The Sun.
London, England, 1847-02-10 00:00:00

CORN EXCHANGE-WEDNESDAY

The arrivals of English Wheat for our market this week,
coastwise as well as by land-carriage and sample, have been
on a very moderate scale ; hence the show of samples of
that grain here to-day was small. Although the attendance
of buyers was by no means large, the demand was very
steady, and Monday's ativanced quotations were readily sup-
ported. In Foreign Wheat, the supply of which on offer
was small, very little business was transacted, yet the holders
were very firm, and would not sell, except at extreme cur-
rencies. Barley was in short supply and ready inquiry, at
fully late rates. The Malt trade was firm, but we can notice
no improvement in the value of that article. Oats, Beans,
Peas, and Flour moved off slowly, at unaltered currencies.
ARRIVALS.
English ...... 1,120 qrs. 1,510 qrs. 650 qrs. j 1,870 ski.
Foreign • • • • • •
Irish. .••..... -
I Wheat.. Barley. Oats Flour.
73
oat I
1,
I I
330
W3O and
7,630br1s

1,44.
Malt, 1.530 qrs.
WHITECEI.A..TEL.

Although the supply of meat on sale was good, the general
dernand ruled steady, at full prices. Beef, from 2s Sd to
3s 8d ; Mutton, 3s 6Ct to 46 Gd ; Veal, 48 to 5s 2d ; and Pork,
3s 6d to 48 10d per Sibs by the carcase.

THIS DAY)
.
;;;Serate breeze and fine
7gt--. rohanry's, New Brunswick.
Rowe, Goble, Honduras ;
N.W. to W.N.W., moderate.—Arrd.
iigh
frosty weather.
G.Sld. Brunswick, Cuba ;
t.—Arrd. Emma,
: . ir-FTi D.
, 12
thz
. FudEi Cobden,Szaa9ssr-Sl'
90F1l. . V—aRichmondi
Centurion,Fuller,nlnsvW.9.—Wind
iinnPdd Pernambuco.lNwlrN.
..I .w ~
Anderson, Batavia.
Elia:room Fail. 9. —Wind N. Arrd. Queen, Harvey,
Santander ; Robert Tomkins, S.W. Coast of Africa; P
Chellew, Rio Grande.
Athens
RI
LLOYD'S
i DEAL,I'O:BII NFsDB 5 IYoej
LlvxarooL, FFB. 9.—Wind N. to N.N.W., fresh.—Arrd.
Rio Grande, Sturges, Baltimore. Ski. Ann, Bahia; James
Stewart, Newfoundland, and put back again.
SHIELDS, FEB. 9.—The Sir Edward, Holmes, Liverpool to this
port, got on shore last night in coming in, but got off and
into the harbour.
Livitnroor., FEB. 9.—The H. 11. Boody, Skelfisid, from
New York, arrived here to-day with mizen-mast cat away,
and part of carp thrown overboard in a gale.
ABERDEEN, FEB. s.—The Belvidere, from Leith, is aground,
but expected off next tide.
FA LMOUTH, FEEL 9.—The Albion, Gergenti to Liverpool, has
put in here with fore and main-masts cut away, loss of bow-
sprit, boats, sails, &c., and part of cargo thrown overboard.
The Krerisburgh, of Rigs, for St. Jibes from Santander 29th
was totally dismasted . -me day.
ult
DEA 1., FEB. 9.—The Rachel, Brown, from China, arrived
in the Downs to-day with much damage to hull, &c., in a
gale on the 27th ult.
KILLYBEGS, FEB. 6.—A part of the hull of a vessel,appa-
randy very old, new planked with 3-inch pine over her ori-
ginal planking; has been coppered over the second planking,
but subsequently removed ; has been driven on shore in
Baylagh Bay. Several hundred deals, marked "P. B." in
letters of red paint, been picked have al so up or driven on
the same coast.

NEARof
sixF I T
aZnRdO
seven Y
SQUARE.—(THis
- this morning a
DAY,)—Between
most terrific fire suddenly burst forth from the cabinet and
bedstead manufactory belonging to Messrs. Bailes, situate at
FtihneEhours
No_ 23, Charlotte-st , ysq P .
reet Fitzro - uare. The remises were
EXTENSIVB
at the rear of the private dwelling, and were adjoined by the
at time most
numerous houses in Pitt-street, so that one a
expected. The alarm having been
fearful conflagration was e
spacious timber-yard
.of Mr. Oliver, in John-street, and by
promptly given, in the course of a few minutes two machines
belonging to the Royal Society for the Protection of Life
from Fire arrived, and the parish engines, with numerous
'
others of the London brigade, and ti e one belonging to the
West of England Company. No time was lost in setting tad
engines to work, but owing to the f rill hold the fire
r
previously obtained, it became quite apparent that the ma-
ccodingly, the
nufactory was doomed to destruction. A
fire-
men exerted themselves in such a manner as to cut off the
further spread of the fire; whilst they were so engaged the
roof and part of the outer wall fell with a tremendous crash,
and the flames then shot into Mr. Oliver's mahogany loft,
sating fire to the building, and also to a number of pieces of
valuable cabinet wood. The hose of several engines were
taken through the surrounding houses, and by that means
the firemen were enabled to attack the dames in the right
quarter, but it was past nine o'clock before they had suc-
ceeded in extinguishing them, and not until Messrs. Bailee
manufactory was burned down, the whole of the valuable
stock in trade and men's working tools destroyed, the
timber in the loft of Mr. Oliver's premises considerably
damaged by fire, and the building itself much burnt. Several
houses in Pitt- street have also their back premises destroyed.
The cause of the disaster is wrapped in mystery. Messrs.
Bailes are insured, but not to near the amount of their loss.
DETENTION OF THE MAILS THIS MORNING THROUGH
THE SEVERITY OF THE WEATIIER.---Up to twelve o'clock
this day, the authorities of the General Post-office reported
as not having arrived, of the bags due this morning, 117
,mails- The stoppage appears to be general, as the missing
nags are due from all parts, from the east, west, north, and
south sides of the metropolis. Of yesterday morning's bags,
the following are still due,
viz. :—Eastbourne, Merthyr
Tydvil, and Uckfield ; and of the mid-day bags due at the
rod office yesterday afternoon, there are still out those from
Battle, Hastings, St. Leonard's, Dfaryport, and Wigton. The
guards who have arrived with the bags which came in this
;Forning, state that the snow is in many places four and five
et deep. The whole of the letter carriers are ordered back
to wait for the detained mails.
IMPUDENT ROBBERY. --Yesterday two fellows,
having the appearance of
cwaep_treaientarnedf
5(1
ullpa
supposed
ot
sl quantity 4: )t
of •
Captain
standing
:t ot h eporters, called at the residence of
Buckland, No. 41, Upper Park-street, Euston-square,
saying that they had been emplyed to remove the Captain's
ltueggage to the railway. The servant•at once allowed them
take away two heavy trunks and a portmanteau that
vlai lauvaeblbeepernoperty.
committedtn the Captain's Ctawpotaraine'snrewtubronmwtibthe
employhall
irnealidsyrfeomrorveaml.oval, containing a
the porter he had engaged, the robbery was detected, and is
Daring the late frost and wet weather, the farmers
and others in Ilrest Kent have given their men employment
cutting drains in their lands—a sort of labour which has been
much wanted, not only for the advantage of the e,
but for the preservation of health in localitieswhere
poor are suffering from agues sickness,
. the
state of the soil. and occasioned by the
A rumour which
was current yesterday, to the
effect that Ministers intended to give a qualified support to
the Bill of Lord George Be •
without foundation. ~,, Ive _utmck, is, we understand, wholly
have no doubt it will receive the
strenuous opposition of the Goyernment.--Oranick.

MONEY and COMMEECIAI. NEWS.
CITY, QI TA T.E TO TII''EE.
There was not much business done yesterday in the
Cotton Market at Liverpool. Sales, 3,500 bales, at about
previous rates. The Railway Share Maraet was tolerably
firm, but not much was done.
The sale of Railway Shares yesterday, by Messrs. Lamond
and Co., was rather flat, and prices were a shade lower.
The following are a few of the principal sales :
Calcutta and St. George's Point.... £o 4 0
East Indian
Great Western of Bengal 0 5 6
Waterford, Wexford, and Valentia 0 5 6
Great Luxembourg
Eastern Counties, York Extension ......
Reading, Guildford, and Reigate 3 16 0
Derby, Stafford, and Worcestershire
Ambergate, Nottingham, and Boston
North British, Extension 1 7 0
Liverp. Manch. and Newcastle-upon-Tyne 2 0
Newport and Abergavenny 0 15 0
Great Northern (Loudon and York Reg.) 2 12 6
South Yorkshire, Doncaster, and Goole 2 0 6
Boston, Stamford, andßirmingham...
The attention of the Legislature being about to be directed
to the operation of the navigation laws, it may be useful to
glance at the proportion of vessels employed last year in the
New York trade. The total arrivals were 2,293 ships; 1,620
of which were American, 389 British, 67 Bremen, 41
Swedish, 26 Harnburgb, 15 French, 21 Norwegian, 20
Dutch, 16 Danish, 16 Portuguese, 12 Prussian, 9 Austrian,
10 Sardinian, 4 Belgian, 3 Russian, 5 Brazilian, 4 Spanish,
the rest being Sicilian, South American, &c.
The arrivals increased greatly compared with former years,
both as regards vessels and passengers, in 1846, and as con-
trasted with 1845 the augmentation in vessels is 249, and in
passengers 32,370. We have not, however, any return before
of the relative increase of British shipping to New York,
though we believe there is no doubt that our ship-
owners have participated in the fuller employment
afforded. There is one rather material point, however, to be
borne in mind, viz., that the American possessed, until
within the last year, and still to some extent indeed, much
greater facilities for the economical construction and sailing
of vessels than ourselves, and that it is only
by giving the British shipowner the fullest advantage
of free trade that he can be expected successfully to compete
with his trans-Atlantic rival. Accomplish this, and we shall
probably no longer hear of the anomaly of our lead-
ing merchants being part owners in vessels sail-
ing under the United States' flag, not even excluding
the splendid " liners." There is no reason but our self-im-
posed restrictions why long ere this a complete squadron of
first-class line of packet ships should not have been trading
between England and New York with the cheerful Union
Jack as a successful rival to the gay star spangled banner.
The following will show more clearly, perhaps, the progress
of the arrivals from abroad at New York
1839 1840 1842 1844 1845 1846
Passengers 48,152 62,797 74,949 61,002 82,960 115,230
Vessels..... 2,159 1,953 1,960 2,208 2,044 2,293
The inquiry prayed for by Mr. Ricardo, we feel tolerably
confident, will result in good to the British shipowner, because
it must include not only an examination into the question as
to whether any of the existing protection can be safely
withdrawn, but likewise a consideration of the burdens
which should in justice be lightened.
There are no arrivals to .day beyond the usual continental
mails, and the accounts from Paris are not looked upon as
being quite so favourable, though it is unneeeasary to attach
much importance just now to any of the changes of a single
day that may be produced by mere speculation. Facts and
events must guide us now, rather than induced changes or
prophesied evils.
The Funds are flat again this morning, add although there
has not been much business done, the sales have been suffi-
cient to overbalance the purchases. Thus Consols, for
present transfer, have realized 90% lA, and for time 90%
Exchequer. bills keep steady at 6s. to 9s. premium. Bank
Stock has been firm at 203 to 204.
The indisposition to operate in the Foreign Market has been
very marked again, and except Portuguese Four per Cents.,
which are firm at 35 to 36, the quotations generally are flat.
Spanish Three per Cents. realise 3434, and the Five per
Cents. 24% to 1"3. Mexican Stock was quoted 22 to 1/4.
Dutch Four per Cents. were 921:1.
The Railway Share Market has been steady.
BUITISII FUNDS. ONE Y CLOSING
O'CLOCK. PRIcES.
Bank Stock .. 203 204 204
Three per Cent. Reduced Annuities 90% 90%
Three per Cent. Consols Annuities % 90%
New Three-and-a-Quarter per Cent. Anna. 92%% 82%
Long Annuities, Expire Jan. 5, 1860 .. 9 9-16
Ditto, 30 years, Oct. 10, 1859 ..
Ditto, 30 years, Jan. s, 1560 9 5.16 9 5-16
India Stock .. . .. •.. .. 250 251 1:51
India Bonds, 1,0001.
Ditto, under 1,000/. .. 15 p 15 p
South Sea Stock .. 100% 100%
Ditto: Old Annuities 90% 90. x,
Ditto, Now Annuities 89% 89%
Consols fur Account .. % 90%
Exchequer Bills. 1 (.1 • I%d.
1,0001... .. 6 9 pm. 9
9
Ditto, Small pm. 9

ONE CLOSING
FOREIGN FUNDS. O'CLOCK. PRICES.
Mexican Bonds, '846, i per Cent .. 2214 22 22
Portuguese Four per Cent .. .. 36 35 35
Spanish Bends, 5 per Cent .. • • 2414 % 24%
Ditto, Throe per Cent .. .. .. 34% 34
Dividends on the above payable In London.
Belgian Four-and-a-Half per Cent ..
Ditto, Two-and-a-Half per Cent .. —525 i
Dutch Two-and-a-Half per Cent ..
Ditto. 4 per Cent. Certificates .. 923 i 9214
Ditto. Bonds .. .. • • • • .. 91% 913 i
PRICES OF BUSINESS CLOSING
RAILWAY SHARES. PAID. DONE AT PRICES.
ONE O'CLOCK.
Aberdeen.. .. .. .. .. .. 25 .... ..
Amber., Notting., Reston, and
Eastern Junction .. .. -. 2%.... 2%?{ .••• - • • • 2%
Birmingham and Oxford Junction 5 .... 14 13% .. • • . 13x
Birming., Wolver., and Dudley • . I .... 101 i lO
Boston, Stamford, Br, Illrtningliarn 225. .... ¶p. ... 34 p
Bristol and Exeter •• .. 75 .... 75% 75}i
Buckinghamshire .. .. • • • • 84.. •• • • 14. 1)• •••• • • • 51 P
Caledonian .. .. .. .. .. 30 .... 26
%
Direct Northern Scrip .. .. .. ......
2.... 24
Eastern Counties .. .. .. .. 20 .... 21% % i...... 21%
Ditto, York Extension .. .. 4 .... 41ij .......• .. 4%
East Lancashire .. .. .. .. 14 •• • . 16
Ditto New ..
Ditto, ditto New Scrip • • .. 14 .• .. IN ........ • • 2%
East Lincolnshire ... .. .. .. 4.. .. 61i •• ..
Edinburgh and Glasgow .. .. 50 .... •• .. ......
Ditto, Quarter Shares .. .. 1214 .... 19 .......... 19
Ely and liuntingdof 4 .. .. .. 1234 .... ... •. • .... 13%
Great Northern (London & York
Regd.) .. .. ... . • .. .. 2% .... 2% %
% % .. . • 2%
Do., do (Direct Northern Regd.) 334 .... 3 •••• .. .• 3%
Great North of En/ land . ~100 ....
.. •••• • • .. 237%
Great Western .. .. .. .. 85 .... . . ..

Ditto, Fifths ... .. 20 .... 29 29
Hull and Selby •50
Ditto, Half Shan• .. 25 .... 52 52
Lancaster and Carl isle 50 .... 6434 643
Leeds and Bradford . 35 .... 81 4 814
London, Brighton, and S Coast.. 50 . 5534,. 5534
Ditto, Guarant. : Flvo per Cent. 9 .... •• •••
London an i North- Western . ••100 ....190 189...... 19034
Ditto, Quarters • •• •• 2 ••• • •• • • —
D:tto ditto, New Shares 2 1434 % 1434
Ditto, 10/. Sharen M. &B. (B) 5 .... 11% ll%
London, Oxford. and Chelt. .. 2 .. •• ••••• • • • • •
London and Sol Mt-Western • • 411. Gs. 10d... 65 6334 64% 6434
Ditto, New C,111501. Eighths .. 40 443., 443.6
Ditto, Tenths .. .• •• • • 5 •• • • 5% M•••• • ' ' • 554
Ditto, Tehths .. 4 .... 434 .. •• • • 434
Ditto, Scrip.. ~ • • • • • • 5 •• •••• • • •• 4`s‘
Ditto, ditto .. 4 .... 4% ••
London and To rkYattension Scrip 2% 2%.. •. • ... 234
Lynn and Ely .. 20 91 2134
Manchester and'. Leeds. • • • • :82 '• • • .• •
Ditto, Half Simres •38 .... 49% . • ...
Ditto, Fifths;; .. • • • • 5 •• • •
Ditto Exton:dm . 425..... 134 P•••• • • • • 1 p
Manchester, 1 tuJ.ton, & Matlock 425. •••• P • • ..... •• • % P
Stanch., Shed'., wad Lincollish .. 100 •• ••.••• • • • •
Ditto, Sheffield and Lincoinsh• 234 • 134 %• • • .....
Midland .. •- ..100 ....... 124
Ditto, New 2 .... 54 % •• 534
Ditto, Binning ham and Derby 100 .... 98 99 ...... 99
Newcastle and F .es wick .. •• 20 .. • . 31% 32 ...... 32
Northern Count tea Union .. 234 .... 134 .....
North British . 25 .... •• • ... 344
Ditto, Quarter Shares 214 4%........ • • 4%
Ditto, Extel Ist on .. •• •• %•••• •• •• •• •• •• 1%
Ditto, Thirds .. • • •• 1 .... 3% ..... 3%
North Staffordsk .Ire .. • • • • 5 .... 83414 6.... .. 8
Oxford,Worcest..,& Wolverlimptn. 1734 11% .. • • 11%
Preston and W) 13 •• •• 25 .. • • • • 35
Ditto, Half S 1 ,area .. 634 1034 .. .• • . 103{
Reading, Guud ford, and Reigate 5 • • 334 •• • - ..... • 354
Royston and 11 Atchln . • • •• 1% ...• •• • ... 2%
Scottish Centri 1 - . 15 •
21%....... •
21%
Scottish Midis: A .. • • .. 1734 2034

. _
Shrewsbury as d Birmingham .. 3 .. • • 4 •••••. • • • . 4
Ditto Class B .. • • • • • • 1a •• • • 114.... ••.. • • lx
Shropshire Tilt ,on .. .. .. .- 422. .... I % dis. .... s dil
South Wales: ... .. .. .. .. 10 .... 7k.••• • • • • • • 7

South York:1k11 •e, Doncaster, and
Goolo . . • . 2 .... 17 2........ 2
Vale of Neat . • • • 2 •• • • ••••• • • • • • 3.4
Waterford and Kilkenny .. II .
West. Riding 13: don .. • • .. 423. •• . • 1% p•. •. •• 1% p
York and IST re • castle .. 25 .... 3754 • 37%
Ditto, .. 5 .... 113.4%%•• ••.• 11%

Ditto, Pre fei ence .. 4 .. B%J 8%
York and Nc rt ii Midland 50 .... 9034 ..... 90%
Ditto, Selb .. .. 50 .... .......... 90
Ditto. Pre fer enco .. 2 .... 11 j% . . .. . . 11 %
Do. E. and_ V. Riding Exten... 10 ...- 22 21% .• 21%
FOREIGN RAILWAYS.
Boulogne end 4 anions .. 18 .... 1414 .......... 14U
Dutch Rhenis i • • . . • • • • I .. . . 4%
Namur and Lto ge .. • . 8 .... 234% .
Northern of I n ince .. • • 8 .... 12% • • 12%
Orleans and .urdeans. .. • . 6 .... ..
MIXES.
Real del Mow te, Unreelstered 3% .... • • . 3%

Pli ,INCESS'S THEATRE.
Miss Anne Romer made a most successful Mgt here last
evening, in. t he character of Adelgisa, in Bellini's opera of
Norma. Cla t' musical readers, no doubt, recollect this young
lady at the so Jneerts of the Royal Academy of Alusic, where
her singing a ttracted great attention. Her voice is a pure
soprano, wo nc lerfully flexible, and of exquisitely sweet quality
Her recitati v a is clear, distinct, and emphatic, and her style,
both of sink ng and acting, is finished. She has handsome,
expressive f e itures, and her general appearance is very pre-
possessing. Miss Bassano was the Norma, and her per-
formance (if that arduous character is such as to
confirm tt to favourable opinion we expressed of • her
abilities, v( a and histrionic, on the occasion of her Mit
some short 'time since, in the character of Anna Bolena.
Allen was t. be Pollio, and, together with Miss Rosner and
Miss Bassai to, was called for at the conclusion of each act o
the opera land received with enthusiastic applause. The
debut of izs Anne Romer was one of the most
soon
successful
that we ha- se seen for some time, and that she will _
achieve for herself a position worthy the name she bears
here cannot be the least doubt.

- - -
NAVAL 10EIPT9 AND EXPENDITURS.- aears
from a Par. Lie mentary paper issued yesterdaylt
relative to
naval receipLa and expenditure for the year ended March 31,
1846, that the balances of the votes for 1842-43 and 1843-
44, amounted' to 5,860/. The amount granted for naval ser-
vices for the In iar 1845-46 (per Act 8 and 9 Viet., c. 130) was
6,936,1921., an 1 adding to the above the additional sum of
215,3631. credit ed on the navy estimates for 1845-46, and
7,5281. (the an &ouut granted on the supplementary estimate
for the saute yt •ar, to provide retired allowances to captains),
the sum total was 7,159,083/. The expenditure (1845-46)
was altogether • 7,334,3631.—the grants including appro-
priation in nit 1 and supplementary estimate, being only
7,159,083/. ..itt .ding to the amount of expenditure the sum
of 5,8601. Try balance of votes for new works (1842-43
and 1843-4 4), the total expenditure during the last finan-
cial year er ; 31st of March, 1846, was 7,350,223/. 12s. ;
making an outlay of 185,280/. over the receipts and balances
ream In various votes 88,5341.;lesbsutthatnhethaebsouvmes_
of former
granted b) Parliament were expended
mentisned excess of expenditure was caused by an outlay
of 273,815/. . upon other votes more than what was granted
by the H. save of Commons, making the before-named
balance. ' Ilt.c chief cause of this excess was an excess of
outlay for naval stores, &c., for the building and repairof
ships, dock &c., of 165,6011., and an excess of expendi-
ture for v ictuals for seamen and marines of more than
28,411/., &
Viseou) 2tevii Palmerston will have a soirée on Satur-
day next.

'410(4; da
Itl**4lZW 71:" n v.!
SUN OFFICE, Seven o' Clock.

IMPERIAL PA RE lAMENT.

(THIS DAY.)

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
The SPEAKER took the Chair at Twelve o'clock.
ROMAN CATHOLIC RELIEF BILL.
Mr. WATSON brought in this Bill, which was read a first
time, and ordered to be read a second time tuis day fortnight.

IRISH POOR-LAW.
Mr. FREWEN presented a petition from the guardians of
the Cuckford Union, in the county of Sussex, praying for an
alteration in the Irish poor-laws.
TEN HOURS' BILL.
Mr. BROTHERTON presented,a petition from Manchester,
agreed to at a public meeting, and signed by 22,326 persons,
in favour of the Ten Hours' Bill ; also petitions to the same
effect from Rochdale and other places.
An How. MEMBER presented a petition from Macclesfield,
signed by 2,246 persons, in favour of the Ten Hours' Bill.
Mr. B. DENISON also presented a petition in favour of
the Ten Hours' Bill from the West Riding of Yorkshire,
signed by upwards of 5,000 persons.
Sir G. STRICKLAND presented petitions from Halifax,
Rochdale, Bury, Bacup, Macclesfield, Salop, Wed-
nesbury, and other places, in favour of the Ten Hours' Bill.
Mr. FERRAND also presented a petition from Bacnp,
signed by 1,823 persons; also from 1,100 workmen in the
employ of Messrs. Burnley and Co., praying the House to
restrict the labour in factories to ten hours.

Colonel ACTON presented a petition to the same effect
from some place, the name of which we were not able to
catch

Lord G. BENTINCK presented 32 petitions from ♦arious
towns in the country, praying the Government to adopt the
principle of the Tea Hour►' Bill. The Noble Lord also pre-
sented a petition, signed by 232 of the workmen in the em-
ploy of Messrs. J. Bright and Brokes, in favour of the mea-
sure, for restricting the time of labour in factories to ten
hours.

Mr. AINSWORTH presented petitions, numerously
signed, front Bolton and ten other places, in favour of the
Ten Hours' Factory Bill.
Mr. CHRISTOPHER presented a petition, numerously
signed from Lincoln, to the same effect.

RAJA. OF SATTAhA.
Mr. T. DUNCOMBE presented a petition from the inha-
bitants of Finsbury, praying the House to do justice to the
claims of the Raja of Satter&

THE ANATOMY ACT.
The Hort. MEMBER also presented a petition, praying the
House to appoint a Committee to inquire into the operation
of the Anatomy Act.
AFFIDAVITS IN COURTS OF LAW.
The Him MEM➢ER also presented a petition, praying
the House to adopt some measure for the purpose of giving
increased facilities and wider extension to the use of affidavits
in the courts of England and Ireland.

TEN HOURS' BILL.

Sir R. H. INGLIS presented a petition, signet by the
clergy and Dissenting ministers of the town of Bury, in
favour of the Ten Hours' Bill, and hoping that individual
interests would not be allowed to stand in opposition to the
cause of the general interests of humanity.
Mr. BANKES presented a petition from the workmen in
the employ of Messrs. llurst, at Rochdale, in favour of the
Ten Hours' Bill; also petitions from Dorset and other places,
to the like effect.

Mr. STEWART presented ten petitions from various
parts of the West Riding of Yorkshire to the same effect.
NEWMARKET AND CIIESTERFORD RAILWAY.
On the motion of an lies. Mr.maint, this Bill was read a
second time.

TEN HOURS' BILL.
Mr. WALKER presented a petition, numerously signed,
from Bury, and other places, in favour of this measure.
CHARD CANAL AND RAILWAY EXTENSION AND

AMALGAMATION.
This Bill was, on the motion of an llox. DIF:IUBER, read a
second time, as was also

The Caledonian Railway (Glasgow, Garnkirk, Coatbridge
Railway ; Branch to Glasgow station).
TEN HOURS' BILL.

Mr. BECKETT presented a petition, signed by the Clergy
and Disenting ministers of the town of Leeds, in favour of
the Ten Hours' 13111.
ELEVEN HOURS' BILL.

The HON. Mig3IBER also presented a petit:on from the
manufacturers of Leeds, praying the House to pass a Bill
limiting the hours of labour in flictoriestoeleven.

POOR REMOVAL BILL.

Mr. NEWDEGATE presented a petition from Norwich,
praying the House to make some alteration in the Poor Re-
moval Bill.

POOR-RATES RATING.

Sir IV. SOMERVILLE presented a petition from Drog-
heda, praying for an alteration in the present mode of rating
for the poor of Ireland.
TEN HOURS' BILL.

Mr. S. CRAWFORD presented a petition, numerously
signed by the clergy, Dissenting ministers, masters, and
others of the town of Rochdale, in favour of the Ten Hours'
Bill; also four petitions from the town of Manchester, two
from Rochdale, five from Halifax, one from Rossendale, and
one from Haywood, to the same effect.
REDUCTION OF THE DUTY ON TEA.

Sir H. W. BARRON presented a petition, numerously
signed by the inhabitants of Waterford, praying the House
to make some reduction in the duty on tea.
TEN HOURS' BILL.

Mr.TUFNELL presented several petitions, all numerously
signed, from Manchester, Salford, Bury, and ether places, in
favour of the Ten Hours' Bill.

Lord J. MANNERS presented petitions from Bury, Bolton
Rochdale, and other places, also in favour of the measure.
M. J. O'CONNELL also presented a petition to the same
effect.

On the order of the day being read for the second reading
of the Ten Hours' Bill,.
Mr. MACAULAY presented a petition, signed by upwards
of 5,000 persons, from Leigh, praying the House to pass the
measure introduced by the lion. Member for Oldham, for
limiting the hours of labour in factories to ten hours.
Mr. FIELDEN presented a number of petitions in favour
of the Bill, from Oldham, Macclesfield, and other places,
which he stated were both respectably and numerously
signed.

-Mr. DUNCOMBE presented petitions from places in Scot-
land, Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Leicester, to the same
effect.

Mr. C. HINDLEY presented similar petitions from
Ashton-under-Lyne, Staleybridge, Chorley, and Medlock,
signed by 25,000 persons.
Mr. FIELDEN then moved the second reading of the
Bill.

Mr. HUME said he had expected that some one connected
with the Government would have risen to state the views
of the Government on the question—t Hear, hear)—because
he could not conceive anything more unsatisfactory than
there meeting there in doubt as to the intentions of the
Government with regard to it.—(Hear, hear.) He said they
were left in doubt, and more than doubt, because the
Noble Lord at the head of the Government, on a
former occasion differed with his colleagues on the question,
and whilst one person went out at one door, the other went
out with the Noble Lord at the other. The least those in-
terested could have expected was that Noble Lord's attend-
ance in his place according to his promise—(Cries of
Hear, hear")—because he stated when the proper
time came, that he should be prepared to state
his views on the subject. Such a statement by the Noble
Lord would have regulated the course of those who opposed
the Bill, for there were many gentlemen in that House
who were extremely doubtful as to the course which
the Government intended to pursue with respect to
the measure. Some had formed very decided opinions,
and he (Mr. Hume) had no hesitation in saying
that any interference with the employer and the employed
would prove detrimental to the interests of both. Many
Hon. Gentlemen were in the habit of casting aspersions on
those who acted in accordance with the principles, of poli-
tical economy, forgetting, no doubt, that those principles
regulated the welfare of the community; and, therefore, he
said that any interference with the arrangements made be-
tween the employer and the employed, with regard to the
prices of work and wages, except for their protection, was
opposed to the spirit of political economy altogether. His
lion. Friend (Dr. Bowring) was now in favour of a Ten
Hours' Bill, although he formerly entertained an opposite
opinion, _ _

Dr. BOWRING—No, no. Eleven hours.
Mr. HUME considered that a man who was in favour of
eleven hours, could not be in favour of ten.—( Hear, hear, any;
laughter.) Hon. Gentlemen now treated the question as a
party one.—(Cries of " No, no.") Well, he hoped they did
not intend to treat it in that spirit—(Hear)—because he
should have better hopes of the result if the unbiassed sense
of the country could be brought to bear upon it in its proper
light. In the absence of the Noble Lord, he could only state
his own view of the matter—namely, that legislation ought
to be consistent; that for a series of years that House had
legislated on the principle of protection for individual inte-
rests, to the exclusion of those of the whole community, and
laws were introduced and passed, during a period of three or
four years, for the purpose of interfering with the labourer and
with his employer—that evils arose, which were so obvious
and severe, that they were by common consent abrogated
twenty-two years ago. He could not help thinking, therefore,
that those who supported this Bill were adopting a course
which would lead to the very evils they professed themselves
anxious to avoid. They professed to have the welfare of the
community—of the labourer—at heart, and that this
Ley
the object of the Bill. They thought they knew how e
could benefit the labourer better than he did
sition to the rules on which society could alone
to airect
beneficially conducted ; but anytoente
professingh himself,
bproperly in °
Pd
an
another took upon himself to
knieiewdbidethteimr how
to promote the benefit of an individual f.
Now he altogether rejected that doctrine, as he thought the
labouring classes fully competent to manage their own
do so, let the House place
them in a better condition.
sayh thanhe
He heard a great demand on
all sides for universal
affairs; if they were competent to
suffrage—the right of being fairly and
fully represented in
the Legislature. Those who pro-
posed to interfere
with these classes ware the loudest
h demand, because they believed the
to make
people in at °condition to wield the power which it
would endow them with properly; but they were now toldthat they were not competent to manage their affairs. That
wa was the most contradictory doctrine he had ever heard. His
Hon. Friend (Mr. Duncombe) had presented a petition—the
largest vise he believed that was ever presented, as it was
signed by three millions of the working classes—praying for
universal suffrage, and setting forth that they were in a fit
condition to manage their own affairs. He (Mr. llume)
supported the prayer of that petition, because he hod too
high an opinion of them to think them unworthy of the
trust they sought. He certainly should feel obliged if his
Hon. Friend (Mr. Fielden) would explain on what
principle he wished to restrain the free labour of the
working classes. He was at a loss to know on what
principle they could tell a man, who had, perhaps, an aged
parent, or a family to support. and who was desirous to make
an hour or two longer than usual, in order to obtain a little
more fie their support, that he should not work bey, id a
stipulated period. It seemed like passing an enactment to
make people of one heighth or to reduce the length of those
who were too long for a bed of a certain length.—(Laughter.)
He would appeal to any Irish Member, if the great evils wits
which Ireland had had to contend were not the result of want
of employment and want of capital. There was a want of
capital, because there was an interference with the people,
which prevented the free exercise of their labour.
That interference had been carried to a high degree with re-
gard to Ireland, and had proved injurious to the State in
every way, because they had lost the labour that might have
been usefully employed, and that capital; so that that
class who might have been thus usefully employed had be-
come a burden to the State. What would be the consequence
of their interference on the present occasion? If England
had to supply the whole of Europe with manufactured com-
modities the consequence would be disastrous ; but if they
restricted the employment of capital in manufactures,
and consequently pre7ented its full operation, the
capitalist would have no return for the risks he had
made. Whatever they did to induce a person to
reduce the investment of his capital, and to reduce

his men, was injurious to the State, as it would lessen nro-
< ~t 1 !, :iris iii as or 1116
wages. It England had the supplY of the whole world she
might dictate rules which other nations would be compelled
to abide by, and less injury might result from such a re-
striction as that proposed, but they had to contend with
rival manufacturers, which, at least emulated, if they did
not exceed our own. For instance, the importation of silk
into China and the East, from America and other places, as
a matter of course, secured the rejection of that which this
c untry could have supplied ; and yet, with all this com-
petition, they want-d o have the hours of labour re,iticPd.
He feared that those who made this demand wad
get eight or ten hours' labour much to their inconvenience.
A man who invested capital in a factory required interest on
the investment—lie had fixed expenses which he could not
avoid, and had to calculate in what position lie would be
placed by the competition of the continent and of America—
how to get an adequate return, and to pay adequate wages.
Ile was proud to call Mr. Seymer his friend, and to concur
with him in his opinion, and he advised those who had not
read his pamphlet on the profits derived from factories, and
of the home of work, to do so, as they could not fail to derive
much instruction from it. He went into the manu-
facturing districts, accompanied by a Noble Lord
and two er three other gentlemen, totally unconnected
with factories, and, in company with them, collected a num-
ber of facts from a certain number of mills. They found
that ten hours' labour paid all the expenses, including the
wear and tear of plant and wages, • but that if the mills were
stopped at the end of ten hours, that the owner would derive
no profit from the capital he had invested; so that he had
to look to an hour or an hour and a half's work for this
profit. They came, therefore, to this conclusion, that a fac-
tory would pay its expenses in ten hours, and that no
profit was derived unless the works were continued for
a longer period. Many manufacturers were compelled to
borrow money at from 31; to 61. per cent.; _hut
they were not all large capitalists like his Hon. Friend (sin
Fielden), and frequently had to labour under great disadvan-
tages by being compelled to borrow money at a high rate Of
interest. Now, was a man whose credit was not so good AS
another, but who might be an equally good manufacturer, to
be placed on a footing with a manufacturer who was better
situated, and who bad no occasion to borrow money at all?
When any check took place, and they were unable to sell
their articles, they were compelled to resort to the bankers
to get their Bills discounted and renewed and renewed until
the interest amounted to as much as 7 per cent. It was
im-
possible to apply the same rule to men so differently
situated, because the one might close his works after a cer-
t ain number of hours with profit, whilst the other could not
do so except after working for a considerable number of
hours. In May, 1824, a Committee composed of 51 Members,
among whom were Mr. Huskisson, Lord Stanley, Sir Ed•
ward Parnell, and others, came to a resolution to the effect
" that masters and workmen should be freedfrom all restric•
ticns as regards the rate of wages and the hours of work, and
be left perfectly free to make such arrangements as they may
think advisable and proper."—(Hear, hear.) They afso re-
commended the abrogation of that principle of the common
law which characterised a man as a conspirator if he leagued
with others for the purpose of obtaining au alteration in their
condition. The House agreed to it unanimously, and the
consequences were, he believed, satisfactory to all. He asked
the Housa if they were now, at this advanced period, pre-
pared to relax that resolution? He regretted the Right Hon.
Baronet (Sir R." Peel) was not there, as he believed he would
agree with him (Mr. Hume); if he did not he would belie all
the principlies on which he had acted. During the last five
years every Act they had passed had for their object the
freeing of industry and capital. Parliament had no right to
interfere with the labour or capital of any man. Let all such
restrictions be swept away, and let every man have perfect
freedom to exercise his time as he thought fit. Bevil's,
stated this, let him ask Hon. Gentleman who approved 0:
this Bill if they were desirous that England should
maintain her superiority, and if they were disposed to give
fair play to labour and capital in this country? In Belgian"
and Germany no such restrictions prevailed. Recently, tit
Mass:zchuset ts. a Committee of the Legislature bad report
tint it would not be advisable to place any restrictions on
the free exercise of labour, ano that it was advisable to leave the
matter to be arranged between the employer and the 'employed.
Every individual who interfered with this question injured.:
to the extent of his interference, that class of people, and
when they were thrown upon the poor-laws of the country
they would repent 07 their interference, withlut being able to
remedy the evils they had inflicted. If that class who con'
sidered that certain alterations should be made iu the isn't
because England was more heavily burdened than any other
country, would consider that England, with the heay.,
burdens which she had borne and could bear:
would be cartiA out triumphantly by her capital
and enterpr;se. But if they interfered, and drove that
capital elsewhe:e, he (Mr. Hume) should be glad to k CW
on whom the responsibility was to rest. Those Gentlemen
who said that they were the best advocates of the working
cl sses, held out the cases of wcmen and children as instanceed
which called for the interference of Parliament. He 101,1,,
not yield to those Hon. Gentlemen in his desire to see .:-
community happy ; and whatever they might think a his
opposition to this Bill, he was actuated by goad motives-
lie could look back upon a career of thirty years, during
which he had been in that Hons.., and in that time they
would'not findj a single; spot or trace of any wish to 07°33
the poor. He might have been pertinacious and obstinate.
He admitted that he had been obstinate in forcing upon the
Government reduction in expenditure and change init,ex.i.;
tion. That was his besetting sin, if he halo y—(-,"e'
and laughter)—.that was 4 his fault, and be acknowledged_
it.—(Renewed laughter.) He was perfectly
had given great offence to many individuals. He had mead
died with the unholy earnings of many men, and he reit
been told that his interference to stop the rivulets
%VS
ran from the public Exchequer was owing to other aware that be
edd
than those he professed. He never cared what they
ert
hands
nor what they did, provided they kept 1
off him.—(Laughter.) By the result alone
dmentioned, he
would he be judged. On the grounds he had
did say, with all zeal anl anxiety, to those.lion. Gentlemen
; the
of his efforts
who, actuated by the most humane views, were taking
course which they were adopting, that there was nothing 00
likely to injure the' country than this interference with itO
capital and the employment of the people. Let the House
not prevent any man from occupying and employing_ his
capital, provided lie did not injure his neighbour.—(Hear,
hear.) The House did seem to entertain a very poor opinion
of the working classes, but he had found when he had,
gone amongst them a greater degree of intelligence
than was generally credited, and lie had found that those
mea who most advocated the short-hours Bill could give
little or no reasons for their opinions, except a reference to
the children and young people, and of the necessity of doing
something for them. It was on these grounds that he con-
sidered it the duty of Government, seeing the sister country
suffering from want of employment, not to see the capita
driven away. The only cry at present. was, "Let us have
capital." Let them pause at this critical time. Was it
moment for trying experiments against the soul? _
principles of commerce? He said that they would 10_
the authors of evil if they sanctioned this interference
with the means of employing labour. They would strike the
heaviest blow upon the working classes that they could d 0,1013
instead of placing in a more advantageous position. the corn;
merce of the country, they would destroy the most sent._
foundation of its greatness. Much had been said of the
agricultural employment in the country. Agriculture Iv;
only rendered available by commerce, and the other rB'
sources of the nation, and any interference with them svre
dangerous in the highest degree. It was on these groll.ri,„
that he moved, and moved in all sincerity, that this Bill o
read a second time that day six months.--(Cheers.)

Dr. BOWRING seconded the motion.
Sir GEORGE GREY said it was not his wish or on
Intenti
to have offered any observations to the House so early ill i.le
debate upon this question, but after the appeal made by
Hon. Friend, who had just sat down, as a member of the
Government he felt called upon to express the course the
Government was prepared to take upon the present occasia'
and he felt it dac to the House to state the course which, si
an individual member of the Government, he was preps°
to pursue. He said, as an individual member of the G°-
vernment, because he believed that there was no
nourable Gentleman in that House who was aware of
the course taken, with regard to this question, by the
Members of the Government during the last two or th"—d
years. Many Gentlemen were present when the Noble Lord
last year, in answer to a question put to him after his seces-
sion to office by the Hon. Gentleman the Member for Fins-
bury, as to the principles on which the Government should
be conducted with ina•ard to this question. The members of
the Government felt to take the same course on this
occasion, as the answer of the Noble Lord intimated it via!
their intention to do. With reference to the remark of hii
Hon. Friend as to the absence of the Noble Lord, it
was the Noble Lord's intention to be
andie his
place pending the course of this debate,
state, as the head of the Government, the
course
he intended to take. He had received a note in answer to a
communication addressed to the Noble Lord by him, and it
stated that he was detained by important business, but he
would be in the House to make a full avowal e the opinions
he entertained. The Hon. Gentleman whol had sat down
said that he liked consistency in legislation. He (Sir G.
Grey) hoped that he liked consistency in public men also.
—(Cheers.) To his own consistency no possible objection
could be made, for he had been uniformly consistent in the
principle of his opposition to factory legislation, and in 1115
speech of that day he bad declared against the principle oa
which past legislation had been directed. In order to
be consistent with regard to these laws, the House ought to
proceed in its present course. The question, however, ices t!
fair subject for discussion. When the Hon. Gentleman talked .
of consistency in legislation, he (Sir G. Grey) asked him f
they would be consistent in repealing the factory laws as
they at present existed. His Hon. Friend had referred on
this occasion, as he did upon a recent occasion, to a report of
a Committee of that House to which the question was re-
Serred ; he said that in consequence of the report of theCommittoe
Parliament swept away from the ,statute book 60 or 70Acts of
Parliament. It these principles were perfectly sound, why
did not Parliament go the length his Hon. Friend recom-
mended, in sweeping away the present principle with regard
to any interference wit ht
al abibnl
eo utrih:e
him
mheai setnostu bgpoarc ttl
oiahmaadenn)b,t,e egntrhe
ass so
19tftewnnuuldndbeer discussionunwarran
flroeenrvigni
etewlri
ouctpeashoeniovinta. r
iangualati n VrsatrOgUul
this
enpnomtte
e be
ebe
dr
nnu
geg:he brought r yftehreVrrfao
would
de hu
ilst)ndn
he
refer to the legislation of Parliament, as it had laid down the
princip'es with regard to factory labour. On the other hand,
notwithstanding all the arguments of the advocates of the
Bill now produced by the Hon. Member for Oldham, he COW
fessed that he should prefer a settlement of this question,
satisfactory to the interests of all concerned, not by Act of
Parliament, but by an agreement between them. He con-
fessed, also, that from all the information he could obtain
on this subject, there appeared no chance of a resul
by means so desirable. He was told that the result of the
inquiry on this subject—the arrangements made—with .a
view to the reduction of the hours of labour, were few in
number, and had been carried out for a time and then ceased
to exist; aril although there were many cases now existing
in which a reduction fro twve hous was made b mutual_
arrangement, there wasm el
no securityr for the continuance of
that agreement as long as other mills held out the induce-
ment of short hours, while others offered long work and high
wages. It was a delusion to s :uppose that any
rie
:such agre!sl,
ment could be carried out. When he looked at the dr
arguments adduced against any further interference in fao"
t,ry labour, he found that those arguments chieffY_
consisted of predictions of certain facts which vier°
to follow from the adoption of the modifications
proposed by the Hon. Gentleman the Member for Oldham:
He found, on looking back to the discussions which had
_
taken place with regard to the Bills brought in from time ,r°
time, during the last few years, to regulate factory labou;
and on one occasion regulating the employment of children_
under eight years, and those between eight and twelve
years of age, he found nothing but predictions of t",.
loss and ruin which would follow from the interference o 1
Parliament en this question. Did they find that these re-
strictions on factory labour produced any prejudicial result.r.,
No such fact was asserted, but many had made the
admission that it had been productive of benefit.
Hon Member for Dorchester entertained strong and eye
s6entious opinions upon this subject, and be
_Tel!
mwaesasuir)eree,par:idth toregaadrndlittethtehebecnaesfiecaianlf rueshuilldtreio!
utnna.e..es;
eight years of age. These restriotions bad increased
from
commerce and the comforts of the country. Reports f
factory inspectors had from time to time been laid on the
table of that House, and they proved the benefitD which v