The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-03-10 00:00:00

Flour continued very dull throughout the Union.

The President had sent a message to the House of
Representatives respecting the existing laws for the
collection of imposts on the articles of linen, woollen,
and cotton goods.

There is no news whatever from the Canadas.

LIVERPOOL MARKETS.—Tms DAY.

CORN EXCHANGE.

The snpplies received into this port since Friday include
a moderate quantity of Wheat and Barley, chiefly coastwise,
some parcels of Irish Oats and Oatmeal, with 2430 barrels
of Flour and 755 quarters Indian Corn from New York.
A change of wind this morning, leading the buyers to
expect more liberal arrivals, has further contributed to im-
part a very dull appearance to the trade for all sorts of Wheat
to-day ; the sales altogether having proceeded upon a very
limited scale, but without any material variation from the
rates of this day week.

English, Irish, and foreign free Flour also continued to
move off slowly at late prices, and in American in bond very
little further progress has been made since Friday, although
there are still buyers at 315., and in one instance 31s. 6d.
per barrel has been paid.
Barley and Malt were in very moderate demand at our
quotations.—Beans and Pease remained as last noted.
Fins Oats, being still scarce, were saleable on full as high
terms as last week ; but middling qualities, although in some-
what more request, were the turn cheaper. Oatmeal was
taken off sparingly at the currency of this day se'nnight.

ARRIVALS OF CORN.
From the 3d to the Dth March, 1840, inclusive.

HOW THE MISERIES PRODUCED BY SWEEPING
CHIMNEYS BY THE MEANS OF LITTLE CHIL-
DREN MAY BE PREVENTED.

(From a Correspondent of the London Courier.)
There are some things so monstrous that one is puzzled to
know how they could originate ; so opposed to all the sugges-
tions and ground-work of religion, and the precepts incul-
cated by all who have ever undertaken to instruct us, that we
are obliged to ask how can it be? and yet these things re-
main. If it were not harsh to say so, it might be thought
that religion is more largely professed than eealized, seem,
that cruelties are practised constantly and universally, which
might be at once redressed.- We are not intending to enter
upon a line of argument which is strangely misplaced in a
newspaper, nor leave we any idea of infringing the preroga-
tive of those whose education and appointment, and disposi-
tion, alike prompt them to the discharge of such sacred duties ;
but so much as this we may legitimately say, that Heaven
enjoins it upon us as a duty that we be kind to, and consi-
derate of those around us. if there is one thing more in-
veighed against than another, in the Records of Divine Re-
velation, it is the want of sympathy with the poor. The
Being on whom we all rest, and without whose protection
we should be crushed before the moth, has wisely divided
society into such classes as afford protection to all, if but
rightly attended to ; and this feeling of dependence upon
Him, should make us very tender of those beneath us ; and
that country is on the brink of ruin which can deliberately
violate these arrangements.
A community unmindful of its children and indifferent to
their well-being, either in body or mind, is in an unhealthy
state, ripe for Socialism, and Heaven's wrath. These are
signs of the times which portend a storm—and he who raises
children, as he would raise any other animal, and disposes of
them with the same eager facility, as in a state of utter
barbarism ; and they who nationally or individually counte-
nance such proceedings are infinitely more depraved ; and
have as much more to answer for as the man, who, standing
upon an eminence which commands a battle, and gives no
word of approaching danger, is more guilty than those who
have been drawn into the midst of the fight, and thus pre-
vented from judging of its probable results. With these few
preliminary remarks, we are about to inquire of such of our
readers individually, how are your chimneys swept? What
a ridiculous question! By children to be sure ; it is the only
way.
Pardon us, it is not the only way ; it is the usual way, be-
cause since the fall, it has been usual to do wrong ; but a
society has existed for many years to abolish this disgraceful
custom. The society was patronised by their late Majesties
King George IV. and King William IV., and it has her pre-
sent Most Gracious Majesty for its patroness.
This society is now obtaining the notice it has long de-
served. People are beginning to feel thoroughly ashamed of
their past supineness ; to see that children are not wanted in
this trade ; and a determination is becoming general, that the
practice must be given up. The society alluded to has lately
printed a portraiture of chimney sweeping admirably cal-
culated to expose the guilt of these men, and to show the
remedy. This pamphlet is conveniently arranged under the
following beads :
Machines applicable to all chimneys.
No child ever mad chimney sweeper by fair means.
Mode of obtaining c ildren.
Means used to make children ascend chimneys.
Age at which children are employed.
Sufferings during initiation.
The care taken of these children.
Effects of climbing.
Hilarities of May Day.
Dimensions of some chimneys.
Lads abandoned at fifteen or sixteen.
Effects of such abandonment.
Depravity of many masters.
Girls sometimes employed.
Trade opposed to the machine.
Chimney sweeper's cancer.
Lining not more hurt by machine than boys.
Opinion of the House of Commons.
Testimony 'of Fire Offices.
•
Experiment at the Bank of England.
Proofs of what children think of sweeping chimneys.
Accidents, as chimney sweepers call them.
Error still held by some.
Legislative interference absolutely necessary.
Altered state of the public mind.
The hook is to be had gratis of the honorary secretary.
Hand-in-Hand Fire Office, No. 1, New Bridge-street, Black-
friars. Every one who has a chimney should get -the book,
and every one who hopes for God's mercy should abandon
this use of children. The persons who fancy that their chim-
neys would-take fire, will see in this pamphlet such a list of
the aristocracy who adopt the machine, as will rather sur-
prise them ; such list being headed by her most gracious
Majesty the Queen Dowager. It has always been a favourite
theory with us, that persons of high rank are uniformly more
considerate and merciful than those of low degree, and the,
list referred to fully bears us out. The cause of these op..
pressed children will be immediately brought before parlia-
ment, and we shall see that both houses will instantly pass
the bill to prohibit the use of children in this trade, and thus
fully support our opinion of the aristocracy of Old England.
One or two quotations from the publication noticed, taken
from under different heads, and being evidence before the
House of Commons, are here subjoined, which will show the
public the system complained of.
John Cook, chimney sweeper, examined.
What sum of money is generally given for those children
to the parents by the master chimney sweepers ?—Two or
three pounds ; it depends upon circumstances ; sometimes
more, sometimes less.
Do you give more for children that are delicately formed,
and who are, therefore, better calculated for small chimneys?
—The smaller they are the master generally likes them the
better, because they are generally more serviceable to them.
So that a small boy bears a better price than a full grown
boy ?—Yes, &c.
John Harding, chimney sweeper, examined.
What is the common price that chimney sweepers give for
children ?—There are instances cf two or three or even four
pounds being given.
What is the common price ?—lt's hard to say, &c.
But a sum of money is generally given ?—Yes, mostly so.
If you refused to climb, were any means used to force you?
—Yes ; they are always forced up.
In general, do children who are so employed go unwilling-
ly to the work ?—Yes ; they always go unwillingly to the
work.

John Cook's examination continued.

Do you find many boys show great repugnance to go up at
first ?—Yes ; most of them.
Have you not often heard of masters treating their ap-
prentices with great cruelty, particularly the little boys, in
forcing them up those small flues, which the boy was unwil-
ling to ascend ?—Yes, I have forced up many a one myself.
What methods do they use to make them go up ?—I have
seen them make them strip themselves naked, and threaten
to beat them. I have been obliged to go up a chimney naked,
but I do not like to see my children do so.

Thomas'Allen examined.

What trade are you ?—A chimney sweeper.
At what age did you begin ?—When I was between four
and five years of age.
John Fisher, chimney sweeper, examined.

Is your boy small of his age ?—Yes.
Do you employ him to ascend small flues ?—Yes, because
I have only got him, I am obliged to get my living by him,
or else I must go without.
Has he ever been injured ?—Yes, but never by sweeping
chimneys.
What was the matter with him ?—The doctor said it was
an inward complaint.
Thomas Allen re-examined.

What do you mean by getting the boy's pence ?—They get
a penny or two, or so, and the journeyman takes it from them,
and licks them if they do not give it up.
Do the boys have any part of the receipts of the Ist of
May ?—They have about a shilling or eighteen pence, the
journeyman has his share, and then the master takes the re-
mainder.
How long is a boy generally in the flue to which you have
alluded?—l went in at eight and came out at two.
What are the smallest flues up which boys are sent ?
Seven inches.

Square ?—Yes.
Each way ?—Yes ; that is the smallest we ever send a boy
up.
This testimony needs no comment? The book must be
read, and this use of children must be done away with. And
until the bill passes the public is cautioned against employing
any man to use the machine who retains even one child in his
service for the purpose of sweeping chimneys, unless he wishes
to be disappointed.