The National Register.
London, England, 1818-04-12 00:00:00

1 it taitittr+

Our ;Auto, ConOtitution ant itabid.

SUNDAY, APRIL IL 1818.

System) to decry these establishments altogether, sac
we should belorry to be supposed so blindly inimical to
commerce, which haicentributed so largelrto our peek-
perky and glory ; we know that there are certain evils
attendant upon trade and manufacture that are un-
avoidable ; and,. however we may prefer the mud
harmless tendency of agrieukural pursuits, we do not
wind to be convinced that` viitligtst#idnite Will hat
'alone lensed evieustry ; ii,a:.:entitand iheL.thaire
are ills that may- and might to be checked—habits:and
prectiaes that are destructive tfc the health and weds
of the individuals who are engaged in them, and which •
it is the duty of the Legislature to watch over and
amend. We are disgusted with the pretences of the
interested in favour of the oppressive regulations that
subsist ; while we rejoice to think that soma of the
power will be taken frog teem—that they will no
longer be suffered to measure the labour of others, poor
children especially, by their own avarice. It is now
two months• since the Petition of the men employed in
the Cotton Factories was presented to the House of
Commons by Sir Robert Peel ; brought up by persons,
whose emaciated appearance, the Honourable Baronet
observed, had excited him to tears. Ihe humanity of
the British nation is never appealed to in vain—and a
Bill was immediately brought in for the regulation of
the hours of labour, &c.

By this Bill, children arc preserved from being taken
into employ before the age amine years, and Clerk, from
that period to the age of sixteen, they arc placed under
the protection of Parliament, not being obliged to work
more than 11 hours, exclusive of meals. And yet this
concession is bat small, it is barely sufficient to answer
the purpose, and it still leaves many of our objections
unreir.oved. It is, perhaps, all that the Legislature can,
do, assailed as their ears are by the outcries of interest,
and the approbsesisuswatipiniiiiaigit, :411041.0ii

We are warm friends to. the promotion of industrious
habits, we are aware of the advantages of having these
early instilled into young minds,.but the idea of devot-
ing the happy and invaluable season of youth, entirely
sacrifice•l at the shrine of gain, we do abhor. The pe-
riod of nine years is still too soon ; mor•e time should
be devoted to moral and intellectual culture—and
then- the steady occupation of consistent industry
would be appreciated as a blessing by the poor, while a
mild and humane system would be productive of the
highest benefit. to society at large. The introduction of
this measure reflects the highest honour on Sir It. Peel
—he deserves the blessings of the unkirtunate suflbrers,
and we doubt not he has them. We• :-hall not trust
ourselves• to speak of his opponents, though we cannot
help remarking, lbw singular it is, that so many liberal
gentlemen;. wha arc foremost in promoting charity,
when it touches not them, and liberality in the abstract,
and liberty every where but in Lancashire, should set
themselves in opposition to this plan, when tho justice
of it is so obvious and the evil which it proposes to
remedy is so great as to aroL:se every latent feeling of
humanity in the heart..

GENERAL ELFCTION.—Mr. Gordon is now actively
canvassing the Borough of CrieLiade.—Mr. Du Cane
has ‘vithdrawn his offer of hreoz.ting a Candidate for
the Borough ofMahlon.—There wi:l be three Candi-
dates for the County of Carmarthen, and the same num-
ber fix the Borough. For the former, Lord Sey-
mour, the present member, the 116 n. G. 'l:digit Itice,
and Sir J. 1 Lmlyn Williams. For the latter, the Hon.
J. Campbell, the present member, .1. .Tones, Lsq. 111.1).
for Pembroke, and Captain J. G. Phillips, N.—The
lion. C. 11. Hutchinson is' now canvass,ing
Mr. Latham has withdrawn his name, as a Candidate
for the Clunty of Cork, in consequence of Mr. Fon.-
sunby having started.
By a return made to the House of Commons, it ap-
pears, that the number of persons executed for forgery
within the last 28 years, amounts to !,),e‘..:. Of thc,,e„
.743 wore forgeries on the Bank of England.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE 01' LORDS.

. .
• Aloqn.sv, Atniu.6.
LOrcTEttIKINE rose to pubtpont a Motion, of which he had
given notice, tespeetits, persons .•rested for Libels, in con-
sequence of.tbe absesickor Earl terey, who hid intimate.'
001/4 Lis intention, of *Avert toshject-4141,1*.10b1e Lord
int iiinvhe (Lo rkW 'ti' liffuld liiiwititelsewatclay.,
Adjournsid till IVeiWsttqh. • .)
~.." . 7'.•',- :..if.-,., ~
:.. ' , ..7..iits;. •

. -
Petitions against the Leather Tax were pelreented Asia
Durham, Chester, Southwark fie.
The Earl of Snagyesavay moved that the arohileeta,ire•
men &c. of the Fire Companies, should attend the Committee
on the Chimney Sweepers' Regulation RM.—Ordered. The
Noble Fowl then presented a Petition from the Grand Junc-
tion. Canal Company, vindicating themselves from the impit-
tations cast on them, and prayimg to be examined before a .
Committee. _ _ _

Lord LeutsennALE eaid belied had an interivew with Mr.
Coe, the Secretary of the Company, which instead of re-
Moving die impression on his mind, had-only confirmed U. A
wimp* existed to a.. great extent, and he hoped the
measure now in the other House would check it.—Petition-
received. •