The Sun.
London, England, 1844-03-28 00:00:00

TEN HOURS' FACTORY BILL.

MANCHESTER, MARCH 25.—The defeat of Ministers on the
Factory Bill, and. the _subsequent conduct of Sir James
Graham on that measure, have created in the minds of all
parties here, of whatever creed of politics, the most extra-
ordinary feelings of surprise, and in many instances disgust.
The masters seem to care little for the result, as would ap-
pear from the fact that not a single meeting of the trade has
been held upon the subject. It is true that a party of mill-
owners have proceeded to London with the intention of as-
sisting the Government to defeat Lord Ashley, but they have
gone entirely on their own responsibility, and not to repre-
sent the feeling of the manufacturers. The operatives are,
however, bent upon the measure, and are resolved to leave
no means untried to procure the limitation of time sought by
Lord Ashley on their behalf. As soon as the divisions of
Friday night were made known in this part of the country,
a meeting of delegates was summoned ; and although there
could not be more than a few hours' notice, no fewer than
twenty-four delegates from the principal manufacturing
towns assembled at Manchester yesterday, at which the
following resolutions were adopted, printed, and dispatched
by post, in time to reach London this (Monday) morning.
We learn !that a copy of the resolutions were sent to each
Member of Parliament who voted in the division of Mon-
day night :
" THE TEN HOURS' BILL.

" At a meeting of Delegates of the Cotton Spinners and other
factory workers, from the various manufacturing towns
within thirty miles of Manchester, convened at Man-
chester, on Sunday, Marsh 24, 1844,
' It was unanimously resolved :
" 1. That this meeting cannot too strongly express their
conviction that the extraordinary steps taken by her Ma-
jesty's Government, in opposing the Ten Hours'
Bill, after
the deliberate vote of the House of Commons in its favour,
is calculated to create in the minds of the factory workers a
want of confidence in the governors of England, and a con-
viction that they have no desire to assist in the mental and
moral improvement of the labouring classes.
"2. That notwithstanding the defeat of Lord Ashley on
the Ten Hours' principle on Friday night—a defeat brought
about by the official influence of the Government—we are re-
solved never to relax in our exertions until the Ten Hours'
Bill is carried through Parliament ; and that we will avail
ourselves of every advantage which constitutional right
affords us, to bring about such a limitation of the hours of
labour for children and young persons employed in factories.
" 3. That the best thanks of this meeting are due, and are
hereby given, to Lord Ashley, for the manly manner in which
he advocated our cause in the House of Commons • also to
Lord John Russell, Lord Howick, Lord Francis Egerton, the
Hon. J. S. Wortley, Sir Robert Inglis, and all other Members
who supported the cause of our children against the perpe-
tuation of their sufferings sought to be continued by the Go-
vernment. _

" 4. That the best thanks of the meeting be given to our
delegates, who have advocated oursause in London ; and that
they be requested to continue their exertions so long as their
services are required.
" 5. That the urgency of the case, and the necessity of an
immediate expression of our disapprobation of the course
pursued by Government, in:opposition to the desires of our-
selves, and to the feelings of the House of Commons, war-
rants the propriety of devoting a portion of this sacred day
for the purpose of this meeting."