The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1818-02-11 00:00:00

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'tsarinas oeenpation ; end he felt the Lest retort) the
""ll• Baronet could have made to that class or peo-
ple through whose exertion he had made an ample
fortune. was to bring their case before the House iii
impressive and handsome manner in which he
had alluded to the subject to-night.
ilr. Putt. Lies denied that the children at ma.
sorfaciories were now treated so as to receive en
i.lury in their health; he was fully convinced
they were in every respect as well treated as those
placed in other occupatious. As to the descrip.
given of the appearance of the boys employed
cotton manufactories, being peculiaily discern-
s'ile for ill health. all be could say etas, that he
issid guise to a public school where children were
placed. helonging to inauufactories in different
trades. He was there Aeon. among others, three
young persons—one a boy, who was deed:bed as
lievisig a lameness from the severity Of his treat-
ment at a factory; another, I young woman, in very
delicate health; and a boy with his head hoists('
up. Now. as to the first, be found on ',dupl.
nation that the boy had IA both his legs broken
liy being rode over by some dragoons whom he
was looking at; the girl had always been its a deli-
cate state al health, and was actually sent to
factory on that account ; and the third had his head
hurt by a beating he received from his father: and
yet all the ititee-catuitities were attributed to work-
ing iii the factories. Ile called on the Master of
the school to point out to him the children not em-
ployed so the cotton trade, and these !reify appeared
iu a worse condition than the others, winch the miss-
ter said Might arise from their not being well fbd.
If the factories produced the ill effects that were
complained of, their he was ready to admit the
House should Warne ; but the effectual tray of
interferisig would be by tending down a special
commiss.on, to make due inquiry throughout the
country, trod then to report their observations to
the House. The Hon. Baronet opposite (Sir R.
Peel) had talked of the abuses which lie said ex-
isted; it was true that Isis own (Sir Robert's) fac-
tories had been so ill regulated that the Magistrates
were obliged to remonstrate and eveu then no
adequate remedy was applied, though Le might
Uwe effectually controled them as other men did.
It was not the Bill which altered and improved the
system, but the example set by other manufactories
throughout site country.
Mr. Wk. Swum rose to order, and thought his
worthy Friend was waking ass attack on an indivi-
duel which no stage of the proceedings, eveu if •
Bill were before the House, would warrant.—
(hear.
Mr. Put Lure thought that if he were disorderly,
those who preceded him, and whose arguments he
was now answering, must have been equally lA.-
1 Heer.)—He concluded by repeating. that if an
issquir7 were necessary, it ought tb be by a special
conurnesson.
Sir Ittinsac Pl= said, that he did not wish to
interrupt the Hon. Geutlensan daring his speeds
although he conceived lie was travelling out of the
question to snake a statement effecting his diame-
ter. When lie discovered the prevalence of abuses
in Isis own factories, which were too extensive to he
*ll tinder his own eye, lie saw on way more likely to
be effectively operative than a legislative enactment,
and to that he resorted. This was the only way of
relieving the poor people, and he was convinced it
effected the alteration alluded to, and would con•
tinue to do so, so long as the labour was not infring-
ed upon by whet were called free labourers or
p loiters.
Mr. Doust.as thought the children were care-
fully attended to. If, however, abuses existed. a
sinewl consusission would be the best course to
adopt.
Mr. W. SMITH would• say but little until the
subject came in another shape before the House.
He wished at present to have the Petition read ; lie
bad examined tl.e ;remiss who brought it to town,
and usoleistood from tisane, that it emanated from
the spontaneous desire of the parties themselves,
who were disippainted at nothing being done for
them during the last two Sessions. The Petition
had the signatures of 6,000 persons. all of them
employed Hi the cotton factories, and of i 6 years of
age and upwards. There were from 20 to 30,000
children employed in this bretscli, and of there
7 or 8,000 were 16 years of ages. so list the peti-
tioners gamy Ise fairly said to represent the whole
boil). They were also aware that the consequence
of a compliance with their application would be a
reduction of wages, mad still they sought ler the
new regulations.
Mr. Sinew bant testimony to the good treatment
of the children at the Manchester factories, parti-
cularly at that of the Hop. Gentleman opposite
(Mr. Phillips.) In the cause of hunninity he would
yield to no man, bet when he saw the children con-
tented 81111 satisfied with their treatment, he did not
like to sutler lisusself to be hurried away by the
statement of grievances. Before any thing was
dime, he thought the subject ought to be well
weighed, and the fullest personal exsssiaatioo or-
dered.
The Petition was then laid on the table.

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4

PETITION RELATIVE TO THE ALLEGED DIS-
T!! It RA WES AT AFANCNIDITER.
Mr. Putt.t.tra eve Puttee, that on Thursday
next he nould move t• have the Petition he pre-
(sewed lust night from Atestalmmeler, titres/ad to •
Committee.-- Haw, haw./
CLIMBING BOYS.
Mr. BLNNFTT i.tewnted a Petition from the
calay of Dothan', agssMit the use of chtubiog
REFORM.
The !Inn. Gelltiellolll Niilo presented • Petition
fiat' rertiglit prisons at LlVerionoi, for annual PON
Ihnnents, anti an extension of the elective himixiiive„
IRISH GRAND JURY RILL
A 14virtaire trusts the Lords sunoieueed their
doseut to the Irish Grand Jury Auteisd-
sustuf

SCOTLAND.
maker promised
'Ails in-Si:nil:end, land
most the motion of
feel, •nd hope the
feeling, that the snob.
.e ins ever was soh-
Pair!lament, or on
. card to roimnlos,
untwisted opinion.—

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