The Statesman.
London, England, 1818-02-17 00:00:00

.ms DUKE OP

• .powwow Csnwiespoodent' in a Morning Paper,
slier repeating the ttatement which we yesterday es.
trected from the French PaPers, with the additional
raiders, iu a private letter, .adds, that there are
slilitreat conjectures in circulation on the motives of
this. ettelpt, and 'tbe design entertained by its

sett ~
• Some, says he, think that the person who fired the
shot had no view to assassination, but that he was
pot forward by a party who are averse to the evacua-
tion of France by the Army of Occupation, and took
that method to prevent it. To strengthen this con.
jecture, it is added, that no person who seriously in.
tended to kill his Grace, could have missed his aim
so completely as this person did.
Another Correspondent 'in the Courier-of last
night says, under date of the 12th :
" Little light has as yet been thrown on the my.
*ferias transaction which menaced the days of the
Puke- of Wellington yesterday. To what the
French Paperi announce, suffer me to add the fol-
lowing details :—/lad the yak: de pied, who was be.
hind the carriage, slighted and pursued the culprit,
there is little doubt but he would have been
apprehended, since '
two of his Grace's domestics,'
returning to tie hotel at .the Same hour, met a fel-
low running by them. I,t,is a singular fact, that though
the report of the pistol was so near the Duke, it did
not once occur to his honourable and gallant mind•that
be was the objeit of a premeditated murder, until thi
Same vakt de pied, recovering from his trance, en-
quired of his master 6if he were not hurt 2' Not.
Withstanding the most diligent research, .the ball
coeld not be found, nor any contusion in the wall,
*Melt could be decidedly attributed to this cause.,
1,1 the pktol, however, were fired lengthways, is si
line parallel with the houses, the two preceding dr.
rouistsoces might be accounted for. A crowd of re.'
ilections rush into .every man's mind, are developed
and idiscomed in all the salons at Paris. It is
generally believed that his Grace has arrived In
France with full powers from England and the
Sovereigns to negotiate the evacuation of the French',
territory. This Ministers themselves have not con•
indicted this rumour, the pipers have affirmed it,
and the rise of the funds accredited it. What party,
what deiciiption of Frenchmen., can have an interest
in this atrocious assassination ? •
' ft is reported here that Lord Kinnaird wrote to
Sir Girirge Murray, from Brussels,. engaging this
distinguished °dicer to urge the Duke not to espoie
himself, as strange reports were in circulation frost
this town. The Lake himself will on horseback a
part of y68(4141.7, followed ..by a single servants'
useal."

GY3T7VN b;IIINN4R.S'i-.FETITION.'

•
WO THE HONOURARLE THE COMMONS OF THE
UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND
IRELAND. IN THE IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT
ASSEMBLED.
The humble Petition of the ondersigned persons,
being Labourers above sixteen years of age,
employed 1n Cotton Spinning Manufactories
established in Manchester and the immediate
' neighbourhood, showeth—
That your Petitioners and others of their descrip-
tion are, agreeably to the prevailing custom of Cot•
ton Factories, generally engaged in work at the mills
of their employers from 14 to 15 hours (including
the time allowed for dinner) every day in the week,
except Saturday, when the working hours are some-
what reduced. _ _

That this extended Ishnur, performed as it usually
is in rooms ill ventilated, often over-heated, and
greatly incommoded by dust and cotton flying', is
attended with the most injurious consequences to the
general health of the labourers, as a large portion a
them, from their own lamentable experience, can
abundantly prove.
That if in such a state of long and pernieous con-
finement, those who are subject to it live to an age
when the services of other working classes become
most efficient and valuables they are aenerally too
vouch enfeebled to continue with effect their employ-
ment during the requisite hours--a misfortune not
unfrequently succeeded by another of a still more
direct and calamitous astute, the masters in the pre-
sent circumstances of the trade feeling it 2n object to
obtain. the greatest quantity of work from the same
slumber of operative individuals in the shortest period,
sod abler bands are thus exclusively and generally
preferred.
That your Petitioners, in representing their tins
fortunate situation, beg leave to observe, that they
also feel the uphappy condition of young children
working in Factories, who in many instances are
connected by the dearest ties of relationship with
your Petitioners, and from the length and unwhole-
some character of such employment, manifest appear.
cocci of deformity in their limbs, and all the other
evils of sickly and impaired. constitut ions.
That your Petitioners entertain no hope of redress
whatever from the humane interposition of Parlia-
ment, because Siam, masters will always be found
desirous of keeping their hands at work as long as
possible, and others, better disposed, are unavoida.
hly led to the adoption of this destructive example,
.1, that their yatns may not be brought to the mat ket
upon more onfavoureble terms.
That your Petitioners, who have for the last two
'years cherished- the expectation of relief from the
Legislature, cannot adequately express the concern
they felt in learning, upon the conclusion of the last
Session, that no provisions had then been made for

this purpose, and they now therefore deem it eape.
dient to submit the peculiar hardships of their case
to the protecting wisdom of this Honourable House.
Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray, that a
law may be passed to restrict the time of attest la-
bour in Cotton Factories to ten boors -and a half
each day, so at to allow within the ordinary space
hours half an hour for breakfast, and an
dinner, a regulation which was otlginally
in Sir Robert Peel's Bill, and is of general
_ in other employments aouch less .preju-
;health than those of your Petitiongrs.

Triox has re?eited sp tempting en offer
Aaaager of the New York Theatre, as will
induce her) with her finally, to trartme the
•

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