railways from Andover to join their Salisbury Branch Railway at Miciael marsh, and from the same Branch at Romsey to join the Southampton and Dorchester Railway at Redbridge, all in the county of Southampton, to be called' The Andover and Southampton Junction Railway.' " The following Railway Bills were read a second time, com mitted, and referred to the Committee of Selection : Newmarket and Chesterford (Extension to Thetford). Caledonian (Glasgow, Garnkirk, and Coatbridge Railway; Branch to Glasgow and Station). Chard Canal and Railway (Extension and Amalgamation). NOTICES GIVEN AT THE PRIVATE BILL-OFFICE. The following Railway Bills are appointed to be read a second time on Monday, Feb. 15 : Caledonian (Edinburgh Station and Branches to Granton, &c.) London and North-Western (Ormskirk and Raintord Branch, &c.). London and North-Western (Bescot and Wolverhampton Branch, ). NOTICES OF MOTIONS. Mr. Ricardo—To nominate Select Committee on the Na vigation Laws :—Mr. Ricardo, Mr. Alderman Thompson, Mr. Hume, Sir Robert Peel, Mr. Milner Gibson, Mr. Hutt, Sir George Clerk, Mr. Brownrigg, Mr. Bright, Mr. M‘Carthy, Viscount Sandon, Mr. Brown, Mr. Lyall, Mr. Mitchell, and Mr. Thomas Baring—Friday, Feb. 12. Mr. Roebuck—ln Committee on Factories Bill to mane the following amendments : To extend the operation of the Act to all mills andfactories. To extend the operation of the Act to all persons employed eight ht fill in agriculture. To fill up the blank in section 1, line 6, with the word " l 'l" n a p n t d he so b a l l a s n o lt in in ec lin s el t 3 i . on 1, line 7, with the words " forty-eight;" so also in line 14. A simple and ingenious contrivance for measuring and indicating the distance travelled by wheel carriages, has been invented by Mr. Voullster, a gentleman con nected with the Engineering College at Putney. The in strument is applicable to all carriages, but the special object of the invention is to supply the passenger in a cab with a perfect check on the distance actually tra velled, and consequently against overcharge by the driver. The instrument may be described thus :—A piano-spiral rotator is concealed within the hoop of the nave of one of the hind wheels, and gives action to a shaft or small rod of iron which is carried horizontally nearly as far as the opposite wheel. At this point a universal joint connects the horizontal with a vertical rod, which latter continues the action into the body of the carriage ardor the seat. Here two or three wheels give motion to a suitable shaft or chain, which is concealed between the panels of one side of the carriage, and ter minates near the roof in a dial-plate provided with two faces, one inside for the use of the passenger, and the other outside, in which the driver and his fare can together note the position of the hands before the latter steps into the cab. Both dials have exactly the face of a clock, being furnished with an hour and a minute hand, and hours, half-hours, and minutes are indicated on the dial pre cisely as in the ordinary time-piece. As the hands per form the circuit of the dial, the divisions of hours, half hours, and minutes correspo id exactly with the miles, half-miles, and fractions of a mile actually traversed by the vehicle. Thus if the dials indicate 20 minutes past 12 when the passenger enters the cab, he will know that he has travelled exactly a mile when the dial within points to 20 minutes past 1; a mile and a half when it points to 10 minutes to 2 ; two miles when it arrives at 20 minutes past 2: two miles and a half at 10 minutes to 3; three miles at 20 minutes past 3, and so on. A small circle within the dial face, with a pointer answering to the second-bands of a watch, enables the owner of the carriage to satisfy himself as to the total number of miles which the vehicle has travelled in any given period. The simplicity and convenience of adopting, as the mode of indicating the distance traversed, the face of a clock, with the reading of which every one is familiar, needs no comment. The public can at once avail themselves of the invention, without having to learn its use. The instrument is perfect for its purpose, it is accurate to a nicety in its working, is easily read off ; is so simple in its construction, that it cannot be easily put out of order, and is neither cumbersome nor unsightly—indeed it is scarcely visible at all when the carriage is in motion. The actual working of the in strument has been tested, with the most perfect success ; it has been fitted to a Brougham carriage, which has travelled several hundred miles over the worst pavements in the metropolis, in all weathers and at different speeds, so that there can be no doubt as to the efficiency of the instrument for the purposes to which it is applicable. It gives the passenger in a cab a perfect check on over charge, and the proprietor the means of knowing the amount of mileage actually performed. The application of this really useful invention to cabs will be a great public accommodation. The sys tem of overcharge practised by the drivers of cabs is too notorious to require any comment. There can be no doubt that if cabmen would be content with their legal fare, and would receive the same with civility, many persons who are deterred by fear of altercation with the drivers from riding in cabs at all, would avail themselves of the accommodation which a cab affords, and of those who do ride, most would ride a great deal more. In fact, the custom would be doubled at least, Ladies are almost excluded from the use of cabs—they mostly prefer the inconvenience of an omnibus to the risk of insult by a cabdriver. Thus there is a large class of the community whose custom is at present with , held, but would, if given, afford a very conside rable increase of employment. Individual drivers are not very likely to adopt the Patent Mile Index ; it will militate too much against what they imagine to be their interests. Even if one or two of the class should have sense enougn to see that just fares and fair treat ment will induce a custom which will be amply remu nerative, they would be unable to keep way against the abuse and violence of their class. It is only by a public company taking up the invention, and forcing it (if we may use the expression) into the cab market, that there is any likelihood of the public receiving the benefit of it. We observe with much pleasure in our advertising columns the proposal for forming a company, having for its special object the application of the Patent Mile Index to London cabs. We refer to the " Patent Mile Index Carriage Company." The undertaking bears on its face the stamp of respectability, and it is put forward in so honest a manner, and with such a total absence of anything like jobbing that the promoter will deserve success with the public. The undertaking embraces beside the application to cabs of the patent mail index, the improvement of cab con veyance by furnishing to the public a superior equipage with a better class of drivers ; the reduction of fare to 6d., through the medium of mile tickets, an arrange ment which will prove not only a very great accommo dation to the public, but also very remuner a ti ve to shareholders ; and also the giving to the public the advantage of having a body of gentlemen to appeal to instead of having recourse to summons to a police court. A company with these objects will certainly confer a great obligation on. ,the metropolitan public when they make their debut on the London stands. The proposals of the promoters offer not only a great inducement to parties willing to embark monies in the undertaking, but also are put forward so openly and fairly as to induce confi dence in their assertions. The registered promoter bears all preliminary expenses absolutely, reserving a per tentage, or profit for his remuneration. If the ca pital be not subscribed deposits will be returned. A detailed estimate is given, so that the public can judge of the assertion of the 'promoter, that 15 per cent. clear of income tax, will be realised. An abstract of the deed of settlement also is given, that the public may know what the deed is they will be called upon to sub scribe. The directors, instead of receiving a fixed re muneration, postpone all recompense till the share holder receives five per cent. interest, and then take only in proportion to what they realise for shareholders. The foregoing are the principal features of the under taking—they are novel, and give evidence of the sin cerity of the parties, and offer a very fair inducement to those easy people who may have a few hundred pounds in the Three per Cents., and may feel inclined to realise fifteen per cent, with chance of larger profit and but little risk. The parties who appear as trustees and di rec t or s are highly respectable. The names of th e Messrs. Wire and Child—are alone sufficient so as a respectable and bonci fide licitors-- to stamp the undertaking project THE CIRCUITS. CROWN-OFFICE, FEB. 9, 1847. Days and Places appointed for holding the Lent Assizes, 1836, viz.:— HOME CIRCUIT. Right Hon. Thomas Lord Denman, Lord Chief Justice. Right Hon. Sir Thomas Wilde, Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas. Hertfordshire, Tuesday, March 2, at Hertford. Essex, Monday, March 8, at Chelmsford. Kant, Monday, March 15, at Maidsto ne . Sussex, Monday, March 20, at Lewes. Surrey, Monday, March 29, at Kingston- upon-Thames. NORFOLK CIRCUIT. Right Hon. Sir Frederick Pollock, Chief Baron of the Ex chequer. Mr. Justice Coleridge. Buckinghamshire, Monday, March 8, at Aylesbury. Bedfordshire, Saturday, karch 13, at. Bedford. Huntingdonshire, Wednesday, Ma rc h 17, a t H un ti ng d on. Cambridgeshire, Friday, March 19, at the County Courts. Suffolk, Wednesday, March 24, at B ur y St. Edmunds. Norfolk, Tuesday, March 30, at the Castle of Norwich. City of Norwich, the same day, at the Guildhall of the said city. aIIDLkNI) CIRCUIT. Right Hon. Sir Jame Parke, one of the Barons of the Court of Exchequer. Mr. Justice Patteson. Northamptonshire, Monday, March 5, at Northampton. Rutlandshire, Friday, March 5, at Oakham. Lincolnshire, Saturday, March 6, at the Castle of Lincoln. City of Lincoln, the same day, at the city of Lincoln. Nottinghamshire, Friday, March 12, at Nottingham. Town of Nottingham, the same day, at the town of Not tingham. Derbyshire, Tuesday, March 16, at Derby. Leicestershire, Saturday, March 20, at the Castle of Lei cester. Warwickshire, Coventry Division, Wednesday, March 24, at the city of Coventry. Warwickshire, Warwick Division, Thursday, March 25, at Warwick. NORTHERN CIRCUIT. Mr. Baron Alderson—Mr. Baron Rolfe. Lancashire, Monday, February 15, at the Castle of Lancaster. Westmorland, Thursday, February 18, at Appleby. Cumberland, Saturday, February 20, at Carlisle. Northumberland, Wednesday, February 24, at the Castle of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Town of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, the same day, at the Guild hall of the said town. Durham. Monday, March 6, at the Castle of York. City of York, the same day, at the Guildhall of the city of York. . .. Lancashire, Saturday, March 20, at Liverpool. OXFORD CIRCUIT. hir. Justice Maule—Mr. Baron Platt. Berkshire, Saturday, February 27, at Reading. Oxfordshire, Saturday, March 6, at Oxford. Worcestershire, Thursday, March 11, at Worcester. City of Worcester, the same day, at the city of Worcester. Staffordshire, Tuesday, March 16, at Stafford. Shropshire, Tuesday, March 23, at Shrewsbury. Herefordshire, Tuesday, March 30, at Hereford. Monmouthshire, Thursday, April 1, at Monmouth. Gloucestershire, Monday, April 5, at Gloucester. City of Gloucester, the same day, at the city of Gloucester. WESTERN CIRCUIT. Mr. Justice Cresswell—Mr. Justice Williams. Southampton, Saturday, February 27, at the Castle of Win- cheater. Wiltshire, Saturday, March 6, at the City of New Sarum. Dorsetshire, Thursday, March 11, at Dorchester. Devonshire, Wednesday, March 17, at the Castle of Exeter/ City and County of the City of Exeter, the rine day:at the, Guildhall of the said City. Cornwall, Wednesday, March 24, at Bodmi4 Somersetshire, Wednesday, March 31, at the CgStIO Of •, • Taunton. CUtCVIT OF THE PRINCIPALITY OF WALES AND COUNTY rALATLNE OF CHESTER. NO ATM WALES. Mr. Justice Coltman—Mr. Justice Wightman. Montgomeryshire, Monday, March 15, at Welchpool. Merionethshire, Thursday, March 18, at Bala, Carnarvonshire, Saturday, March 20, at Carnarvon. Anglesey, Wednesday, March 24, at Beaumaris. Denbighshire, Saturday, March 27, at Button. Flintshire, Wednesday, March 31, at Mold. Cheshire, Saturday, April 3, at the Castle of Chester. SOUTH WALES. Glamorganshire, Wednesday, March 3, at Swansea. Pembrokeshire. Thursday, March 11, at Haverfordwest. , Town and County of Haverfordwest, the same Lay, at the Town of Haverford west. C,,r(liganAire, Tuesday - , March tr,, ;;t Carmartlmnshir,l. Saturday, March. 2:, .:t BoroUgh 01'Cannartheu, same Carmarthen. Brecknockshire, Saturday, March 27, at Brecon. Radnorshire, Wednesday, March 81, at Presteign. li‘il‘.r.i6ll COURT CIRCULAR. The Queen and Prince Albert took an airing yesterday, Ile' companied by the Prince of Wales and the Princess Royal , in a sledge, the Prince driving. Count Alexander Mem doff, the Princess Alice, and the Hon. Miss Stanley, fal' lowed in another sledge. Sir Frederic Stovin followed in a third sledge. The Equerries in Waiting, Colonel the n on. Charles Grey, and Captain th e H on. A. H. Gordon, attended on horseback. Lord John Russell had an au di ence o f th e Queen yesterday. Her Royal Highness the D uc h ess o f K e nt visited the 3 , s , t a t.; r dinner i a n y n at er p luncheon with her Majesty and her Royal Consort. palace The Royal allrtu:kyiensgtheradmayPaatlaßceu.ckainndopamartook of his included her Kos al Highness the Duchess of K ent ' Serene Highness Prince Edward of Saxe Weimar, Count Alexander Mensdorfr, Lady Fanny Howard, Baroness de Speth, Earl Spencer, Earl Granville, Viscount Clifden, and Sir George Couper. The Band of the Coldstream Guards a ttended during dinner, and performed the following pieces: -- V e rdi. Selection, from I. Lombardi Quadrille " The British Army''.—J nilien. Fantasia. " Alma" Costs. Waltz, " The Duoro" Labitzky. Polka, " The Camelia"... J ullian• Th e com Her Majesty had afterwards an evening party. and D Villiers, Earl Somers, and the Ladies Caroline Ca rne t E Anson, Cocks, Lady Elizabeth Dawson, Mr. G. J. Lennox, and pany consisted of the Countess Jersey, and 'Lady Clern._entina- Colonel the Hon. C. B. Phipps, Lord George Captain Francis Seymour. Q u t e e y n i . 11 I T ia h s e I s 1 The Marchioness of Douro has succeeded the Countes! , l of Cinlgiartoleinheortitaisa Majesty. And ad3 A , Lord in ' r of Morton has succeeded Lord Camoys as th s e o Howard, a ic l ceeded Captain the Hon. Robert Boy le, as the Groom in Waiting to her Majesty. Clarence House, St. James's, ithalf-past twelve o'clock yesterday, from her residence I d 4'r b ognrr 'louse, Windsor. Her Royal niftiness the Duchf ant arrived at Boroness de Speth, and Sir George C uper. i ----------- _ inn:S Nailingir her Royal Higness was attended _y o Lady Fanny A deputation .. fromthe.om. wi rn tl i t t tSeiersof Charlesth the ------- . West Riding of 1 ork e had S an interview shir__ Wood, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, yesterday,, a t hi s official residence in D owning - street. The de p utation con sisted of Mr. Matthew Balm(' (Bradford),Dine Committees Mr. John L eec h (IL idder3tield), and r. Charles Stout ( Halifax). Sir Montague ChoimeleY had an interview with the Right Hon. E. Strutt yesterday, at the office of the Commissioners of Railways, in Great George - street. Sir John Pelly had Jahn Wood, with the Earl of Claren don yesterday. Mr. John Wood, Chairman of the Excise, had also an interview with his Lordship yesterday at the office of the Board of Trade. The Ecclesiastical Commissioners f or E ngland had a general meeting yesterday at their office in Whitehall-place. TICK OLD•STREET. ROAD.—Last . utes before ten o'clock, a fire broke out on night, a few min occupation of M in the r. Berry, known as the the premises Coffee-house , Victoria 57, Old-street -road. From what could after the be gleaned on the spot, shortly . outbreak, it appears attics connected with the premises were in that while the p smell of tire fill the lower room, a strong a few minutes the roaring of flames was heard in the ' upper ALARMING FIRE IN part of the house, shortly , after which the fire burst through the chamber windows. Engines were soon upon the spot, and were set to work. T he tire, h owever, prevailed, nor was it quenched before the buildi n g (built chiefly of woo d) was burned through, and its contents consumed. Th e a dj o i n i ng substantial shop,on ar h p ee ty-v astlallbeingerriside, was saved, i n consequence of a between them. The fire is sup posed to have originated through some defect in the flue. It is said that the occupier is not insured. FOOD DISTURBANCE IN R OSS AND ADJACENT Couirete.s.—We alluded in our last to the obstruction which manifested ''ecu fre(i at Fowlis 5 atto theC ro in B l a i r i t7, e 1 1 1 i n N (: e f rggroaridno,n whichJl \, o h c l a i 5, since i a n n e d e Monday shipmentsan d Tuesday, ufg Posemarkie. At the latter places the re were assemblage:4 of t and the corn d ea ler s were rain would be allowed. At Invergordon no grain was allow e d to be shipped by the North Star, and a large quantity o f cured haddocks were e e re p e irfo l r e m o e n d that taken away from the steamer. The Swift, London trader, arrived .!' Fee-lis Point on Saturday, freighted, it is said, to I.rs, but the PeePl',: were resolute, and the % ,,,g t . -rdiogly sailed witliont the n'eale. - The i•nast, therefore, may be now literally .4.1 to he blueliadmi twin Aberdeen to Fowlis, and a stop is put to the export trade in corn and fish.—Rosshire Advertiser. 11, POI. ---- , DEATH of GEORGE ROBINS, ESQ Our obituary of yesterday announced the death of the above eminent auctioneer, a gentleman who has ho nourably and successfully filled an exalt, d position in hi profession for many years ; indeed, we are informed that he began to wield the hammer before he had at tained the age of 19, for whilst attending a large sale in Yorkshire, he was unexpectedly called upon to act for his father, who, from indisposition, was unable to offi ciate. From that time to the present, during a period of ; fifty years, he enjoyed the uninterrupted good opinion of the public, and perhaps no man can boast of a more extraordinary catalogue of business. the most extensive estates in this country, and Scotland and Ireland, as well as all parts of the globe, having passed though his hands ; the wonderful skill and tact with which every advantage connected with the property ha had to describe was seized upon and turned to profit in his glowing descriptions, and his ready wit and re part6e in the rosttura, are too well known to require comment from us. It may certainly be allowed that, for his profession, no man possessed or exerted greater capabilities, and he may be considered one oe the most successful and persuasive advocates in seducing his auditors to unloose their purse-strings that has ever appeared at the auction mart. A foolish report wEe: some years age circulated, when this gentleman first struck out . into a different and more descriptive style of advertisement, that his literary effusions were not hie own production. That his announcements were unlike those of any of his contemporaries there can be no doubt ; that they were highly coloured, graphic, and often excessively clever, has been constantly admitted ; and that they were his own productions we have ample reason to know. Indeed, when only a youth, and al lowed by his parents to make the tour of the lakes in Cumberland, his lore of the picturesque was then evinced by a publication of all that he had seen and been delighted with. Iligliflown and indulging in fancy's sketch as were Mr. Robins's advertisements and particu lars of the properties he had for sale, yet we have heard him say, in no instance was a purchase repudiated on the ground of misdescription, whilst in many cases purchases, and to a heavy amount, have been made by persons who had never seen or heard of the estate when they entered the auction-room, and they were overcome by his persuasive eloquence. We now turn to what may be termed his private life. A love of taking a prominent part in some of the events of the day, and a desire to assist some well-known cha racter, whose prudence had not placed him above the world, brought him before the public most frequently in the cause of charity, and sometimes as the champion of some oppressed individual, or to servo the fallen for tunes of some institution or other—indeed, it may be said, he possessed more of the milk of human kindness than generally falls to the lot of man ; politics he care fully eschewed, and deemed those mad who wasted their time and substance upon them. His first unprofessional effort was at Margate, where, in the cause of enmity, no less than that of assisting the funds of the Margate Sea-Bathing lufirmary by holding a plate fur contribu tions outside the church-gate, he, with several other gentlemen, were taken into custody as rogues and vagabonds for begging, and were afterwards compelled to attend the Dover Sessions, where no evidence was offered against him, and upon • the trial of an action against the magistrates of Margate•at the Maidstone As sizes, damages were obtained, and to this day a tablet in the walls of the institution at Margate record his victory and the increase to the funds for the sick at the infirmary. To his determined hostility, in conjunction with the late Mr. Calcraft, to the sub-cennittee of Drury-lane Theatre, in the years 1817 and 1818, and their exposition of the mal-goyernmen t of the theatre, anew system was adopted, by which this splendid place of amusement was nearly released from a load of debt; and at a later period his exertions were mainly instrumental in resuscitating the rival establishment when all human hope of again afford ing amusement to the public within its walls seemed past. Notwithstanding his numerous avocations, he could spare time for the cause of charity, and many were the successful claims to public benevo lence that he advocated—the most remarkable was that for poor Emery's (the comedian) family, when, by the greatest indefatigability, a sufficient sum was obtained to provide a comfortable annuity for the widow avid children. That exquisite songstress Mrs. Bland, and many others, were equally indebted to him, whilst his protection of James Brandon, the well-known box-book-keeper of Covent-garden Theatre, against the proprietors, is even now remembered by theatricals. Perhaps no man in his station Was more courted by his superiors, by whom his wanly, straightforward conduct was appreciated, his advice often sought, and amongst the men of his day he was always welcome. The description of a dinner given by him to Lord Byron is recorded in that nobleman's memoirs,:edited by Moore, when Lord Kinnaird and his brother, Sheridan, Colman, John Kemble; and other eminent mertwere present. In his private life he was strictly a domestic man, always ready to do good and succour the distressed. He leaves a widow and seven young children, which his exertions have enabled him to provide for in an ample manner, and a large circle of frier - 14s who will long mourn his irreparable loss. The poor hare lost a kind friend, society an excellent member, and the Queen a faithful subject. He was an exemplary husband, a kind and indulgent father, and a warm-hearted friend. His extensive business as a n auc t io neer and valuer will now be conducted by his two cousins, who have long assisted him in carrying cut his novel and successful method of effecting the transfer of property, and were often large contributors to his fame. CHESTER AND HOLYHEAD RAILWAY. The usual half. yearly general meeting of the proprietors of this undertaking was held yesterday afternoon, at the offices of the Cor. - .pany, in Moorgate-street ; Mr. W. Collett, chair man of the board of directors, in the chair. The CHAIRMAN, in introducing the report, stated that a few days ago he had personally inspected the works on the line, and he s' - as glad to say they were proceeding in a most satisfactory manner. Upwards of one mil lion of money had been expended in the works, and the consequence was, there was not any point upon the line where the works were not in progress. In a short time, he confidently expected, the line would be opened to Fliut, in August to Conway, at the close of the year to Bangor and the whole of Anglesea, and by the close of 1848, or the commencement Of 1849, the line would be opened throughout. Government had let the con tract for the construction of Holyhead Harbour, and from a conversation he had with the Secretary of the Admiralty last night, he understood the works were to be Proceeded with almost immediately. Negotiations were pending between the company and Government for obtaining better terms for carrying the public mails, while arrange ments were going forward with the London and North- Western Company for working the line, by which it was hoped that a considerable saving would be effected in the working and maintaining t he traffic. Their prospects were exceedingly gratifying, and their could now be no doubt that this undertaking would soon be one of the most flourishing in the country, while the enormous amount of money it had absorbed last year sufficiently indicated its great national im portance. The report stated that every exertion had been made to provide the means for the most rapid and complete execu tion of the works, the payments upon the road contracts alone having amounted, on an average, to 71,7081. per month since the Ist of July last. The average number of workmen employed upon the several contracts has been 12,560; Con tracts had been made for the construction and erection of bridges over the Conway and the Menai Straits, thus come pleting the entire line, with the exception of the extension to the new harbour at Holyhead, which had not yet received the sanction of the Legislature. By a Bill now before Parliament. the Company would take powers to raise an additional capital of 500,000/. ; 200,0001. being required for the subscription to the harbour, under the arrangement with her Majesty's Go vernment, and 300,000/. for the extension of the line to the pier, and the proposed steam-packets. A line of railway to the mineral district of Mold had ag.iin been brought forward : it was to join this Company's line about three miles and a quarter from Cheater, and the entire length of the line and branches was about sixteen miles. The capital required was 180,0001., of which the Chester and Birkenhead Railway Company undertake to subscribe 20,000/. ; the Birkenhead, Lancashire and Cheshire Junction Railway Company, 20,000/.; and the directors recommend that this Company should subscribe 30,0001. The receipts from the commencement of the Company up to the 31st December,lB46,• amounted to 1,793,418/.lls. 10d., while the total expended .amounted to 1,399,4901. 4s. 4d. ; since the last. half-year '03,765/. 15s. 6d. had been spent, and 880,910/. 17s. 9d. received: The cash in hand, after the payment of everything up to the 31st of December, 1846, was 393,928/. 7s. 6d. The report and accounts were unanimously adopted. In reply to a question, The CHAIRMAN stated that the original Bill authorised them to raisB - 2;100,6001. - by calls, and 700,0004 by.loans, making their capital 2,800,000/. The works of the main line woul be completed within that time. They were now going t t h o o l s ' e a rl extensioni am en t f z r t h e e x y t ensio proposedns, a t n o d ra b i 3 s ; tahne additional Bill authorisi capitalng of 500,0001. In reply to a question estimated' e at 800,000!. In reply to another the Menai Straits was question, a dmitted that there were difficul t i es The Cfr.trascAzr replied th a t the cost of the bridge over Mr R. STEPIrENS: bridge, but he saw or knew of none ill, adid s s ot e anticipate lery step tcon nectedhe with the bridge, was novel and never a t tempted h c onnected estimate . w . bu i t ie st w hi c h could not t t ot be be ex ov e e e r e c a o e n . d l before, of course he could not be positive upon that point. This closed the business of the half nearly meeting. SPECIAL MEETING. The shareholders then resolved themselves into a special meeting for the purpose of considering a Bill "for extending the line of the Chester and Holyhead Railway at Chester and Holyhead respectively, for authorising certain alterations in the levels of the said railway, and for empowering the Com pany to subscribe towards the construction of a harbour at Holyhead, and to purchase, hire, and use steam-boats. And also to approve of a Bill to be submitted to Parliament in the ensuing session for making a rii!‘•, , ,iv from Mold, in the comity ,t Fint;. a the eliestor andifelylicad Railway in the P'"i'h "f IT"warcio in the ri nio rminty, with brarb-- 1..-: The CHAIRMAN stated th . at the capital of the Bill would be 500,000/., of that sum 200,000/. would be subscribed to• wards building a harbour and pier at Holyhead, 150,0001. would go towards an extension to the harbour, and ti.ae ba. lance would be devoted to the establishment •of an efficient s earn navy. Four of these vessels were already ordered, and when they were completed, they hoped to per form the journey between London and Dublin in the twelve hours, and to have the privilege of carrying all the Irish mails. No other company but themselves could use the pier, but the harbour would be op©n to all the public. The amount to be subscribed towards the completion of the proposed Mold line would be 30,0001. _ _ Both the Bills were approved of. The meeting terminated with the customary vote of thanks to the chairman. IRELAND. DREADFUL EFFECTS OF FAMINE. DUBLIN, FEB. B.—The deaths from starvation are rapidly increasing in the western and southern counties—to such an extent, indeed, that some of the local journals find it im possible to publish reports of the inquests. The Sligo Champion reports sixteen inquests, in all of which the verdicts were " death from starvation." The Cork Reporter says:— " The duty of publishing reports of inquests held on per sons who have 'died from starvation' has now become so frequent, and such numbers are daily reaching us from every part of the county, that the limits of our space do not admit of their publication. Our reporter sends par ticulars cf 15 such cases from Bantry yesterday, and men tions that 20 more had occurred during the week ; but inquests could not be held; and we received this morning from Mallow reports of 11 inquests held by Richard Jones, Esq., on persons who had died from want of food. Com munications pour in from every district, a tithe of which we could not find room for, stating similar appaling facts." The reports from Kerry arc equally afflicting as to the ra vag.s of famine. Mr. Stephen O'Reardon, in a letter to the Trace Chronitt'e, give the particulars of ten inquests which lie held from the 6th to the 31st January, in which the ver dicts were " died from want of food." In addition to these he mentions several cases of deaths from want of food, in which inquests have not been held. The lAingford Journal says—" Our poor, notwithstanding all the efforts mada to relieve them, are wretchedly off, and throng to the workhouse to finish a miserable existence, as the following facts prove :—" Deaths since the Ist instant (Monday), 44 ; ditto in the month of January, 116 ; ditto in the month of December, 71; total, 231." Typhus fever and dysentery are spreading in the most des titute districts. DISCHARGE OF LABOURERS FROM THE PUBLIC WORKS. —A general movement is in progress to diminish, to some extent, the enormous amount of labourers on the public works; but in some cases the wretched people have been re-employed, as the only means of saving them from absolute starvation. OLTT-DOOR RELIEF.—THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CLERGY.-- The Cork Reporter contains an address signed by the Ca tholic clergy cf the united diocese of Cloyne and Ross, re guesting a meeting of their brethren of the other dioceses at Fermoy, on the 11th instant, "to consider the propriety of petitioning Parliament for out-door relief for the able-bbdied, as well as for the infirm poor of Ireland, and for an enact ment affording cheap and speedy means to enforce such a right." GALWAY ELEcrion—The letters from Galway still speak very favourably of the prospects of Mr. Monahan, the soli citor-general. On the other hand, the Galway Mercury as serts that the Repeal candidate, Mr. O'Flaherty, is quite sure of success. That journal states that Archbishop M'Hale is to attend the election, and give hls earnest support to the Re pealers. An address of the Repeal Association, signed by Captain Broderick, has been circulated in the town, calling upon the Repealers to make a vigorous struggle on behalf of Mr. O'Flaherty. CHAnox OF EMBEZZLEMENT AGAINST A STOCKBROKER. —At College-s'reet police-office this Clay, Mr. Henry La nauze, the stock-broker, attended, and the informations of Mr. Browne Clayton, charging him with the embezzlement of nearly 9,0001. government stock, being taken, he was sent for trial at the Commission. The magistrates consented to take bail for Mr. Lanauze in 2,0001.. and foursuteties in 5001. each, to abide his trial at the next. Commission. _ _ Foot) RioTs IN Coax.—On Saturday; deputation of the master bakers waited on the magistrates at the Cork police office, stating that from the repeated outra_ es on their shops, and depredations on bread carts passing through the streets, they would be obliged to suspend baking for WM@ time, unless adequate protection were given. The bench at once communicated with the military authorities on the sub ject, when it was determined that three patrols should be established in the city, consisting of four policemen and eight soldiers each. EMIGMATION.—A meeting of the operatives of Sligo, con vened by the mayor, was held in that town on Wednesday, when a petition was adopted praying that Parliament would afford facilities for emigration to distressed tradesmen. The Tipperary Constitution says that one of the party who attacked Mr. Wayland, and murdered the policeman, has been arrested, and lodged in the bridewell of Cashel. LOUGIIREA.—The imarket held in the above town on Thursday last was, we are glad to state, considerably on the decline as to price. Oats, which at previous markets ave raged 1/. ss. per barrel, sold as low as 17s. to 18s. Wheat, of which there was a good supply, also fell a few shillings in the barrel towards evening.—Galway Mercury. REPEAL ASSOCIATION. The weekly meeting of the Association was held this day, Mr. Steele in the chair. The following letter from Mr. O'Connell was read : "British Hotel, Jermyn-street, London, Feb. 6. "My dear Ray,—You have inclosed the following sub scriptions for the month of February :—Daniel O'Connell, M.P., 11. ; Maurice O'Connell, M.P., 11. ; John O'Connell, M.P., 1/. ; Daniel O'Connell, jun., M.P., ; Thirty Grand children, 11. 10s. ; total, 51. 10s. "I am sincerely sorry to inform you that any prospect of relief—l mean of substantial and comprehensive relief—from Parliament is, in my judgment, daily diminishing. There is, to be sure, a great deal of sympathy and goad feeling, both in and out of the House, and generally a very sincere desire that something efficient should be done to relieve the horrible destitution of the Irish people, but there are also many ob stacles, and an unwillingness to place upon the British people the burthens absolutely necessary to give efficient re lief to Irish misery. "In short, there is a great individual and personal sym pathy for our national distress. There is abundant indivi dual humanity and charity, the noblest generosity is evinced by multitudes of the English. They aro making large, very large pecuniary sacrifices, and, as far as personal goodnessand charity go, nothing can exceed the benevolence exhibited by many classes towards Ireland. "I am afraid of not finding words sufficient to express my strong and lively sense of English humanity and generosity. If the exhibition of these qualities by individuals could save Ireland in her present misery, we should be saved, but I cannot conceal from myself, and I ought not to conceal from the Irish nation, that there is, alas, but little prospect of substantial relief on that—l will call it by its right name— enormously large scale which is absolutely necessary to pre vent hundreds of thousands of the Irish people from perish ing of famine and pestilence. " The Government measures, as far as they go, are good, and their intention to relieve by those measures is apparent; but the measures themselves are not of half sufficient magni tude; it is essentially necessary to have food in the utmost abundance, poured in so as to extinguish the famine prices which devour the people. " I trust in God that my health will enable me to take that active part which I desire on behalf of the famishing people. I intend, please God, on Monday, in sadness and in sorrow, to develop my views of what is necessary to save Ireland—the obstacles in the House of Commons are mani fold, and there seems to be an ignorance of the real state of horror in which Ireland is placed. How I wish that it were pcssible to make Parliament comprehend the enormous and hideous extent of the calamity which cries for a remedy. " One word as to the Galway election. I need not recom mend to the Association the taking every step in their power to secure the return of Mr. O'Flaherty for Galway. He is a most valuable candidate, and if he has been slow and late in joining the repeal cause, he will not be, I can answer for it, the less firm and persevering in sustaining and forwarding the cause of Irish nationality. The repeal cause is identified with him. and could not be identified with a more desirable candidate. " I beg leave most earnestly to recommend him to every repeal voter. " Believe me to be very respectfully yours, " T. M. Ray. DANIEL O'CONNELL." The approaching Galway election formed the principal subject of discussion, and it seemed to be the prevailing opinion that the Solicitor-General could not hope to succeed in effecting his return, except through the instrumentality of bribery and corruption, and it was urged that the Govern ment ought, in deference to purity of election, to withdraw their candidate, rather than succeed by a resort to the means which proved so fatal to the Whigs in 1841. At the termination of the proceedings, the rent for the week was announced to be 28/. 9s. 6d. The meeting then adjourned. THE POSTAGE CONVENTION : ENGLAND AND PRUSia. There were on Tuesday issued, by order of Parliament copies of the Postage Convention between the General Post- office of the United Kingdom and the General Post office of the kingdom of Prussia (signed at London, let of October, 1846) ; and also copies of the articles agreed upon between the two Post-offices, for carrying into execution that Convention (signed at London the 14th, and at Berlin the 21st of October, 1846). They were presented to both Houses of Parliament by command of her Majesty. The following are the chiefly ma terial articles as respects the charges to be made for letters : The British Post-office shall pay to the Prussian Post office, fur postage upon unpaid letters originating in Prussia, addressed to the United Kingdom, and upon paid lett , rs originating in the United Kingdom, addressed to Prussia, the following uniform rat- : For every single letter, not exceeding half an ounce in weight, fourpenee, internal Prussian rate ; and, in ad,lition to this rate, twopence for the transit through the territory of the Netherlands or Harnbugb: For every letter exceeding this weight, and n ? t ex ceeding one ounce, two rates of postage- For every letter exceeding one ounce, and not an so in proportion, o ounces, d and not ex ceedingex- two ounces, four rates. two rates being added for ever y ounce. es, Th e Prussian Post - office shall pay to' the British cee F d o in r g ev t e h r r y e - e le o t u t n e c rx c s e i e x ch r n a g t e t s w , Post-office, for the postage upon unpaid letters originat ing in the United Kingdom, and addressed to Prussia, and upon paid letters originating in Prussia, addressed to the United Kingdom:— For every 'eaur not exceeding half an ounce, one rate of sixpence. For every letter exceeding this weight, and not exceed ing one ounce, two rates of postage. For every letter exceeding one ounce, and not ex ceeding two ounces, four rates. For every letter exceeding two ounces, and not ex ceeding three ouuces, six rates, and so on in proportion, two rates being added for every ounce. SUNDAY TRAINS.--At a meeting of the town coun cil of Paisley on Thursday last it was resolved—" That it is the opinion of this council that, in the present circumstances of society, it is indispensably necessary to the comfort and health of the people, more particularly of the labouring classes in all populous districts, especially in the vicinity of large manufacturing towns, that railway passenger trains should travel on the morning and evening of Sunday, and that. such are called for ou the principle of. humanity, and may, in an especial manner, be classed amongst the works of necessity and mercy ; and that a memorial, founded on this resolution, be addressed to the directors of the Edinburgh and . Glasgow Railway, Glasgow, Paisley, and Ayr Railway, and Glasgow, Paisley, and Greenock Railway." Tile SMALL DEBTS ACT.—The appointments of Judps have been made. ..n,l are expected t• be gazetted forthwith. • Aniong the appointinerits will be found sergeants-^t-lair. After the 15th of — March, ' actions uugh; in the subemior Courts, for debts not exceeding. 201., will entail on the plaintiffs the law expenses. Both plaintiff and defendant may be examined under the Small Debts Act. LO Up LiS 0