The Sun.
London, England, 1829-01-14 00:00:00

COTTON FACTORIES.

We are induced, from representation's which
• have been made to us, to revert to the abomi-
nable system which is still continued in Wigan, of
working over hours in factories. We have it
now before us from indisputable authority, that
on, Wednesday week a certain factory in that
town, which employs about three hundred hands,.
was open from six o'clock in the morning until
twelve at night. Many of the persons employed
are mere infants. The only interval between, or
cessation.from labour, was about three quarters of
; an hour, allowed for dinner. We are furnished
with several other instances, in the same factory,
of excessive toil. It has often been our duty to
animadvert with just severity on the continuance
of a practice which is sapping the foundation of
the real interests of the country. For what pur-
pose, or upon what principle, was Mr. Peel's
Act passed, limiting, under penalties, the hours
of employment ? Was not humanity taken
into consideration, and are not many of the
Wigan manufacturers therefore doubly guilty.--
first, in disregarding those benevolent feelings
which ought to influence every master in his
Conduct ; and next, in violating a law enacted
for the reasonable protection of the workman,
against the grinding demands of his employer ?
But we are told that in Wigan the workman has
little chance of redress. It is a borough town,.
and has, of course, its own exclusive jurisdic-
tion, as well as the appointment of its own Ma-
gistrates, who are individuals generally inte-
rested in, or engaged in the cotton trade,. and
are excluded, according toMr. Peel's Act, from r
sitting in judgment in any case .which con-
cerns their interests. Thus, if a complaint
should be made to the present judicial autho-
rities in Wigan, they would reject it on the
ground which we have just stated ; and, as
the County Magistrates have no power to in-
terfere within the precincts of that immaculate
Borough, the poor weaver, however glaring his
wrongs, is completely isolated. The question
then is as to the remedy ? We think that it
will be a sufficient ground for an application to
Parliament, and we are pretty confident that if
the matter be fairly represented to Mr. Peel,
either directly or through the medium of some
independent Member of Parliament, amend-
ments would be made to obviate the evil. The
accounts which we almost daily hear are shock-
ing to humanity, and we will gladly render our
assistance in exposing and holding up to public
reproof, a system which cannot be justified on
any principles of necessary expediency.
We have also had a communication from
Padiham, giving a most deplorable -account of
the wretched condition of the operatives in that
place. Families are emigrating, and begging
their bread, and in one instance, where relief ,
was applied for to the overseers, they were pre-
sented with nine turnips ! ! Need there be
any comment on this ?—Bolton Chronicle.

A CURIOUS WAGER.—A gentleman in this
town agreed to give another one guinea far every Lloyd's
List that was published without the name of George
Cunning, during the years 1827 and 1828: on the other
hand, his opponent was to give him a guinea every time
any veseel called the George Canning was mentioned in the
list. It is supposed the Canuingito will win a considerable
sum.—Liverpool Albion.

Till; MORAL EFFECT OF ROME UPON THE
TeAvsm.Ea.—Those only who have lived in Rome can
duly estimate the potent and lasting impression produced
upon the mind of a thinking man by :t residence in this
capital of the ansient world. The daily contemplation of
No many classical and noble objects, eevates awl purified
the soul, and has a powerful tendency to allay the inconsi-
derate fervours and impettioditiee of youth, to mature and
consolidate the character. lam already so altered, and, I
Wave the vanity to think, so improved a man since tay ar-
rival here, that there are times when I almost doubt xns
own identity, and imagine, that by some preternatural
agency, I have been born over again, and have had new
blood and new vitality infused into my frame.—B/ach-
woNds Magazine.

HIGHLAND ROAD.—The heritors of Inver-
net49-shire seem at length to be awakened to a sense of
their rashness and imprudence in hastily opposing the
views of the Parliamentary Commissioners, respecting the
shortening the Highland road from Invernem to Spey
Bridge. At a Special Meeting of the county held on
Friday last, it was unanimously resolved, that the farther
consideration of the paestion should he adjourned till the
12th of February, and that in the interim a Committee of
heritors ebould correspond with the Commissioners, and
report accordingly. This wise and prudent course was
strongly pressed upon the county, at the former Meeting,
by its able Chairman, Mr. B. Grant, M.P. ; hut front
motives purely end avowedly selfish, disregarded. Whether
the atrieturee of ours:Ares and eoutemporaries, aided by
part of the local press (the Inverness Courier), have
tented to recall the heritora to a proper Renee of their duty,
we shall net stop to inquire ; bat new that the measure is
placed on a proper footing, we treat nothing will occur
to prevent an adjuatmeut of the cauflicting claims of
the Heritors and CA)nanziseionere, or to frustrate a
measure of such vast importance to the Northern
counties. Whate►er tends to facilitate the mane
of communication between the capital and the more
remote portions of the kingdom eannot fail of proving
beneficial to both, particularly to the latter, in which there
is ample scope fur improvement. The exertions of the
Commissioners in opening up the Highlands by means of
roads, bridges, and other public works, have already
completely transformed the aspect of the country, and
placed it fully a century in advance, as regards commerce
and civilization. The heritors of Inverness-whire, there,
fore, should be cautious how they con3e to an angry colli-
sion with the Parliamentary Couirnissioners, by who're
splendid exertions they have been so largely benefited. We
understand that at the nreeting on Friday, Convenor Tyt-
ler pointed out in very f,,rcible terms the inconsistency and
injuriout tendency of the late rash proceedings of the
county; and though nearly all the protesters were present,
with the exception of a few words of en apologetic nature
from Captain Fraser of Balnaia, not one voice was lifted
up ix their defence.-- Caledonian Mercury.

William Burton, an antiquated genius of the
Don Giovanni specie., was tried for assaulting Luke
Brown, a labourer, ot Goabertou. Mr. Burk% is appa-
rently a man well to do in the world, awt from the ❑eat
inclosure of his i.apacious coat, be ghuice.: %,!!jr 7.soka
at the unfortunate Wight who dared to complain ot
Poor Brown, who seemed to have strived to drown sor-
row in mighty draughts of ale, stated his cue with a vo-
lubility of utterance which defied the attention of the
Court, interlarding his account with sundry node and
winks, and " thinks I, you know." He commenced by
saying, " One niorniug last November, I caught Burton
in bed witk my wife ! They lay there
_quite comfortable,
you know ; and thinks I, that's hardly right, you see; and
I believe I said to him many bad words, you know."
This was his account ; and as for the assault which fol-
lowed, he thought "it was quits natural like." The
gay old spark, who had manifested sundry tokens of
isrr-
patience during the first part of the trial, drew forth a
sleet of paper, apparently covered with writing, which he
proceeded deliberately t* unfold. This he declared to be
his defence, which he read in a monotonous tone, that ren-
dered it superlatively ridiculous. It commenced Gentle-
men of the Bench! On Thursday, October the SOtb,
one thousand eight hundred and twenty-eight'—and then
followed a long cock and bull story about gathering
applea in an orchard, The Chairma❑ told him he
could not permit such nonsense to occupy the atten.
tion of the Court, and proceeded to sum up the 04.42 1
when he was interrupted by -Burton, whs. vociferated
"another moment, Sir, if you please ;" and then with the
most impudent demeanour, continued his reading. He
was, however, at length stopped, and continued peaceable
until the Chairman remarked upon the inconsistency of
wasting the time of the Court in adjusting such ridiculous
trifles. " Trifle-3," cried Burton, " trifles! you call
them: I say no more," with a significant look, " I say no
more, Sir." He was tiltimstely &nod guilty, and sen-
tenced to pay a fine of one shilling. The poor simple
husband, after this public declaration of his own blessed
lot, looked very sheepish, or according to one of the flashes
of modern slang, as if he had been done Brown.—Roston
Gazette,

ToTAI. DESTRUCTION OF 'MR TITtATRE

ROYAL, GLASGOW, BY FIRE.

(From the Glasgow Herald of Monday.)

On Saturday,about twelve o'clock at noon, smoke
was observed to issue somewhere about the roof of
the Theatre, but none of the spectators imagined it
\vas anything more serious than a foul vent in the
house immediately adjoining. This conjecture, how-
ever, soon proved to be erroneous, for in twenty
minutes afterwards the whole extent of our large and
beautiful Theatre was enveloped in fire, presenting
such an appalling appearance as to set all human ex-
ertions to extinguish the flames at defiance. The
whole of the engines and water-butts were on the
spot while the smoke was as yet issuing from
the roof; but so instantaneously did the fire pro-
ceed, that a minute after showed Mr. Davidson,
the active Director of the Fire Department, and all
Present, that it was entirely hopeless to attempt to
seve the building ; and although water was con-
tinued to be thrown on the flames through every
erevir,:, it was only for the purpose of diminishing
the fury of the element, in order to preserve that
fine line of buildings which extends the whole length
of, and immediately adjoins, the Theatre. The ap-
pearance of the inside of the house from the large
back door, at this period, was awfully grand. The
whole of the interior presented one mass of living
fire ; and now and then, when part of the galleries
and boxes fell down into the pit, the flames arose
from the building to a height and with a fury that
created the greatest apprehensions not only for
the safety of the contiguous premises, but also, at
one period, for the new Exchange, erecting at a
short distance.
The calamity was so sudden and unexpected, that
we may safely say mot a particle of all the property
contained in the house has been saved; for although,
Ly the exertions and meritorious daring of individuals,
numerous small articles of dress and decoration were
thrown from the windows ; they were, comparatively
speaking, mere trifles. We understand it is pretty
correctly ascertained that the fire was occasioned by
the carelessness of a person unconnected with the
Theatre, who had charge of the gas, which, in a pipe
at the top of the gallery stair, had been allowed to
burn all night without the jet; and when the pressure
came on, the flame of course blazed out and set fire
to the roof of the saloon.
The casualty was first discovered in the interior
by the performers, while engaged 'a the rehearsal of
Blue Beard, (which was to have been brought out
on Nlonday, with most magnificent scenery and deco-
rations) and a carpenter was instantly sent up to
look after it, but it was discovered that the fire had
made too great progress to be checked, and the per-
formers were glad to save their lives and any little
articles they could lay their hands on in tho panic
of the moment.--In the midst of this calamity there
exists a universal feeling of sympathy for Mr. Sey-
mour, the Manager, who has lost every article of
property he had in the house, amounting, we believe,
in value, to no less than 2,0001. ; but we sincerely
hope, in fact we have no doubts on the subject, that
the people of Glasgow will find some means to
benefit him, and enable him to koep on the performers
till they get other engagements, or till he shall open
another house. Mr. Seymour has long been a most
faithful, indefatigable, and unwearied public servant,
struggling almost continually with up-hill work;
always failing to enrich himself, but never failing in
his spirited endeavours to please, and to procure for
the gratification of the public the very best per-
formers, of every description, of which the land
could boast.

Every article, we have said, belonging to Mr.
Seymour, has been destroyed—the whole of the va-
luable wardrobe, besides a set of new scenery which
was to have been shipped in a day or two for Belfast,
for the purpose of opening there with Miss Foote,
and a complete assortment of new scenery for a
little theatre in the island of Bute, to which Mr.
-Kean had subscribed .501. Oae chest of music, va-
lued at', 2001., shared the same fate as the other
Property, as well as the whole of the books and
Papers in the Treasury, and a small sum of money
Mr. Seymour had left on his table while he went to
the Bank for cash to pay the wages of the per-
formers, and where he was at the time the fire broke
oat: had likewise about 2001. worth of wood on
luau in the house, fitted up for the performances of
Mr. Ducrow, which is also all destroyed. We un-
derstand that Mr. Seymour had Madame Catalani,
with Mr. Yaniewiez, &c. engaged, and that they
were to have commenced performing on Wednesday
week, and that Mr. T. P. Cooke and Mr. Young
were to have appeared in the course of the season,
as well as Mr. Adams and his equestrian troop, be-
sides a large stock company for the winter. The
expenee of erecting the theatre was 18,0001., but it
has always been much too large for this city, and ul-
timately diminished in value to about a third of its
original cost. We understand the proprietors have
't insured at 5,5004 in the following offices :-2,500/.,
ie the North British; .42,000/. in the Atlas; and
1,000/. in the Scottish Union ; but Mr. Seymour
We regret exceedingly, was not insured for a single
Penny.

It is almost invidious to mention names, where
every individual exerted himself to the utmost stretch
of his ability in endeavouring to keep order, and pre-
serve individuals, who, from the most ardent
6Yrnpathy for Mr. Seymour, in many instances put
themselves in the most imminent danger to save
tiites ; but we should be doing injustice to our feel-
ings did we omit to mention, in a particular manner,
the praiseworthy conduct of the Lord Provost, Bel-
lies M‘Lellan and Paterson, as well as the cool and
intrepid deportment of Captain Graham, the Super-
intendent of Police, who was amongst the very first
to .':.,,'over the fire, and who, on more occasions
than one, from motives of humanity, placed himself
in situations of great personal peril in order to pre-
vent others from endangering their safety.
Altich apprehension was entertained. during the
conflagration that the south wall would have fallen
d°wn, in which case a great number of finely carved
Capitals for the new Exchange, which were in a shed
"der it, would have beeu destroyed, but fortunately
this did not take place.
By the advice of Mr. Graham, and the example
of Mr. Devid 'Bell, who lives in the large range of
bui;.:.ng adjoining the Theatre, the iuhabitants were
persuaded not to remove their furniture; which
have
very fortunate, as nearly as much loss might
naYe been sustained in the hustle and wreck of re-
Meval es would have been done had the tenement
caught fire.
By this casualty, in little more than two hours,
our beautiful Theatre, which, we believe, was
amongst the largest in Britain, was reduced to a
heap of sr..oking bu: magnificent ruins.
We cannot neglect to notice, with approbation,
the spirited behaviour of two lads, who, having pro-
cured a ladder, at great risk succeeded in saving
a bass fiddle, worth 30/ and two or three trunks and
chairs.
a Most providentially no lives were lost, neither did
any person receive the slightest injury that we have
beard of.

The Lllowlag (4‘seription of the Theatre is given is
Dr. Cleland's Annals of Glasgow :
" The Theatre in Dunlop-stieet having been
found inconveaieilia:el too small for the accommo-
dation of the ptbtli
a magnificent one has been
erected on the west side of
principle of transferable shares of
251,aa -setarcehe t,f on
dt let e
4igns by Mr. David Hamilton. The 11:o ur "i ild. ...-
is 158 feet long and 70 feet wide, calculated
to contain 1500 persons, or about 2501. per
night, being of greater extent than any of the
provincial theatres. The east front of the building
lii composed of an arcade basement, supporting six
lonic columns, 30 feet high, with corresponding
Pilastures, entablatures, and appropriate devices.
'tile centre, or principal vestibule, which leads to the
bc'es by a d(suble flight of stairs, is separated from
'e tl
corridors by a screen, interspersed with Corin-
thian columns, which gives the entrance a very im-
-leB6ive effect. The spectatory is of an elliptic form,
dr
ul'PluYing two tier of boxes, slips, anti galleries; the

proscenium is 30 feet wide, enriched with antique
ornaments ; and the stage b:llconies are done up in
superior taste. Tile si!oni;o4 ,emery is from the
pencil of the celebrated it ml is greatly
admired; his lend-cape scenes in partimdAr, fine
specimens of the excelleoce of his taste ; the
drop scene, which eAiliiis the pieture,que view of
the Frith of Clyde from Da!nutter Hill, is nut ex-
celled by any thing of the kind in the country.
The building and scenery cost upwards of 18,5001."