The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1843-09-12 00:00:00

THE, LIVERPOOL STANDARD

TUESDAY MORNING, SEPT. 12, 1843.

We deplored, at the time, the weakness of the
government displayed in the abandonment of the
Factory and Education Bill ; and we have now be-
fore us documents—(Reports of the Inspectors of
factories to the Home Secretary for the half year
ending June, 1843)—which are far from being cal-
culated to dis=ipate that regret. We propose here
giving a few extracts from these reports, which are
not only corroboratory of our views, and the origi-
nally expressed views of government, but present to
us a picture of the inefficacy of the present system,
to ensure, for the children of our factory popula-
tion, either education or protection from inordinate
toil, which, intimately acquainted as we are with the
factory districts, we could scarcely have believed to
Lave had existence. And first, with respect to the
inefficiency of the protection against inordinate toil
at present afforded by Sir John Hohhouse's act.
In a report by Mr. Horner, dated the 6th of
April, 1843, we find it stated that although he had
found, in a certain cotton manufacturing district,
"a fair observance of the chief enactments of the

raw," yet "too many inst 'flees have occurred of the
violation or neglect of other important provisions,"
which the bill of Sir James Graham, withdrawn at
the dictation of dissenting agitation, would, in the
opinion of the inspector, have prevented. Amongst
these were the practice of working children for more
than twelve hours a day ; employing children with-
out certificates of age ; making false entries in the
registries; employing children without requiring

them to attend school ; granting false certificates of
attendance, and other similar breaches of the letter
or the spirit of the act, for the detection of which
the existing powers of the inspectors are not suffi-
cient. Another destructive practice noticed was the
employment of children in cleaning self-acting mules
whilst in motion, permitted or not repressed by the
existing law, but the discontinuance of which was
provided for by the bill of Sir James Graham. A
case is mentioned in which a child so employed was
killed on the 4th January last ; and, in explanation
of the danger of the practice, the Inspector remarks
that the self-actor 'puts up' with great force and
rapidity, and there is no check to it as in the case
of the hand mule ; so that without the greatest ac-
tivity and watchfulness of the children they are every
minute liable to be crushed" (!) And this dreadful
pprmtncr of human Ffe is tolerated, because the
avarice of liberalism preaches the doctrine that a
government must not interfere with "the freedom
of the labour market"—the immunity of the manu-
facturing capitalist to treat his living automita with
as little or less consideration than he treats his ma-
chinery!
But the most striking facts are those furnished by
Mr. Horner, with respect to the deficiency of the
educational regulations provided for by the existing
act. WI iting upon this subject, Mr. Horner gives
us the educational statistics of the children employed
by 591 firms in the manufacturing districts of the
North of England, which we shall briefly state for
the consideration of our readers.
The number of children employed by these 591
firms was 6,872. Of these 3,155 attended schools
established in the factories themselves (of the cha-
racter of which we shall speak by and bye); 2,689
attended private schools, which are described to he
" small assemblages of children in cottages, brought
together by indigent old men or old women, who
nominally keep a school, they being incapable of
earning a livelihood in any other way, but without
any qualification for teaching." 596 attended na-
tional schools in connexion with the Established
Church, but not schools of the national society ; 54
attended public Wesleyan schools, and 39 (!) at-
tended public Roman Catholic schools.
But with respect to the character of these schools
we must be more definite in our description, and,
therefore, turn to the report itself. Speaking on this
subject Mr. Horner remarks—

" Of the 117 factory school.. 16 are good, attended by
about 860 children, or about 27 per cent. of those edu-
cated in such schools. These are other factory schools,
and some of the private schools, in which some little in-
struction is imparted; but in the majority of both there
is a mere nominal compliance with the law, and it is an
entire misapplication of the term to call such places
SCHOOLS. The inspectors have no power to interfere to
put a stop to this discreditable mockery of education. I
believe I am understating the case to a considerable ex-
tent when I Fay that of these 6,872 children, for whom
certificates of school attendance are obtained, 4,500 are
getting NO EDUCATION WHATEVER AT THESE SCHOOLS
Nor is the privation of instruction the only evil; these
children pay a echool fee, for which they get no value in
return. If we reckon the fee to be, on an average, 2d. a
week for 48 weeks in the year, we have Bs. a year for each
child, so that £lBio a year is paid by the parents without
value received ; hereas this sum might in well conducted
schools procure for these 4500 children a very good edu-
cation."

Such is that system of education in behalf of
which dissent and liberalism have struggled so
fiercely. It is in ti uth a "mockery of education ;"
and it is also an infamous robbery of our working
poor, carried on with the connivance of some of
those very patriotic people who have protested so
I)udly against a change. The manufacturing body
must be aware of the incapacity of nine out of ten of
the masters themselves, who pretend to teach these
children; and they must be and are aware that'
however competent the masters, so long as the chil-
dren to be taught are compelled to work for eight
hours a day, and to snatch the two hours devoted
to instruction at any chance opportunity which
offers, such education must he, what it is now, per-
fectly useless, if it is not even worse than useless !
As a proofof the incompetency of the teachers, and
a curiosity as well, we give from the reports before
us a few of the certificates which are weekly given
to entitle children to be employed. The first is
trona a factory school, and is as follows :
"/ do hereby cerfy that 7ny scholors have attend
2 hours eery day during the last week.
May 2 1843"

The next specimens are from private or dame
schools--

"He do her testify that tese children Have tended
this school too Hours during Last Whek.
May 2 1243"
In all these cases the names of the children for
whom the certificates are granted are ludicrously ill
spelt.

Another runs—
" These cheldren have atended My school 2 howers
every day Last week.
May th 2 1843"

And another—
" This is to certify that these children attends re-
gular the School six days a week two hours aday.
May the 2 1843."

The competency of such instructors need not be
dilated upon.

Our attention has been called to a placard which
has just been issued by the body calling itself the
" Anti-Monopoly Association" of this town, of
which the following is a copy :

A LAW WHICH CAUSES THE DESTRUCTION OF
HUMAN FOOD CAN MEET WITH DEFENDERS
AMONG NO CLASS OF MEN IF THEY WILL GIVE
THE SUBJECT ONE MOMENT'S CANDID CONSI-

The proceedings before us afford ample proof that
this kind of assumption may be carried so far as, at
length, to excite alarm and opposition. The Finance
Committee report, first, that the tobacco warehouse
be converted, at an expense of some two to three
thousand pounds, into a depot for saltpetre and
nitrate of soda, and propose that their report be at
once received and confirmed. But the Council
thinks it might have been consulted upon the mat-
ter; that the Cnairman of the Finance Committee,
however estimable and clever, may not be infallible ;
and that the plans of the committee may not be the
best which are attainable. With all due deference
to the wisdom of the Finance Committee the Coun-
cil is right ; and if Mr. Lawrence had reflected for
a moment he need not have had to confess that "he
must how to Mr. Evans, as he generally had to do in
all things." Men who feel themselves right, and
have well considered their position and projects,
ought not to be under the necessity of bowing to
any body.
The same observations may apply to the projected
disposal of a portion of the Wallasey property, with
respect to which the Chairman of the Finance Corn•
mittee had to " bow" again. A meabure, involving
questions of such magnitude as those involved in
the sale of the Cheshi e estate, ought to be well
considered and publicly discussed, not only that the
entire body of the Council may have an opportunity
of expressing a matured opinion respecting it, but
that the community should be enabled to learn, before
it is too late, the projects and doings of their.repre-
sentatives.

We make these remarks with no ill-feeling to-
wards the members of the committee themselves, or
any of them, and with no reference to the good or
evil policy of the plans recommended. Our object
is only to protest against a habit, which appears to
us to be growing, of transacting all the most im-
portant business of the public in committee, and,
of course, with closed doors, leaving to the Council
only the opportunity, which is seldom embraced, of
reviewing such committee's decision.

MUNICIPAL ELECTION.—In our remarks last
week, upon the coining Municipal Election, we
were in error in stating that eleven Conservatives
and five Radicals retired in November. The num-
bers should have been twelve an i four ; and this
even strengthens our opinion then expressed, with
respect to the necessity of prompt and vigorous ex-
ertion amongst the Conservative party. The follow-
ing are the names of the retiring members :
Everton David Hodgson.. Conservative.
Scotland W. Thornhill.... Whig.
Vauxhall H. Copeland .... Conservative.
St. Paul's . — Blundell . .... Conservative.
Exchange . . T. 5and5........ Conservative.
Castle•street James Aiken ... . Whig.
St. Peter's . . J. Priestley Whig.
Pitt-street .T. Toulmin . . Conservative.
Great George's . J. Cooper Conservative.
Rodney-street.. W. Birkett .. . Conservative.
Abercromby . . J. Procter
Lime-street . . . J. Kilshaw Conservative.
St. Ann-street .T. Brassey . Conservative.
West Derby . . G. H. Lawrence . Conservative.
South Toxteth . J. Platt
North Toxteth . R. Harbord .

WILLIAM BROWN, ESQ., AND THE ANTI-
MONOPOLY PEOPLE.—After a considerable quan-
tity of coaxing and wheedling on the part of this
association, we find that the late member for Ever-
ton Ward, William Brown, Esq., has accepted the
office of its vice-president, nd, better still, contri-
buted the sum of £5O " to aid and assist" in the
spread of free-trade opinions. Whilst doing this,
however, Mr. Brown has taken the opportunity of
giving the gentlemen and others composing the as-
sociation a fillip or two which ought to be useful
to them. They are not, he says, "to upbraid the
present or any other administration with the injus-
tice of these anti-monopoly laws." They are not to
" impugn the rootivoo" of those who differ from
them. They are to discuss the question or ques-
tions at issue " without saying a harsh word of any
one," and to beware of " over zeal," and " warmth
of expression,"—and he might have added false-
hoods,—which " injure their cause." We rather
fear the association has scarcely intellect enough
and modesty enough to receive, as it ought to be
received, their new vice-president's rebuke. Empty
vessels make the greatest noise; and men who have
the smallest quantity of argument to urge, are ever
the most ready to resort to the course which Mr.
Brown deprecates so forcibly.

AMERICAN FREIGHTS.—We recently mentioned the
improvement which had begun to be visible in the freights
by the American ships ; and we are glad to say, that this
token of increasing commerce with the United States has
not diminished. In proof of this it may be stated, that
the New York packet-ship Montezuma sailed on Wed-
nesday, taking freight amounting to upwards of £737. She
has also 15 cabin passengers, and 139 in the steerage.

THE MURDER OF MR. BIBBY.—A rumour was very
generally circulated on Saturday that John Anderson, who
was convicted at the assizes for having knowingly become
possessed of the notes stolen at the Preston Guild, had
declared since his conviction that if any hope of a commu-
tation of his punishment of transportation for the term of
14 years were held out to him, he would give a clue to the
murderer of the late Mr. Bibby. The report, however,
wants confirmation.

THE WEATHER AND THE Caors.—As everything re-
lating to the harvest is at the present time peculiarly in-
teresting, we have obtained, from a gentleman prac-
tically versed in agricultural matters, some informa-
tion which we lay before our readers. Our inform-
ant
has just returned from a rural ride through Stafford-
shire,
Warwickshire, Shropshire, and other midland coun-
ties, and also this county and Cheshire. The weather in
these districts, as well as, it may be said, throughout the
kingdom, has, for the last fortnight, been most propitious
for the maturing and gathering of the corn crops. In
Shropshire nearly all is already got in ; and in the midland
counties generally above three-fourths. In Lancashire
above one-half, and in Cheshire rather more was secured
by Saturday last. The crops are considered everywhere
above an average, particularly the wheat. The quality,
too is good ; for though this result was for some time
doubtful, the whole improved rapidly during the last three
weeks. We congratulate our readers on this prospect,
or rather assurance of abundance. In the southern
corn counties, as might be expected from the favour-
able state of the northern, the grain has all been got
in in good order; and, notwithstanding the present low
prices, some of the farmers, apprehensive of a further
fall, have had their wheat thrashed in the field, and hurried
it to market to secure the present currency, perhaps
wisely considering that " a bird in the hand is worth No
in the bush." Even in the more sheltered and produc-
tive parts of Scotland and Wales the harvest is in rapid
progress. The other field crops are going on well; in-
cluding turnips and potatoes. At one time the turnips
were considered almost a failure from the badness of the
weather, and the ravages of the fly ; but the lave sown
crops have turned out well. There is, in fine, 14 general
and great improvement in field products ; and as the
abundance of roots and other articles has an effect on the
value of wheat, it is not improbable that when that article
comes largely into the market a considerable further re-
duction in price will have to be submitted to.

THE. HON. EAST INDIA COMPANY'S IRON STEAMER
LOODIIIANA."—E-laving. a few days ago, seen in our

river a most uncommon looking steam vessel, with two

chimneys, and very much resembling a huge Indian canoe,
me have made some inquiries about her, and have ascer.
wined the following particulars :—She was built by Mr.
Laird, of North Birkenhead, for the Hon. East India
company, and is intended for the navigation of the Indian
ivers. Her length is 160 feet, and her beam 24 feet.
The has a pair of 45-horse engines, by Messrs. G. Forrester
.nd Co. ; and such is her length, width, and flatness,hat her draft of water—with her engines, coal, and
It stores on board, will be only 1 foot 10} inches !
ler speed, by log, has been found to be 114 knots
hour, beating every ferry boat on the river easily.
With two loaded flats at her tail, she went through it at
cum 9to 91 knots. The Chairman, Deputy Chairman,
nd several of the Directors of the East India Cnnipanv
~ime from London, especially, to try her powers of speed,
teaming, and steering, on Thursday last; and after a
trip to Runcorn and back, and a run to the Rock Light.
.nuse, they went ashore, it is reported, expressing them.
elves highly satisfied with her performances in all points.
ler steering and turning are most remarkable. When goin?
traight, she scarcely requires the helm to be moved ; and
he will turn in her own length. She is entirely on a new
.onstruction, unlike anything that has yet been built;
rid, from her success, will probably give rise to a new era
1 the shape of river craft, and lead to important improve-
,iternfatcsea.nsarlopinrgac.ticsalhedihscaos a rudder at her veriesinwhatroa be termed
bow
as
well
as
It. The engines will be taken out, and the hull separated
► . Her
xtip ineocreds yhbase
esxecnitte2do
machlna
cbuyrisalsiiipty
here;
nd amongst some of our old seamen not a little good hu-
inasorytahpaptesahreanmcea
floured remark ; but when they have seen her running at
ull speed, they have confessed that tln.ugh " a rum one
o look at, she is a good one to go." Should she be again
vied before being taken to pieces, we will give a, .more
niunte account of her.

NON-ARRIVAL OF THE INDIAN MAIL.

Considerable anxiety begins to be felt amongst the
mercantile community, and others interested, in conse-
quence of the non-arrival of what is called the '' over-
land" mail from India, via Egypt, which has been due for
about a week ; and as great regularity has hitherto cha-
racterised the conveyances employed, the long delay on
this occasion, which is ascertained to have arisen on the
voyage between Bombay and Suez, has given rise to some
apprehensions for the safety of the vessel then on the sta-

tion. We are glad, therefore, to have it in our power to
allay, to a considerable extent at least, those apprehen-
sions, from some information relative to the nature of the
navigation of the Arabian Sea, which we gathered on Fri-
day last at this port, from the conversation of some gen-
tlemen conversant with the subject, and among whom
were several of the Directors of the Hon. East India
Company, including their respected and talented chair-
man.
It appears that the monsoons, or periodical south-west
winds, blow with great violence over the Indian Ocean
during six successive months of the year, (beginning in
April,) frequently causing a sea as heavy as that in the
Atlantic during a " north-wester." During their con-
tinuance it has been customary for steamers coming
from Bombay to Suez, in order to gain easier head
against these winds, to make a long tack to the south-
ward, where the monsoons are light, (in place of
stretching right across the Arabian Sea) ; then to cross
westwardly, towards the African coast ; and, finally, to
proceed northward to Aden. at the bottom of the Red
Sea. This course, though circuitous, was considered the
surest for steamers that were until recently on the station,
and which were not of very large burthen or power. Two
or three attempts were made some time ago by steamers
to cross direct to Aden in the face of the monsoon ; but
they failed—one of them (the Simiramis, if we mistake
not) from her fuel becoming exhausted ; and another from
some casualty to her machinery,—in either of which cases
there was no alternative but to up helm and run back
before the wind. Now, it is known that a new and more
powerful steam-ship than those hitherto employed lately
arrived at Bombay—the steam-frigate Memnon, of the
same size and power as our Halifax and Boston mail
ships—namely, 1,200 tons burthen, with 400 horse-power
engines. Accounts have been received that this was the
vessel appointed to bring the mails, now due, from Bom-
bay; and that the commander had expressed his confi-
dence in her capability to make the passage to Aden
by a direct course against the head winds, and his
determination to attempt it. That he did so, appears,
therefore, to be highly probable ; and that he failed
from one or other of the causes that balked his prede-
cessors in the same adventure, is equally so. But a
breakage in the engine-room, or a want of fuel would by
no means involve the safety of those on board ; and we
strongly conjecture, that after getting well over to the
African shore, he ound from one or other of the causes
named, or a combination of both, that he had no resourse
but to return. Even if he had reached within 20 miles of
Aden, or any other point in Africa, that necessity would
have been the same, as he could find no steam-tug to assist
him to port in the lonely expanse of the Indian Ocean.
There would be nothing for it but to set sail and return to
the Hindostan side. And, as the distance is great, and
he would himself carry the news of his misfortune, the
probability is that we shall have no mail until the next be
due. We find the view we have taken of the matter is
adopted to a considerable extent by a Manchester con-
temporary, who states that he also derived his informa-
-1 tion from individuals connected with India.

.....
In consequence of the non-arrival of the Memnon at
Suez, or even at Aden, the Lady Mary Wood left Alex-
andria on the 29th ult. for England, with no letters and
only one passenger.