The Sun.
London, England, 1819-06-15 00:00:00

COTTON FACTORIES.

On the Order of the Day for the commitment
of the Cotton Factories Regulation Bill,
Lord KENYON observed, that this was not in
any manner a speculative question, but a (vex-
ti on of practical humanity, arising out of the ac-
tual sufferings of the children employed in the
Cotton Factories, for which no relief was to be
found in any of the provisions of the Common Law,
and therefore it became necessary to resort to a
special legislative measure. His Lordship proceed-
ed to enter into some detail of time evidence given
before the Committee, for the purpose of shew-
ing the injury that resulted to the health of tio,
vimildt en, from being employed for 14, 15, or 16
hours a-day in places heated to 80, 85, and nearly
90 degrees ; and that though the evidence of some
of the medical men was -upon this point contra-
dictory, yet that as he contended 4liere were am-
ply sufficient facts given in evident a to prove that
the ill state of health of these children, arising
from the number of hours they were kept at work
in the manner described, imperiously called for
legislativeinterference to prevent that waste of
human life which such a system produced.
The Earl: of ROSELYN spolte at considerable
length against the Bill. He contended, that ac-
cording to the principles established by the best
writers on political economy, legislative inter-
ference in such cases was neither wise nor politic.
The parents of the children were naturally and
evidentiy the best guardians of the health\ and
comforts of their offspring—and it was a fixed
principle, that free labour should be interfered
with as little as possible. The weight of proof
lay with those who maintained the contrary posi-
tion. He expressed his disapprobation of the
steps taken out of doors, and the various public
writings which appeared with a view to prejudice
or influence their discussion upon this important
question. The Noble Earl also entered upon a
still more extensive view and examination of what
had appeared in evidence before their Lordships,
the tendency and result of which, he argued, were
totally different from the inferences drawn by the
Noble Mover of the Bill. Time works in which
the children were employed, were not injurious to
their healths. Nor was the heat of the atmos-
phere in those manufactories at all prejudicial to
them. This result appeared from the evidence of
the most enlightened professional men, who were
examined upon the subject, or who had given in
reports upon oath. In illustration of these posi-
tions, his Lordship went largely into a review of
the evidence. It was evident from what appeared,
that the children employed in those manufactories
lived to a greater age than others, and he must
think it was preferable to employ theta in such
works, to turning them Out- to starve. Neither
did such work obstruct their growth. The militia

DUTY O' WOOL
Mr. DICKENSON presented a petition from Fromm., in
the Comity of Somerset, against the new Dote on Wool.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER thonght, that
to receive the petition in the present stage of the 13i11 would
be to infringe the privileges of the House.
Lord MILTON called upon the House to consider whether
it would not be a very ungracious thing to Close its door. to
petitions, which, like the present, were not against the Sup..
plies of the year.
The SPEAKER conceived that any Duty voted in a Com-
mittee of Ways and Means was intimately connected with the
Supplies of the year, and must be considered to fur►aa part of
them.

Mr. STUART WORTLEY had two petitions to submit on
the same subject, which, however, he should not bring
forward after the decision fr, m the Chair. But when the
Consolidation Bill shOnld come before the House, he should
take its sense upon that particular duly.
Lord LASCELLES wished to know when the Bill should
be committed ?

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER was under-
stood to say, that next Moudarwould be the earliest pos-
sible day.

Lord LASCELLES, disapproving as he did of the principle
of laying duties on raw materials, thought it recessary that
the matter should came to a vote, before the House, fr rII
the late period of the Session, had ceased to be fully attended.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER was then un-
derstood to say, that if possible he would go into the Com.
mittee next Friday.
Mr. CALCRA Fr contended that the proposed dnty 'formed
no part of the Supplies of the year. They were nut mention-
ed in the annual vote, but were intended for the Slain
Fund, and evidently therefore not for the service of the year.
He hoped the petitions would he received, or that his Noble
Friend would take the sense of the House on the suliject.
Mr. ROBINSON maintained th .t the new dutie,, stood ex-
actly on the same ground as former ones, part of which was
applied to the Sinking Fund.

Mr. LITSIIINGTON followed on the same side, after which,
Mr. DICKENSON consented to withdraw the petition.
Mr. DICKF:NSON then presented a petition from the town
of Shepton Mallet, praying that some steps he taken for the
more effectual Recovery of Small Debts.—Laid ea the table.