Star.
London, England, 1819-02-26 00:00:00

PARLIAMENTARY 13,

HOUSE OF LORDS, FEBRUARY 2.5.
The Duke of Nournonuat.axe and Lord HowAan of Ef-
fingimm, took the oaths and their seats.
A few Private Bills were brought up from the Commons, by
Admiral Psalm and others, which were severally read the
first time.

STATE OF PRISONS.
Viscount SIDMOUTH brought forward his pro-1
miied Motion on this subject. - He first adverted to
the various and extensive information which their
Lordships had before them on this important subject,
presented either in consequence of the commands of
his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, or of ad-1
dresses from their Lordships. No means were left
untried by his Royal Highness's Government to ob- 1
tain the most full and ample information upon the
subject. The Sheriffs of the different counties, the
Clerks of the Peace, the Mayors, and other Chief
Magistrates of the Cities and Towns throughout the'
United Kingdom, had been desired to furnish the
most acctwitte accounts practicable of the different
Jails, Penitentiaries, Houses of Correction, and other
places of confinement, in their respective districts;
and in consequence copious returns were already re-
ceived, with very feiv exceptions, from the different
parts of England and Wales ; attic from Scotland
much information had also been received; but fuller

information from that and other parts of the United
Kingdom were ere long expected' The extensive in-
formation already before them was of that nature as
he trusted would induce their Lordships to lose no
time in referring to the consideration of a Select
Committee. Among the information 'presented by
command of the Prince Regent, was a statement of
the number of convictions, with the sentences and
executions in the-respective counties, regularly since
the ,year 1805. By this, among other points, they
would see, that the whole amount of, crime in the
last year was less than that of the year preceding ;
and that., proportionably, this was not so greacin
London and Middlesex as in the other counties.
Much'stress, and more than he thought well founded,
was hid upbn the consideration that the state of the
Prisons was the principal occasion of the later in-
crease of crime. The important improvements which
had of late years taken place in the different Prisons,
were highly creditable to the Magistrates and 016-'
cers who had the charge of them. These beneficial
changes were remarkably extensive within the last
two years. The increase of crime of late, the Noble
Secretary thought, was attributable to a variety or a
combination of untoward causes : as the diminution
in the demands for labour ; the high prices of provi-
lions ; the immense number of discharges from the
*soy and army ;—all these causes conmbuted to fill
the jaili and prisons throughout the kingdom : and
the internal state of most of these was, he regretted to
say, such as unavoidably to lead eventually to the
increase of crime. The system of appropriated-pu-
nishment was a consideration also which would merit
the attention of their Lordships, though, as would
clearly appear from the documents, those were ad-
ministered with much less severity than heretofore ;
this would particularly appear from the average of
the last seven years. The system of transportation
to New South Wales wai a part of the subject which
would require particular consideration ; and it ap-
peared to him wotthy'of attention whether some par-
, ticular.place or spot 41 that quarter may not be fixed
on where a separate establishment may be formed
for the more atroci/us and abandoned convicts. Ano-
ther very important consideration was, the system
which obtained in' the interior of our prisons ;, this,
thnltii lr greatly improved of late, was susceptible of
amelioration. , A system of religious instruc-
ted was particularly described, and still more so, a
system for providin constant labour for the priso-
ners. A well re regulated system of this kind would
lufat
be productive of e most beneficial effects, not only
to the habits but the morals of the prisoners. This
he thought a most important consideration—a lead-
ing object in which should be to endeavour to make
the prisons instruments of reform as well as
,pnnish-
mem, and eventually giving a new turn to the cha-
racter of the inmates, and wording to numbers the
means of ulterior livelihood. But until the preva-
lence or the extent of crime was diminished, reform ,
in the prison discipline would be unavailing, if not
impracticable. In this general view of the subject,
and under the circumstances which now presented
themselves, he was certain their Lordships would see
the necessity of going into an inquiry into this im-
portant subject, and of which the important infor-
mation now before them would form the basis. He i
would therefore move—" That a Committee be ap-,
pointed to take intp consideration the different Papers
presented by command of his Royal Highness the,
Prince Regent, on the 18th and the rid sof Fe•
bruary instant, relative to the state of the aili and
other Places of Confinement, in England and Wake,
&c. and the several other matters :elating thereto,
already before their Lordships, and to report on the
same to the House."
The Marquis ofLANSDOWNE roes and expressed
his coincidence with the greater part of what. fell
from the Noble Secretary Of State. He was tat one
of those, he observed, who thought the increase of
crime of late years principally attributable to die 111
state' of - • interior , ' Prisons. ,of
this'
their
required
i the Statutes,
Parliament.
mitt& '

to diverge
impartsfit.
quny at
conviction

also the
partial!
meats may
oesidblip by

execution of the rules .'nolliill;44MP *Prlrisooo of
regoiatin_v prisons as laid duets .1,41140itifrlia-
meat.. He .particalarly • ashasMaixisint the Noble
Seasetaryt •in the•ba.no&itd tvadoetraftsti systvuof
labour established in riot* thmibyreing.!t thenot only a means for • reformanoolof yp-
-1
tut to eontrabate towards the egroo of sup-1
the prisons. The Noble Moms" adverted
te des affects of certain provincial ostshkshascuts of
lbw kind, particularly at Glasgow and Manchester;
asozl of which be entered into some details. Generally:
iptehing he agreed with what the Noble Statillay
°fifth, had advanced. • '
Tbe Motioh,being tben agreed to by the House,
Viscourit,SlDMOUTH proposed that' fbt Com-
mittee should consist of the,following Lords.:
'7411=

other
Bar.
as
to

SLAVES IN THE WEST INDIES.
Lord HOLLAND gave notice of his intention to
move on this day se'unight, for the production of
certain,papers and acts of the Colonial Legislatures,
in the West Indies,. adopted in consequence of the
unanimous address of that House. _But he added,
as he should have some observations to make on. the

subject, it would, perhaps. depend as to the day, on
the circumstance of ,the Noble Earl at the head 'of
the Colonial Department attending in his place.

COTTON DI A N UFACTORIES.
The order for summoning their Lordships, rela-
tive to Lord KENToies intended motion on this sub-
ject, being read—
, The di?ferent Petitions presented from several ma-1
nufacturing towns, particularly in the.counties of'
Lancaster and Chester, against the present mode of
employing Children in these Manufactories, and
already_ before the House, were, pn the motion of
Lord KiNTON, read short. _ _

After this was gone through, and a few observa-
tions interchanged between the LORD CHANCELLOR
and Lord HOLLAND, relative to a point in question
of form, touching one of the Petitions,
Lord KENYON rose, and addressed the House on
the general subject. He expatiated on the cruelty
and injustice of compelling such an immense number
of children, of both sexes, and persons of very ten-
der years, to labour through such alarge portion of
twenty-four hours, in those close and crowded_ ma-
nufactories, to the great injury of their healths, and
frequent sacrifice of their lives ; and this result, not-
withstanding what was alleged to the contrary, was,
from the best information he could obtain on the
subject, on which his .inquiries were extensive and,
sedulous. caused by the excessive heat which pre-
vailed in these crowded manufactories, in which the
thermometer varied from 76 to 85. With respect
to the idea of the Noble.and Learned Lord, that the
'principles of the common law were applicable to the
cases in question, he could not agree, as he thought
those principles, from the circumstances of the case,
or rather of the individuals concerned, would be
found inapplicable, at least in practice. He feared
they would be found so, and he must contend that
the unfortunate persons in question could not be ade-
quately protected without an express legislative in-
terference in their behalf. Last Session, lie observed,
a Bill on the subject had gone into its second stage.
and the ground on which its farther progress was
opposed was, that there was not sufficient evidence
on the subject for the due information of the House;
and afterwards, the evidence which an opportunity
was afforded of hearing, was only on one side. Oa
these grounds, he begged leave to move, 4, That a
Committee be appointed to inquire into the situation
of Children employed in Cotton Manufactories, and
to report thereon to the llouse."
The LORD CHANCELLOR expressed his wish
to say a few words, in consequence of an observa-
tion- that had fallen from the Noble Lord, with re-
spect to what he had supposed him tb say, on a for-
lner night, when this subject was before the House,
namely, that the principles of the common law were
sufficient for the correction of the evils complain,ed
of. What he had,observed at the time was, that if
the evil existed to the extent which was contended
for, then, as it was well known, the provisions of the
common law would extend to the punishment of
parties who had so offended. In 'cases where labour
was enforced to that extent so as to be injurious to
the health of those employed, then the protecting
afforded by the common law could be recurred to.
But this was not all the House had to consider. The
evils complained of were by no means peculiar to.
the species of manufacture-in question. There were
many other manufactories in which, as much at
least, was suffered, as in the branch before them.—
Yet, with respect to, these, there . was' no complaint
r whatever. If their Lordships thought a general law
necessary on the subject, be it so; but he thought
confining it to this one branch would"not effectuate
these benevolent objects which, Ire trusted, they all
'had in view. Fully as great evils existed elsewhere,
nor was it to *climbing boys ascending chimneys
aloneshat such an observation applied. -There were
some -- eight years
coal pits, be-
remained
aur,the next
opinion as to
- • he had
- solely
out
of the

• •
there hijelheen any Report laid before the House
containing eporplaants, by the Magaltrates and Cler-
, gymen appoinieil by the Act of Parliament to visit
'cotton factories, and who are directed to report to
the Quarter Sessions. He believed that the health
and number of the children were increased by being
employed in•the factories; and that they who op.
posed this measure were their best friends. He mail/.
tamed that delicate girls were kept at looms longer
in a day, :Ind at much harder w&k, than the boys
in cotton factories. If the House adopted thou mo.
tion, he should feel it his duty to move that the in.
quiry should be extended'to the state of the children
employed-io all manufactories. •
The Bishop of CHESTER visited all the factories
near him in the country, and le was satisfied that
the hours of work were not only injurious to the
health of the children, but also to their minds. The
most miserable beings were to be seen in the cotton
factories. These poor children could not be called
free agents, when it was well known they were ie.
liged to work
y 4, 15, Qr 16 hours a-day et dote
of *Air isiElti!lp parents. 0,
Earl GROSVENOR was convinced, that ifll.
motion-was agreed to, they would do an act which
would be fatal to the peace, happiness, and prospe-
rity of the country, and of inhumanity to the chil-
dren-themselves, if they set-them against their mas-
ters, and their masters against them. If the law
does not reach the cases of master manufacturers
.for acts of cruelty towards the children, they wished
that it should be made to reach them. 'Why should
this persecution have been exercised against them
for five years, and not be extended to other manu-
facturers ?

The Earl of LIVERPOOL would not enter into
the discussion of the question, but tdcall their atten-
tion to the true state of it. A Bill to regulate the
Cotton Factories was last Session brought up from
the other House ; but a Committee was called for at
a period so late th•;t nothing could be done that Ses-
sion. These children were not free agents, and were
under the protection of common law ; so that by this
proposition they would not be enacting any new
principle, but making that effectual by regulation,
which was now ineffectual for the want of if. Still
he would not wish them to legislate one won' with-
out inquiry. The House had heard the objections to •
the Bill, and would they be so unjust as to refuse a
hearing to the friends of it ? •
The Earl of LAUDERDALE said, that the state
of his health would prevent him from going at length
into the question. 1-lb contended, that it was .the
practice in manufacturing districts for families to se-
lect the weakest anti most unhealthy of their chil-
dren to work in these factories, being convinced that
it was most conducive to, their health ; and such was
the opinion of medical men. lie then moved an
amendment, including other manufactories, which
employectchildren a much greater number of hoUrs
than Cotton Factories, such.as Woolled, Silk, Lace,
and Hardware Manufactories; in - the Potteries,
Mines, &c.
Lord HOLLAND thought nothing could be more
dangeroui than to interfere with labour in trades ;
but the adoption of this motion was absolutely neces-
sary for the consistency of their proceedings. They .
had heard one side, and ought to hear the other.
The House then divided—For the metier) 19--.
against it 6—Majority 13.
Adjourned at Half-past Nine o'Clock.
HOUSE OF COMMONS. ' .
Mr. H. SUMNER presented a Petition from the Trader* et
the County of Surrey, praying for an equalisation of the Duty
upon Coals.—Laid on the table.
A new Writ was ordered for the Borough of Inverkeithing,
In the room of Campbell, Esq. who was repotted not to have
been duly. elected.
St.• G. HILL appeared at the Bar with a Message from his
Royal Highness the Palace Regent, announcing that be had or-
dered certain Papers to be laid before the House, pursuant to
its Addresses.
Sir W. DE CR ESPIGN Y gave notice, that on Wedntiday
next be should move for certain Returns respecting the Amass d
Taxes, and the Arrears of the Property Tax.
On Sir HENRY DARNEL'S motion, the order for taking
into coosideraticn the Petition respecting the Drogheda Elec-
tion on the stud of March was discharged; and a new order
made, fixing the 27th of April as the day foe investigating ;he

subj‘ct.
Mr. Hiram from the (Mee of 'he Cotnmisaioners for the Re-
ducti“n of the Nltional flat, presented various Accounts,
selOclt were Lid on the l'able, and ordered to be printed.
• CORN PETITIONS.
Lord 73BRINOTON presented a Petition from afttain Oc-
cupiers of Land in the County of Devon, praying for same pro-
tection against the importation of Foreign Corn. 'Laicism the table
General WALPOLE presented a similar Petition from cur-
tain Occupiers of Land in the County of Norfulk.-.-Laid oq
the table.

Mr. COKE presented a Petition to the same abet, from the
Occupiers of Land in the environs of Lynn, in the Cosa! of
Norfolk. The Hon. Member said that he did not agree with the
prhyer of the Petition, as he considered the present price of con
a. full remuneration price. He acknowledged, however, that
epieukurista laboured under beery burtheos, from soda he
wished them to be relieved. The horse duty in particular was
krbosc wren tax, the repeal or modification of which would
"induce much good, and enable farmers to give more employ. '
aunt to the poor., He then stated, that in 'his own district ;
P4or-bouse had been erected some years ago, under hit. Gil.
beet's Act, bueeroployment having since•bett; procured for sbe
VOOr, tbeoPoor-bouse bad been pulled down.
Mr. WESTERN bad several Petitions of the same tome to
present, from persons who described themselves as Occupiers of
Land, hod who had applied their whale caged to them pursuits.
He knew that they suffered severely, and that in consevierna
many hands were out of employ in the County of Beset.
• Lord RANCLIPFE was decidedly hostile to making any g,
',ration in the Corn Laws.
Mr. LYTTLETON agreed with the Hon. Member w,ho bad
.presented the Tetition, that the Agricultural Hone Tax dtoold
Mashen of, or considerably modified. It bad boss, warmed
1 to hint by a body oldie Yeomanry of the Country, that die as
=l7'e bard
utrhethkeirl:, ande
herelie2:ll4tft:usbgt.bali:
ad sot exactly knew in what shape that relief could be gives
goo fig moos perhaps be allowed to farmers to employe tomb
eneoboo el borne free; if they van nos how doting she whole
. lifitb respect to the Petitions presented able ovadeg,
.he
•
the Hasse ma the Couwily
_ouid,,t4e teaangs.
og bad it was to eata 4 into MONO MO M& The s
Jospaillesi dat Urn gainieribilmellititt Vara poustoili, wogs
rt. wise lot if all else tames were tossivoitorilkkotood
way eta Mt mob skid which had been It?" "MY
tor the bask et the argument wen be at vi

The Lard Chancellor, tbe lard 'indolent, awl the Mug
of Lamidowne ; the Barb al Liverpool, Roesirs, Whitwor
Lfinseitle, Mu‘grafre Viscount Granville; the Shbop of Melt
14)4i HodePds Ksaa, Fitzgibbon, and two or throe eel
Peace whose titles could not be distinctly beard below the B
The Pourtnittee was appointed by she House,
abtvii awl ghtiaSle Committees were directed
commence their' inwestigat!es on Saturday neat,
two .o'clock.

_
e' of the interior of out nsons. Tie causes of cases hnown,where-children, some under eight years
lay 'deeper and they 'were also more extensive in of age, were compelled to descend into coal pits, be-
r nature. The whole slater) of the Criminal Law. teen two and three o'clock at night, and remained
sired wthorough revision. This,. as referable to there 'll.)k/zed tai between three and four the nest
Statutes, consisted of no *wet than ?50 Acts of day.' He vrciuld now give no farther opinion as to
!lament. lie thought the station tithe etka, tbe esiticast %brio 'before the Houser bat he had
ate should be mote ton sue. sod trot seffeiedobbts aibilhe • - of their interfering solely
ge to collateral gets el tbt !object, bodeeter with sTspec_t to this or mantakcture.
attune, Tbsit'pein &1O be Beil or ReetILTS said, this motion arose out
7 at be the, stab ottbe u 4 • .• *bleb aid notOrity ,fora limitation of the
vietion ; *forts in the Ifekribeer • • , felchikiren, Inn to diminish the hours
p the means el edsbleh4 Fip!Sti • ktik la iikoie factories. Vibe House
till execution d ace • lII*W the next thing these Pedtioners
Ite may be suggested, "to the mode d szliwki• wouldb porhpe, do, ;would be to ash their Lordships,
OM by the avid jstsedietioo gt _, d" c"."71 d" to the mussasses of their wages. He denied that,