The Express.
London, England, 1866-07-19 00:00:00

PlitINCERfr&

Tins ETownie, THE yr tlariz CAPTAIN. Mum. Yining,
and G. Honey: lie
Neilson, Augusts Thomom, and rs.
fitirting.—A QM= LOWING&

ItitITAMA.

Tars Esinms, THE TARN TREASURE; OR, WEOO
AND THE HOFFINS.—Mr. Mark Floyd ; Herr Busman , Joe
Lund ; it Mader IL Sanders—And CARTOCCHR THE FRENCH
JACK SHEPPARD. Mr. Esynolds ; Mesdames Mlles& Yarnold.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
TEN DAY —Morning, 6h. 48m Afternoon. 71 10w.
To4loll6.oW—Morning, 7h. 31w Afternoon, 7h. flint

LONDON, TRURSDAY, JULY 19.

THE Commissioners who have for some time
been engaged in inquiring into the employment of
children in trades not yet regulated by law, have
just published their Fifth Report. There is no
need now to discuss the question whether it is the
duty of the Legislature to interfere for the protec-
tion of women and children. There is a series of
Acts in the Statute-book, dating back to the year
1802, which have sanctioned this principle ; and
according to the Commissioners these Acts have
proved eminently successful. It was only two
years ago that the clauses of the Factories Act
were extended to the Potteries. And we are now
assured, not only that the Inspectors of Factories '1
record their testimony in favour of the change,
but that it is approved both by masters and
men. The success of these measures has
had another effect equally important. It has
removed from the minds both of employers
and employed those natural apprehensions with
which any interference with the supply of labour
is regarded. There seems to be no doubt that
the laws restricting the employment of women and
children might be so constructed as to cause very
considerable inconvenience ; but experience has
shown that the law may be so framed as to pro-
duce the desired effect without the inconvenience.
Assuming, therefore, that women and children
should be protected from being overworked, the
only remaining question is to determine the num-
ber of trades to which these restrictions are to be
applied, and to enact such provisions as shall be
both just and effectual.
In the first place, the Commissioners seem
to be of opinion that some of the legislation on
this subject has proved ineffectual. Perhaps the
most striking instance of this relates to the climb-
ing boys. About the year 1840 an Act of Par-
liament was passed which expressly forbade the
employment of boys in sweeping chimneys. But
some years ago the Commissioners satisfied them-
selves that the law was systematically evaded both
in England and in Ireland ; that the use of climb-
ing
boys was increasing, even in localities such as
the metropolis, where it was thought to have been
abandoned ; that boys began to be employed in
this way at six and even five years of age ; that
they continued to be bought and sold for the pur-
pose by their parents, and that their moral condi-
tion was most deplorable. Such was the state
of things in 1863 ; and the result was
that next year an Act was passed for the
purpose of remedying these abuses. This Act,
however, has proved utterly useless. The Com-
missioners have again investigated the subject
which they investigated in 1863, and declare that
the evils then existing are still unabated. They
say that there are at this moment some 2,000
boys, nearly all between the ages of 5 and 10,
still employed in climbing chimneys in various
towns and counties in England—that these boys
suffer greatly both physically and morally—that
the disgraceful scandal continues of parents selling
their own children for the purpose of this employ-
ment—that master-sweepers constantly resort to
dishonest dodges in order to produce the impres-
sion that the sweeping machine is a failure ; and
that they club together to pay the penalties
inflicted by magistrates for violating the Act.
But the most singular part of the story remains to
be told. These scandals continue, not because
there is any real difficulty in putting an end to
'them. For it seems that both in Glasgow and
Edinburgh a system prevails which has proved
thoroughly efficient. Indeed, this is the very system
which in the year 1863 the Commission recom-
mended to England. The Legislature, however,
-refused to follow their advice, and the result is that
both the inquiry and the Act of Parliament passed