The Sun.
London, England, 1842-06-08 00:00:00

INDIAN DESPATCHES.

The following were omitted in our Third Edition of
last night through mistake :
From Major-General John IlPCaskill, Commanding In-
fantry Division, to Captain Ponsonby, Assistant
Adjutant-General.

Camp, Ali Musjid, April 6, 1842.
Sir,—l have the honour to report, for the information
of Major-General Pollock, C. 8., commanding the forces,
that, agreeably to his orders, I marched yesterday morn-
ing from Jumrood, in command of the rear-guard of the
column for the attack of the Khyber Pass, composed of
the troops detailed in the margin.*
The complete success of the attacks made by the force
in advance, rendered unnecessary any active operations
on ray part. At nightfall I took the necessary precau-
tions for security, and the troops bivouacked at a spot
about two miles within the Pass, without any molesta-

tion from the enemy.
The rear-guard arrived in camp at two P.M., this day,
no part of the baggage having been plundered, nor any
loss sustained.

I have reason to be highly satisfied with the exertions
of Lieutenant-Colonel Tulloch, second in command, of
Captain Smith, Officiating Deputy Assistant Adjutant-
General, and of every officer placed under my orders, in,
performance of the duties assigned to them.
I have, &c.,
JOHN M'CASKILL, Major General,
Commanding infantry Division.
112 guns H. A. 3 guns F. A-. , 2 Squads. H. M.'s 3d
Drago.ths, 10 L. C., 2 R sls Irregr. Cay., 1 company H. M.'s.
9th foot., 1 company 6th N. 1. 3 companies 60th N. I.
From Major-General Pollock, C. 8., to the Secretary to

the Government of India.
Sir,—ln continuation of my despatch of the 6th inst.,
have now the honour to enclose a return of casualties
w'Lach took place on the sth and 6th ; those of the latter
date occurred in taking possession of Ali Musjid. lam
happy to say the amount of our loss is trifling, consider-
ing the Very great opposition we experienced from the

the notice of the R
Fi:lci;lEninginleaesr, last communication I inadvertently omitted
to mention the name of Lieutenant John Becher, Acting
and
ißight
th
ittivoentoou
rraebqlue etshte yGoou.,eArnv i 10l r 12Gr ieni gi e r tac;
of India in Council the very essential services rendered
by that officer in clearing the Pass of the impediments
constructed by the enemy, which be did with a degree of
celerity, notwithstanding their strength and difficulty of
removal, that elicited my warmest satisfaction.
I
I have, &c. GEORGE POLLOCK, Major-General
,
Return of Killede,°\o
mVanudnde
ingd:
under the Command of Major-General Pollock, C. 8.,
westand o
Missing
the ln d
ofu s.
the Troops
on the sth April, in forcing the Khyber Pass.

Camp Ghurree, Lalla Beg, April Bth, 1842.
Staff-1 wounded.
11. M. 9th Foot-1 European commissioned officer, 1
colour sergeant, 6 privates killed ; 1 :European com-
missioned officer, 1 drummer, 31 privates wounded ;
total killed and wounded, 41.
26th Regiment N. 1.-2 sepoys killed ; 1 fife major, 2
havildars, 17 sepoys wounded ; 1 bugler, missing ;
total killed, wounded, and missing, 23.
30th Regiment N. 1.-2 sepoys killed ; 1 havildar, 12
sepoys wounded ; 1 sepoy missing ; total killed,
wounded, and missing, 16.
33d Regiment N. 1.-2 sepoys wounded ; 1 sepoy miss-
ing ; total wounded and missing, 3.
53d Regiment N. 1.-1 sepoy killed ; 1 sepoy wounded ;
3 sepoys missing; total killed, wounded, and missing, 5,
64th Regiment N. 1.-1 European commissioned officer,
3 havildars, 4 sepoys wounded ; 1 sepoy missing ;
total wounded and missing, 9.
Jezailehee Regiment-1 sepoy killed ; 2 jemadars, 4
havildars, 2 naicks, 18 sepoys wounded ; 10 sepoys
missing ; total killed, wounded, and missing, 37.
Total-1 European commissioned officer, 1 colour
sergeant, 12 sepoys and privates killed ; 1 staff, 2
European commissioned officers, 1 fife major, 2
- jemadars, 10 havildars, 2 naicks, 1 drummer, 85
sepoys and privates, wounded ; 1 bugler, 16 sepoys
and privates, missing.
Giand total of killed, wounded, and missing, 135.
G. PONSONBY, Captain, Assist. Adj.-Gen.
Name of Officer killed—Lieut. Cumming, her Majesty
9th Foot.
Names of Officers wounded—Staff, Brigadier Wild,
slightly ; Capt. Ogle, her Majesty's 9th Foot, slightly;
Lieut. Mulcaster, 64th N. 1., severely.
NOTIFICATION.

Benares, April 21, 1842.
The Governor-General feels assured that every sub-
ject of the British Government will peruse with the
deepest interest and satisfaction the report he now com-
municates, of the entire defeat of the Affghan troops
under Mahomed Akbar Khan by the garrison of Jella-
labad.
That illustrious garrison, which, by its constancy in
enduring privation, and by its valour in action, has al-
ready obtained for itself the sympathy and respect of
every true sohker, has now, sallying forth from its walls,
under the command of its gallant leader, Sir Robert
Sa!e, thoroughly beaten in open field an enemy of more
than three times its numbers, taken the standards of their
boasted cavalry, destroyed their camp, and recaptured
four guns, which, under circumstances which can never
again occur, had during the last winter fallen into their
hands.
The Governor-General cordially congratulates the
army upon the return of victory to its ranks.
Ile is convinced that there, as in all former times, it
will be found, while, as at Jellalabad, the European and
native troops mutually supporting each other, and evinc-
ing equal discipline and valour, are led into action by
officers in whom they justly confide.
The Governor-General directs that the substance of
this notification, and of Major-General Sir Robert Sale's
report, be carefully made known to all the troops, and
that a salute of 21 guns be fired at every principal station
of the army. By order, &c.
T. H. MADDOCK, Secretary to the Government
of India, with the Governor-General.
FROM THE GOVERNOR OF BOMBAY IN COUNCIL.
From Major-General England, Commanding the Sinde
Field Force, to the Secretary of the Government of
India. (Extract.)
Camp, near Quetta, April 2, 1842.
I have the honour to acquaint you, for the information
of the Right Honourable the Governor-General in Coun-
cil, that having advanced from hence on the 26th ult.,
with the troops mentioned in the margin,* I arrived at
the entrance of a defile which leads to the village of
Hykulzye early on the 28th, at which place I had intended
to await the remainder of the brigade now in progress to
this place through the Bolan Peas.
2. From the total impossibility which now evidently
prevails in obtaining any sort of information of the num-
bers and position of the enemy, and from the stern si-
lence observed on such subjects by even those whose ie.
terest seems to depend on our success, I had no reason
whatever to suppose that the people visible on these
hills near Hykulzie were more than an assem-
blage of the scouts and marauders which are thus
placed on all parts of this country whenever our
troops traverse it ; and the principal men of the vil-
lage of Hyderzie, which is about six miles from the
defile in question, and who received us on the preced-
ing day with the greatest apparent cordiality, carefully
kept from our kuowledge, though much questioned on
the subject, that Mahomed Sadeg, the insurgent chief
south of Candahar, was strongly posted in theipass above
mentioned and contiguous heights, for the express pur-
pose of opposing our progress.
3. It became evident as we approached, that there was
some preparation made for resistance by the insurgents
on the commanding ground which flanked our line of
march at this point ; and after a rapid reconnoisance,
I proceeded to attack the principal hill by four light
companies, including that of her Majesty's 41st regiment,
supporting the attack by the remainder of the wing of
that corps, under cover of the four guns of Captain Les-
lie's Horse Artillery ; the remainder of the troops being
duly distributed for the protection of the baggage.
4. The enemy kept his strength concealed behind a
succession of breast-works improved by a ditch and
abattis, until our advance reached the crest of his exte-
rior defence, when a crowded body suddenly sprung up,
and made the contest so unequal that it was immediately
evident it could not be advantageously maintained.
5. The light companies fell back, therefore, on the
small supporting column of her Majesty's 41st Regi-
ment, which, on the appearance of the enemy's cavalry,
which now rushed out from behind the hills, formed
square, and gallantly resisted the efforts which were
made to pene!rate and break it ; the matchlock men of
the enemy still keeping up a sharp and destructive fire
from the heights.
6. To persevere in a second attack on the new deve-
loped strength of the enemy, with the small numbers I
had disposable for such an operation, I deemed to be
unwarrantable ' • and I therefore determined to move by
my right to the ruined village of Bazar, three miles to
the N.N.E., in which direction the baggage was first or-
dered to proceed, and the troops followed across the plain
in echelon of squares, the artillery protecting by alter-
nate guns, and the whole covered by as good a display of
cavalry as we had at command.
7. The steady manner in which this movement was
made, prevented any close molestation from the enemy ;
neither did they make any attack on us during the night.
8. I here discovered that 400 men, principally cavalry,
had joined the insurgent's forces, from Candahar, the
day before my arrival, and that with a view to resist
us, Mahomed Sadeg had collected also at this point,
from Shoranent and Shawl, 500 men, and that Mirza,
a Kakur Chief, with one hundred of that tribe,
also formed part of his force ; the rest of the
enemy's strength was made up by the Atchuliyze horse,
formerly in our service, by armed villagers of the neigh-
bourhood, making an estimated total of at least 1,500 or
2,000 men. Many officers, however, consider it to have
been much greater.
9. I moreover discovered that the defences within
which the enemy fought, had been works of two months'
preparation, and I have seldom seen better cavalry than
those, which for the first time displayed themselves,
when the light companies fell back on her Majesty's
41st, at which moment several of the enemy were
bayoneted in their attack on the square of that half
battalion.
10. On the morning of' the 29th, it was percep-
tible that the insurgents had been collecting further
reinforcements of armed villagers during the night,
and that arrangements were making by them on an
increased scale to resist any renewed assault on our
part, and it being evident that the object of my re-
maining in the Pisheen Valley was negatived, whilst
its resources and communications were thus in the
hands of an enemy much stronger than myself, and that
the latter could not be dislodged from the important
heights he occupied without incurring severe addi-
tional losses, I felt I should best serve the views and
interests of Government, by falling back to my position
at this place until reinforced ; and I am happy to say
that this difficult operation has been accomplished,
although encumbered with a train of 1,500 baggage
animals and camels, and four and a half lakhs of trea-
sure, and many wounded men, notwithstanding the con-
stant presence of the enemy, without hurry, and without
incurring the loss of any baggage or article of public
property, beyond such as might reasonably happen in
any ordinary march in India.
11. In passing near some strong ground yesterday,
near Hoolach, a company of her Majesty's 41st regi-
ment ascended a steep hill on our left, and killed six-
teen of a'party of the enemy, from whom our column
was receiving some annoyance in its progress, many
others being wounded.
12. Having now detailed the circumstances belonging
to the military events in this vicinity for the last few
days, I solicit the favour of bringing to the notice of the
Right Honourable the Governor-General in Council, the
good conduct of the troops generally, and the gallantry
of her Majesty's 41st in particular, under Major Browne.
I had every reason to be also satisfied with the good
practice of Captain Leslie's efficient battery; and Major
Apthorp of the 20th Bombay Native Infantry (severely
wounded, and since dead), led tho light companies to the
attack in the best possible style.
13. I have received from Major 'Wyllie, Assistant-
Adjutant General, Captain Boyd, Assistant Quarter-
Master-General, Captain Davidson, Deputy Commissary
General, and the rest of the Officers of the Staff, very
valuable and zealous assistance.
Sinde Field Force.
Return of Casualties in Action with the Enemy, near
Hykulzye, on the 28th March, 1842.
Head Quarters, Camp, near Hoochlach,
March 30, 1842.
Her Majesty's 41st Regiment Foot-1 captain, 2 ser-
geants, 1 corporal, 14 privates, killed ; 1 sergeant, 1
corporal, 50 privates, wounded.
Light Company sth Regiment N. 1.-1 sepoy, killed ; 3
sepoys, wounde.i.
Light Company 20th Regiment N. 1.-5 sepoys, killed ;
1 major, 2 naicks, 7 sepoys, wounded.
Light Company 25th Regiment N. 1.-1 naick, 2 sepoys,
killed ; 6 sepoys, wounded.
Total-1 captain, 2 sergeants, 2 corporals or naicks, 22
privates or sepoys, killed ; 1 major, 1 sergeant, 3 cor-
porals or naicks, 66 privates, or sepoys, wounded.
Grand Total-27 killed ; 71 wounded.
Names of Officers killed or wounded—Captain W. May,
her Majesty's 41st Regiment killed ; Major F. Ap-
thorp, 20th N. I. commanding Light Battalion,
wounded severely and dangerously ; since dead.
Remarks—Wounded-13 privates, dangerously ; 1 ser-
geant, 3 corporals, 20 privates, severely ; 33 privates,
slightly.
W. WYLLIE, Major, Assistant-Adjutant-
General, S.F.F.
* 4 Guns, Horse Brigade, i Troop 3d Lt. Cavalry, 5
Comps. H.M. 41st Reg., 6 Comp. Bombay, N. 1., 50
Poona Horse.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.
HOUSE OF COMMONS, thine 7.

The SPEAKER. took the Chair shortly before Four
o'Clock.
EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN IN MINES.

Sir R. IL INGLIS presented a petition from the
clergy of the Established Church in the West Riding of
Yorkshire, in favour of the measure of the Noble Lord
the Member for Dorsetshire, to regulate the employment
of children in mines ; also a petition, with a similar
prayer, from the ministers and' members of various Dis-
senting congregations in Yorkshire.
POOR-LAW AMENDMENT ACT.

In reply to a question froth Mr. S.CRA.NiFORD,
Sir J. GRAHAM said that it was not.his intention to
move the second reading of the Poor-law Amendment.
Act until the tariff was disposed of.
EMPLOYMENT OP CHILDREN IN MINES.

Lord ASHLEY presented a petition from Cheltenham,
in favour of a Bill for regulating the employment of
children and women in mines and colieries. The Noble
Lord, in submitting to the house the Bill of which he
had given notice, then proceeded to say that it would not,
he hoped, be deemed presumptuous on his part that
when he rose to propound his motion to the House, and
when he asked for its sympathy and partial hearing, he should
add, at the same time, that he felt quite certain of obtaining
their indulgence. The novelty of the subject, its magnitude,
the deep and solemn interest that attached to it throughout the
country, and the consideratien of its vital influence on the wel-
fare of so large a portion of our fellow-countrymen, would be
of themselves sufficient to obtain for him a favourable hearing.
He would not, moreover, forget the indulgence which he had
on many former occasions experienced from the House. lie
might now perhaps be allowed just so far to speak of himself as
to say that there was some little reason why he then pressed.
himself forward in bringing this matter under the notice of
Parliament. The Report lying on the table was the
first Report of the Commission for which he had
the honour to move in the month of August, 1840.
The prayer of that motion had been granted by the
then Administration ; and he must avail himself of that
opportunity and of every other fitting opportunity of expressing
his sincere and heartfelt thanks to the members of the late
Government, and more especially to his Hon. Friend the
Member for Perth, the then Under-Secretary of State, and to
his Noble Friend in the other House of Parliament. at that
time at the head of the Home Department, riot only for the
Commission which they had granted, but for the Commissioners
they had appointed—gentlemen who had discharged the
duties assigned to them with unrivalled skill, fidelity, and
zeal.—( Hear, hear.) Now it was impossible for any one,
whatever might be his station, if he had but a heart in his
bosom, to read the details of that awful document without com-
bined feelings of shame. of horror, and indignation. But he
would dwell on the evils of the system rather than on those
who might be accused as being in some measure its authors.
An enormous mischief had been discovered, and an immediate
remedy was called for. Sure he was, that if those who had
power would be as ready to abate oppression as those who had
suffered would be to forget its infliction—sure he was that
there would take place such a revival of good understanding
between master and man, between wealth and want, between
the rulers and the ruled, as would conduce to the restoration of
social comfort, and, under God's blessing, to the permanent
security of the empire.--( Hear, hear.) When he moved for
the Commission he ventured to state the manifold and impor-
tant character of the information that would be derived from
that inquiry, and that expectation had been fulfilled. There
were other Reports still to come, which would show the whole
condition of the people. The Report that had already been made
showed many sad causes of pauperism, and disorders
engendered by the present system, which was, evidently, tend-
ing fast to the destruction of the British race. The Report
also showed the condition, moral, social, and religious, of the
people. He knew it might be said that vice was not new—
that it had occurred, and would occur again. That was true
enough, but the danger to the country from these things was
net comparative but absolute. Their forefathers had to deal
with thousands, while they had to deal with millions. They
must act boldly with the evil, or its magnitude would be so
great that it could not be overcome. He would now proceed
to show what was the condition of the lower orders of the
country who worked in mines and calleries ; in doing so he
would have to detain the House with a long and wearisome
detail ; but it was better to make out a case by evidence
than by mere statement. He would first of all call the atten-
tion of the House to the age and sex of persons employed in
mines and collieries. This differed in different parts, and in
some parts the male only was employed, while in others the
female was employed too, and in South Staffordshire, Shropshire,
and Derbyshire, it was the custom to employ children in col.
holies at the age of five or six years. In Somerset, children be-
tween five and six years of age were employed in the mines.
In the smaller collieries, towards the hills, they were even at an
earlier age. In Cumberland many at seven years of age ; in
South Durham some were found as early as five years of age.
There was a :remark of the Commissioner, Dr. Mitchel, on
this subject, which he would mention. The Commissioner said
it was very true the children employed were not very numerous,
still their number was such as was painful to contemplate.
Many there were who now heard of such a state of things
for the first time, but it was an evil which he firmly believed
they would hear of with sorrow and regret. However, in jus
tice to the great coal mines in the north of England, he
(Lord Ashley) must say that the greatest care and
kindness had been shown towards the workmen, and many
of the evils stated in the Report were not mentioned as appli-
cable to the great northern mines. In North Devon there were
some children employed in the mines at five years of age. In
the east of Scotland it was more common for children to begin
work at five or six years than in England. In the west of
Scotland children began to work at a very early age. In North
Wales children of five years of age were rarely employed in the
mines, but very commonly at seven years of age. In South
Wales more cases occurred of children of early age than in any
other. It was not unusual there to take them into the pits at
four years of age. In North Somerset the ages were generally
between six and seven. In Ireland the ages at which children
were sent into the mines were never under thirteen and between
that and eighteen. With respect to Ireland, he saw that
neither children of tender years, nor females of any age what-
ever, were employed in those underground operations. He
could not hut say that he had often admired the generosity and
warm-heartedness of the Irish people, and he must say that if
this were to be taken sea specimen of their barbarism, he would
not exchange it for all the refinement and polish of the most
civilised nations. The next point was the character
of the localities ; and this formed a very material con-
sideration. If the ventilation and drainage were good,
that was a great alleviation. If otherwise, the most
painful diseases would be engendered. The character
of the employment must depend, to a great extent, on the
seam, which varied from ten inches to twenty yards. In South
Staffordshire the mines were warm and dry, and there was a
considerable supply of fresh air for ventilation. The same
I might be said of 'Warwickshire and Leicestershire, but in Der-
byshire the state of things was very fearful; black damp was
very prevalent, the ventilation was very bad, there were fre-
quent and fatal explosions, and the work people were greatly
distressed by the quantity of carbonic gas which every where
abounded. The Report stated that many of the pits were so
wet, that the work people had to work all day with their shoes
covered with water, which was constantly dripping from the
roofs; and that, a short time after they commenced their day's
labour, their clothes were drenched. The children, especially,
complained of this state of things. It must be borne in mind,
that in this district the regular period for a full day's labour was
fourteen, and occasionally sixteen hours.—(Hear, hear.) In
North Lancashire, the drainage was extremely bad; the place
was always knee-deep, and often belly-deep in water. In the
east of Scotland, the working was sometimes from one
hundred to two hundred yards from the main road : the
females had to crawl back on their hands and knees;
the drainage and ventilation wore both exceedingly bad.
In North Wales the roads were low and narrow ; the place
was dirty, nasty, damp, and badly ventilated. In South
Wales ventilation was neglected. The people complained of
the presence of carbonic acid gas, sufficient to produce ju-
rious effects on the workmen, though not to stop the works.
As a general result, the Commissioners stated that the work-
men in Glamorganshire and Pembrokeshire suffered from want
of ventilation, which produced unwholeiome diseases, which
had a manifest tendency to shorten life or abridge the years
of useful labour. The House would see it was absolutely neces-
sary, in order to make out a case, that he should state the
matter accurately, and for this purpose it was better to quote
the words of the evidence itself, which might easily be height-
ened by the efforts of one's own imagination.—( Hear. )
Now, with regard to the nature of the employment, this was
especially worthy the attention of the House. It appeared that
children and young persons were employed to draw loads by
chains in Shropshire, Derbyshire, the West Riding of York-
shire, Lancashire, Cheshire, the north of Scotland, Wales, and
South Yorkshire. The children were compelled to go on all
fours, with a girdle round the waist, and they were to draw
loads by a chain which passed between their legs. Those places,
where they were so employed, were worse than a common
sewer, and more wet, and they continued all day working in
foul air, a damp place, and destructive tempera' ure.
What was the testimony of the people themselves on
this point. One said .‘ the labour was severe." An
old miner said, he could only say it was a barbarity.','
A young child, Robert Norfolk, said " that he was taken to
work at seven years of age; that a girdle was tied round
him; that the skin broke, and the blood rae down." He
said "that he was afraid of being beaten if he said anything,
and that he could not straighten his back the whole day." In
the West Riding of Yorkshire girls were employed as carriers,
and they worked, being naked down to the waist. In many
collieries these females worked with adult colliers, who were
also naked ; two gentlemen stated, that though living within a
few miles, they could not have believed that such cruelty ex-
isted. The Commissioner went on to say, that in a pit near
New Mill the chain had worn holes in the trousers of two
girls, and he states that no sight could be so disgusting or
indecent—no brothel could equal it. It was impossible (said
the Noble Lord) to enlarge on all these horrors ; the evidence
was most abundant, and selection would be difficult, but this
he would say, that nothing could be mere graphic or touch-
ing than the evidence of many of these poor girls themselves,
who, insulted, oppressed, and corrupted as they had been,
exhibited oftentimes a simplicity and kindness which ren-
dered tenfold more heartrending the system that had forced them
away from the holier and happier duties to which Providence
had destined them, into occupations so unsuited, so harsh, and so
degrading.—( Cheers. ) Some girls had to traverse 12,000,
14,000, and even 16,000 yards daily. In the east of Scotland
s a
years of age, had to make fourteen journey
girls and women were mostly employed in carrying coal ; and
one girl, of six
day with a weight of 501bs. of coal in each journey, having- to
ascend a height equal to that of St. Paul's cathedral.--( Hear. )
It appeared, from the evidence taken before the Commissioners, that fathers
liftingfrequently ruptured themselves in lifting coals upon their children's backs. —( Hear, hear.) If this system
were bad for the female sex generally, it was still more hor-
rible for pregnant women. He would refer them to the evi-
dence of the work people themselves, and he would rely rather
upon the evidence of the work people than upon all the other
evidence put together. He had never been misled by the evi-
dence of the working people in any thing that related to their
own condition.—( Cheers.) Let them look at the evidence of
Betty Halse. She stated that she worked with a belt round
her waist, and a chain between her legs ; that, in ascending the
pit. she had to lay hold of a rope, and if there were no rope, or
anything that shy could catch hold of, that it was hard work.
That she was frequently standing up to her thighs in water;
that her clothes were constantly wet, and that her skin was
frequently rubbed off by the belt and chain. Instances had been
known in which we.men had been delivered of children and gone
to work in a week. The oppression of coal-hearing was such as to
impair women in after life ; there were few whose legs
were not injured before they> were thirty years old. Vast num-
bers of them had dead children, and they were always obliged
to go to work in the pits within ten or twelve days after they
were delivered, and up to the moment of delivery they were
kept at work. One witness stated that it was only horse work,
that it crushed their haunches, bent their ancles, and made
them old women at forty. One old Scotchwoman said to the
Commissioners, you may just let Queen Victoria know that we
are all true loyal subjects, that we do not mind hard work, but
that we object to horse work, and that she will have the bless-
ings of all the coal women on her head if she will get us out of
the pit and send us to other work.—( Cheers.) So said he
( Lord Ashley ), and she would not only have the blessings of
all the Scotch coal women, but the blessings of every
female who felt for her sex, and of every man
who knew what it was to have a daughter. The
next point of consideration was the hours of work and
time of rest. When the work-people had full employment, it
appeared that the 'regular hours for the children were rarely

• ts
less than 11 hours, more frequently 12,
13 hours. In Derbyshire they worked 17 hours out 0/1_ tbee
taking the time of their leaving home in the morning See
_,
return in the evening. In the east of Scotland they:
overwhelming evidence to prove that that the label* is,
on
continued 15, 16, or 17 hours of the 24. The evidenoeilsl;
that this system operated most injuriously on the_lS4Vt'or
arel in souseelistehe 1424,
well as moral condition of the work-people. There esa:sees,
time set apart for meals, and the poor children took heir
food as best they might. With respect to the physieal,?;
in some parts of the country there was most abandon-
dence. The evidence of the children themselves was , et f‘
sing. A gentleman who had been professionally ertsPeY oi
0 years in the iron works, said that there were manY elesr era,
scrofula of different kinds brought on by this system el !!,,.„t
In North Durham tied Northumberland the people statest:6;
they would willingly suffer a diminution of wages if thejefee
were shortened. In the east of Scotland the peoPle tee is
fatigue the most extreme. Agnes Ker, a young 11„ -eliese
years of age, said, " It is sair crushin work bringing !roe'
burdens." Another said, "It ism sair fatiguing.. 1.!, ,
The result of this kind of labour might be classed arfoneise
stunted growth, crippled gait, irritation of the head spa -tl
~pr.
great variety of diseases, premature old age and deatiliessi
Scott Harrison reported that several became cripples; i ee esd
of the spine were very common ; numbers of ssrleiessl
girls were distorted in the spine and hip ; diseases oft
were frequent; many of them were ruptured, even mu's, ell
over exertion, and many were ruptured on both sill: oil
the medical witnesses agreed in these statements. -111,.
destructive disease which affected them was asthma; the',
affected as early as seven years of age, and at the age of
there was scarcely one amongst them that was not airmy-eof
for several years at first, the patient did not suffer in Asset
health;' their health soon gave way, however, and the °St si
was scarcely ever ended. The cause of this was, the s 7 boil
proper ventilation. " The men," said an old miner °f est
experience, "die off like rotten sheep." The next diwadi
a very extraordinary one, and of which the House Pain
might might not have heard, it was the melanosis, eile.
black spittle, which arose from there not being attwtes
oxygen in the air. The medical officers said it•w:tio
most serious and fatal disease of all; Dr. Lesit',
said the symptoms were lassitude of the whole botly,l47orise
of breath, frequent stitches in the side, quick pulse in S
ing 100 strokes a minute—severe coughs night and ds.s_eeeilis
copious expectoration of black- spittle. It could D`r;i:tb.
wondered at, then, that premature old age and death s.re tel
result of the labour, and that long before death cause et di
were deprived, throueh disease, of the means of obtat7ee
livelihood. Another witness stated, that at the age of ;00
greater part of the colliers might be considered as disabieeleo
as old men. Six months' labour in the mines, it was We' Senough to effect a visible change in the parties emploYll,lo
) witness said that the foul air in the mines seriously affealTYo,
lungs of the children, and contributed to shorten theiriosi
The Commissioners in their summary of the Reportelfret
that diseases were very often engendered in the mines, aljes
each generation of that class of labourers were conestrm'y
ttnct soon atter 50. The moral effects of the systelkese
equally prominent, and equally pernicious. He would °'''
few statements upon that heed, which would show the
es
of those people, and how necessary it was they should, H. es
devise a remedy fur the evil.—( Hear, hear.) A . • dr
stated in his evidence that children of humble tempete.,l:oo
ole
duet often returned after a season in the collieries grerm
rupted, and, as an old teacher said, " with the malt
dispositions." The effect of the system was ,to supafr
habits and feelings of ferocity that were perfectly trete!
One boy said, that being unable to do what was be/o0
is 4
strength, he was thrown down and two of his ribs kielS_e_aroi
Another witness said that a boy was beaten with a stiFfoli
trampled on till he could scarcely steed. Another witeo
that boys were frequently beaten till the blood flowed fret;
wounds. Another person stated that he saw the uncle % 10
take him by the ears, and knock his head against the warel
Yorkshire he was happy to say the accounts were more P.'isi
able. In Halifax it is stated that they treat girls if
as boys. One Commissioner stated that on seeing es
bleeding in the face, and making inquiry as to the cause, bi•
been informed that the lad had been knocked dawn and st -
upon by a collier, and in another case he had seen a b°ler
0%
his eye knocked out, and otherwise maimed. There sreriifets
doubt many exceptions to this ; but he was sorry to set-a 4
generally speaking, colliers showed themselves a most arnso
and ferocious race. The moral effect of these things W::00e
enough in the male, but it operated much worse in the ;eer
They were brought up in ignorance of everything tbe4pssii,
to know, and from the statements he had before him it issi
that the females employed in mines were worse than Int"
that when once their morals were corrupted their langamacji
conduct became frightful in the extreme. The Rev. 00
..I'ol
Robins stated that the practice of working females in Sneuients
was one of the greatest evils, physical, intellectual, and
oc•or
In consequence of the degraded condition of the per° IS
gaged in the coal mines, the peasants refused to riner,l'' '
daughters of colliers. The men drank, and the wesrm73.
lowed their example. Dr. Thornwall gave it as his -10;
opinion that women brought up in this way scarcely knefore?
00
modesty was, except by name ; and he trusted that •be • of,
died he should have the satisfaction of seeing the srtelal If'
away with. He (Lord A.) knew that the Commissienerlttesel
not by any means told the worst of the story. But it rei,d
no stretch of imagination for those who heard the,: :‘,:e.
sent statement to conceive what the extent of the evil' jean y
It was an evil which required the vigorous and km-nestle...oo
terposeion of the law to remedy it. Its suppression W° if'
for, by the public virtue, public honour, public character''
he rejoiced to say by the public sympathy. Never bedy
been since the first disclosures of the atrocities of theed
trade so universal a feeling of horror as was now Sall
throughout the country on this matter. The well-intent
iOOO
and honest proprietors who were anxious for an smelt
would be gratified to learn of the introduction of the .
Bill. He should propose in his Billto cut off the princiPa_oll•ei_st
4
He should propose the total exclusion of all females ft°,o
mines and collieries in the kingdom. But there were rr ,
who were interested in maintaining the system, and 1!...'
elate to the House the motives which induced these p 40
oppose an alteration. The work people themselves tel_;eir
04
girls and women never got coals, they only remained ara Of,
sad a woman at best was only considered as half a snen:g.liti
underlooker said that one reason why the warns'''.
employed, or frequently in the coal-pits, was that seel-
twenty years of age would work for 2s. a day, or e•f:
man of that age would demand 3s. 6d. It
renee to the coal master; the only difference was, tAdfAr
collier could spend Is. or Is. 6d. per day more at .inif,
house. But let them loot at the mischief of the systesses,:A
it a good arrangement for the women ? Quite' the Iv '
A surgeon of Barnsley said the female character welfyeser
destroyed ; that females so employed could neither 4i_Ta-0
the duty of wives nor mothers, and that he could Pre,i4.
greatest difference in the homes of those colliers wholly:0A •
did not go into the pits. The Sub-Commissioner, 31r.% 001
made littlehasio.
summed up by saying, that, after taking a very extegill; 00' .
of the whole case; the result of his inquiries was, that nfia,
ployment of young persons in such labours shut them 010
all useful knowledge ; that the wives could do little to
their homes comfortable, and that the husbands were 00
stantly driven to the ale-house. But in this matter thei_4oi
not left to mere speculation ; they had the benefit of eins4eei,
Mr. James Wright, who was manager to the Pe esse°'
Buccleuch, stated, that four years ago he superintended •
mines, from which females and young children were ex;;
and the consequence of their exclusion was a vast insPre
isivelii!tr
in the comforts and general condition of the colliers.•-• , .
families left, being desirous to avail themselves of the iseureeil,
their females, and went to other pits, many of whom re' fp)
arid the colliers were much more regular than heretofore.,
Alexander Maxwell, who first issued those orders, led,'
ger, stated that many families left, but they returned e,
they found the roads were improved, and many`
males went into service and preferred it. Mr. Wejll4o4o
ceeded—and he begged to call the attention of the no 01$1.
what he stated—he said he felt confident that the eal Fe,
of females was advantageous to the colliers in a physt‘T , '
of view. And why ? The cause was perfectly disgust, sse
000
was worse than anything he ( Lord Ashley) ever heard
cause the males would not work e. nset roads—the leeeksir,
were brought only when nr nova could be inde stertS
draw or work. They were mere beasts of the iet'
How were they to remove this system and of°
duce a better? By the exclusion of females the etee:br,
would be compelled to alter their system; the pits srfeeett
better ventilated, and better roads would be made, nest
change the system as to enable men who new worked
eight days in the fortnight, to discover their own intelDbl':
the alteration. This was confirmed by the statement '"e, eft
Hulton, who never suffered females or children armit:,
years of age to go into pits, the consequence of which
0,1,
that the population there was in a state of great cons ,e'
comfort and morality. This was corroborated by Mr. "se
who said that in consequence of new ventilation and inti..o 04
~,,
roads a man and two boys got as much money as on,e-
whole of the females were employed, and many of the 17101,,i
able femals went into service.—(Cheers.) Women iliTeerei
entirely excluded, and no boys were employed under t' e
years of age. There were the rules, and the results h
see'
meet beneficial to the state of the colliers. Before theleint
0
were made, the colliers were in the habit of nugrati;ogrottl
propertion of one-fourth, but since only in the pro
,is
one-eighth. He migl:t very easily accumulate' ft
but he would not detain the House ; be migh_its'Aereei:
sfroi
ever, state that the manager of the Duke of
i,
clench had said that since women and children bad m-kdo
eluded from his Grace's mines, they had never had 007,74
raise the price of coal.—( Hear, hear.) The next point 0
Bill was the exclusion of boys under the age of thirteen ' i
and he would state why he took this for the limit. In tb:
place the Factory Act prohibits the labour of children. ri
that age, and the employers in the cotton and woollen t 4
h„,„..1
complained that an undue advantage was given to 5111.,, 11050.
and coal works; he wished to place them on an equalte
_Vt.
they might be able to procure a sufficient supply of chi" r
,srS
the age of thirteen, to meet the demands of the COttt
woollen manufacture. The evidence went to show that t;eorse';
years ought rather to be the age, and that he should rbefirefe
prefer, but he had taken thirteen for the reasons he haueeel,
stated. If they went down into the pit there they n3110'04,
and work as long as those who set them to work chase' 4. 05;
subterranean inspection, that was impossible at presets hie
even if possible, it would not be safe. He would not It"
an inspector to go dawn into a mine to do anything thligeeeila-,..
be distasteful to the miners. Mr. Mitchell said that allW"obeet S.
down into the mines must work what time the ininerioeteer s,
It was impossible to have any thing like a system of 'v, Ir- Y
the mines. Persons guilty of offences against the ea eiSn,
which were not heinous in the eyes of the miners, foenle",,, 0"
'+'
r
firge there. In fact, few persons ventured to go dov eil ni• iof
..A .
was abundant evidence to show that the children einP' pre
mines never dared to complain of ill usage. Pueisbe)ebei ":1 e .
been interdicted by the owners in many instances:oo4/e.- --,,
colliers worked alone below the ground, and had fallege eelle
inflicting punishment on whoever they pleased. If the be
were men of regular habits, there would be no nee bettee
their employing women and children in the Intne;es'es sie)ei *
greater part of the men would not work more than etlder to
or some nine days in a fortnight, and spent the re'nsoleree
the time in drunkeness and debauchery, anti then, in jese an
make up for this lest time, they took d iwn their symeee
el
children into the pits. If the labour of women and enold 6;
the pits were entirely prohibited, then the men ". t pr°,4
~
mesas to do their duty in a proper manner. The neesteployeo
sion he would introduce was that no persons should be , be s'oe
as engineers, but. males turned twenty-one years of at!e'eslin of '.
quite sure that the matter was one which should be I"srvie!eg
if they wished to preserve many valuable lives for the 007
the country. Dr. Richards stated that in "Perot. et
districts of Devonshire, accidents were very num, droril,„,t
many mines, the miners were let down and ee the
with baskets attached to ropes worked by a steam-e 4.4 ts"seeb
engine was frequently left in the charge of children_ ;ta ~...g
elevee, and even five years of age. The Srib-In'Pery o'ree
it was very common in Derbyshii e to emeloY vee 001 Leis
children for that purpose ;he had known children let ° re. i.
years of age performing that duty; the men were
so so 101 ,
six at a time, and he had frequently seen the chi
iesners eri
less as to let the rope get off the pulley. Thse 0,010100
that the worst thing that happened to them was -het till a ted
little bits of boys as engineers, and he added, that be trnibis
knew the value of a man's life, he Was not fit S.
posessie er '
with the management of engines. Accidents were ts'of drew ey•
when children were the engineers,
the burden over the wheel gear. Mr. Wild slake recir ea i
which all the men in the basket were frequently P eine ode
One eis°'—,,
in consequence of this, ted
to the bottom of the pit and crushed to atoms. by a s I
was mentioned to have had his attention attractednseigoesr ee,
running across the floor; he neglected, in cle wheel, 0
put on the break; the burden turned over I
seetoe eee
anti six unfortunate people were dashed to the
course, lost their lives. Such accidents were .
.t
..,
eurrence. With respect o the fourth and last r"--
ob *l'6e-to . '''

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