The Sun.
London, England, 1824-05-13 00:00:00

COMBINATION LAWS.

- Mr. BROUGIIAM presented a petition from the Journey.
men Boot and Shoe-makers of Glasgow, against the Combina-
tion Laws. The Hon. and Learned ?ilember observed, that the
petition was signed by une thousand artisans, and that the ar-
guinent against these laws was stated in a very striking manner
in the said petitions. It reflected the greatest credit on who-
. e7.12.i.1rew it up.
Mr. BROUGHAM presented a similar petition from the
operative Cotton Spinners of Glasgow. In their opposition to
the principle of the Combination Laws he fully acquiesced
-with them ; but there was another part of their prayer with
which he could not agree. They prayed the House to adopt
measures expedient to lessen the duration of labour. They
complained, that to continue working daily beyond twelve
--hours was beyond the physical strength of men. So far he
aoncurred. He (lid not think that, both as it regarded the
mind and body, twelve hours labour, that was from six in the
morning to six at night, ought to be the sum ; but he could
not go with the petitioners in thinking that the interference of
that House was at all necessary to restrain the excess by Le-
gislative enactments. The arrangement would depend on.
themselves, particularly when relieved from the evil of the
Combination Laws. These operatives had the advantage of a
great Seminary of Mechanic Education ; and it was with plea-
- sure.he acquainted the House, that these places of instruction
were spreading rapidly in all the Northern parts of the king-
'darn. The example of the London Mechanic Institution,
which had now from twelve to fifteen hundred Members, was,
he was happy to say, followed in all the large towns of Lan-
cashire and Yorkshire.—The petitions Were laid on the Table,
and ordered to be printed.
SEPARATISTS.

Mr. BROUGHAM presented a petition from the Separatists
of Sligo, praying that relief granted to the Quakers and Mo-
• ravians' fottnded on their conscientious repugnance to take
-oaths, should be extended to the petitioners. Whatever opi-
nions might be entertained as to the repugnance of the peti-
• - tionera, every man must respect the motives from which it
sprung.
Mr. AGAR ELLIS observed, that the character, the sacri-
fices, and the suffering of the petitioners, entitled them to the
'relief which they sought, and which, he trusted, they would
• speedily obtain. •
Mr. LESLIE FOSTER that according to the tolerant
- 'principle, tht,:lifficulty lay in the possibility of carrying the
object into effect. It was to be borne in mind, that in the con-
gregation of Separatists there was no other peculiarity of feel-
' jag hut the refusal to take oaths.
Mr. V. FITZGERALD observed, that the difficulty could
lie easily provided for, as in the case of the Quakers and Mo-
ravians. The Hon. Member bore, from personal knowledge,'
his testimony to the exemplary character of a portion of that
4ienomination, from whom he should probably have the honour
of presenting a petition to-morrow.
Mr. LOCKI-lART supported the petition, and maintained
' -that as far as the example of the Quaker went, there was evi-
' 'dently no danger to be apprehended in relieving the petitioners
• from the grievance of which they complained.
After a few words from Mr. BROUGHAM and Mr. AGAR
.11:1.1.19, the petition was brought up.
• On-the motion that it be read, Mr. WYNN observed, that he
--was well inclined to diminish the number of oaths, but was at
th.osame time sensible how dangerous it was to weaken the
sanction under which evidence was given.
The petition was then ordered to be printed.
BEER BILL.
petitions.wereyresented against the Beer Bill by Mr. FOR-
RESTru, from Wenlock ; by Lord C. MaxxEns and Lord
F. Osnongt, from the Isle ofEly;
and by Mr. T. ACK-
-LAND, from'Barnstaple.—Ordered to be printed.
HIDES AND SKINS BILL.
Petitions•were presented against the Hides and Skins Bill,
:by Mr.-Forrester, from the Tanners of Wenlcck ; by Lord
Pollington, from the Tanners, Curriers, &c. of the County of
Gordon,ork : by Lord William Geon, from the Shoemakers of
Aberdeen ; by Sir T. Ackland, from the Tanners and Cord-
. wainers of Ashbourne; by Mr. Littleton, from the Curriers of
Stafford ; and by Admiral Sotheron, . from the Tanners and
Pellmangers of -Mansfield. Petitions were presented in favour
-of the Bill, by Mr. Burrell, from the ButChers of IVorthing;
and by Mr. Whitmore, from the Butchers of Britignurth.—
. -Referred to the Committee on the Bill.

FOREIGN CORN BILL.

Petitions against the Foreign Corn Grindin Bill Were pre-
sented by tiir -E. Iet-
.,....;ATCHIILI LI, from Faversimm ; anti by
Sir JAlrxs SLPVTIE, from Haddington.—Referred to the Coin'
tn4tee on the Bill.

• .FOREIGN WOOL. •
• Sir -E. N &TUMULI, presented a petitiOn from the
0W.31e78 of 40 m. 50°,000 acres of Romney Marsh, against the
impartation of Foreign Wool.—Ortiered to be printed.
PA PER DUTY.
Sir R. SHAW presentecta ,I.!etition from the Paper 11lanu-
facturers of Ireland, complaining of the oppressive duty on
caner in Ireland. .On the motion that it be read,
r. E3IJI E'FOSTE H. observed;
that iie happened ±o know

that a Bill would be brought in in the course of a few days to
equalize the English and Irish Duties on Paper.
The petition was then read, and ordered to be printed.

NEW CHURCHES.

Mr. JAMES presented a petition froth the inhabitahts of a,
Parish near Manchester, against the erection or New Churches.
After a few words from Lord STAxi.ET and Mr. JAMES,
the petition was red to'he printed.
ILIPMBINATION LAWS.
- - -

Mr. MAXWELL presented a Petition, signed by above
11,600 operative Weavers of the City of Glasgow, praying for
the Repeal of the Combinition Laws. The petition was couch-
ed in strong and emphatic language.--[Here the Hon. Gentle-
man read several of the passages of the petition, descriptive of
the hardships which the petitioners already underwent, espe-
cially the undue time of their continuance at labour, and their
Small rate :o ivages.l—The House would observe, that in pro-
portion as wages were reduced, the workmen were compelled
to bring their children up to the same occupation. It was abso-
lutely impossible that they could turn to any other employment.
Parliament had given the landlord protection—they had given
the farmer protection—but to such Individuals as the petitioners
they had not given any protection at all. He intreated the
House, whenever the subject of the Combination Laws should
come before it, to consider if it would not be practicable to give
to the workman some means of protection against the manufac-
turer. Unless somethingof that kind were done, great emigra-
tion must naturally be anticipated '• • and it was evident that all
attempts at improvement would be absolutely fruitless.—The
petition was referred to the Artisans' Committee.
Sir T. ACKLAND also presented a Petition from the
Wearers of Collumpton, against the Combination Laws.—Re.
ferred to the Artisans' Committee.

SCOTCH SPIRITS.
Sir JAMES SUTTIE presented a petition from the Jus-
tices of the Peace for the County of ILuldington, praying
that the importation of Scotch Spirits into this country might
befreed from the existing restrictions.—Ordered to be printed.
IRISH ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.
Mr. DOMINICK BROWNE gave notice, that on the 3d of
June he would submit to the House a motion relative to the
Establishment of the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland, as
connected with the State.