The Sun.
London, England, 1864-06-14 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF COMMONS---This Day.
The SPEAKER took the chair at twelve o'clock.
FACTORIES ACT AMENDMENT BILL.

Mr BRUCE moved the second reading of this bill. He
said that between 17,000 and 18,000 children were em-
ployed in the trades with which it was proposed to deal.
Tho hon. member for Devonport (Mr Ferrand) had stated
that the bill would affect 10,000 persons, but he thought he
should be able to show the hon. member that that was
a mistake, although no doubt the members would be in-
creased by the extensions it was proposed to adopt. He
explained the principle on which the bill would go with re-
gard to the ages at which children might be employed, and
not many of the objections which had been urged against
Government. He also read lengthened extracts from the
reports of eminent physicians showing the deterioration of
potters and others from overwork, and the nature of the
work in which they were engaged. The seeds of the disease
were sown in the children, whose labour was far too severe.
It had been urged that the Government ought to have pro-
ceeded under the Mines Inspection Act, which prohibited
children under 12 years of age from being employed. That
would be a very good arrangement if they could secure
children, between 8 and 12, being sent to school. (The
right honourable gentleman read returns to show that
it was not the case). Another objection which had been
urged was that under the bill they would not be able
to obtain a sufficient number of children to carry on
the work of manufactures ; but it mast be re-
membered these men were employers of boys themselves,
and it was likely that they would not treat them so
humanely as the employers. He had conclusive evidence
that many of the men neglected their work at the
beginning of the week, and, consequently, at the end of
the week they were obliged to employ boys to make up
their lost time, thus rendering the employment of boys larger
than it would otherwise be. Another argument was thnt the
trades in which children were employed were so numerous
and detached that it would be impossible to enforce the
law. That argument had been used with regard to the
cotton districts, but it had not been found to
be of any use. The right hon. gentleman then
explained how the bill would apply to the lucifer match
trade in which children were employed from six in
the morning till ten at night, being the poorest of the
poor and worst educated of any class. From working
in ill ventilated rooms they suffered from most loathsome
disease of the jaws. He also explained the nature of the
percussion cap trade, and other trades to which the bill
would apply.
Mr CRUM•E WING considered that the bill would
remedy many defects in the existing Factory Acts, and
he hailed its introduction with great satisfaction.
Lord INGESTRE said he did not intend to oppose the.
second reading of the bill, but when it was read a se-
cond time he should move that it be referred to a select
committee. He was so anxious that legislation should
take place that he pat his opposition, if he might use such
a term, in the mildest form. It was only to some portions of
a being all.
inapplicable to the potteries.
To the halt time system he had a
the bill which the riga t hon., gentleman proposed that he
FELL
greath
3d
lri c anyo objections
i,tn ENagreed with Lord Ingestrie thats
the Bill should be referred to a select committee.
[LEFT SITTING.]

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE—This Day,

LONDON, June" 14.—Wind this day at noon—South-
East; moderate breeze and fine weather, but cloudy at
times.

OFF FALMOUTH, June 13.—Arrived—Gondola, from.
Havannah.

CARDIFF, June 13.—Wind S.W.—Sailed—John Henry,
for Bermuda.

(BY MAGNETIC TELEGRAPH.)
GRANESEND, Tuesday Morning.
Arrived, June 13—Stientje Roemeling, trom Guaruilla.
Arrived, June 14—Unition, from Guernsey—Jano Innes,
from Tarragt na—Patriot, from Belize—Ann Christensen,
from Ystad —Bermuda, from Porto Rico.
Sailed—Hawk (steamer), for Bermuda—Nile, for Cal-
cutta—Saxon (steamer), for Stettin,
DEAL, Tuesday Morning.
Passed, June 13.—Eleanor Isabella (brig), and Hebe
Augusta (bark), from the west ; Damietta, and Eleanor,
iroDi the Cape of Good Hope ; Huntress (schooner), fur the
west; Agnes (bark), from Belize—all for London.
Passed, in t ow.—Speedwell, from the Cape of Good Hope ;
Victoria, from New York—both for London.

Live:

100 l Cotton Market—This Day,

_
Steady markets t yesterday's rates.
Sales probably 7,000 bales.

The last rehearsal for the Great Choral Festival
of 5,000 voices, to be hold at the Crystal Palace on
Wednesday next, took pi ice on Saturday. The
roe will consist of t wenty ems, choruses,
m
program
chorales, pert songs, &e., sc.stne of which are for
four treble parts, and will be sung by 1,000 voices
to a part. Mr. G. W. Alartin is the conductor.
CRYSTAL PALACE.—The great choral concert of
the metropolitan schools will take place to-morrow. The
choir will consist of 5,000 voices, including 1,000 tenors and
basses. The programme will include anthems, chorales,
part songs, &o. Conducted by Mr G. W. Martin. The
fountains will be played at 7 o'clock.

_ .
BUCHAREST, June 11.—Princ© Conza has met
with a tpicadid reception at Constantinople. The
Sultan received his Highness most graciously.
Th 3 Prince is to dine this day with the Ambassador
of France. _

NOT DEAD YET, By J. C. Jeaffroson, Author of
"Live it Dawn," Iv., 3 vols.—" Not Dead Yet" is a novel
of remarkable genius and power. It must be read
once rapidly, to get over the stirring incidents and denoue-
ment; and then steadily, to taste and relish at leisu e the
fund of worldly wisdom, the close insight into the work.
ings of the human mind, and ihe flue vein of philosophy
which the writer displitys throughout."—Messenger.

THE SURREY OPHTHALMIC HOSPITAL. —A grand
evening concert was given at the Beethoven Rooms, Harley-
street, Cavendish •square, last evening, in aid of the funds
of this useful institution. Tike audience was very fashion-
able, and the musical treat provided, both iustrunaeutal at t 1
vocal, gave the highest eatisfactien.