The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1818-02-24 00:00:00

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*ith respect to the objectio:i that it inteitered with
free laboureis, it did not apply. The labour of
children could not be called free, iiirtictilarly when
one considered the nature of cotton fuctoriet. In
these all the labourers must work daring the saint!
rime—young and old are obliged to go on toArther.
Where the general employment is thirteen hunrs, it'
a child were to propose working for nine lie would
be refused. It is not for well-regulated mills, of
which gentlemen have spoken so much, that we want
to legislate. The Noble Lord suspects swank
that the Bill is founded not on the Report, but
partial evidence kept in our pockets. If so, there
would be just ground for his objections. But
there is no MOOS for concealment of the evi-
dence ; I hold it iu my hoods, I am scatty to give
a copy of it to any gentleman that 41rElleS it ; it
contains more recent inquiries, %ince the Coin.
mittee sat, of persons well competent to Gatti d
judgment on these subjects. The first statement is
front Mr. Symonds, sturgeon ; he affirm. positively,
that bin former opinion was ant gromitled on in-
dividual cases; that lie is still flimsily convinced
the hours of labour are too long for children, and
that lie shudders to think of the consequences likely;
to follow from a .continuance of the system. The
two next are front two persons, inspector,. of Son.
day School.. Ido not think it fair to appeal to the
feelings of the House, or to refer to individual
cases, but I shall declare the suns of 164,00 ii ~
they do not hesitate to say. that the lengthened
employment and the great time .of labour are ma-
terially injurious to the children in general. Time
are other statements to the same effect from e'er*.
WU of the Church of England and Sorg...ow. I
cannot but advert to the lenity with a hide the Peti-
tions. supposed to furnish a ground for the
have been treated. I csimot bring iii3self to think
that any gentleman imagines undue mean. Wive
been used by friends of it to obtain them. In tine
respect these Petitions were entitled to material con-
sideration. They came from the parents of the
children employed, and prayed fur legislative Inter-
ference to meet their offspring fawn the a of
excessive labour, they being now bound to coot
at work for a period equal to that required of them-
selves."

Mr. Ptift.t.tes said, the Right Hon. Gentlrina!'
reposed much reliance on the opinion of surgeons;
he would soy a greater regard to that of physicians.
Mr. Pam. explained.
Mr. FIN LAY said, that this Rill wont"' be parti-
cdlerly injurious to Scotland, where there wits no
legal provision for the poor. Ile never saw the evi.
deuce on which the Bill was fouialroi; it must lie
in great port incorrect. An Act of Parliament
would not remedy the abuses of ill-regulated far-
tories, and would be injurious to the well-regit.
hated. Formerly the greatest abuser were found
to exist in a factory ler the regulations of an
Act of Per!nmad. Cotton was an extremely iin.
portant article of our trade, considered Ind 016 I)
in the employment it afforded to the !moor itself,
hut also its the tucossragesnent it lent to other
trades; for instance, the iron. (:overnineut ought
to look with great attesstiou to every alteration
suggested iii the mode of cooductiog it. This
country had nu natural advantages for cariy-
log it out above others. He was apprehensive time
limitation of the time of labour would convey this
trade to foreign nations. In this respect there wits so
nice a balance between them and us. that the small-
eet alteration might tarn the scale in their &row.
He was no advocate for the employment of elti'ilreri
at tender years in factories; but he recollected %rely
wells when on a Committee on the State of the Gaols,
he saw children under sentence of death so young ass
II or It years of age; he was sure if these tryout,
had beets employed its factories, they would to.
Isms! idcusvell this penalty, and would have lives, id
a different condition of life. Ile woo fully per
suaded Mut the children employed to Zaing6ctositi
would be generally found in a better courts:ion fhillf
those of the same age in other esuploynsents. 'f!ifis
Bill was grounded on the state of cotton factieies,
Were not linen nounifactories in the habit cull.
pinying children ?..—were not woollen •--achy aas
not the state of employment in dine branches also
alluded to ? The Hon. Member concluded Iry
reading an extract from the speech of au I butt. (let .
demos. when the Report of the Cos eeeee ittee of Iso
was under consideration. In this speech the iir,rt••
lice of employing children in the factories at night
was pointedly alluded to.
Mr. CURWEN would not ohjict to this sultjoct
being Billy discussed in a Committee.
Sir F. BURDETT was glad that some step hail
been taken for the full cousideration of the 'aide
children employed in mosonfoletotire. The os..turr.
of this employment to children of feistier yuare was
prejudicial in more views than one—it atis demos.
five to their health and happiness. Tl:e childless
who worked at night were, it app eyed. on the
whole less unhealthy than those employed by slay
and for this reason. that they had play time attuned
than, which the others had not. It was sati,fac.
tory that a measure was in progress to consider ilio
stated well.
The Bill was then read a second time, coos° it.
ted. the Report received, and ordered It• lie tall
into further consideration this day six asel.s.