The Sun.
London, England, 1850-02-08 00:00:00

this

ameliorate the condition of Ireland would be fruit-
less. Employment is the great desideratum
for that country, but what capitalist would invest his
money there, w hue the people were in a state of civil
War ? We look then to this measure as calculated to
lay the foundation of peace and order in that dis-
tracted land, and we think the thanks of Ireland
and the empire are due to the Right Hon. Baronet
the Chief Secretary for Ireland, and we have no
no doubt he will receive the support of every honest
amen both in and out of Parliament.

The Government appear disposed to do justice to
Ireland. Notices have been already given of several
measures of great importance and utility to the suf-
fering pcople ; the great' and crying evil of the
landlord and tenant question is to be considered and
legislated upon. The good of all parties, then, should
unite in aiding the wise and wholesome intentions of
the Government. Our Gracious QUEEN is gratefully
impressed with the loyal welcome she received from
her warm-hearted Irish subjects, and is kindly dis-
posed towards them; everything, in fact, gives
fair promise of a better state of things in that un-
happy land. Let us then hope that this opening
dawn of a better state of things will be no longer
marred by the insanity of religious strife. Let us
hope that Irishmen will at last lay their feuds and
follies on the altar of their prostrate country. Let us
hope that as they have so long and so ruinously
" joined in hate," they will for once " join in love,"
and form one holy confederation of peaceful brother-
hood for the benefit of fatherland.

DIAMOND DUST.
(From Eliza Cook's Journal.)
It is easy, and even delightful, to relate miseries con-
quered and sorrows that have passed away, when hope
and comfort are left behind; but when, instead, despair
stands by and refuses to depart, the recollection is appal-
ling, nor can sympathy or kindness soothe it.
The three most difficult things are—to keep a secret
—to forget an injury—and to make good use cf leisure.
Wickedness is generally a plant of slow growth, and
we rarely find that extreme youth is totally devoid of
virtues, though it may be staked with many vices.
Go not to your doctor fur every ail, nor to your lawyer
for every quarrel, nor to your bottl;, fur every thirst.
A. ready wit retorts upon our parsecutorP, and they
get laughed at, but by displaying it we make ourselcei
enemies.

EXCHEQUER.—(THIS DAY.)
(Sittings in Banco, before Mr. Baton PARKE, Mr. Baron

ALDERSON, Mr. Baron ROLFE, and Mr. Baron PLATT.)
RELAY SYSTEM IN FACTORIES.—IMPORTANT DECISION

UNDER THE FACTORIES ACT.

Their Lordships sat in the Vice-Chancellor's Court
this morning, and delivered judgment in the case of
Ryder v. Mills, which was argued at considerable length
by the Attorney-General on the ono side, and Mr. Martin
on the other, on the 28th ultimo; and has for some time
excited a great deal of interest, especially in the manu-
facturing districts. _

The matter came before the Court in the shape
of a special case, which had been agreed to
by the Government and the parties, immediately
concerned, in order that the opinion of their Lordships
zuight be taken upon the Ac:s; and the real question
resolved itself into this—is it an effence against the
Factory Acts, or any of them, to employ young persons
(under which term are also included women) longer than
ten hours a day in a factory, the hours employ-td being
calculated from the hour when the first young person
commenced in the morning, and so on, consecutively,
omitting an hour and a half only for meals ? The ap-
pellant i❑ the present ( a e, as well as many other mill-
owners. have adopted what is known as the " sh:f:. sys-
tem," i. e. having relays ( f workers, by which they are
enabled to keep the works going more than ten hours,
although each person does not work more than ten hours
a:together during the day. The inspectors of factories
laid en information against them, for what they con-
sidered a departure from the provisions a the
Act, and a conviction was obtained ' before
a magistrate, imposing a penalty of five pounds
for each offence, and from this conviction they appea!sel
to this Court. It was contended on the part of the Go-
vernment that the object of the Legislature would be
completely frustrated if the shift system should be up-
held, as the children would be turned in and out of the
mills at various and uncertain hours of the day, and at
such intervals as would entirely prevent them from re-
ceiving any protection from the inspectors or any att-n-
-don from their parents, either in regard to their health,
morals, or education. On the contrary, it was arguod that
the question was not so much one affecting' the work of
children and persons under 18, but adult and able-bodied
women, who had been classed most arbitrarily by the
Legislature as "persons under 18," and then restricted
in their labour. Nor did it rest there. These Acts
affected enormous interests. Already had the labour
market been infringed upon, aed, by the exertions of
certain parties, this was nothing more nor less than an
attempt, by a side wind, to prevent all mills in the ma-
nufacturing districts from working for more than ten
hours daily. It was said that the interests of the chil-
dren wore at stake, but the real object cf those who set
on foot these informations was to deprive the owners of
the mills of the labour of women and young persons Le-
yond ten continuous hours daily, and thus to render
useless the labour of adult men beyond that period; for
it was well known that they were not so well calculated
as the women to watch the threads and to repair the
fractures which occurred from time to time in them, and
could not work without their assistance.

Mr. Baron PARKE now read the judgment of the Court,
but so rapidly that it was extremely difficult even to
catch the main points which it contained. The question,
he stated, depended entirely upon the proper construc-
tion to be put on the Factory Acts, but more particularly
the 7th of Vic., c. 15; and these, the Court thought,
ought to be construed according to the established rules
in courts of law, merely ascertaining the meaning of the
Legislature, and, when that was ascertained, seeing how
it could be carried into effect without inquiring into
the sound policy or otherwise cf the measure.
Taking, therefore, this view of the statute,
they vt ere of opinion that the words cf it did not render
the conduct of the appellant liable to punishment. It
had been contended that the titre when the working
should end bad not been prescribed, and that the time
of cessation was not when the first young person ceased
to labour; but this had not beets stated expressly in the
Act. They must then consider, in the absence of ex-
press words to this effect, whether they could collect
from other parts of the Act what the meaning of the
Legislature was. While, no doubt the object was
to pre; eat children and young persons from
being over-worked and to secure to them the benefits
of elocution, yet the inn-AG-As of the manufacturers
must not be sacrificed, and it could not be presumed
that Parliament had overlookel such an important con-
sideration as that. A court of justice could not render
a man liable to a penalty, becatve doing so would better
promote the supposed object which the Legislature had
in view tean the provisions of the statute acpording to
their own construction. The ground, then, upon which
the Court proceeded was this—that although the Acts of
Yarlia.nent on the subjk ct, taken in conjunction with the
IothVic., c. 29, did strictly forbid the employment of young
persons (and, therefore, women) for more than ten hours
a day, batween the hours of half.past five in the morning
and half.-past eight at night, though it was distinctly
required that the time ef all should be computed from
the beginning of the first one in the morning (allowing
an hour and a half for meals., to be taken advantage of
by all at the same time), yet the statute had not imposed
in sufficiently clear terms any restriction upon their em-
ployment so long as the ten hours were not exceeded.
The Court, therefore, were of opinion that those persons
were at liberty to agree together to work at any timcs
within such limit, and might have what interval for lei-
sure or meals that might be thought most convenient.
The conviction would therefore be quashed.
Quashed accordingly.

SECONDARIES".—(THIS DAY.)
(Before Mr. Secondary JAMES.)
CRIM. CON.,—ELICIE V. HUMPHREYS.
This was a writ of inquiry to assess damages in an
action for criminal conversation with p?aint.tf's
The damages were laid at 2,0001., and defendant suf-
fered judgment to go by (le fAult.
Mr. Voules appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. Robin-
son for the defendant, and before the case was called on
a conference took place, after which
Mr. VOULES said this W 23 an action for trespass, but
it would be unnecessary to trouble the jury with any of
the particulars, w hich would be painful to all parties,
and it had been agreed that a verdict should be taken
fur 50/.
Mr. ROBINSON said this course was more satisfactory
to all parties than going into details in such cases.
A verdict was then entered for 501.
The station in life of the parties was not mentioned.
This was the only case.

NORTHERN DISPENSARY..-A
i meeting of the Go-
vernors wos held on Wednesday, n the board-rocm, So-
mer's-place West, New-road, J. Salt, Esq., in the chair.
The report read by the hon. secretary, John Ca;ley, Esq.,
after alluding to the continued usefulness of the charity,
and regretting that its benefits should be limited for the
want of adequate funds, proceeded to state that the
number of patients during the year reached 1,269, bekv.
an increase of 8 per cent over those of the preceding twee
months. The treatment of the medital officers Lad been
attended with the utmost success, twenty-six cases only
having terminated fatally out of a total of upwards of
fJurteen hundred ; and those were principally cases t f
pulmonary consumption, or complaints of the chest.
Some routine business having passed, the meeting pro-
ceeded to elect a consulting surgeon and a surgeon, and
ultimately appointed J. Bishop, Esq , &c., and
Frederick llavies, Esq., to the respective olliccs. A
vote of thanks to the chairman thou closed the pro-
ceedings.

7,1
ATAL ACCIDENT AT SEA.—As the Victory stea-
mer was going down the Bristol Channel on Tuesday
night last, on her voyage to Waterford, the wind at the
time blowing a perfect hurricane, a sea struck her end
carried away two horse-boxes, and, we are sorry to:add, a
poor fellow, a soldier in the East India Company's set -
vice, was killed, one man t. had his arm dislocated, and
another was hurt en tt.,c head. The steamer, fi,dirg
she could not faco the storm, put about, and retarned
to port.

Gruv..tu, FED, 6.—The Jubilee, of Sumitrlar d, Trc on
to Smyrna, is on shore, and expected to become t wreck;
waster nia,i four of crew crowned.

MONEY and COMMERCIAL NEWS.
CITY, QUARTER 711 TBREE.
The sales of Cotton at Liverpool yeliterdrq were esti-
mated at 4,000 bales, viz.. 3,000 American at 6id. to
Bd., 200 Pernam, &c, at Gid. to 7id., 100 Bahia at
200 Egyptian at 74d. to Bd., 100 Surat 411 to sd.,;and
60 Sea Island at lc. 3d. to ls. 7d. per lb. The market
closed quietly.—In Railway Shares only a limited busi-
ness was done, at rather improved quotations.
The Colonial Produce Markets have Lem inactive
this week, and sugar, coffee, and other leading staples
have ruled heavy in price and demand. There is an
absence of spculation in any article, but the holders of
indigo, ct tton, &c., are tolerably firm. In the Tallow
trade there has been considerable business doing
throughout the month, both for delivery on or be'ore the
31st March, and in new Y. C. for &livery in autumn.
At the end of thel second week in January there was
much animaCon in the market, and the price rose from
38s. 3d. to 395. Gd. •on the spot, and from 39e. for new to
40s. 6.1.‘ at which quotations the market remained firm
for several days; but sellers appearing, the price receded
3d. to 6d. per cwt. for old and new, and so continued
until within the last two or three days, when it became
exceedingly flat, and the month terminated at 335. 3d.
to 38s. Gd. for Y. C.. on the spot, 38s. delivery in Fe-
bruary or March, and 395. 6d. to 405.: toll newl Tallow.
The market in St. Petersburgh remained,, without
much life till the receipt of letters from hence show-
ing the rise referred to above, when holders demanded
advanced prices, and ultimately 4,000 or 5,000 casks
changed hands at an advance of Oro. to sro. The last
quotation was 115ro. to 116r0., with hand money, for
August ; 117ro. to 118ro., with 10ro., fur May and
June. The Russians were very firm, and stating that
the supply will be less than last year, especially from
the South.

The following report upon the Metal market is for-
warded by Mr.,William Short:—"lron—Bars continue
steady; Scotch Pigs have advanced ls. Cd. per ton, and
Swedish Iron is 20s. dearer and ecaice. Copper has
risen %d. per lb. for sheets, and 41. 102. per ton for cake
and tile. Tin remains stationary, and but little doing.
Spelter bad advanced to 171. 155., but is now decidedly
flatter; a sale of 50 tons on the spot has been made at
171. ss. and, for
,arrival at 17/. Lead:has an upward
tendency, and the dealers ask 17/. 10s. free on board
here."

The Montreal Board of Trade have memorialised the
Governor-General with reference to the new Navigation
Act,in gofer as its provisions relate to the trade of Canada,
and praying that his Excellency will convene at the
earliest possible day the Provincial Parliament, in order
that the necessary action may be taken to establish the
footing upon which our coasting and inter•colonial trwles
are to be permanently placed. Ills Excellency pro-
mises to give the matter his most attentive consideration.

The ac—counts received at Lloyd's of dainagTiOsiiii:
ping off the coast show how violent tie gale has been
in most parts, and especially at tie Isle of Wight,
where the sea was thrown into columns of spray in a
most singular manner. On the Continent the floods have
been NT( ry serious, and great losses have been sustained
at Bacherach, on the Rhine, the inhabitants having to
take refuge on the roofs of their houses, and being in
some instances forced out of bed by the frightful tor-
rent. At Rouen and other places the waters had also
risen greatly.
Advises of February 4, from Frankfort, quote the
price of Me!allics at 851. At Amsterdam on the sth
instant Dutch Two-and-a Half per Cents. wore 55 9-16.

The English Funds have been fluctuating, but al-
though a little money stock has been brought to market,
the more specific character of the Paris amounts, and
the aliegel probability of an arrangement of the Greek
dispute, have given a firmer tone within !the last half.
hour. Consols have realised 954 to 1 for Transfer,
and 951 1 for Time, but are now 951 f. The
premium on Exchequer-bills is 555. to 585., nod on India
Bonds 86s. to 89s. Bank Stock is worth 2051 to 2061,
and India Stock 266 to 268. The New Three-and-.:-
Quarter per Cents. have been 97i to 988.
In the Foreign market the South American Bonds
which have risen so materially are giving way, and no doubt
other neglected Securities will come into vogue. Peru-
vian have Leen 77* to 781 for the Active, and 324 to
34 for the Deferred. Buenos Ayres have realised 60
to 641. Grenada have been 18i, Guntnuala 40 to 43,
Venezuela 35, and Mexican 29 to IV. Russian Scrip is
21 premium. Dutch Two-and-a-Half per Cents. are
Shares are dull, at about former rates.
ONE cLosIT U
Pit CH OF BRITISH FUNDS O'CLOCK. PRICES.
Bank Stock
3:per Cent. Reduced Arms ... 95% VA 95%
3 per Cont. Consols Annuities... 95% IA 95%
New 3q per Cent. Anns... 9B 97% 98% 97% 98
L.ong Anus. to expire J an. 1860 -16 8% 8%
India Stock ••• 268 266 266
India Bonds, 1,000/ BB t 6 89 89
Ditto under 1,0004. BB 86 89 p 89 p
SouthSea.Stock - • I

Ditto Old Annuities
3 per Cent. Annuities, 1751 ...
Bank Stock for Account , 206
Consols for Account 95%1A
Exchequer Bills. I I,id. dr 2d
1,0001. June
500/. Jane
Small. June 55 58 p
PRICES OF FOREIGN FITNDS.

95;4
94
206

58 p
58 p
58 p
(MI CLOSING
O'CLOCK. PRICES
Buenos Ayres Bonds, 6 per Cent.... 6314 63
Ditto, Account ..... . ... ... 64 641, 63 68% 60 63
Equador Bonds -4%
Grenada Bonds, 1% per Cent lB 18%
Ditto Deferred - 438% 4%
Greek Bonds -
Ditto ex Over-due Coupons 6% 634
Guatemala Bonds ...........
Mexican, 5 per Cent.lB46, with Coupons..-
Ditto, Ex Jan. Coupons -
Ditto, Account
Penivian Bonds, 4 per Cent - -
Ditto, Account
Ditto Deferred
Russian Bonds _ ...... --- -
Ditto Scrip 23N p 214 p
Spanish 5 per Cent. 1840 lB% 1814
Ditto. 3 per Cent
Venezuela Bonds, 21% per Cent
Ditto, Deferred - 134
Dividends on the above payable in London.
Dutch 2% per Cent., 12 Guild. .. 551 A% 55%
Ditto, 4 per Cent. Certificates 86%14 86
PRICES OF n :BUSINESS DONE CLOSING
kilt.' LWAY "SHARES. l'411"-* AT ONE O'CLOCK. PRICKS
Birmingham and Ox-
ford Junct., calls duly
paid, or with a guaran. 20
Binning, Wolverh'ton,
and Dudley, calls duly,
pd, or with guarantee 10 ..... -
Bristol and Exeter 92 ... .. 61
Ditto, Thirds
Caledonian
Ditto, Now 101. Prof... 10
Eastern Coup tios...
AI
Do, New Pref.ronce,
6 per Cent.... lO ...... 11% ...... ...-.... 11%
Ditto,Extension, 5 per
Cent., No.l 6/.135. 4d.... - p
Ditto ditto, No. 2...61. 13s. 4d... % p
Do. North. & Eastern,
6 per Cent. -
Ditto. 5 per Cent.... 50 59
East Lincolnshire ...... 25
Great Northern - ......... .....
Do., 5 per Cent. Pref IN-.... 11
Great Western 100 ...... 651,4 66%
Ditto, 1,4 Shares
Ditto, Fifths ...... ..~
Ditto, New 171- ..... 15 ... _. 8 ~... .....
Hull and Selby .. ...... 50 ......
Ditto, Half Shares ... 25 ...... -
Lancaster and Carlisle... 50
Ditto, Thirds -
Lancashire& Yorkshire 100 - -
Do. New, Gua.6 per ct. 10
Leeds and Bradford
Leeds and Think ...... 50 -
Do., Prefer., 6 per Ct. 314 l% ... 1
Do., do. No. 2 10 - 5
London & Black wa11...11/. 6s. 3d 414••• - 4
Landon, Brighton, and
South Coast... .... 103 - ..... -x. d.
Do. Prefer. 5 per cent. 50 5814 58 x.d.... 18 s. d.
Lofidon and N Western 100 1154414 1151/2... 1151/9
Ditto, New Quarters.. 12
Ditto, Fifth, l2 .« .. 14 14
DoDo. 14
. 10/. (M.,& B.) C. 1 ..... 21/2 ........... ... 21,4
London &S.Westsrn lOO ... -.. ..... . ..... „. 671
Manchester, Sheffield,
and Lincolnshire 100 -
-.
Do. 1,8 Shares (No. 3) 124 -
Do. New 10/. Pr0f..... 10 •••
....„ 8
Midland ..-. ...ICO .. -44
Do.Consol.Bristol and ~.
Binning., 6 per ct. -.100 ......121 ...
North Britiah ........ ... 25 . . , 11% ......
Ditto, Halves .• ..... 121.6 " 5%
Ditto, Quarters ...... 61A
••• IV
Ditto Preference 5
North Staffordshire 7%
A ...
Royston and Hitchin.... 41.....41,4.....514
Scottish Central - •
Shrewsbury & Chester
(Nor. W. Min.) lB - ..•
DO.B per Cent. Pref. 10 - ••.. ••• --•
South Eastern
Stmth r)Wales -
43 ....•• 19
Wear Valley 6 per Cent.
Guaranteed ... ... ..... 50 - ....
Do. do. do. ... 25 -
York, Newcastle, and
Berwick. .... . ..... ..... 25
Do. Newcastle Exten. 20
York and North Midland 50

N P
3i P

59
271,4
634
107/6
.651,4
15A
12

49%

11%
5%
2%
5%
514
15%

15%
19N
19

10%
18%

FOREIGN RAILCi Y:s.
Luxembourg
Ditto
Namur and Liego
Paris and Rouen 2O ...... ... .. ........
Tours and Nantes .. 13
MINES.

21,4
231:<,

Australian.... 4 ...... 5% sl4'
BrazilianCocaes&Cuiaba 30 . ..... h
Do. St. John Del Bey 15 ...... 1334 .........,..... 13:!4
Santiago do Cuba
United Mexican

LLOYD'S SHIPPIN G—( THIS DAY.)
LONDON, FEB. S.—Wind at noon W.S.W., light breeze
and dull Lazy vreathf:r.
CARNARVON, FEB 7.—The Alice, Kelham, of th's
port, from Charleston to Liverpool, grounded on the
north bar and has since totally disappeared; crew
saved. The Mary of NQath is on shore in a dangerots
position; crew save.
WHITEHAVEN, FEB. 7. —The Sarah, Ramsey; to this
port, is on shore near Harrington; crew saved.
ST ORNAWAY, FEB. 7.—The -Ebenezer, Muston, Derry
to Blyth, is waterloggej, having struck on a sunken
rock in the Millet.
PORTSMOUTH, FEB. 7.—The Jacob, Havre to Ha-
' vannah, has been got off shore.
CARDIGAN, FED. 6.—The Thetis, Newport to Lime-
rick, sprung a leak, became waterlogged, and struck on
the bar during a heavy gale at W. to N.W., and has be-
come a total wreck. Captain and one of crew saved.
ILFRACOMBE, FEB. 7.—The Bonanza, Mcodie, Liver-
pool to Manilla, has been assisted in very leaky and with