The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-06-17 00:00:00

HOUSE OF LORDS.-WEDNESDAY

The Sugar Duties Bill and other bills were brought up
from the Commons and read a first time, after which their
lordships adjourned.

Mr. F. MAULE said he understood that the Church Pa-
tronage (Scotland) Bill, which stood for second reading this
evening, could not be proceeded with because the assent of
her Majesty should have been obtained before the bill was
introduced, inasmuch as it interfered with the prerogative
of the Crown. He therefore gave notice that on Tuesday,
the Bth of July, he would move an address to her Majesty
on the subject, and hoped Sir R. Peel would give precedence
to his motion ; but if not he should move it as an amendment
on the first succeeding night of supply. . _

Sir R. PEEL said that he could not consent to give other
than a bond fide acquiescence on the part of her Majesty to
any proposition, for he never would consent to give a con-
structive assent on the part of the Crown for the purpose of
raising a discussion. The hon. gentleman might allow his
notice to stand for Tuesday, the Bth, and in the interim he
would tell him how far he could comply with his wish, that
his motion should have precedence.
Mr. D'ISRAELI asked if it was true that propositions had
beeu made by the commissioners appointed by the state of
Maine to treat with her Majesty's envoy equivalent to a vir-
tual relinquishment of territory and of the navigation of the
river St. John; and if it was also true that her Majesty's
envoy had entertained such propositions, leaving this coun-
try in possession of an inferior boundry to that awarded by
the King of the Netherlands ; and also, whether full power
of adjudication had been awarded to that envoy?
Sir R. PEEL said that these questions were altogether pre-
mature. He held in his hand despatches stating that com-
missioners had been appointed by the state of Maine, but
he did not believe that Lord Ashburton had had any com-
munication whatever with them, for they were appointed
not to act by themselves but with commissioners from the
other states of the Union. It would be wholly inconsistent
with propriety to give any answer whatever to the questions
of the hon. member in the present state of the negotiations.
Mr. H. VERNON asked if it was the intention of the Go-
vernment to bring in or pass any bill for the reform of the
ecclesiastical courts during the prasent session? It would
be inconvenient to do so as the right rev. prelates, who were
deeply interested in the subject, would be absent on their
visitations.

Sir J. GRAHAM said he should take an early opportunity
of moving for leave to bring in the bill.
Lord J. RUSSELL said there was a report afloat that it was
the intention of the Government to pass a bill continuing
the poor law commission for another year to postpone the
poor law bill until next session. He wished to know if there
was any ground for the rumour.
Sir J. GRAHAM said he had no hesitation in declaring that
Government would endeavour to pass the poor law bill
during the present session.

Mr: FLEMING said that the parties accused by the report
of the Southampton committee were ready to defend them-
selves and to be examined either at the bar of the house or
before a committee, and hoped, therefore, that Mr. Mac-
kinnon would postpone his motion for a new writ, in order
to give time for a select committee to enter upon the in-
quiries. _

_
Mr. MACKINNON said he had no objection to postpone
the writ again if Mr. Stanley, who had moved the suspension
of the writ, would pursue some definite course upon the
subject.
After some observations from Sir R. PEEL and Mr. STAN-
LEY, the latter gentleman adopted a suggesion made by Sir
Robert as to the mode in which the inquiry should be
brought before the house this day.
The Designs Copyright Bill Committee was postponed
until next Wednesday, owing to the absence of Mr. E.
Tennent.

The Mines and Factories bill was read a second time.
Mr. M. GinsoN moved the second reading of the Electors
Removal bill, the object of which is to prevent the loss of
the franchise in consequence of removal from one house to
another in the same borough.

Sir J. GRAHAM opposedthe bill, as being likely to lead to
practices which would nullify the reform bill, and prevent
the poll being taken in one day.
Lord J. RUSSELL supported the bill, which he thought
might be rendered unobjectionable in committee.
On a division the second reading was negatived by a ma-
jority of 120 to 102.
Sir IL PEEL, in reply to a question from Mr. Hume, de-
clined to pledge himself to bring in a bill to remedy the in-
convenience which the bill just thrown out was intended to
provide for.
_ _ _

In reply to questions from Mr. Duncombe and Mr
Clements,

Sir It. PEEL said that Sir James Graham had already in-
timated his intention to state in a few days the views of the
government with respact to the measure of English re-
gistration.
On the motion that the Electors Removal Bill be read a
second time that day three months—the second reading that
night having been already negatived—
Mr. F. Ms.ums moved that the second reading be post-
poned for one week only.
A. division followed, when Mr. F. Maule's amendment
was.nefe.tivpd by a majority of 101 to 79

The ieport on'the astoms Acts (New Tariff) was brought
up, and the resolutions were re-committed, for the purpose
of making some amendments.
The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and the
house adjourned.

DRAPERS', &c. ASSISTANTS

PUBLIC MEETING AT WOLVERHAMPTON

On Friday, the 27th ult.a public meeting of the inha-
bitants of Wolverhampton, convened by requisition, was
held in the Assembly-room, Queen-street, in that town, to
take into consideration whether any and what measures
should be adopted with a view to abridge the hours of busi-
ness in the numerous retail establishments within that popu-
lous town, in order to afford assistants, clerks, apprentices,
and others, such relaxation and abatement of their labours
as might be deemed necessary for improving their physical,
mental, and social condition. John Barker, Esq., a rnagis-
gistrate of the county, and an iron-master, occupied the
chair.

The baneful eflects of the long confinement to which shop-
keepers' assistants were at present subjected, were pointed
out with great force by most of the speakers. In adverting
to the physical results which are generated by the excessive
requirement of labour in retail establishments,
Dr. Turnbull observed that he considered it his duty, as a
medical man, to bear his testimony to the evils of the present
system. Deprived of light, air, and exercise, as most of the
shopkeepers' assistants were, and subjected to confinement
and excessive labour, it was not surprising that they should
be the victims of indigestion, consumption, and all the long
train of diseases arising from debility. (Hear.) That they
were so, was proved by the evidence of medical men and sta-
tistical facts. At no time, indeed, did confinement and con-
tracted labouract more injuriously that when individuals were
passing from the state of boyhood to that of manhood. (Hear. )
No error was greater than to suppose the unconsolidated
frame of youth could better resist the effects of confinement
than the matured system of more advanced life. At that pe-
riod life was more 'freely expended than any other season.
Dr. Hume and other distinguished medical men had shown
that the vital power more frequently failed between the ages
of fifteen and twenty-five than any other period of life, ex-
cepting only the extremities of life, infancy and old age.
Dangerous as this period naturally was, its danger was
greatly enhanced by confinement and excessive labour. Nor
were women, though the contrary was often supposed, less
susceptible to these unhealthy influences. If the present
system was, as it was proved to be, so injurious, morally,
physically, and intellectually, ought they not, at the least, to
place the assistant to the shopkeeper on the same level with
the labourer, whose hours of toil were much less, and whose
opportunities of improvement were, of course, proportionably
extended.

In the course of the proceedings an eloquent and argumen-
tative appeal from the shopkeepers' assistants, addressed to
the meeting, was read by Mr. Ash, principal assistant to
Messrs. Sidney and Co., whose exertions have been foremost
in the cause; and it was stated, by Mr. A. H. Browne, that
a petition, in behalf of the object, had been signed by 1,477
ladies, at the head of which were the ladies of the Giffard
family.

The meeting, which was one of the most numerous and
respectable, and its proceedings decidedly the most unani-
mous ever known in that town, lasted upwards of two hours
and a half, and the able and telling addresses of the several
speakers produced a powerful effect.

THE SMOKE NUISANCE

" Hyde Parke Foundry,
" Glasgow, Bth June, 1849

" To John Alston, Esq

" My dear Sir,—On Monday morning last, we put in
operation Mr. William's Patent Argand Furnace, applied to
one of our Engine Boilers, and I am happy to inform you
that the success of the experiment is complete, in respect to
the prevention of smoke,—and I already perceive a consi-
derable saving of fuel. In consequence of the interest you
have taken in this matter, and your influence to forward the
adoption of the improvement I shall be glad if you can make
it convenient to examine our Furnace to-morrow, along with
any of your friends, &c. &c.
" STEWART KERR."

eoineers,
Alston to visit the foundry o
Having accepted, with. pleasufrteiwtsbeeinitgwenitiaotnios n
n_ofb Bailie
Messrs. Kerr, Neilson, and Co., on Thursday last, we are
'sv
altogetherperfectly
We formerly sus-
so long enveloped by its public works..
andconvincedtotal
iy tb
et
smoke
t it isngliN,ibt
which
b practicabletbi
s eibtaos abatene
pfoereetetdbitsheeorenlwdabseseoffmeecttheidngwivtebryardniaatnertniagletotobdeonoullybeetrocwnohemeartenebNe,eder-.
Our visit to Hyde Park foundry has left no.
talisl‘visenaorvef ofopnrotvheenetvbeat
t lelxetisrmpaotkineg
mthneynublesaenocieisaulmtoegde,thaenrci
that with a very considerable saving of fuel,
thi per Cent., on an average, as ten is t say
to four-
teertn.y ln a few days Messrs. Kerr and Neilson are going
to n givethe oldtliesmysattetz a thorough and impartial trial,—one week
ss theas t thenex thetdiiffnere n
difference
new,—so
n,
the as to bnlp ableconsumption
n
to
peak decisivelyoof
fuel. In the meantime, to prove that there is no longer any
doubt as to the practical nature of the improvement, these
gentlemen are at present busily employed in applying it to
various boilers in some of the most extensive factories in
Glasgow. In this matter Bailie Alston deserves the thanks
of the community for his perseezr:vutei=ns, and he shall
yet receive them.—Glasgow

INNOCENCE PROVED AFTER ,-,---
young man named Wilson,
of death recorded against him at the who had sentence
of Rotherham who
^ The
York assizes, on a
charge of burglary and robbery in the house
will
acentury
law in
ofv r
oMv
er
ds . tHo a
bn
e-
'1)1 : s Hadudra
uy
rlgesdt ,
him It
cock, at Brampton, but who has sinceSien
innocent of the crime, arrived at home
is to be hoped that some remuneration
for the sufferings be has already endured.
this case been executed in the rigour of half
what reflections would jury, judge, and all connected ag°P
the trial of this man have had in contemplating his jurth
murder! This case ought to speak most solemnly to Tijil
whether the framers of our laws or.those to whom are in:
trusted their execution.— Hull Rockingham.