The Sun.
London, England, 1847-06-22 00:00:00

' oc
felhebonraetsetdpthhiel
apnasthsrionpgyofantldie
mßuinl
characterised their conduct during the whole period
of the agitation. On Thursday a large number of
the principal supporters of the Bill by invitation
dined together at Bowling Hall, near Bradford, the
ilfic in
enc the
e wsahmiceh spirithaev
residence of William Walker, Esq.
The company, which consisted of about forty
gentlemen from many parts of the country, included
several clergymen and medical gentlemen, who have
taken an active, part in the movement; also several
active members of the short-time committee of
Yorkshire and Lancashirg. The respected occupier
of Bowling Hall presided, and the company was
graced by the presence of his amiable lady and
family, who have ever evinced the warmest interest
in the success of the measure, the passing of which
the invited guests were met to celebrate. The dinner
provided for the occasion did credit to the known
munificence and hospitality of. Mrs. Walker.' In the
course of the evening the usual loyal toasts were
pledged with enthusiasm ; also many others comme-
morative of the great event, including the health of
Mr. John Wood, who was prevented from attending.
Several addresses were delivered, all- which bore this
sentiment, namely, the desirableness of the time
thus gained for the workpeople being used for their
spiritual, mental, and moral improvement. A very
pleasant evening was spent; indeed the proceedings
were characterised by the true spirit which ought ever
to prevail at such assemblies"—" feast of reason and
the flow of soul." The proceedings of the evening
secured the warmest approbation of all who had the
privilege of enjoying the entertainment, and the con-
viviality was kept up till about eleven „o'clock, when
the company separated.
On Friday, the work-people in Messrs. Walker
and Co.'s employ were also entertained at Bowling
Hall. About three o'clock in the afternoon they as-
sembled on the lawn in front of the mansion, and
sung the 117th Psalm, when they were plentifully
supplied with refreshment—the females with tea,
coffee, and cakes, and the men with spiced beer,
cheese, and ale. There were about 2,500 of the
work-people present. In the course of the afternoon
the hands presented an address, of which the follow-
ing is a copy:—

TH,E,
GAmenDtiaketniesn,_cTe,ltEthewivoonzooppl:
inEMyPol4urYeEmE:ploßyY
MESSRS. WALKERS AND CO. TO THEIR MASTERS
avail ourselves of this opportunity of expressing the deep'
debt of gratitude which we owe to you for the distin-
guished part you have taken, and the unwearied interest
you have evinced by your long-continued efforts in
behalf of that measure, the accomplishment of which we
are this day celebrating, namely, the passing of the Ten
Hours' Factory Bill.
" For a great number of years we and our children
have been enjoying many of the advantages which must
necessarily flow from the universal adoption of a reduc-
tion of the hours of labour in factories. Sixteen years
have now elapsed since you first joined us in this glori-
ous cause, during the whole of whi:h time we have been
practically receiving some of the fruits which must arise
from the Ten Hours' Factory Bill—you having from
that period to the present day been working shorter time
than other manufacturers in the same branch of trade,
and for which we now beg to offer you our most grateful
acknowledgements.
The improvement which we have witnessed in the
minds and morals of our children, aril the younger
branches of our fellow-workers, is of such infinite mag-
nitude, that for their sakes, and the sake of society at
large, we are, if possible, more deeply grateful.
" We are sure that you will not consider it any
depreciation of our sense of obligation to you, as a
firm, if we hero make special mention of Mr. Wood,
and separately thank him for the princely munificence
with which he has supported the Ten Hours' Bill,
when that measure was first pressed upon the atten-
tion of parliament, and when it was uncommon for
men of wealth and influence to stand up in defence
of the factory children, he was found in the front ranks
of their advocates, and was we believe the first manufac-
turer in Yorkshire who came forward boldly in their
cause. It is therefore because he was thus early in the
field that we deem it right specially to express our most
grateful thanks to him for the benefits which he then
conferred upon us.
" Whilst we thus have been receiving the fruits of
your generosity we trust that our conduct as servants
have in some measure • merited your esteem and confi-
dence, which it shall ever be our most anxious wish to
continue to deserve.

"And now that the object of our anxious wishes and
solicitude is obtained by the passing of the Ten Hours
Bill, we beg to offer you our most grateful congratula-
tions and also our thanks to all the champions of this
sacred cause, whether in or out of Parliament, who have
with such an indomitable zeal and perseverance pursued
this object to its final accomplishment, an object so de-
sirable, and one which will be so beneficial to us and all
the manufacturing operatives.
" With every wish for your health and prosperity,
and that the same unity of sentiment and good feeling
may ever prevail between us, we beg to subscribe our-
selves on behalf of the operatives in the various depart-
ments we represent,
Your faithful and obliged servants,
M. BALME, Schoolmaster.
THOS. WALMSLEY, for the 0 verlookers.
JOSHUA LONGFIELD, for the Mechanics.
HENRY LUPTON, for the Woolcombers.
JOSEPH BEST, for the Woolsorters.

Mr. WALKER, who read the address, on his rising
was greeted with loud cheers, and in reply said:—
My neighbours and friends,—lt is with peculiar
pleasure that I have listened to the address which
you have now presented to the members of the firm
with which I am connected ; the sentiments therein
conveyed being such as prove that you have formed
a very just estimate of the advantages which ought
to be derived from the Ten Hours' Factory Act.
I am the more gratified thereby because I know
that you intend to use the time which you
are so soon to possess, in such a manner as
to promote the great object for which you
and your friends, both in and out of Par-
liament, have ever sought this just and righteous
limitation of factory labour to ten hours per day,
—for the domestic, moral, and religious culture
of your children, and the children of your neigh-
bours, and, in a word, for the temporal and spiritual
welfare of all around you. Regretting, as I do,
that my dear friend and partner, Mr. Wood, could
not be here in person to receive your congratula-
tions, I can only, on his behalf, assure you that all
his expenditure and arduous efforts (however con-
siderable) to obtain this great consummation of his
heart's desire will be amply recompensed if those for
whose advantage he so ardently desired it, use the
blessing for their moral advancement, and for the
glory of God. For your kind expressions I return
you my thanks, and cheered by the blessed results
of past legislation, I look forward with perfect
confidence to far happier days for the operative popu-
lation of Lancashire and Yorkshire, after it shall
have pleased Almighty God, of his infinite mercy, to
turn our present dearth into cheapness and plenty,
and give the rising generation a determination to
excel in that best of all arts—the art of living well.
The workpeople were subsequently addressed by
several gentlemen present, including the Rev. Mr.
Frost, the Rev. G. S. Bull, W. B. Ferrand, Esq.,
M.P., &c. The workpeople afterwards perambulated
the grounds till nearly dusk, when they retired to
their respective homes in perfect good order, highly
delighted with the entertainment and amusement thus
afforded them.