The Sun.
London, England, 1842-06-25 00:00:00

COLLIERIES.

The Marqufs of LONDONDERRY presented a
petition from certain coal-owners in Northumberland,
respecting the employment of children in coal mines.
On the parr of the petitioners and of himself
he denied that any such inhuman practices as were set
forth in the Report of the Collieries Commissioners were
permitted in their works. The Noble Marquis corn-
plaint'd in very strong terms of the unfairness with which
he alleged the Commissioners had gone about colleting
evidence. They had communicated only with artful boys
and ignorant young girls, and had put ull their questions
in such a manner as to suggest the answers that would
suit their purpose. More than than that, they had ac-
companied their Report with disgusting and indecent
prints, repro renting things that never took place.
The information he received with respect to the Commissioners
was, that they had been, all four of them, connected with the
Factory Commission, and many of their proceedings in the
Factory Commission had been petitioned against. He did not
think that such reports should be strictly relied on. He felt
quite convicced that those instances cf debauchery and immo-
desty which had been given were very much exaggerated, espe-
cially with regard to Scotland. He knew it for a tact that there
was nothing like immodesty in the collieries in Scotland. It
appeared to him that their Lordships were about to pass a law
which would materially affect a mo.t powerful interest upon
very incorrect and exa7gerated grounds. In the Northern
Counties there was no less than 10,328,0001. sterling invested
in mining interests. It was proosed to educate the children
until they were 13 years of age, and not to allow them to enter
the names until they were 13 years old. Why, vt hat was to become
of them until that time ? Did they not know that the life of
the pit lad was by no means a hard one? It was not nearly so
laborious as that of the sailor. The pit lad chalked things upon
the walls of the
_pit, and was as happy as the day was long,—
(Laughter.) His lite was cheerful and jovial.—(Laughter.)
They were not all born to be educated, and if they were edu-
cated ever so well, they would not be able to meet with employ-
ment. They would educate themselves whenever they saw the
necessity for education, but they were not all barn to be edu-
cated. The petitioners prayed that the inquiry might be
further put sued, with the view of exposing the exaggerated
statements contained in their last report. He bored so, too.
He thought the prayer of the p'titiun was just and reasonable,
and that the stcteinents of the Commissioners ought not to be
allowed to go forth without their Lordships enabling the ca-
lumniated parties to give evidence to exculpate themselves.—
( Hear.) There was no body of employers iu the kingdom who
did more than the owners of coal mines to do justice to those
under them, and in every way to promote their happiness and
well being. It was all very well for a Soble Lord to come
down to the other House of Parliament, and make statements
upon the authority of some artful boys under thirteen years of
age ; but he trusted that their Lordships woted not legislate
upon such statements, hut would inquire carefully and judge fur
thenisel ves.

Th. LORI) CHANCELLOR rose to move the Order of the
Day for the third reading of the Copyright Bill, but •
The Noznx MARQUIS continued amidst great laughter.
He apologised for having so long occupied the House, and
concluded by expressing an anxious desire that the inquiry
should bo proceeded with.
The Bishop of NORWICH would postpone what he had to
say on the subject until the Bill which was before the other
House came up to their Lordships. He could not, however,
avoid saying, that he could not reccgnise any necessity for the
employment of women or children in English or Scotch mines,
when he found to the credit of Ireland that in not one of the
colieries in that country as there a woman or, a child under
sixteen years of age employed.—(Hear, hew.) People were
in the habit of calling the country barbarous, and of applying
opprobious names to the inhabi,ants. People spoke of the dark
anti unenlightened state of the Irish people, but he could wish
that the light of their humanity was reflected in the darkness
and horrors of our English coal mines.