The Sun.
London, England, 1847-02-18 00:00:00

was away from home for fourteen hours each day, and
worked in an overheated and unhealthy atmosphere for
twelve hours each day. The agricultural labourer returns
home to his domestic comfort in the winter seasons at four
o'clock in the afternoon, the factory labourer, on the other
hand, did not leave the factory till eight in the evening.
But it had been said that there were maxims of political
economy so stern and so unbending, that whatever amount
of injury might be made out, it was impolitic to interfere.
He denied, however, that such stern and unbending
maxims were to be found in political economy.
In all cases where he had had the opportunity of testing the
opinions of the operatives he had found that they were per-
fectly willing to receive less wages for their reduced labour,
as it would give them an opportunity of increasing their do-
mestic comforts. He was decidedly in favour of the Bill,
and should certainly vote for the second reading.
Lord EBRINGTON considered that the principle of the
measure was disposed of when the Legislature determined
to limit the hours of labour to twelve hours, and he
therefore should not detain the House upon that point.
The Bill, in his opinion, was justified upon economical grounds,
because when operatives became ill from over-exertion the
expense fell upon the State, while the profit of that over-
exertion went into the pocket of the employer.
With regard to the general principle of interference with
children, he considered that it was perfectly justifiable. It
appeared to him that the right time to cease interference with
boys was when they attained the years of discretion. He
considered, however, that the introduction of the principle of
interference with adult female labour was one most danger-
ous. He thought it right to state those points in which he
differed from other Hon. Gentleman.
Mr. NEIVDEGATE said he regretted that he was too late
to present a petition from Huddersfield, signed by the soli-
citors, the merchant-traders, the physicians, and the manu-
facturers in favour of the Ten Hours' BM.
Mr. MARSLA-ND said that the Honourable Mem-
ber for Oldham had not acted upon his own precepts.
As the manufacturers of this country had to com-
pete with foreign manufacturers, the House ought to
pause before it consented to place restrictions upon
them which could not fail to have the effect
of preventing them from competing so well as they could if
they were left untrammelled by legislative enactments.
The time chosen for seeking to pass this measure was
most unsuited, as the manufactures of the country were in
a very perilous condition, He was in favour of giving the'
labouring classes of this city more relaxation for innocent
pursuits, but he was adverse to its being given through the 1
hands of the State.
Mr. DUNCOMBE said, as it was the wish of the House to
come to a division without delay, he would not detain them
for more than three minutes. fee agreed in one observation
of the Hon. Member, that the master manufacturers were
tired of the agitation ; but he might have added, with equal
truth, that the workers also were tired of it. An
Eleven Hours' Bill was an absurd proposition, and it showed
that the Government, in favouring one, had doubts of a
measure of that kind.— ( Hear ) uch a measure
could not be beneficial to the employed—they al-
most universally called for a Ten Hours' Bills
Those who were for the restriction of labour is factories were
of opinion that ten hours, and ten hours alone, was the mea-
sure which ought to be granted. The Secretary of State for
the Home Department had said, that he would not be a
party to keeping up the delusion, that the people would re-
ceive twelve hours' wages for ten hours work.
He knew that the people did believe that they should
receive for ten hours' work twelve hours' wages,
and they bad many instances in which a reduction of the
hours of work had been followed by an increase of wages. He
had one instance to give, in a letter from a competent autho-
rity, written to him, and which stated that experience had
proved that where the hours of work were reduced wages
did not fall in proportion, and the moral condition of the
workman would be much improved. Feeling, as
he did, that the Bill would give to the peop:e
of this country greater recreation and improved
moral habits, he should give it his cordial support.
Mr. B. ESCOTT (who rose amidst a storm of confusion,
noise, and cries of "Divide") said that he rose to move the
adjournment of this debate.—(Oh, oh.) He moved it for
a good reason. On a former occasion the Noble Lord at the
head of the Government had said that he would express his
views on the second reading of the Bill, and the Noble Lord
had not spoken upon the second reading of that measure.—
(Cries of " Yes, yes.") He had not. The Noble Lord had
said a few words, but he had not entered upon the principle
of the Bill. Neither had he heard the opinion of the
Honourable Member for Tamworth, nor the opinion of the
Noble Member for Lynn, the straightforward leader
of a very large party in that House.—(Cries of " Oh, oh.")
The Right Hon. Gentleman the Recorder for Dublin was
crying out arid interrupting ; would it not be better to answer
him when he had done? For the reasons he had stated, he
moved the adjournment of the debate.
Mr. SHAW said he would only say one word in answer
to the Hon. Gentleman who had just spoken. He believed
that the only object of the Hon. Gentleman who had last
spoken was to throw every obstacle in the way of the pro-
gress of the measure.
Mr. LABOUCHERE thought that the reasons the Hon.
Member had brought before the House why the division
should not be entered lato were very unsatisfactory. He
had often known the House to consent to an adjourn-
ment because some Members were desirous of addressing
the House on some important question, and they had not
had an opportunity of doing so, but he had never
before heard in that House that when a Member was
not desirous of addressing the House that the House
should adjourn for the purpose of hearing him.
He was prepared to give the measure every fair op-
position in his power; but he could not consent to
the course taken by the Honourable Member for
Winchester. After two days' discussion, and consi-
dering that the question had been so often before the House,
he did not think they would be justified in adjourning the
debate. Hear, hear.) i
Sir R. EEL said the Hon. and Learned Member for Win-
chester
had charged him with havirg given a pledge on a
former occasion,-,with promising to speak on the present
occasion. He rose to say he had made no engage-
ment of the kind.—(Hear, hear.) When the Bill
was introduced he stated he would not oppose it
in that stage, but that ho still entertained his
previous opinions against the measure, and would in its
future progress offer it all the opposition in his power.
He had always opposed the principle of the Bill,
and retained the same objections to it now, but lie had
made no promise that he would speak on the present
debate.—( Hear, hear.) When the subject had been
s i long discussed already, and no new arguments intro-
duced, he thought it would be better for him to remain
silent and record his vote against the Bill.—(Hear, hear.)
Lord GEORGE BENTINCK said he was still in favour
of the Bill, and would now vote in its favour.
Mr. BRIGHT said it would be in the recollection
of the House oa that day week, that at the
conclusion of his observations he made some remarks on the
conduct of the Government in regard to this measure. He
wanted some explanation of this conduct, and the Hon.
and Learned Member for Winchester appeared to be
wanting the same. This was an important discussion,
and should not be taken on Wednesday at all, when
for the first four hours so few Members were present, but
should be taken on some other day, when it could be more
fully considered. He would second the motion for adjourn-
ment

The gallery was then cleared for a division, when there ap-
peared—
For the adjournment
Against it 282
Majority against the adjournment -275"
The House then divided upon the second reading, when
there appeared—
For the second reading
Against it B7
Majority for the second reading —loB
The Bill was then read a second time, and ordered to be
committed.

The House then adjourned at ten minutes past Six o'clock.

PETITIONS ON PRIVATE BILLS.
HOUSE OF COMMONS.
(Room 22, before Mr. Examiner Saran.)
UNOPPOSED LIST.
In the following unopposed cases the customary formal
proofs were completed, and the standing orders complied
with :
London and South-Western Railway Acts Amendment
(Powers to London and South- Nestern Railway Company
to raise further capital, and subscribe to various under-
takings).
Ipswich and Bury St. Edmund's Railway (Branch from
Ipswich to Woodbridge).
Dublin, Dundrum, and Rathfarnham Railway (Extensions
to Stephen's-green).
St. Mary's in Bathwick (in the city and borough of Bath)
Church Acts Amendment..
Leominster Canal Navigation Sale.
Blandford and Bruton Railway, from Blandford to join the
Wilts, Somerset, and Weymouth Railway at Bruton, in
the county of Somerset, with powers for the London and
South-Western Railway Cotapany to make or purchase, or
hire the same.
This opposed case was then resumed. At the close of the
inquiry, the standing orders were found not to have been
complied with in several instances.
(Room 23, before Mr. Examiner MAY.)
In the following uunacoopPpoPosseEdn Lease'
the customary formal
proofs were completed
York and Newcastle Railway (Pelaw Tyne Dock Branches,
&c.)
York and Newcastle and Newcastle and • Berwrzk Railways
Amalgamation.
Yolk and North 4.didland Railway (Nottingley Branch).
York and North Midland Railway (Harrogate Branch, Bo-
rolgli bridge, and Knaresborough Extension).
York and North Midland Railway (East Riding Canals Pur-
chase).
Herne Bay and Canterbury Junction Railway.
OPPOSED CASE.
Edinburgh and Northern Railway (Branch from Burntisland
to Dunfermline Branch ; Deviation and Extension of Dun •
fermline Branch ; Branch from the Strathearn Deviation
to the Scottish Central Railway; Great North Road Cross-
ing (Strathearn Deviation), and Road Crossing, and Dal-
keith Railway Crossing, Dunfermline Branch).
This opposed case was gone , Into but the inquiry had
not closed when the Examiner rose.

PARLIAMEN TARY BUSINESS.
(From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons.)
TUESDAY, FEB. 16.
The following Railway Bills were presented, read a first
time, and ordered to be read a second time :
Eastern Union and Ipswich and Bury St. Edmund's Amal-

gamation.
Sheffield, Rotherham, Barnsley, Wakefield, Huddersfield, and
Goole (Partial Alteration of Levels, &c.).
Sheffield, Rotherham, and Doncaster Junction (Maabrougb

to Doncaster).
Great Northern (Deviations between Peterborough, Boston,

and Doncaster).
Great Northern (Hertford, Hatfield, and St. Alban'3 Branch).
Great Northern (Deviations between Grantham and York).
East Lancashire (Burnley Connecting Line).
East Lancashire (Southport Branch and Preston Extension).
East Lancashire (Deviations and Rawtenstall Coal Brand,.
East Lancashire (Bury to Manchester).
Edinburgh and Northern (Burntisland Pier, &c.).
Boston, Stamford, and Birmingham (Branch to Wisbech
Harbour and Wisbech Harbour Improvement).
Boston, Stamford, and Birmingham (Wisbech to Sutton
Bridge, &c ).
Eastern Counties (Hertford to llitchin).
Caledonian (Branches to Canobie, &c.).
Caledonian (Branch across Clyde and Glasgow Station).
1 Caledonian (Lease of part of Glasgow, Dumfries, and Carlisle
Railway).
NOTICES GIVEN
second time on ftlondaya-Febll2l
AT THE PRIVATE BILL-OFFICE.
The followins_Railw y 1:1* s
ghani, and Bossto - un-•
are appointed to be read a
ine and Brancnes to Nottingham)
Great Northern (Branch to Kinl(:Ly )
A m
(alterationbe rgate,N ootft iLn
. n. and Eastern Junction
Wishaw and Coltness (Branches to A.uchinheath-.Mineral
Field and Canderside).
Ayrshire and Galloway' Sraithatown to Dalmellington).