The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1819-02-09 00:00:00

•eut 13111 wus

%I Id it he passed
who had, under the pruvi►ions iit the in nnrt..n
imititnerl the •itustion of candidates—sod would.
therefore, as it related to them, L..- mei Pa- pu.+l
facto enactment. For three rea.n,.,Le ►huuwd op-
pare the second reading of the Rill.

Lord SIDIAOUTH said, that twnli the coristrite'.4,4l
of this hill hr had had no concert.; hot Ow 11111
which was for reviving and cantinui-g an Art of the
51st of the King,. liartiq,:, 'Hien ni 110) consideration,
par4secl the oilier Honer, a represet.t..ii is was mottle
to him, *hewing the expelm l
enee 441 s. 4.11 r ottal.orr ;
and built as High Steward W.sietisos.er and Sc.-
eretary of State, he felt himself h uon to g ve tilt
Hill his support,. Their Lordships 1.441 to tunwdrr
two points : first, whether it was ornper that the
conVeniences usually required for the cooducititg of
elections in' iVestmitirter ghoul., i.e vontiourd ;
and, secondly, ut whose exprese at 45.-
should be provided. 111 the sear int 1 4 Bill ow-
ed the House of Common%, far the purpose of ex-
tending to Westminster the piusisioosot a presior 4
Act, wile..lay the t.r uroing offi-
cers of writ' re.titort.l 111 1.1. V bouti.n,
tool places tl:e expeolhog es.-.-t X'
peilers of which ver:e to be delid).-4i ii) the cm.-
didate4.

[This Bill was read at the !alit" lry, the Cleo ki
flee Noble Lord then proceed, 41, and noun Led
that such 4 1.00111,0011 1.0 ly isecessary to
Westminster. alwre, the elective fraiscline was s 4
much extruded, being esijoyrd by at least fourteen
thouraind persous. Their Lordships mud hive had
occasion to rtinark on the midi wiry teisdrory
disorder that prevailed during elections for Wes.-
moister; but if such a provision as that contoured
in the Ball oft+ before the Rouse were not tuacte.',
tins tendency to cuisfserinsi sod riot would be much
increased. Re spoke advisedly. deep under the
opinions of some of the ablest 'nett in Westminster,
sayitig, that in cases of eleceofs nothing further
was rrquired by Ilic law as jt 11100.1 I!YrYIUUS to this
measure, from the High Bailiff of ll'estrerioster.
thou that he should attend in person with a •stogle
clerk to holds pull. Now. in such a case, soil
sia the election could nut lie extended In yond four.
teen days, it was evident that nut Ifille Ilion one -
fuuritreittii part of the electors could give the r
votes, and •ii c-isfrisitios lutist it ee...illy arise
from the anxie,y of the voters to alive lif.t
at the poll. It was evident Cord Lord Ellen-
borou gli•s opinion respectirc,: the • Meat y lif
the conairieri law could not ~f 1 et 6.9 Viet" of
the question, besides that it "rite tAteudril to
those who hail actually appeared either by them-
selves, or their agents. Hs cautlillot.-tt, lon the law,.
ings. in Sir F. Bortlet.'s case was
pronounced in the year 180 H, anti yet the common
law was considered tos inefficient, that is, the tear
1811 the Bill_ was lass ed wlu.lt :t ass now I 4t
in,ition that their I,..orlaliins shoo. I :wise and COI,.
tome. Hail the counnou law be it oulficieri*, wise
had it not .liteu so considered iii toe Rause ul
Mom at that period. and *lmo the Bill into
their LoAships. way was it dun oljected to on that
principle by the Noble and Learned Lord, who was
then a Member of the House, and who was alike
distinguished by his powerful mind and hi. incor-
piptible integrity, by whoa the newtons decision
had been pronounced ? He thougl•t it expedient
that the Vtall:PCls tstablislitil it. 0.11110 it., where tl e
candidatcs were compelled t!) 1),.y the expense,.
shoula be on • parity of prior:lloa- ext oiled ci
IYestininster, fur which Yrdl.oiss lie 5;100 Id Fersist
his original mottos'.
The Earl of LitUEROALS replied, saying, the
Noble Lord (Sidiatoutla) had represented, that Lopl
Eiletiborougn had laid it down as a feint of cumuli i
law, that the Itgls Billiff could receive no
iudrtL-
ruiy. fur Isitri•s If and his clerk ; but such will to,'
the fact. Lord Ellenborough laid it down, that ". :f
any candidate takes advantage of hustings he mu t
pay hits share of the expenses is turned its comdruct-
ing then).•' The case of the Sheaths of Comities we.
essesstially diiierent from that of the High Bailin'
of ‘Vlstilainster. In the crannies the Sheriffs weld
compelled to undertake the office, and cons..
quently ought, in criiiimoit justices be reliessrl
hum eves y expense ; but in %Vrstmilister the Hier
Bailiff purchased his rot oat; iiiii lay giving • large
!Wu tat motley to the Dean and Chapter; and tire.
Hliviiitl,ixt% most be supposed slifficieut to counter-
balance 11117 Inn 1.:Al or trifling lutes. it
r rsou hul.liug the office were relieved Friona
es try danger of f•Xlirlibt, it would tend uuly to
rat-e the mace, and Parliaissrid would, by paassism
this Bill, only put a large suss of money iuto. tl e
pockets of the Dears and Chapter. He had al.
ready resnat kerl upon the injustice of the
from its ex pal facto operation. The Noble Lord
haul commented upon' the tumults which ucce-
smitally took place at rlectirms for IVrstinsirs.es ;
lint for his part • the most violent tuniuits lie bad
ever witnessed, were thuec that took place 10 COwit .
queoce of the breaking up of the Isustine•, wii..l
the people tore then: into pieces, and Louder('
each other till the head*. The cotutursis lase gas 48
sufficient indemnity to the High Bailiff 1.4 ewer
Ileetl4.liy tXpeio.e ; but not, its Lord Ern on r.•tsgas
pastictalai ly fur any saitentatian or
Ilarollt, %loch sus altugether•usinrcessary.
The lloose !lien divided, when there appeared--
:Ayes. . l.l
ins .. •• ••• • 41.

• • • alujulitT
The Bill wt!* thro read sct &Alai time, RI
tiered to be c tut t (1:

REVLRSION.
On our rottimnow.h belvw L..e bu►, we found E
GIRObVENOR toitliltelttleg ou the to.rtoo.lJ.ty
gi.tosig piet•es 111 re.eretuty other by the Cow% t•r
any n*hn•r Huth,. 'neat Jhr sultjtet Athos b •
bruu,g,ht hefore lh. f f0t0..., !removed that tL. le I, -
hid before the 11. tore all Account ehtwr••4
number ht SIIICIU I'ntrt• t;r..utrd nt l{t•ctt.ktn
the Crow' I.r uU.rr i/U I ii.:o Ili 4, rtoce the l.t
JA‘uury, 1818.
1.1:J 6tDri6“..ra !esp. 1 Ll.e Nulie E j,

Per C rut.
Alr "
,411 A
Q
.7'l" 0:1
••• It ..r1
og
C
PRICE SEVEN-I'ENCR.
•
so tar remit-T.(l ...... Eta
timed Into • low. it w.. 1.141 tilt, et tlto

I

not find it inconvenient to postpone his motion for
a fro days. As no notice had been Kiyeto of the
mown, his Noble Friend had not thought it ne-
er. •to icterid..
Earl GROSVENOR had no objection to postpone
it. He st ) Id not hive submitted it now to the
Haase, but that he 'could not lUve initicipated any
opposition to the proditeipti,of the paper.
*COTTON SPINNERS.
Lord lc ettYou presented a 'Petition from several
eh-ratio-li, Medical Alto, Master Manufacturers,
loot a great tier of operative wort-people in
coon: null, at Stockport, prayilig that the time of
chit lahuur lit cotton nrills might be limited
to te'. hours and a half, in pursuance of the 13111
introduced into the last Parliament by Sir Robert
Peel.
The Earl or LAUDERDALE inquired whit num-
ber of persons had signed the Petition, and whe.
ther soy delusive means had been employed to
olitaiii
Lord KENToN replied, that he dill not know ex-
actly what number of signatures were attached to
tht l'etinim, nor did he believe that any improper
toi ins were used to obtain them. In saying so, he
.1141 not mean to use au evasive answer, for had he
learned that any improper practices had been
adopted, he should feel it his duty to state it.
The Earl or LAUDERDALE—I' flue Noble Lord
has answered that question very satisfactorily; hut
i. ant the Noble Lord aware that a delusion had
tern held out to molly persons, that in signing such
Petiiimis to Parliament, they were forwarding a
ineitsure, the object of which was not only to
shorten their labour, but to increase their wages ?"
Lout KENYON—"I certainly have heard that
such representations have been made. hot I do not
believe that those who signed this Petition, acted
tinder such an impression."
The Petition was read and laid on the table.
Lied Kunuolt—" I have now a Petition to re-
pent, which I fear was nut prepared in a manner
equally free front censure. l understand that the
signatures were. for the most part, obtained at
politic-hour/, by the exertions of an individual nut
immediately connected with the Petitioners. It is
from Holywell, io Flintshire, and purports to be
signed by
_persons of 16 years of age. There,
however, ia nothing in it improper, or that should
prevent me from laying it before your Lordships."
The Earl of LAUDERDALE—" The Noble Lord
has anticipated my observations on this Petitioo. 1
bold in my hand a letter I received from Holywell,
which states that. stranger Caine from Stockport,and
baying at night assembled a great number of boys
and girls at a public-house, told them they must all
he very wretched like all other persons in cotton fac-
tories, but that if they signed the Petition hr pro-
duced, they would all Isere less work and more
wages."
The Petition was read and laid on the table.
Like the former, it complained of too much work.
Lord Kenton presented u similar Petition from
Ilythe, which was laid ou the table.
The Bishop of Caws' presented a Petition,
signed by the Clergymen of the Established Church,
by the Disseistiag Ministers, the medical men, 11110.•
ter manufacturers. shopkeepers,. and many other
persons, amounting all together to 5,2116, of Bol-
ton-le-Moors, lamenting the 'Callum of Sir Robert
Peel's Bill, and praying for the mercy of the House
to shorteu the duration of labour in the cotton ma-
uutactories.

Petition being read.
Tile Earl of LAUDERDALE s9id, that in the list
Session Petitions much more numerous, signed also
by Clerg., men trod medical men, had been laid
iipoo their Lordships' table, against Sir Robert
Peri'- Bill, in which, as well as at the h3r of the
House, then were the repeated testimonies of most
respectable physicians, that in no occupation were
the children :mil other persons employed iii it inure
iie,iliiiy titan in ci.iion manufactories. Ile admitted
that medical men may be found, at first sight, to give
PI) opiutnn unfavourable to such employment, but
many ii ho had at first so expressed themselves sub-
sequently retracted their sentimeins.
The Bishop of Limns:it replied, that the medical
gentlemen who signed the Petition he presented
had sufficient time to consider the state of the Ctitte
fully, and their opinion was unfavourable.
The F. 411 of LAUDERDALE tlid not :oppose the
lteverrod Prelate had nicely examined those medi-
cal men, or silted them with questions, yet by such
oilcans only could their opinions be fairly under- I
stood.
The Bishop of CitEsTErs presented a similar Pe-
tition from Bolliogion, which was laid on the table.
The Earl al LAUDERDALE then rose, and made
an apinal to the Noble Lord (Kenyon), who had
given notice of a motion on this subject, whether
oil a matter of such importance he could think of
pressing it forward in so thin au attendance of the i
'louse. tie never could consent to the enactment
of a legislative measure, the object of which was to
control she engagements of free labourers; but in
a c air of such magnitude, could the Noble Lord
itnagine that there were sufficirot members then
present to make the decisions of the Ilouse respect- '
able in (lie eyes of the country ?
Lord liellYoN agreed on one point with the
Noble Earl, that the question was one of consider-
oble inagnitiole, and lie lamented with him that
there was nut is fuller attendance of the House ;
but haviog on a former night postpuoril his motion
at the instance of the Noble Earl, lie feared that,
should it be again postponed, it would not induce
more Noble Loirl• to attend die discussion. It was
extremely ih-siiebe that, in a consideration of this
great question, the (louse should have before it as
great a mass of evidence as possible. h was in this
view that their Lordships, in the last Session. post-
polled the measure ; and as the inquiry had com-
menced, it was desirable that it should be pur-
sued. The Noble Lord urged this point at some
length. Ile was aware that an objection would be
made to this measure, on the ground that the riots
in Manchester had iii some degree arisen from tie
proceediugs of the last Session ; but it should he
mineintrered that during the Session no disturb-
ance bad been felt, and if, by proceeding in this
inee-tire, Parliament were to legislate lii a manlier
pleasing to the work-people, what disturbances
could then be upprelieuded ? but if, on the other
basal. it should be found from inquiry that no in-
terfereoce were necessary, it would be satisfactory
that sucii information might he laid before Parlia-
nieui and the country. Ile should lament that, if
R Commiitee were appointed, the Noble Earl, who

was so eminently distinZuished by his lim:ledge on
the subject, and his assiduity in investigating it,
were disabled by circumetances from attendsug.
He should equally lament if another—an Mildness%
personage (alluding, we presume, to his Royal
Highness the Duke of 'Sussex), who had entitled
himself, for his perseverance and assiduity in in-
tending on the runner Committee, to the gratitude
of his country—were unable to devote to a future
inquiry the same talents and the saneindustiy ;
but the Noble Earl, who had such great taster's...l
over inauy Noble Lords in that House, might, he
trusted, succeed in inducing one of his friends to
supply his place; and if the Committee were at-
tended by professional Gentlemen of the same
lemming and skill in the elucidation of evidence as
were iii attendance on the former Committee, lie
did riot despair that, even in the event of the Noble
Lord's absence, they should be enabled to attain
great and signal advantages from the inquiry. The
Noble Lord, after a few further observations. in
which lie defended the principle of Parliamentary
interference, by a reference to au Act for regulating
the lelean. of apprentices, concluded by ironing—
" That a Committee be aim...toted to intone into
the state of Children worker; in Cotton-factories
in the. United Kingdom."
Earl Geosvi:Nott, alter remarking on the ion-
portsnce of the sititstion, said, that the House came
to the conaideration of it now in a very different
state to that is. which they found them .e in the
former Session. A Bill had then come up front the
House of Commons, and it was at mice proposed
that their Lordships should pass it, without any
inquiry. The subject was comparatively new to
them, so that an investigation was absolutely
necessary. Now, however, the matter was very
different. They were apprised of the nature of
the measure, they saw its importance. and could
nut fail of observing the pernicious tendency of
the measure. The proceedings of the last Session
could furnish no 'apiarist for the adoption of a si-
milar in the present. Ile should trem-
ble at the idea, in a free cnnnnercnal country like
this, of affecting the right of all free Mtn to make
such arreugemenss and such compels as they
might think proper. Ni. mail could go further
than he should towertis throwing epee the doors of
Parliament to all petitions from the people, and
more particularly those that might complain of op-
pression by the governing power of the country.—
But the Petitions read this evening bore not that
character ; they complained of tin grievance but
such 84 the petitioners had willingly embraced ;
they stated no sufferings but those front which the
sufferers might emancipate themselves. These,
therefore, made out no etse to justify the inter-
ference of Parliament. It might indeed be said,
that the evil was of great and crying magni-
tude, and that humanity el:Mittd the assistance of
the Legislature; it might also be urged, that the
peculiar labour ref the petitioners was unhealthful,
and that a due regard to the health of the people
should overcome the ordinary re,erve of Parliament.
But there was no manufactory in which, as lie be-
lieved, the work people were in such robust health
as if they had been empls.ved is. agriculture; and
sure he was, that there were malty which were more
detrimental to health nod comfort thus. the spi tttt nig
of cotton. But should Parliament, on that sic-
couot, put an end to all the inatrufactuirs of
the country ; should it interfere in their in-
ternal arrangements until they were destroyed, ail
the nation had hectare. wholly agricultural ? It' such
were the object of the promoters of the measure,
let it be fairly and openly avowed, that Parliament
and t he country might be aware of the extent of the
measure, and be prepared to meet it accordingly.
But if indeed it was intended that the manufactures
should still be suffered to exist, if it was meant
that much of our country's greatness should still
depend upon the prosperity of MIS manufactures,
and the consequent extent of our commerce, thee
let no meddling hotel presume to Interfere with its
economy. Let the free labourers continue, as
heretofore, to arrange their own work, and let the
masters continue to stipulate conditions as before ;
for if tver them were a principle more secred iti its
nature, or which ought mire rarriestly to be main.
tinned, it was that which gave perfect freedom to
all classes of the people to submit their personal
labour to contracts of their own making.—(llear,
hear.)—He slid not see much force in the allusion
made by the Noble Lord to the Act for regulating
Apprentices. That case differed essentially from
the present. Au apprentice was a creature of the
law, whose actions, whose very existence was regu-
lated by statutes, and it therefore was the province
of Parliament to take care of his interests.
petitioners, on the contrary, were !sae labourers, and
as such should be left to du sr own goer' ttttt tat.
Seeing no necessity fur sorb a measure, or at least
wishing it to be postponed until there war a fuller
attendance of the House. lie " move 84 an
umendnient, that the consideration of this question
be postporied to this slay six weeks."
Lord KeNVON raw no reoasin for acceding to Vie
proposition of the Noble Earl, for the reasons he
had already assigned.
The Loan CHANCELLOR sail!, this was indeed a
very important subject, mid he could not imagine
either why Is greater iimriber of Noble Lords had
nut attended, or why these who were present had
thought proper to withdraw. There could be no
doubt that if children were by over work or berth
usage injured in their health, or distorted in their
limbs, as had beet) attributed to the severe Whose
of cotton factories, their parted% or toasters were
punishable at common law fur the offence, and he
had hoped tie,' the debate would butte turned upon
this point, 810' closed with the adoption of some
specific measure for the enforcement of whet lie
would call the prohibitions of the evmmon law. A
Petition had been presented that evening by a
Reverend Prelate, which he trusted he might with-
out offence be permitted to call a very dangerous
Petition, for it required the iiiterference of Pars
lianient, not for the regnlation of children only,
but of adults, by which means the freedom of
labour would, in his mind, be essentially affected.
This was dangerous ground, arid he thought it
would be well to postpone the consideration of it
until there was a fuller attentlacce. If the question
were pressed lie should not give a vote, but he
should be ',leanest if the Noble Lord (G.osvertor)
were to charier his six weeks to a fortnight.
Lord KEN TON auggested, that the uniendinent
should specify a week.
The Earl of LAUDERDALE expressed his perfect

acquiescence in ulna had fallen from CI., Nul)le
and Learned Lord oil the IVitolimek. lie stated,
that the greater part of the riots which had fittly
taken place in Manchester were caused hr misre-
presentations on the part of the agitators of what
tas the real object of the legislative measiires. It
was stated. limit in slit... Chet and writings, 11041 it
was intended to diminish the limns of labour, and
increase the wages of the operative workinem—
To dna point lie in the Committee hurt exit-
united a Mr. Booth, whom hr iFiestioned respecting
a paragraph, susoected to hate rwrll written by him
in The Manchester Chronicle, this pro-
position. Booth, however, itenle.l that he had writ-
ten the paragraph, lint it was fitoilly sliewn that
he hail ut least paid fifteen guineas at the office of
that piper fur its insertion. Nothing could be more
iiijoriuut to the people than such a measure as
that now iii contemplation, for it tilled them with
hopes and expectations it would be impossible to
realise. At the present moment, the agitation of
the measure was paiticultrly nowise, for the people
had not yet cooled front their late disorders.
The Bishop of Clli:sTeit feared, that, on oily sub.
serpent night appointed for the discussion of this
gisestion, no fuller attendance could be expected.
I Ie denied that any connexion existed hetwecn t herbs-
turbeia ut Manchester and those who signed the Pr.
tame lie reward. To prove the peaceable demeanor
of the Pentomers, lie stated, that lie h ul received a
letter flow a person in Bolton-le-Moors, eking his
advice wheth.r they should send delrg..tes to a
general ineetilig, for the purpose tit sending rett.
tion4 to Parliament on this subject ? but from this
lie dissuaded them. In cousequerice, oil meeting
had been held to Bolton-le-Moors, or Stockiont.
v., Learned Prelate then read an address of the
Petitioners to the public, no %Milt they avowed
their peaceable ititentioos.
The Earl of LAUDERDALE remarked, that DO
stronger evidence could be adduced than that now
given by the Learned Prelate that hit Petitimiers
had been influenced by the same (witty.. 4 and feel-
ings as the rioters of Malichester and Stockport.
They being, as he stiptmsell, in the habit of con-
sulting the Reverend Prelate, took his-opinion on
the propriety of choosill delegates for a grand
meeting. To meet this, however, they had pre-
pared a line specious declaration of their pacific
disposition ; but what guilty person was there who
would not make a similar asseveration ?

The Bishop of CliEsTEit replied, lie isiti.t hove
expressed himself %ei y bad'', if the Noble Eail
could have so distor►ed lit: oli•erv.itions.

Lord KFNI ON hoped that the question might
not be postponed more than a week.
The amendment was then earlied.
A second motion by Lord KIN VON, that for the
2-2 d of Fehruirry, the 15th be insetted, Wab
tatid without x division.
. _ .

The queoinit therutore stand* fur discussion on
Nlontl.ll, the hrtiory.
The 11,)13e then adjourned.