The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-01-13 00:00:00

WORSHIP-STREET..

PARISH APPRENTICES TO THE SILK TaanE,-.-Yestertlay
Edward Ewitt, a young man about eighteen years of age, and
Itlary Blenkinsop, a girl about fifteen years of age, two In-
dented apprentices to Ifrillians La, of Bethnal-green, silk-
weaver, presented themselves before Mr. BENNETT and Mr.
OSBORNE, the Magistrates, in support of a complaint preferred
against their muter for improper treatment, and neglecting to
furnish them with sufficient food.
Ewitt stated, that his master was in the habit of going out at
night, and getting intoxicated, and that on these occasions he and
his fellow.apprenuce were very scantily supplied with food.
Mary Blenkinsop corroborated the statement of her fellow-ap-
prentice, and added, that she had nearly four years of her time
served • that her master received with her four pounds premium,
and that she could then, and did for some time past, earn him
o :e pound per week.
The master admitted that he had been front home one night at
a wedding ; but he asserted that this complaint was the mutt of a
conspiracy against him.
Mr. Be ex Eye then despatched Vann and Waters, two officers,
to ascertain the facts ; on their return they represented that appear-
ances bespoke the truth of the statement made by the apprentices.
Mr. BENNETT inquired of Mr. Heritage, the Chief Clerk,
if it was the practice upon suck ,occasions to apprise the Parish
Officers of the circumstances. 31r. Heritage replied, that the Ma-
gistrates held in themselves a power to discharge without any cos-
aultation whatever with the Parish Officers ; at all events there was
no apprehension of two such apprentices becoming a hurthen upon
the parish. They were then discharged front their master.
Yesterday, Mary Grouch, a miserably-dressed female, about
thirteen years of age, attended bet'ore Mr. BENNETT and
Mr. OSBORNE, the Magistrates, in support of a complaint pre-
ferred against Samuel Tails, of Busby-street, Bethnal-green, her
Plaster, upon a charge of ill treatment. The girl stated, that her
master had severely best her with a cane upon the back a few days
before. A woman examined the girl's back, and reported that it
bore marks of recent and severe inniction ; that she had nearly
served five years of her apprenticeship, and that her master had
received tour pounds premium; that she had not been at church oe
chapel for the last fortnight; and that her master put her to work
which she was incompetent to manage, and then beat her for not
doing what she was incapable of performing.
The master stated that she was a sullen and an incorrigible girl,
and in place of serving him as she should do, she did every thirg
she could to injure him. In the weaving of halls yard she broke
twenty-two threads ; for nearly five years he never lifted his hand
to tier, but he admitted that when he saw the goods so injured, he
got so Irritated as to give her three or four stripes on the shoulders
with a cane.

The Magistrates desired that the parish officers should hare no-
tice to atten the following (this day), to have the girl discharged.

TOW N-11A13..

Yesterday, a ♦oung man, sitout eighteen years of age, was
beau& up hant!cailed. and secur.o,ia the lock-up nom, to await

• ahem.--