The Express.
London, England, 1846-10-09 00:00:00

SCOTLAND.

TIM LORI/ PROVOSTSHIP.—The citizens of Edinburgh,
of all parties and ranks, have received with no ordinary
satisfaction the announcement made in the town council
that Mr Black has consented to retain the office of chief
magistrate fur another year. The admirable manner in
which Mr. Black has discharged all the duties of the office is
matter of universal admission and congratulation, and by
consenting to the continuance of his services he largely in-
creases the debt of obligation due him by his fellow-citizens.
TRANSFER or HERITABLE PROPERTY.--OR Friday
public meciing of those interested in the transfer of heritable
property, residing in Dundee and its neighbourhood, was
held in the Town Hall, for the purpose of considering what
steps ought to he taken for obtaining a simplification of the
modes of transferring heritable property in Sc.tlsnd, and
reducing the grievous expense incurred in effecting such
sales, and in granting mortgages on such property. The
hall was filled with an audience consisting chiefly of the
gentlemen belonging to the legal profession in town, the
landed gentry in the neighbourhood, and house proprietors
in Dundee and Lichee. Mr. Wallace, late M.P. for
Greenock, addres►ed the meeting at considerable length,
and concluded by recommending those present to insist upon
the abolition of swine and infeftment, and that recording
the disposition should equally stand good in every case, as it
was secure in the case of private property taken for canals,
railroads, and budding! in towns, under act of parliament.
He had, under considerable difficulties, endeavoured to get
the evil remedied, and to place the transfer of heritable
rights as nearly as possible upon the same rational footing as
that of personal property. Though he had as yet been un-
successful, he had done his best to effect an improvement
which he was confident would ere long be obtained. For
obtaining this desirable object, let immediate steps be taken,
as Parliament would likely be called together in November.
Resolutions were put and carried by acclamation, and copies
of them ordered to be transmitted to the home Secretary
and the Lord Advocate.

PROVINCIAL.
YORKSHIRE.

CONDITION OF FaYALE FACTORY OPERATIVES. —An
important and interesting meeting of the inhabitants of
Bradford was held on Wednesday, to take into consideration
the best measures to be adopted for improving the moral and
social condition of the females employed in the factories of
the town and its vicinity. The Rev. Dr. Sroreshy, vicar of
Bradford, presided, and a numerous compapy thronged the
theatre of the Mechanics' Institution. Amongst the assem-
blage were Viscount Morpeth. and Wm. Buskild, Esq.,
M.P. ; Joshua Pollard, Esq., William Rand, Esq., Alfred
Harris, Esq., E. S. Sichel, Esq., Henry Forb. s, Esq.' Mr.
Baker, Sub-Inspector of Factories, and a number of the
clergy of the town. The ERv. James Cooper read a
report detailing the circumstances which led to the con-
vening of the meeting, from which it appeared that there are
98 factories in the borough of Bradford, employing about
12,000 females, of whom about 2,000 are married women,
and from 1,000 to 1,200 are young women living in
lodgings apart from their friends. A more particular analysis
of the number chows that those under 13 years of age arc
about 1,000 ; from 13 to 14 years old, 4,500; and those
above 18 years of age, 6,500. To aid in the promo-
tion of habits of prudence, economy, and forethought,
it is proposed to establish a general sick club for
female operatives of all ages, avoiding needless outlay in the
management, and to facilitate and encourage deposits in
savings banks. It is also suggested to provide comfortable
boarding-houses for those who arc separated from their
families, and have no home near their employment, to be
under the care of competent matrons, by whom provision
may be made for their evening instruction in domestic
matters and in religious and mental improvement. After
some prefatory observations from the chairman, Lord Viscount
Morpeth moved—
That as it appears, on careful inquiry, that not fewer than
10,000 young women are engaged in various departments of the trade
of Bradford, of which 2,000 arc married, and 1,000 lire in lodgings,
and as the employ mad and situation of these younif woolen, especi-
ally the married and those not residing with their own families, lay
them under great disadvantages, and expose tbrin to many moral
dangers, it is the duty not only of their employers, but of all the inha-
bitants of the town
liiauty col:amended by powentd mon-mato Christian
minclaq, to cherish a Wy aympathy and' thls large and interesting
part of the community, assist them in efforts to improve and elevate
their own character and condition, and leave no practicable and
prudent means untried of promoting their welfare,"
The noble lord said that he thought the reasoning of the re-
solution which he had read mast commend itself to the
acceptance of all present. Whatever might be the proper
limitation of the hours of factory labour, a question upon
which he was not about to enter, lie thought it must be felt
to be desirable that those ten or twelve thousand female
workwoinen should be protected from the dangers and the
temptations to which they were more particularly exposed,
and that they should be provided with effective, decent, and
healthy lodging. Among the more prominent recommenda-
tions of the system of amelioration proposed, he thought it
was especially to be noted that it did not aim at any exclu.
Avenel's or see
distinction ; indeed, had it been other.