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

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were ordwiedl as also similar-11111461111' Ore
r of Dublin and Edinburgh.
DUROF.ItY REGULAtION DILL.
Mr. COURTEN AY pert of the rwClNltil reading of
the Surgery Regulation Rill until Friday

SA LT DUTIES.
111e.Cat.etare gave maitre he alsotill, Do the
nth of &Lerch, again submit to the lifitofie Ili*
motion of last year. relative to the repeal of the
Salt Duties.

BLOOMMON ET.
Mr. BUNMETT gave notice he should move for
leave to hying in a Bill for al:oliabing %how rewards
upon capital conviction fur usually dew-
minuted Ithiml-Nlaney,(fk,,,, Am..)
Voir Cul titl.F:S MORDAWIT presented a Petition
frets, the Guardian+ and Overseers of the four of
Birmingham ; whirls. having been read, was ordered
to he printed, and referred to the Committee on the
Pones Laws.

PERSONS LATELY CONFINED FOR TREARdN.
Sir Was. Ilunnobosts gave notice. he should. on
Wednesday nest. move for Returns of the number
of Persons radioed for Treasonable Practices, or
upon suspicion of Treason, its the dilferent golds
throughout the conot►y, daring the last var. spe-
cifying Ow time of their respective coMmitment
uls4l dowitirge.
Mr. Alderman SHAW presented a Petition from
the Cork-cutters of the City of Dublin. which was
read mid laid on the table.

Sir J.tssw.s MACKINTOSH gave notice of his in•
trillion 40 nMvr—

Fur the preelection of Islam of the .briber of penises
prmeeerted (or Fossils, or fir ■aeries forged mutes kasswieg
thy* to be (urged, fres 18011 op to the reread year, dis-
liessishimg see* as skissally bed suffekti the pemalty rf
death.

Also for a siwil.r Rehire of perils* prueecuted wader
Maniac eierineeptuaceo Miring the IS rears pretione to the
eowprissios .f rash pay swats, by the blast Itastrietim Act,
1461797.
Moo au Animist of the Exposes Incurred is prosecuting
meth alfaiderv, for the said lootAteatioised period of IS
years.
Throe Returns were intended to completb those
of a nature which were already before the
Honor. upon which he intended to found wipe psi—
lioutentery proceeding. If it were not intended to
oppose his motion. he should withug more for the
lieturne this evening.
The CnincEt.i.on of the EXCHEQUER having
expressed o wish that the Hun. Member wduld
defer his a short lime,

Sir JAMIOI 1114CILIKTOSII sairsitell to its remain-
ing over as a notice for tomorrow evestisig.
The Mune went into a Committee upon the Bill
regretting Clergysweu officiating in Gnats. The
several clauses were read and agreed to, the Iteport
brought up, and ordered to be received to-ntoisow,
ARMY ESTIMATES.
_ _

Lori PALMIIIII---TON -that he vlinidel,
on Friday next, move, in the Committee of Sup-
ply, the Army Estimates fur thr current year.

DR. BURNEY'S LIBRARY.

Mr. BAN lIEs presented N . Petition from the
Trustees of the Britiih Museum, lirsying the 11r.ti.e
would enable thesis to !meek'se the valuable Li.
harry of the late learned marl much-lamented
Doctor Barney. whim tam, as it regarded the in-
terests of literature, could stern be aolequately
deplored, more especially as. he fell whilst oc-
cupied in that most laborious task, under.
taken at the instance of the Trustee. of the
British Museum, the collation of the Alexandliasi
manuscripts with the pointed copies. He stated
that the general kuriveledge, fine taste, and critical
ussmem of that distinguished literary character, had
enabled him to collect the most valuable and scarce
collection extent in the possession of any private
gentleman is this country. Neither pains nor ex-
prose had been spared by the liberal-minded col-
lector. It was necessary so far to inform the Honor
or the concurrent testimony of all good judges as
to the literary riches of this collection, and the ge-
neral wish that it should be added to increase the
already high reputation of that noble collection in
the British Museum, which. whilst it was acces-
sible to all the votaries of learning. reflected honour
on the liberal spirit of the nation which had col-
lected it at such expense, and formed in our own
eyes and that of foreigners, one or the !proudest
tuitional ornaments or a country, long renowned
for its literary character and ambition. Ile moved
the Petition be then teed.
The CHANCELLOR or the EXCHEQUER thought
the Petition was well deserving of the consideration
of the House. The object sought was our of great
initiator, importauce, and the means of attaiaiug it
comparatively easy.
The Petition was then brought up and read.
It stated that the Itbrory of the late Dr. Burney,
comprising massy choice manuscripts, original CM'.
respondence between cekbiated characters. a large
collection of theology, voyages and travels. &c.
would be disposed or fur a reasonable compels's.
tion by hi. representative, Charles Parr Burisey, to
the Trustees of the British Museum. They there.
fore prayed Parliament to grant them a sum to et,.
able them to make the ruction..
The Petition was then rtlerred to a Select Coin.
taittee.

Mr. D. G. GILBERT brought up the Report
front the Committee of Finance, of the income and
expenditure for the year 1817.
Sir CNA,. MONCK observed, dist he believed it
lied been asserted iii the House that there was a de-
relation in the income of last year. compared with
former yews. of 1,400,0001. he was desirous to hear
something satisfactory on the subject from the Right
Hon. Gentleman. _ _

The CWANCLLLOIL of the EXCHEQUIM said. the
House might collect from the Report that the pro.
dace or the Revenue was far more favourable than
could have been auticipsted. On a comparison of
the Mame with the expenditure. it would be found
that the former woukl exceed the latter. including
the Staking Fund. by about three millions.

EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN IN
MANUFACTOMIIig. _ .

Sir H. Peitt..iurising to move for the wcond
rending of his Bill, adverted to the objections mode
against it on a former ought. It could not be laid
that the Bill would °lntroit free labour, for chit.
then could not be celled free labourers. lie hoped
the House would purser the same town as they
did with the Bill this time three yaw. If the
House would consent to hare the Bill tow reed a
second time, and the blanks tilled up, he would

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pledge tilinself to do nothing More till alit!: tasten '
The alfects. of the Bill %Seri to prevent 'children 1 i
from geeing employed in the factories beforti; the
age of nine ; from Mote to sixteen to put diens
under the protection of Parliament (as he did not.
look upon them to be free agents till the latter
age) ; to limit the time of actual labour to eleven
hears, which, with the addition of ass hour and a
hell for meals, would make up twelve hours and a
hlilf for the whole day ; and 14stl1•. to take away the
thischief of working children by night, and prohibit
all night-work.
The Order of the Day was then put. ihat the
Cotton Factory Bill be teed a accusal hue.
Lord Lascria.its did not intend to optiose the
*mewl readissg, because df the declaration ilsilt the
Rill would lie over till after the recess. and the
blanks in the mean time be tilled up; which would
afford letter means of learning its true nature.
Though not friendly to the main ends of the snow
sure, there was one provision of it be iiiiproved of.
'hat limiting the age of entering into eitiployinent ;
but he could nut ;my the same respectilia that li-
miting the tune of labour. In former "times all
mills two re worked bq Use &tee of streams ; the in-
vention aid application of steam engines had caus-
ed a great diminution of such ; but still a great
proportion were kept in action by water. To lay
down particular limns of labour for the latter was
unwise in the last degree; Mad also donne. 'Mills
waked by steam could be set going at any. time.
but the other claoi must depend for their spring of
operation oat causes beyond human agency. His
opposition to the measure was its a great degree
founded on the eirimmstassce, that it did not spring
from the Report of 1816, hut from evidence kept
in Gentlemen's pockets. This was an underlend
mode of legislation.
Mr. Put mu es said, that the Petitions on which
this measure was grounded. were the prostate bf
idle, factious workmen. Sonic persons had been ex-
tremely active in generating discontent among the
cotton workmen. During the sitting of the Conn.
mittee of iBl6, he had irked ass iliditidual. if he
had not caused ahe publication of an advertienseset
of this endure in the manufacturing districts—
" Tint re. tttttttttt children would so muds enlarge
the price or Isbour, that then the father awl his eld-
est son would earls as muds es this whole tinnily did
mew." He was at first quite isedigunest at such an
immolation, but afterwards was obliged to allow it
to be fact. and say it had reaped his nith y.
Air. Wood's evidence, the surgeon. lead beets
'Nought forward to support tlw necessity of legis-
lating on the subject ; but he has admitted that
children were nni.yed us labouring its other ways.
Its coital-factories.% all that was required of a child
was. au attention of bawl seed direction of eye to
piece , the broken yarunii great bodily exertiou.
It was known that boys of the age ef six or seven
' were employed in Welding ; why interfere with i
cotton ffictories in particular ? This was a measure
tessoled es War evidence and vague assertions. for
time ilerrese .of throwing reflections on the heads of
factories. It was very desirable that the subject
should be coosSidered very accurately, not on de-
,
clainatory evidence. At 31aserheieter there were
twenty-four thousand people engaged in the cotton
trade. From a late Report of the state of an Infir-
mary there. it appeared, that of ninety patients
which it.cositaisied, nineteen only belonged to cot-
ton factories. And from the Rejsort of the l'one.
house at Preston, front April, 1815, to April, 1816,
it appeared that out of six Wielded and fifteen fosses-
lies receiving assistance, not one was engaged in the
cotton trade. Its 1817. when the men entioloyed its
the factory with which i.e was connected, saw di.- I
ease and famine around them. without any incitement
they stepped forward with a contribatioss of ad. fur
one charitable fund. slid the sae sum fur another.
Teas irresistibly proved the geesd condition they
found themselves its. Dr. Henry. in a letter to
the Honourable Gentlemass (Mr. Phillips), had said
decidedly, that chroseical disease* were much
leas prevalent innong persons engaged in cotton
factories than in other employments. He had not
found more of that description of labourers us
fever wants than of any other, and he thought
that even that number might be greatly lessened by
the application and improvement of ventilators. if
the House interfered in the cotton factories, they
would have young people lions all other factories
assailing thesis with l'etitions, and telling them.
truly. that themselves were in a worse condition,
that they worked longer. and were paid less. The
limitation of nine yenta was Pcarctly any innovation
in well conducted establishments: its such. younger
were rarely ailusitted—it woe not the wish of the pro-
prietors. As to hours, he had no experience of his
owes • but he ennui not hut listen to the suggestions
aud advice of Isis friends. 1111 110 large town of &lg.
lend was there stronger eiiilince of good health in
any large estableshuseut than its that in which he was
engaged. All he asked Was a limitation of tlie time
of labour in other factories, or the iinpositiou of a
tax en the export of cottons twist. The bad spirit
which had given birth to the Petitions would be
fostered by the attention bestowed on them, and
would work more dangerously its better limes. lie
woe firmly convinced a proposal more injudicious
in all its bearings, Mere prejudicial to the interests
of the employers and the employed, and more re-
pageant to sound views or policy. foreign and do.
medic, had sewer been subroitted to Parliament.
In one of its main objects it wks useless—for a very
small proportion of children *ire at this day em-
ployed. Persons or superior age and knowledge
were necessary to conduct the machinery now so ex-
tensively_ in use.
Mr. DAVENPORT thought that Gentlemen were
toe precipitate in forwarding this Bill. He was
sorry the last Session had passed without a :envoi of
the Committee. He wished to be understood as
riving no opinion at present bathe tendency of the
Bill.
Mr. Peer.—" Of this Bill, like many others, It is
exceedingly difficult to form a correct judgment
till the blanks are tilled up. The prep nety of it
will chiefly depend on the miunnunt of age, the
quantum of hours. and other regulations accurately
expressed. lam surprised to hear any Gentleman
complain of precipitancy. after the promise of the
Moyer to let it he over till after Easter, and I
trust all further discussion will be postponed till
then ; in the interim, the country may form
en *pillion on the salaam and object of ite+
The Noble Lord who provoked the discussion this
night is friendly to one provision of it ; bin I am
'sere that some gentlemen reject it io all its pests.