The Sun.
London, England, 1844-03-23 00:00:00

COVRT-FASICXONABLE.

In consequence of the several deaths in the higher circles
of society, the ball at Almack's, which was to commence the
season on Monday next is, by general approbation, postponed
until after Easter.

The Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch had a dinner party on
Friday, which was attended by the French Ambassador and
the Countess de St. Aulaire, the Russian and other • Foreign
Ministers, and'their ladies, Sir H. and Lady Emily Hardinge,
Lord and Lady Marsham, Lord and Lady Emlyn, Lord John
Manners, Baron Gersdorff, Capt. and Mrs. Cust, Mr. and Mrs.
Rice Trevor, Capt. Hood, R.N., Captain Duncombe, &c.
The family will leave Montague House on the 27th inst. for
Boughton Hall, Northamptonshire.
The Duke and Duchess of Beaufort and the Ladies So-
merset are expected to arrive at Beaufort House, Arlington-
street, on Wednesday next, from Badminton, for the season.
The Earl and Countess of Wilton are expected to leave
Egerton Lodge, Melton Mowbray, on Wednesday next, on a
visit •to the Duke of Rutland, •at Belvoir Castle, during
Croxton Park Races, which commence on the 28th inst.
The Noble Duke's party will close the hunting season in
Leicestershire.

The Right Hon. Selina Viscountess Milton, accompanied
by her daughter, the Hon. Miss Fitzwilliam, returned to
Aidwarke Hall, near Rotherham, on Monday.
General the Hon. Sir Alexander Duff and Lady and Miss
Duff left the Brunswick Hotel, Jermyn-street, yesterday, for
their new mansion, at Rutland-gate, which the Gallant
General has just engaged for the season.
The Marquis of Westminster, who has been slightly indis •
posed at Eaton Hall, has recovered.
ATISCEZZAVEOUS.
The Presbyterian marriage question is causing great ex•
citement :n the north of Ireland, and meetings are in pro-
gress all over that part of the country. At a meeting held at
Londonderry on Wednesday, the Mayor in the chair, the
speakers denounced the insolent and oppressive encroach-
ments of the State Church, and the system of base deception
,
practised against the Presbyterians since the unfortunate
alliance between Prelacy and Presbyterianism, announced at
far at Hillsborough for the promotion of
the turning out the Whigs,
the
We
Orangehflanm find from
or
from a Return made to the House of Commons, u
for the last year, of offences committed against the Fac-
tories Act, that the total number of convictions in the four
districts of Messrs. L. Horner, T. Howell, Saunders, and
Stuart, amounted to about 192. The offences were princi-
pally the over-working of children or the employment of
children
ileht, &c. From a summary ap-
pendedars that the total number of
convictions under the provisions of the Factory Act from
to undertiiia a
nge e, turn and
iatta night,
.1834 to 1843, both inclusive, amounted to 3,401, being an
average of 340 a-vear ; that the gross total amount of penal.
ties inflicted for -the said offences during the above decade
was 6,895/. ; and the total amount of costs 2,123/.
By the annual report of Professor Moseley, Inspector of
the Greenwich Hospital Schools, and addressed to the Lords
of the Admiralty, it appears that the number of boys in the
Upper and Nautical Schools, is at present 379, who are
taught geography, • arithmetic, algebra, geometry; trigono-
metry, and other brinches of nautical knowledge. The
number of,astrenomica observations made by the pupils
during the •pat half-year, amounts to between 10,000 and
14,000.
During the whole of the week a very considerable sale,
under the orders of the Commissioners of Customs, has been
proceeded with at"the Commercial Sale-rooms, Mincing-lane,
of property which has come into the possession of the Cus-
tom-house by forfeiture from attempt to evade the duties.
There were aiove 1,00 lots, the produce from which will be
above 15,000/.

•
THE FACTORIES BILL.
(FROld AN OPERATIVE CORRESPONDENT.)
The debate on the Factories Bill has excited universal
attention, relating to interests as varied as powerful, im-
portant alike to the high Minister and humble operative,
and concerning the cause of humanity and the commerce of
England. The House of Commons, feeling the vast importance
of their decision, gave the subject due consideration and regard,
but, unfortunately, failed: in perceiving that humanity
and commerce may go hand in hand, and, fearing to en-
danger the one, hardly dared to assist the other.
Three times did they "resolve and re-resolve," and at
last remain uncertain and undecided, regardless of the
expectations awaiting their decision, and the various
emotions the debate had called forth. What hopes
and fears have alternately cheered and depressed the
hearts of the poor and suffering during the diseussion of
this, to them, all-important subject. The majority of
Monday brought joy and thanksgiving to expectant thou-
sands; who hailed the decision of the House as the certain

triumph of their fondest hopes—all ignorant of the
power of that House to change its decisions in five
days—nay, even in as many minutes The Govern-
ment, with perseverance worthy of a better cause,
refused to believe themselves defeated by a ma-
jority of nine, and brought the subject again under con-
sideration, till last night's division took the victory from
their opponents, but without awarding the triumph to them-
selves—once again must doubt, and uncertainty be the por-
tion of the poor, and their condition will now be even worse
than before; pain and sorrow are evils in themselves, but
how much is their bitterness augmented by first inspiring
hope and promising relief, and then dashing the cup of joy
from their lips, and leaving them to toil and suffering, with
the added pangs of " hope deferred." Five days have
elapsed since the House decided in favour of "justice and hu-
manity." In that time the news has been spread
far and wide through the manufacturing districts, cheer-
ing the desolate and diffusing universal satisfaction through
all classes. Will the Government, in the face of popular
feeling, use their influence in turning the poor man's joy to
mourning? Will they only employ the power vested in their
hands, in compelling the wearied child and suffering woman,
to pursue their hard laborious tasks two hours after the toils
and trials of the day have rendered rest necessary both to
mind and body? Will they do this? We know they will.
They have proved, by their untiring opposition, that
their will is not wanting in the cause of oppression ; that
they can is another question. The struggle will be renewed
on Monday, and let the House then show itself superior to
the 'Ministry alike in power and inclination to do good. The
general feeling was with Lord Ashley, when he commenced the
subject, by appealing to the judgments and hearts of his
hearers—that feeling was with him when the Ministry sus-
tained their first defeat—and that feeling will be with him,
and with the thousands depending on his motion, when next
Monday shall decide the contest. When the depression which
now weighs down the spirits of the suffering shall give way to
certainty and joy—all the doubt and apprehension they now
entertain shall be forgotten, on that " holiday for broken
hearts," and the Government will be compelled to own that
even the power of office, and the force of perseverance, must
give way before the dictates of " justice and humanity."

limited suite, is ex
His Majesty the King of the Belgians, attended by a
on Tuesday or Wednesday next, on a visit to her Majesty, and is
expected to remain (with the exception of a short visit to Clare-
mont)^`'''.---ted to arrive at Buckingham Palace, via Ostend,
during the contemplated short Absence of his Royal Highness
Pr*. Albert in OtIZDAny.