The Sun.
London, England, 1847-01-27 00:00:00

TILE SUN,

to the subject at the close of the last session, but, in conse-
quence of their having so recently come into office, they
were not able to give the subject that attention which it
would require. The Government had since taken the
subject into their consideration, and the result of their
deliberations had been to recommend to the House to
abolish the charges at once and for ever. Besides, the
unequal mode in which the charges were made, it was
also more than usually necessary to abolish those
charges when it was considered the high prices of
provisions at the present time ; and although those
pensions appeared to be of a small amount to Hon.
111 embers, still it was something considerable to the
pensioners theraselves.—(Hear, hear.)
Captain LAYARD would belie his feelings if he did
not give expression to his satisfaction now that the Go-
vernment had taken the subject into their consideration
and resolved that the gallant and, in most cases, worn-
out warriors of this country should receive the full re-
ward of their toil, and he was glad that the promise
made to him by the Government at the latter end of the
last session had been fulfilled.
Sir DE LACY EVANS—It had been said that this
proposal was just and fair. He did not know whether
it was just and fair, but he was quite sure that the pro-
ceedings of the former Governments was a shameful
violation of the rights of these poor old veterans. At the
same time he was highly delighted that the Government
had now taken this matter into consideration.
Sir IL DOUGLAS also expressed his high satisfac-
tion at this movement on the part of the Government.
TEN HOURS' BILL.

Mr. FIELDEN presented several petitions in favour
of this Bill, which were ordered to lie on the table.
The HON. MEMBER then rose to move for leave to bring
in his Bill for reducing the labour in factories to ten
hours a day. The llon. Member went on to quote a
number of authorities, medical and otherwise, in proof
of the injurious effects of the present factory system, 1
and the necessity of a change. We could only gather
the purport of the speech from an occasional word or 1
two, but the details of the Hon. Gentleman's address
were perfectly inaudible in the gallery.
Sir GEORGE GREY said the Bill, which was at
present sought to be introduced, and of which the Hon.
Member had obligingly furnished him with a draft,
was nearly the same as that which was intro-
duced last session by Lord Ashley, still there
were some additional causes which would deserve
the consideration of the House. The first of these re-
ferred to the case of young persons, from the ages of
thirteen to twenty, and it was proposed to reduce their
hours of labour from 12 to 11. The second clause pro-
posed to enact a maximum of 10 hours in certain cases,
and the third was for the purpose of placing some
wholesome restriction on the labour of young persons.
It was his intention to assent to the introduction of the
Bill without discussion, which might be taken on the
principle of the Bill in an after stage. He thought it
right to guard himself against the supposition that he
coincided in the inferences which the Honourable
Member for Oldham drew from a document which had
been published in September last, and which was well
svertlis— " I,4„ellsa4t,use..,Tee Honourable
NfrEsebaselligefee--Traileathelocheszeip t t
great increase of mortality had occurred in the_
districts. He did not think that the retu n
mortality from those districts showed a greater
amount of deaths than what occurred in Liver-
pool and other large cities where few or no manu-
factories were carried on. He should not, however,
detain the House, as an after opportunity would be
given for discussing the question.
Mr. TRELAWNEY, while he admitted the
evil which existed, still he did not think it
right not to protest against a measure which
would militate so much against the interests
of commerce without being advantageous to any
class. If they legislate for those employed in factories,
they should also take into consideration the hundred
thousand female servants of London, who were most se-
verely used by their masters and mistresses. Thellon.Mem-
ber beside him said they had not petitioned,but he (Mr.
Trelawny) considered that it was the duty of that House to
remedy a grievance whether it was petitioned against or not,
He thought that the adoption of the present measnre
would lead to a reduction of the rate of wages; persons
employed in factories would be thrown out ofemployment
and thereby increase the amount of competition in the
other branches of labour. In his opinion the principles of
non-interference were those which should be adopted by
the State, and the adoption of any other principle would
lead only to great harm and inextricable confusion
They were now undoing their work. They were again
raising the barriers which had been broken down. He
had warned the House of this last session, but his words
had been wasted. He should, however, oppose this motion,
and trusted the House would reject the measure. At
least to a certainty he should divide the house upon it.
Mr. FERRAN]) said, that year after year the work-
ing people had come to that House to beg for protection
Lc: their wives and children. It was said that
this should be done to prevent the strike, but
he would tell the House that the working men of
is
,olintry came to the House, and on their beaded
'knees begged for 'this protection of their wives and
daughters. And if the Ilon. Member had an objection
to a strike, working men desired to obtain this pro-
teption without a strike. He was glad to see that this
enetistere was at last likely to receive something like
itip-Porlf fitntrike Government. At least, so he learm,d
from the streeclP-oethe Hob: Member for Sheffield (Mr.
Ward) delivered at I'l IA the other day ; and
he would tell the °I ) o ' Lord at the head
of the Government, the if,, ehy OM give this measure
.
any support, he could rally round him such a support as
no Minister had be ore received from the masses of the
people, while, if it were refused, there would be such a
spirit raised in the north of England, as it would take
much trouble to allay. Ile trusted the House would do
justice to the people of England, and pass the motion
of the Hon Member for Oldham without a division.
Sir G. STRICKLAND could not sufficiently express
the satisfaction which he felt at hearing that this mea-
sure was likely to receive any support from Government.
At the same time he believed that the Tee, Hours Bill
for young persons was the right measure that should be
adopted by the Legislature. He could not possibly
conceive why any young person should work in a close
atmosphere, against the continuous power of steam, for
two hours a day more than the labourer of agricultie e—a
labour, the most healthy in which human labour could
be employed. The oely:argumeres he had heard that
evening against the interference of the Legislature on
this most important subject, were the arguments of
those persons who called themselves political economists.'
He for one did not cry out against political economy.
by which a sound reason could be given for what was
done by the Legislature or the Government. Ho spoke
of that political economy which would never listen to
reason on this subject., which carried its doctrine
to such an extreme, that it could not be applied to the
simplest thing. To illustrate this, he would refer to the
argument made use of by the Hon. Member for Corn-
wall that the:House ought not to interfere with the labour
of young persons working in factories, because it did not
interfere with the male servants in the city of London.
He could not conceive the cases so utterly dissimilar, and
how the same measures or means could be applied to
the two cases he could not comprehend. They had
applied for the interference of the Legislature in the
cases of young persons who could not protect themselves.
In the case of the male servants, they had certain bar-
gains with their masters ; but in the case of the factory
labourers, no such bargain could be made, in conse-
quence of the rule of political economy. The cum:sire
established by the capital employed overwhelmed thesis.
He would most certainly cordially support the motion, of
the lion. Member.
Sir R. PEEL (who was indistinctly heard) said that
he had heard what had been said on the subject by the
Hon. Member for Tavistock. With regard to the
opinion he (Sir R. Peel) had heretofore expresued, he
retained it still ; and the House would not think, him in-
different to the interests of those employed in feeetory le-
hour if he opposed the measure, for he did to because
ho firmly believed that the passing of the Bill I would not
tend to their benefit.—(Cheers.) When he -leas at the
head of her Majesty's Government last yer,r, they had
postponed entering upon the discussion , fix the same
reasons that he now stated. If the House should come
to a decision adverse to the wishes of those 7.favourable
to this measure, it was desirable that it slvesed be done
with as kindly a disposition and manner aa7possible.—
(11ear, hear.)
Mr. lIUME was anxious that the subject should re-
ceive the fullest and fairest investigation. He enter-
tained the strongest conviction from the .evii hence that
had been given before a Committee of that Ile .use on the '
subject. The House had acted upon the pia nciple that
labour should be allowed to regulate itself, 'and had in
consequence swept away several statutes on the ques-
tion. This had not been done, however, until after
several discussions, and he trusted that th e Right Hon.
Bart. would not oppose the present dis. mesion. He
(Mr. Hume) was of opinion that the plan i lo w proposed
would not effect any good, but still he wo al 1 wish that
the subject should receive, as he had &nee ly said, tho
fullest, the fairest, and the most dispassiona'e ! discussion.
Mr. B. ESCOTT said he did not wis) i to say any
thing upon the merits of the question, but hi s thought it
would be strictly improper to oppose the I lili ! at present.
Mr. MUNTZ said factory labour was an e. xception to
the general rule, and required legislation upn a it. Any
one who had been in a cotton factory wool d be able to
judge if it were not so. He had himself ?xo- ne to Man-
chester a few weeks ago to make inquiries mu to the con-
condition of the factory operatives there, sac dhe found
that all the improvements making were in fa sour of the
masters, and against the men. Considering the heated
atmosphere of the mills, the long hours of 1 abour, and
the age of enemy of those therein engaged, bre considered
the present Bill to be necessary.
Mr. B. ESCOTT rose, amidst loud cries rd 7 " Order,"
to repeat the question he had asked before.. He would
ask the Noble Lord at the head of the Gove re invent what
were the future intentions of her Majesty's Id .inisters in
regard to this Bill ?
Lord J. RUSSELL replied that it had : been agreed
that leave to bring in the Bill should be gis a n, and that
it should be read a first time. When the .a ill came to
its next stage, he would be prepared to she o what he
intended to do in regard to the measure.—(ll; ar.)
itt ,
nhii
ge:Aelert Erahi .evexsl le
c,
uhrjws•eaciso4ftlhrseun
sugar
to bring in the Bill.
SUGAR AND MOLASSES.
ME said, in consequence of the Chre icellor of
he would intimated his intent ien to lay
certain papers on having
the table, (In Thursday ne- A t, respect-
NATIONAL:Esse;
ttilie motion, of wl IL
LLERY.
breweries and dis-
tilleries,
notice, till afieoaranttphdoanante°l"s in
1 he had
' the mi-
nul'teisr.olif trthMe Etrurnstoeevesdofatnhe NatinsosnamatllaaolclreorPylyl cloci
years 1845 and 1846, with the
tees present at each meeting ;
also, for cao
orders and instructions to the keeper (Pie
lery respecting the cleaning of the piet, ring tho
.t. ho trus-
r‘ileeos,f the
gald-
any directions in respect to their errs x geme%.
All he wished to know was, whether ties trustees
directed the improvements complained of to 2a; a made
and is What way, toad by who lie thought; t ‘lifi'yiii

the most advisable course to adopt until the promised
documents were before the House.
Sir R. PEEL said, as he was one of the trustees of
the National Gallery, he had no objection to second the
motion. The House of Commons had behaved very
liberally to the National Gallery, and therefore he
thought the lion. Gentleman had acted very properly
in not making any comments upon what had taken place.
The trustees had called on the gentleman to whom
reference had been made, to furnish a full report of
what bad been done. He trusted the House in considera-
tion of the high character of the president of the gallery,
Sir C. Eaitlake, would suspend its judgment until they
were in possession of the documents refered to. They
would be furnished in a few days.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the
Government were anxious to afford the fullest informa-
tion.