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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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THE TEN HOURS' FACTORY QUESTION . A Stffll ADDB . ESSED TO ^ THE ^ SHOS ^ -t lSE COMMlTTEES OF THE WEST BIDING OP YORKSHIRE , OF CERTAIN CO * P £ KEXCES KELD "WITH THE RIGHT HOXOCXABLE SIB ROBERT PEEL , BART ., / -H . P-. AND - SEVERAL OF HIS JDOILEAetJES ; * Ui THE SUBJECT OF THE TEN HOURS' yACTORT . QCESIION , AND OTHER IMPORTANT MATTEBS . Having been deputed "by yeuto ^ wait np * n the leading Member ? of the present Administration , to nrge npon their attention the necessity and importance of a kill for the better regulation of infanffle arid yonthfnl labour in factories ; we beg to present-to yon an abstract of our proceedings in the various interviews with wbidti we were honoured , as the best mode -6 f laying befere you ; the results of oar labours "In Hie discharge of the daty cemflded te > nV 7 - ~
At a preliminary meeting of ydrnr delegates , certain geoeral principles -were , agreed npon for the grridsnce of the deputation . It appeared a" matter of primaty importance to occupy « little as pofifo ' e of the time of the Ministers with -whom it -was proposed to-seel : interviews , and to lay before them , in thy shortest period , clear views of the nature and exte * $ of the measure to -which their attention would be ^ 2 * eeted . To attain these objects , it was considered that one member of tiie deputation , who understood the question thoroughly , and the views of his associates , and was possessed of the power to explain these ¦ clearly , snould be appointed to conductthe interviews on their behalf ; the other , members giving such assutsnee by way of suggestion , explanation , or eerroboration , as might be ¦
sseesssry . ... IITTEBVIETV WITH ^ TR ROBERT PEEL , BABT ., TIBSX LORD OP THE TB . EASXJR 1 , fcc . ¦" - ~ ' _ - CNo . 14 The first visit of the deputitdon wasio Sir Robert Peel , upon wjtioai _ they -waited bf _ appointment , - on Thursday , the 28 th of October , at his official residence , Downing street . Sir Robert received U » deputation in the most , courteous manner , and after requesting them to be seated , awaited in silencetheirstatement . The deputation opened tne business by aaying-, ' - '' We hate bten deputed to wait upon you . Sir Robert , by the short-time committees of the West Riding of Yorkshire in consequence ef a letter from Lerd Ashley , stating that Sir Robert I ^ del's ownions ware not yet matured
noon ., the Factory question . We were in hope * that you ' would have ' eome , by this time , to a satisfactory conclusion respecting tha Jen-Hours * Bill ; and we now press xipquycar attention the necessity which exists foe in&odaeiBg such , a' hill at an -early period of the ongoing Session—a ' bill for the better regulation of lab « ur in factories . In requesting this interference on the part of the Government and the legislature , we wiaa to observe , that we lav * tiie sanction of precedent , inasmuch , as this subject has already been repeatedly bsfow both- Several acts ^ have been already passed ^ and a » these , owing to various causes , have not yetjsrod need
the effects . ^ hlch . it is fair to presume 4 he _ L « 5 islatuiej had in . view in psssLng tieiri "— . - 7 Sir Robert here interposed and said , " Will you j please first , to explain the nature of the bill you pro * -j pose ! " The deputation explained . that the leading . ' provisions they were anxious to « ee enacted were— " j 1 . "A clause declaring that in foiure no person be- » tween thirteen and tsrenty-one years of age should be ; employed mere than ten hours per day in any mill or ! factory . " The deputation added that it was more urgent 1 now thin ever to have a legislative protection for those i above thirteen years of sge , owing" to the immense ' increase in the proportion of females now -working in j factories . . '¦ ..- . - '¦ ' - ' ¦ : ~ !
2 . "That to insure the fulfilment of tiis clause , no ' young person should be permitted to stay or be . fonnd i in the mills between six o ' clock in the evening ana ] . six o ' clock in the morning . The mill-owner or manager ! infringing the law to be subjected to . the penalty of impriscnmeiit ] 3 . " The gradusl withdrawal of ail females from the" ! factories . . ¦ ' i 4 . " The boxing off of all dangerous parts of ma- - chinery , under a hea ^ vy penalty , with a power of re- ¦ < covering compensation for any injury sustained through . neglect of this provision . * ' " - j Sir Robert said—'' The la&t point is a mere matter of j detail ; but doht you think there would be very great j hardship in the proposal respecting female labour ?' Suppose a widow with two daughters , without any 1 other means of support than . her and their labour . | Would it not fee very nijust * io step in between her and
an hocest employment , snd say , you shall not . be ; allowed ta support yourselves by your own labour ! "' j The Deputation— " There are certvnly difficulties j connected with this portion ot the snhjertj and the one I so strongly stated by yon , ia not the least . Such cases ; J however , would be the exception , net the rule ; and'it j ia the latter , not the former , to which all legislation is i directed . Special cases might be provided for by i special enactments . "We do not believe that any evils j which might arise from even a rigcTous and entire pro- 1 hibTtion of female labour could be compared with those i which spring from tfce present system . Tiie females : employed in factories are generally the offspring of ; parents who have been similarly situated . They get : little if any education worthy the name previous to " , entering the mills , and as soon as they enter them , ; ( generally at a very earJy age , in conse ^ aence of the ; connivance cf pareEts . m&fiical men , and factory owners , to evade the present law ) they are surroanded by ia .- ' ,
, flueaces of the most vitiating and debasing nafrzre . i They grow np in total ignorance of ail the true duties ! of "woman . Home , its cares and ita employment j , is ! woman ' s tree sphere , but these peor things are totally ! unfitted for attending to the one , or participating in the ! other . They neither learn , in the great majority of i cases , to make a shirt , darn a stocking , cook a dinner , J or dean a house . In short , both in mind and manners , j ttey are altogether nnfitted for the occupancy ef a do- j mertic position , as is evidenced by the' fact , that the j wealthy and middle classes very rarely engage any of this j clara aa servants . Yet thoss who are thus considered \ unfit even to fill tha ofiiea of menial to Use rien , are the ! only parties amonjj whom , ordinajily , the male factory j labourer hzs a chance of obtaining ' a -wife . They are msuiei early . M ^ ny are mothere before twenty . Thriftlessuess and wiste even of their small incomes , and consequsnt domestic discomfort and unbappiness . [
generally succeed . Tbrough these means is engendered a vast amcunt of immorality and misery , and while such are ita results as respects private life , the . operation of the system is not less injnrions in a national point of view . It throws the fcurden of supporting the family on the wife and the child , and compels tiie adult male , upon-whose shoulders the duty ought rightfully to fall , to bs reluctantly idle . It is an inversion of the order of ratare and of ProTiisnce—a return to a state of borbarisni , in winca the Tranin does the work , ¦ wisOe the rcac I&ok 3 idly on . Ins consf quecce of throwing loose snch a m ^ ss of part : aUT-informed men in Euch circnmstaEces . osnnct fail to be franght with danger to the State . DlsaSlcdon and aLfcontecfc mu ? ' be en- , gendered anic-ns parties so sitnatsd . If , therefore , such evils , beth private and public , cin be distinctly traced to this Eource , we think that it is the imper ^ tWe duty of Government and the Legislature to step in sad arrss : their operation to the utmost practicable extent . "
Sir Robert Peel— " I still sea great difficulties in the way , admitting all yon have stated . I believe that female and yosthfal labour is preferred , in canseqaencs of its greater cheapness ; is it not ? And abo , because it is , in some departmeEta , better adapted for the purpose in view than adult labour . " The Dsputation— " You are right as respects the cheapness , Sir ; but the oilier point may admit of doubt . For instance , it is objected that adult ? could net stoop to tke machinery , to the height of ¦ which children are perfectly adapted . Bui this ohj&ction could easily be obviated by having the mules raised , and orher machinery fixed a little higher from the groaad . Asd as to dexterity of Angers , you must be aware that the utmost fineness of touch-and quickness of movement may be acquired and retained by constant practice- "
Sir 2 P < = 6 i— " It is evident that the course you propos 3 would have the -effect , if adopted , of compel ling the eniploymeLt of a greater nambar of adults , and consequently higher pzieed labourers ; and the res&it cf that \ rocld ba to laife the price of BriSah maiaufactures , and thus plaes Kir msnufiactureis under greater disadvaatages in foreign markets than at piessni . . Now ; thecomplairt of our inaanfacturersis , 4 Us . t the " cobspetition in those markets is already so great that it da wita the ntmoet dii&eaity tity can maintain a footing in thsm . I feel deeply for the working classes of this country , and I am sure that if any measures t » uid be aevised by trtiica the deep distress they now suffer could be aJItviated it wonK be the duty of the 43 jvecnmeat imiasdiately to adapt them . Bnt we hare not only their ca 8 e to consider , but also the e £ = cl -which such meastsres would have upon the etssioyment o £ capital , ana the interests of those classes wi-o have . invested tiieir tfjpital in these pursuits .
The Dspetatioc— " Hitherto , Sir Robert , the interests of the capitalists have isen attended to almost Exclusiv ^ r ajjjj the csusgqaeaca is , that the introduction cf self-acting machinery , * nd machinery raquiricg the attendance of -iromen and children on 3 y , together with intense eoscpttlti-m betw ^ n our own meKhactS ; has thrown Taa uaaibsrs out of work , and reduced the wages of thos ^ who are employed to the barest pittance whieh ea support emtence . This evil is likely to be Etm . urther aggravated by the aEEjense increais of machinery abroad . The poUcy of tie late Govemm * nt had Detn to al . ow that it aiould be freely exported . Of late yeara machinery has been extensivel y introduced on the continent . Bdgiiim , Saxony , Prussia , and other p ^ ces Lave , instead Of taking our goods , suceceded iu t-eir primary o ; ject-tiiat of supplying their own mar-^'"^ . ""^ . tovMTi ti * farther , and compete
now successfully with us in neutral markfcte - and in scm * artic ! es erea come into direct competition SSE ?? 2 ° r il = 3 tket ' - A ^ eaU , America is a nwltlttt threatens u ' . timaUly to destroy one of the . stapleaonii&ctran of this coaBtry-cottol It can be Bhown , that , _ inconsequence of tte American manufac turer possessing the advantage of having the raw matenal almoat at bis own door , he is enabled , notwithstanding a higher pries of labour , inferior machinery , aud less economiMl processts of jaajjagement , whioh give an advastise to the Britkb manuf&ctarerer of 17 per cent , the American is yet enabled , with his waterpower and cfceapar raw material , in all fabrics in which quantity is more a matter of consideration than quality to beai as in the end by a small per eentage . Now , the disparity at present existing between us as respects maekiaery , cheap labour , bjhI Eupcrior management ,
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hiust , ia the nature of things , be continually lessening , and a closer approxiiaitiqn tatej > lace . ^_ The _ p _ opulatioa of VbfrCnSed Stattarof Americav by natural increase , aided by immigration , . will lower the cost of labour ; improvement * will b » daily introduced in the machinery , effecting more with , a less expenditure of power , and experience will improve their ' modes of management , ratil at length they will . be dn . a par with ., ** in all these points ; while the substantial and permanent drawback tat having to send to . America for ; our raw material , bring it home , and retransport it for sale is its manufactured state , -will still press upon us . " - ""¦"¦ .- ' ¦ Sir Robert PeeU— " Well , but do yea not think Ou . % ' , according to you * ewn' Rdmissiocs , the arguments against any interference which might aid the process which yon hare so cleariy and jjtrongly described as now going on , are ver ^ much strengthened . " .,. ' . '
The ^ eputeU pn— f Pardon us ^ SirRolKa , Bach ianot the case according to Uie light in which , we view the subject It U an axiom in politicai economy ,-t&ati P f is dependent « pon sspp ^ r « nd Semand . If an ' artlolf is scarce iu the--raaiket ,- however Bmall tfte deflcleney maybe , the price of . all the stock in the market ; is aised . In like manner if there be a surplus , however small that wrplus " may be , it affects pot ; mera ) y ' the surplus , but the whola of" the commodity , which is theraby reduced in price . Now , "we can ihew , by sto . t «» tical facts » cd irrefutable documenU , that . since the year 1815 , there has been a constant introduction of self-acting . raaebinery , or machinery which Imposed greater labour onthe smaller number of ¦ adult operatives retained ; thus cheapening the cost , and increasing
the amount of production . " nAhd Trhat has been the consequence j Why , exactly in proportion as this has taken place , the profits of the capitalist and . the wages of the labourer have regularly decreased ; until at length , In isks , we received no more jnoney for three times ttie amount of raw material ' manafactured , than we received in 1815 for the one-third ..,.. Tbia resnlt , in our opinion , ia cleariy traceable to the " unregulated use and extensive introduction of macHineryj which has either superseded adult labour entirely , or replaced it i > y the cheaper labour of women and children . What is now the consequenee ? - Throughout the manufacturirig distriei "tiie mills are nearly dosed ; The capitalists and BiMdle classes are in difficulties—insolvent or bankrupt ; while the operatives are in a state of 4
estitution which must make every heart Weed , and which arises from causes ever which , they themselves have no controuL Now , if this insane -course -bad- been checked—if over-productien , hal been discouraged by wise laws , and . a prudent system of trade pursued , WBges and profits would have been better , and employment mote . perman » Dt and more equally diffused over the year . W » should not have had noshes of prosperity , succeeded by'Icing periods of depression ; a continual recurrence « f gluts arid pitnics , each crisis following the other a , t shorter intervals , and finding us less prepared to bear it than its predecessor . Eor these reasons , Sir Robert , we believe tbatfbi dictates of ; sound political wisdom coincide with the dictates of humanity , morality , and religion , in calling upon" us to retrace . our
steps , and arrest the progress of a system which is spreading disease , disorganisation , " and disaffection in the factory districts . - As a ~ proof that we are not overstating the facts , webog ta pressnt you , ¦ Sir Robert , with , one illuEttaiion out . of many wiiich might be offered . It is a printed copy of the report of the Unemployed Operatives' Enumeration Committee of Lseds , in which a detailed statement of the condition of the operatives in the several wards of tViat" town , the ; emporium of . the woollen district , is -given . The sutamary of that appalling statement is , that neatly 20 , 000 human beings axe now living npon an average " weekly income of ll ^ d . per head . " We leave to -your ewn judgment what most be the ultimate end of such a state of things . " .
Sir Robert , taking the document , saia— " I am sorry to say that I have already seen this melancholy statement in manuscript , through the kindness of Sir James Graham , to whom it . was presented by Mr . Beckett . I am deeply grieved by the knowledge of such an amount of suffering , and sympathise most sincerely with tha coudision of the people aa there described . . It is , indeed , very distressing , and some efficient remedy is most desirable . " The Deputations ^* The requirements of humanity imperatively demand it . No system which entails npon the great bulk of the community such suffering ought to be permitted to exist : such a baneful influence ought not to go unchecked ,, whatever reasons , political or economical , may be adduced hi its behalf . We beg also to present you " with a synopsis of the evidence of Mr . Joseph Henry Green , ' a medical gentleman of the highest eminence . ( The deputation here delivered in a paper , far a copy of which see ^ note . * ) " This evidence , " si id tiie deputation , "i s corroborated by many otner witnesses of the highest standing in the medical profession ; and we have also much pleasure In reminding you of the unequivocal opinion of your father , the late Sir Robert Peel , in favour of a Ten Hours' BilL He was conspicuous among the earliest advocates of the regulation of factory labour ; an 4 as one of the most extensive employers in England , and a practical man , his opinions are entitled to the utmost deference . The folio-win * were his words : —• Such indiscriminate and
unlimited employment of the poor , consisting of & great proportion of the inhabitants of trading districts , will be attended with effects to tha . rising generation . so terious and alarming that I cannot contemplate them ¦ wi thout , dismay ; and thus that great efiurt of British ingenuity , whereby the machinery of our manufactures has been brought to such perfection , instead of being a blessing to the nation , will be converted into the bitterest curse . "" Si / RoDert Peel then directed the conversation to the bread qnestion of machinery , which he taid was one deserving of the greatest consideration . The deputation said , " We will njt attempt to conceal from you , Sir Robert , our opinion that , in wrder to meet the case fniiy and fairly , the enactment of other and more
comprehensive measures is indispensably necessary . A Ttn Hours' JBU 1 ten years ago might and would have produced much more benefit than it can now pro iuee . In the interral a vi » st amount of automaton power has been called into existence . It appears by the reports of the factory inspectors that between the years IS 35 and 1 SSS the horsa power increased at least one-haif , while , so far from the new machinery calling new manual labour into exercise , the fact waa that the number of spinners in Manchester required to work . the enlarged and increased machinery was not more than one-Viiird of the number previously employed . For such a sfete of thing 3 it would be very unwise , and a concealment of the truth , to say that a Ten Hours * Bill would be a complete and perfect remedy ; but it would , at least , be a step in the richt road . It wou'd be &n
earnest to the operative classes that the Groyernraent sympatises with them , has its attention directed to their condition , and is anxious to do what lias in its power to ameliorate it . The subject , as we luve already stated , is not a new one . The Ten Houm' qaestion has been < iiscnss » d over and over again in the Legis ! atare . Several committees have taken voluminous | evidence upon it—evidence which is conclusive of the ' . justice , the humanity , and the sound policy of the ' measure . The question , in those districts where it is ; best -aaiierstood , has long ceased to be a matter of dis-• jrats ami-ng the working classes ; even the master class , L -trio formerly thought it their interest to oppose it , \ have been tangfct by experience of a painful descriptron ¦ to abate that opposition , and many of them are now
favourable to the eunctinent which we s-ek . Public \ opinion , therefore , will be with the Government , should \ it res- Ive upon proposing this measure to the ensuing I Parliament . But to insure effective relief from the rdangtrs and evils by which we are now surrounded bolder and more comprehensive measures most assn-: r = dly are requisite , and if you , Sir Robert , will excuse bus for stepping beyond the legitimate boundaries of our 1 mission , we mil tell you our opinions as to those I meiisures . We have come ta you in the spirit of frfend-! ship—net to dictate or dogmatise—neither have we '; c _ oitt 9 to find fcnlt , "without suggesting such a remedy a 3 ' appears to us capable of alleviating the evil ; and we j zlso come free from all party fseiing or prejudices . We ' are sick of party nieknames , and party contests , for
1 party purposes . We are siok of the everlasting con-; fadon and bad feeling arising from these contests , and I are prepared to awara our confidence , support , and grai titude , io any Government , or set of men ( no matter I whatiheir party came may b& ) , who will show by tbeir ; actions that they sympathy with our wrongs and our ; sufferings , and are honestiy desirous of removing them . ; We approve of the course you have pursued since your ; accss-ioa to power ; and especisUly in your resolution to | take time for the consideration and maturing of the } measures on which you may resslre . We have had too I much of legislation which can only be fitly characterized ts being fr ^ m " hand to mouth , " and wo are therefore i -willing that you should have aU + he time which may be ! requisite to enable you to decide-both what measures | are necessary , and how they m&y be most beneficially ¦ carried into tffecu But , perfecUy willing that puch : time should te accorded to yoa , we shall expect . "Sir , iiat measures of real substantial Justice wii ] be the
result . In or < Ks to aid this object , we now respectful . y contribute our small quo ! a of iufowaation and adviee . We venture ts recommend , for tfce-reasons laid before y-cu at length , &e passing of the Ten Hours' Bill , and to accompany it , either by the total repeal of the New Poor Law , or by such an alteration of it as will lender it applicable to tiie manufacturing dieiscts , in which it ia-oi this moment practically inoperative , and in which we defy any G-rrressment ever to enforce it , These preliminary measure * arould give confidence to the working classe * and their { fiends , insure to the Gswernment the eupport of the weli dispose * and humane of all classes , and clear the way foe an equally important , and not lets imperative measure—aauiely , the appointment at an earls * period of the session of a committee of experienced , practical , moderats men of all patties , to inquire inte ti > e causes of existing distress , and especially into the workings of machinery at home and abroad since the close of the war is 1815 , with a view to the adoption of a comprehensive and effieient remedy .
SirR . Peel , who had been sitting with his head bent down , in a manner expressive of very deep thought and attention , bare raised it , and itemed favourably impressed with the suggestion-Tee Deputation continued , —In order to the enactment of good measures fall information is necessary . We have had inquiries into almost every qaestion but this , which we believe lies at the root of all the difficulties we experience . We deprecate hasty legislation , but we also earnestly desire to see substantive measures adopted ; and the cooree we respectfally suggest seems to ug irea calculated to tuure immedista satiifactfoa
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and future permanent > elifcf . " : If we hay $ bft $ n bold " n offering onr opinions U is beeause wejteelrtbelmpbrtance" 6 f the " position which we lure now permitted to occupy , and fully appreciate- the ; vast Influence which your decision will have nponthe happiness and prosperity of our own class , which has its state in national well being equally with that class who are the lords of vast possessions . You , " Sir Robert , are now placed in the most important and commanding position of any individual ia Europe , perhaps in the world . At the head of & Btrong Government , with a powerful majority in the Commons , and an influential portion of the
population th ^ fe '" g with you ; unfettered as you' declare yourself to be , save by your owncoavictioiM' of what is right'aod useful ; the resources of an empire on which the son is said never to set-ran empire unparalleled , in ; its natural and artificial appliances—at your command , and a population whose enterprise , induatry , and genius is proverbial , looking np to you ; a grave , atf awrnl ^ responsibility rests '' npon ; yen ,.. Sir TRobert ! . The means for producing national well being are s ^ per--abtfudani ; '&e' -. p ' opulation . is but limited . " _ firbid and comprehensive views , vigorous and decided action ' , are all called " r for by the exigencies of the times , ' and we earnestly hope that such will mark you * course .
"SirRobert , who Eeemed to be much affected , by this appeal ; paused for some momenta after -its conclusion , and then replied— " Well , gentlemen , I have listened with deep ipterest . to your statements , and . feel obliged by . your waiting on me . I am free to confea that theia is much force in what yoa have advanced ; and that the evils you complain of are mayfold and great , especially those which press upon the manufacturing operative . I also fear that an extension of our manufactures . will not afford the relief desired ; for past experience , I think , shows that such an extension would only bring into play more : machinery , and not employ manual labour in any thing like the rate of the increase in the machine department Of course I cannot pledge nayr self to . any particular line ; of action in respect to the measures you advocate— . ' ; ...- ¦ The Deputation . — : We do not wish it , we do not wish it - ¦ ¦ ¦ : : ¦ ¦ . - :- " - . ¦ : - '• ¦ ¦ ¦ '¦ . ' ¦ ¦ ' - " ¦ '' ¦ ¦ ' ¦ ¦ ¦ - ¦ ¦ ' ¦ > '
Sir Robert PoeL—But I shall give the subject that foil , and attentive consideration which its importance nnd various bearings deserve , and should I ) come to a different conclusion to that you held , I shall do so with a confident reliance oa the intelligence , moderation , and good feeling you have now displayed ,: assured that these conclusions and the , reasons . I may adduce for them will receive a calm and impartial examination . : Tfee deputation repeated , that thoy had no wish to draw from , the Premier any premature avowals of his policy . Their sole object was to make a true and full
statement of .- . the condition ot those whase interests they represented in the spirit of friendship toall parties . They jsoui'ht not the injury of any class ,, but toe welfare of all ; and they believed ; that the policy and measures they recommended would insure this commendation . They wished it to be understood that they bad no antipatby : whatever to . too masters—no desire to injure tfceiu . They neither accused them of selashnesB Dor cruelty . It was the system which madfe them ¦ what they were ; and the object the deputation had in vi e-y vris to alt * r the system in as gradual aud beneficial a manner for all parties as possible .
Tae deputation then ' rose to . take leave , - observing that they had 6 otne thoughts of waiting upon Sir James Graham , and asked Sir Robert if it would be advisable or ufcecssary ? l o which be replied , " Certainly , I think yoa had better sea Sir Jatnos ; and alsdMr : Gladstone . " Sir Robert immediately wrofc'i notes of ' Introduction to thosa two ' gentlemen , said ring'fpr _ - ¦ & messenger to accompany the deputation to their respective offices : after which he most cnurtebusly bade the deputation farewell , again expressing the satisfaction the interview had afforded him . Thy impression left on the minds of every one of the deputation on retiring was , that Sir R . Peel is fully aware of the great source of eur evils at the present . moment , and that he sincerely sympathizes with the working classes . It is but fair to add , that the e niphatic words which dropped from the lips of one of the members of the deputation , after they withdrew- ^ -
" Well , at all events , it is clear that Sir R . Peel has a heart , " conveyed the unanimous feeling of all . Ghorge A . ; Fleming . Joshua Hobson . John Leech . Mark Crabtree . Titus S . Brooke . -
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ISTERVIEW -WITII SIR * AMES GRAHAM , BARl * . SECEETAET OF STATE FOB THE HOME i ) EPAHTiIE . ^ T . ( Xo . 2 . ) Previous t 9 waiting npon Sir J . Graham , which the T did the same day , namely , on the 28 th of October , the deputation proceeded to tha residence of Mr . William Beckett , M . P . for Leedsj with whom they had a very satisfactory interview the day before their conference with the Premitf , and wno had then , la the most frank
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manner , ^ offered his servi ces in -. any W 3 y which the deputation . might think ' ^ J ^ ei ^ , ijeB ^ to 1 ^ l . tO' : Iarfiier ' 'ibii object in view , either" by accompanying thera to the diffarantr Ministers ; or otherwise . ' The deputation were , in the first instance ! afraid that the object & their mission might be associated with the fdea pf a party measure , ^ theyaccepted thlaicjnd , offer , aid th ^ refo ^ e respettfullj ? declined , Wi ^ ' iJh ^ case ; pt ' theifuterview with the Premier ; bb >} : ta ^ ' ^^ ns | d ja | ing thd subject they were . ' / In ^ emB ^''¦' S 0- !*<> ^ . ' . ! ' 6 > . ' t ^ W ,- ' * 9 ? 1 « iiiwIoif ' , ' tiiiat | .: ! \ lr . ' Beckett ' s countenance ' and assistance , would ' iend . to promote the object of thiir misaion , and therefore sub ' seqaently made an appointment ' with that gentleman , which they , how procee # e 4 " to' fulfiL Mr ^ Bebketf listened witJ ^ 'deei > int « i ^ t M *^ We ^ to tke awQqnt"' ' ' 6 r . ''' ' ^ eb '' ' , fi&teryiew ; wiih ' vSir !" . Robert ; Peel , and Immediately accompanied them to . we Home Office , where , after thelapse of a few ' minutes , ^ tfcijy were introduced , to Sir Jtfuea Graham , wh < j receive ; them most courteously ; " ' "' ' -: ; - > ' ;'
The ; -Dajpntatloh ibrJefly seated the " . leading features of the measure whii * ^ ttiey , ^ tyere sent' ] to pre ' sa upon ths attention of the" « 6 vernnienfc" ; s ^ asked if 'they ^ had Considered' wha ' t ei | bct » ' r ^ fectiQh of the labour ; of : ' 8 > U factory w . orkers Dpfe ^^ n Me ages of 13 and 21 " Vo ten * hours . isVdUy . ^ dal ^^ bay ^ . up ' Qn ^ ttiej manuflitturing intetesitB of the ^ country ^ ;> Do y ^ u not thinK , ' ' said- be , " . tl ^ at ii would very mn clj ag gtayajte the evils arid the distress ' : under which to at portion of the ^ ^ commnityarenow ^ represented to ' be ^ suffering ?" The Deputation- ' replied , that- if they thought such would be the result of the measure they would be the last persons in the world to press for its adoption ; but it was because ,. after a " mature consideration of the subject : in all its , bearing& , they had come to the . conclusion that it would be a benefit " rathertnari an injury , that they now ventured respectfully to call the attentioa of the Government to the ; neasure . ¦ : - ; . . ; v ¦ ';> ; "~
Sir James Graham . —Well , but I want to know thd reasons which induce you to form such an opinion . . It will be argned by thofee opposed to your vjewfi ihat stich an interference ' with : the free rae of capjtaland labour will iiecessartly glaca the British manufacturer at ' a disadvantage ib . tfee : ri ^ rket ; ' 'it , ' ^ e ^ p ii < l , ;' a ^; ' ; coropJB . red with Ws rivatr , atad ^ irho are under ; i q such instruction Now , I-wish iJ 6 ' . Kdd ^^ hether '' ydu ; -Iii 4 ye looked at , th ' ^ question it ) this broad and eoonbmlQal light j or confined your attention ' entirely to the effects of the ^ ysfcem upBn tbe condition of the labourers theaiselV ^ s , ^ ' aud thust excluded from' your calculatl 6 n ; ' ^ he , . ^ e ' nerii operattori ^[ ot . such a restrtction as " you advojatfe ? i , ^ , ; The Deputation said' they ' were , in the first placej , convinced that ^ heT ^ reflusWfiedin-aeking : for- 'this
measure ' - on the groands 4 t humanUy , justice ! ' strd morality ; and further , tbafe it was in accdrdabce vrMi the soundestdoctr \ ne . » ot political economyj >¦ They . repudiated , the idea of entertaining ; any hostile feeling towards - the employers , of capital , and labour in the manufacturing departments of industry . They-qeither accused them of selnshneaa nor cruelty as a class ,, but they wished to alter the system which made it the iatereut of the employers to act in suc | La manner as to justify the use of auch terms in relation to tha treatment which the working classes received under its influence . The ' deputation proceedei , ' to show , at considerable length ^ that the destitute condition of the oiieratives , in manufacturing districts , arose from the neglect of the very first principles of political economy—a n ^ eglecfc
which led to an over-supply ^ : a supply greatly beyond ; the substantial demand for their productionsy , ' Sino 9 1811 there had been a continual improvement : going on In' machinery , . b ^' . l'nhic . h three ; timea .. the amount .- " of goods / was , now ' manufactured with less adult manual iabourttian ' was Required In the previous period fdr the- ' smaller quantity . What had been the result ? ' .. ;¦ Wby , that they were now actually' receivlug , for three times 'the quantity of goods , less than tbe same ajnonrit of money which they got ' in 1815 for theoae-thirdL It ; was not , therefore , to be , vronUeted it thftt . tbinciaeht ^ ith this over production of machine-made goods as compared with a suhstantiat demand , wages' and profits had both decreased ; that the workmen who were still required * had to Vork
harder for a smaller reinuneratipn , the capitalist for'i lower rate of pwJfit ;^ and thatpauperise . had kept pac 4 witheachsuccessive rnedhariical invention , which displaced male adult labour , substituting in its place either the labour of nieehaiilcal automatons , or tbat of women and children . For-these and other reasons , of which an outline only is here presented , the deputation said they were firmly , convinced that the measure they advocated was in accordance with the dJctaWa of the soundest political economy , and calculated to lead back again to a greater , amount of national wellbeing than could ba anticipated from : any of those remedial mea- ' aures whi ch contemplated a con tin uanoe in the \ false eourse which , had already entailed such evil on the community . ' - ¦ ' ¦ X ' . ; '¦ '"¦ - ¦ v '; " ''¦> "¦ : . ¦ ' ;' - ¦ ¦ ' . '•
Sir J . Graham , in reply , urged moat of the . reasona adduced by the free-trade paity .,- ?® dwelt with great emph a sis upon the' possible results of a policy whicU , by placing biir manufacturers in a comparatively Worse position than the mahufacturers of the ^ Continent an ^ l America , niJghtnltimateiy render the capital of the former aftogfetber protttless , and thereby induce them , to close tfapir mills aitogether . ; He pictured ^ the awful effects whteh such a course' would -have upon the thousands thickly ' congregated . in the manufacturing district ? , nnd entirely dependent oh the centiuuance of our foreign trade for existence . lie said it would be argued that with such an intense and increasing rivalry on the part of foreigners as the deputation had admitted , it would be impossible to interpose any checks : to the production of manufactured goods in the cheapest possible way ; nnless indeed we were determined tc give our rivals the advantage in the market , and thereby put a stop to our foreign / trade altogether ^
The Deputation said , that the extenslbn of the foreign trade in the manner in which that had of late years been effeotdd appeared to them calculated most certainly to produce the very results which Sir Jaines Graham seemed anxious to avoid . ' ¦ Sir j . Graham here said > ' - Ilnderatandi me ; I am not arguing as though I personally participate in these views ; but my-object is to show you . what will be said by those opposed to your views , and te ascettain the ground upon which you claim Buch a measure as a Ten Hours ' restriction . ' ¦ •'¦' . . ; : : v :.. ¦¦ ¦ ¦ :
Thd Deputation proceeded to say , that according to the arguments presented in . favour of the policy of causing the operatives to bs dependent on a foreign market for employment , it was admitted that eur ascendancy in those foreign markets could only be kept np by a continuous cheapiimng of the . cost of production . How was . t'it ' ai to ba effected ? It could not be done by reducing much lower the wages of the . adult operatives . That class of labourers were as near the . bare .. ' . ' subsistence level , " when in full employ , as it was possible to
plfice them . The only way , therefore , to do it was by still further displacing these adult and comparatively high-priced labourers by self-acting machinery , or niachinery bo contiived that what little attehdance it might require would be that of women and children , and as little even of that as possible ; and thus we shall come to the same result The great feulk of the labouring classes would be thrown idle , whether we extended or restricted our foreign trade under the present direction of machinery . . , Sir J . Grahanl .---Y . es , but not so rapidly . . "
Tho Daputation . — -It is a sorry conclusion . Sir James , to think that this perversion of human ingenuity should ihake the multiplication of means for tho increase of national wealth , offer us only the alternative of slow or speedy ruin , ¦ • :.: . ' ¦ .. . ' .. "' . ¦¦ . ; . - . " . ' .. ' :-Sir J . Graham —Well ! but how is it to be remedied ? I do not see any practical mode of averting it ; do you ? .: .. ' . ' ¦ . .: ¦;¦ . ' . - . ... . - ¦ . . ' .- - .. . The Deputation . —Yes , \ we think we do . Sir J Gi ^ abam . —What would you recommend ? . The Deputation . —The adoption if n comprehensive and efficient plan of home colonisation ; for which purr posa we Wou ^ d advWe the passing , at the expence of tho nation , of a . Gaheral- Waste Land Enclosure Bill ,
which should make provision for reasonable compensation to all those interested in these lands . We ahonld then have a Parliamentary grant raised by loan , or by Exchequer Bills , to be applied under a Boatd of Control to the settling down upon these uncultivated but improvable wastes our now unemployed population ; and if the waste lands were insufficient we would recommend that the GoverriSYeht should have Tecoarse to the Crown Lands for the same purpose , and in the same way . This would increase real wealth at homei direct the energies of the people , in the first place , to provide feod and shelter for thonaselves , and the surplus of their labeur would form a fund for defraying the necessary expences , and ultimately repaying the principal advanced .
Sir J . Graham . —Ah 1 ttiat might do very "well if we were beginning de now , but under present ciroutnstauces it seems quite impracticable . The Deputation . —Weil , Sir James , you have jost these alternatives— -either to cominance this measure now gradually and peaceably ; and thus avert the evils we have been anticipating , or to lot the present system take its course , spreading destitution , pauperism , discon ^ nt , and disaffection , more oat . more widely , until it terminates in general disorganisation and anarchy , and then to be forced to begin de now , amid the wrecks of former institutions . - . ; ¦'¦¦ ' ¦ ' ' ¦ ' ¦ ' .:, " '• . .., ¦ ,. ' .... :- ' . .. "'' . - ¦ . Sir J . Graham . —I hope matters . are not likely to end in that way , and that our prospects axe not bo gloomy as you appear to think theai . ^
The Deputation . —We are convinced , Sir James , by long and painful Bufferings , which have induced us to search deeply into and ponder of ten on the working aad tendencies of . the present mode of using machinery , tbat unless a different direction bo given to its mighty capabilities it will become the destroyer of those who bo misuse it ; and not only the destroyer of tbom , but also of the working olasssa , whose fajte ia now , la a certain sense , in their hands . Glut afler glut , panic after panic , has visited us of late years , the period between each progressively lessening , and each finding us still less able to bear it than its predecessor . The
humble comforts of tha operatives * cottage have disappeared . The middle classes of tradesmen , who depend upon the lower classes , are in all but an insolvent state , and trade is concentrated in the hands of a few overgrown capitalists , in consequenca of the inv bility of Bmaller c ^ pitaliats to contend with them . Sach la the state of our towns a » ( he preseat moment We have given you our reasoHS for believing that the increase of our foreign trade under the preseat system would permanently increase neither wages ^ ne r profits , or arrest tbeir downward tendenoieB ; and we iejote , too the consideration of these reasons . V
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Sir J .: Graham , who throughout the Interview had appeared . ^^ to ^^ take b > deep interestJn the snbject , said that the yiew 3 of the deputition were certainly stturtling , and deserving of serious attention ; ' arirfthafc one thingr was certain , ' thit' Tfe \ m , dst ^^ lay aside tfcejiiption thattw » could ever again febmer . •*' " tiie , "' ^ r kshbp -of the world . " ' '' : ' lit / ifo&i '' : i& ^< i ^ j ; yna different . Then we were almost ixcIosiVeljr posiieased ot-macblnery ; since then other riationB'had Rapidly ad- ^ vanced In fchLa partiCnlaar , and were mannfacturing'for themselves .: For this and other reasons It was manifestly impossible that we could ever again command the markets of the world , as we once had done .
TTbe ^ depatation then pressed more ' particulariy npon Sir JameB Graham the moral aspecta of the qnestions involved in tha passing pf a ten hontt' billi the extent to- which the present system produced ignoratfee , a want of dome 8 tiG comfort and economy ^ ' q , disThption of family , ties , and , consequently , both 'reckless and vicibusyjOpnduct : ]¦ ¦ The .. deputation vHieritioned many particuiar instances of the " working ; o ? the system , which strongly confirmed the general premises laid down ,..-to all "wTiicb , '; git' James Graham gave an attentive hearing . As . v haVeYer , those portions of the subject have already fceen treated" 6 f ' In the , report of the interview with * * Sir Robert Peel , It is bnnecessary tb j ? oi over them again . " . ; „ . . ' ^ : - the
la tho course of th ^ idtarview deputation had drawn attention to the fact that tbe self-acting machinery and the " double deckers" introduced of late yeara into the cotton districts had thrown out of employ a great number of adult labourers . These alterations had- been carried to such an extent . in Manchester as ; to rednce-the-- number of spinners from 2 , 600 vin the ' j&a 1830 to 600 "in the year 1811 ; in the short space of eleven years that prodigious alteratio . n ; hadbeen effected , chiefly by the- introduction of self-acting machinery , and double , treble , and quadruptodeckers . ' . : / J ¦//¦' ' : . < : "^^ - . , ^ ^ - ^ . ,.., , 'v ; -:--- > / ¦ Sir J . Graham said , —Wb . y , yott cbtnpUih 'of labourers being-. out . -of empldy , and yet a few -years ago the manufacturers were advertising for labourers' to be sent down into those parts © f the country .
' Deputation . —True , Sir James ; but that was connected with" a ¦ contract made ; itet ween the' Gregs and AshworthV ' and the : P *> 6 r- Law Commissioners , the pur-. porfc ofwhich [ was to reduce Wages in the raan ^ facturing districts . the effect " was twofold . This niigration ' system assisted the cbmniissionefd in carrying out the , Ne- « f Poor Law ' in the ai ^ iculturaldistrictg ) , arid it 'enabled the manufacturers' to VoWe ' r arid keep ? down wages ^ Thisi keeping down of . wages ^ was 86 clearly the gr ^ fc object ^' ft ^ maaufdfjWrtw ^ , ' coim ^ ry , arid thb ' additional jjiands ?; were ijln many iplace 3 so utterly ^ ' uricalled for 'by ; any real extensioni of the deinaudftfflabour , ttiat it Is a fact ^^^ and itis one , Sir Jalrie 8 i ' wflich V » are most anxious to press upon your attention , that in very many . instances , where newfamilies were taken on by the manufacturers , an eqaal number of the older families and hands were dismis&eci to make room for them . : ; u v * ; 7
After a long and very interesting conversation , of which this report will give but an imperfect idea , Sir Jamea Graham said , —You willnpt expectthat I should ^ veany- distinct pledge as to the course which the Government may take on the tjubject you ' have brought befora us in such a temparafce spirit , and in support of . which you h * ve argued with equal intelligence arid good feeiingl 'AIM can say is , that , in common with mycolleagues , I arii most desirous to adopt any measure which may have the effect of introducing and maintaining
prosperity among our fellowrconn , trymeri ; and you mayjrest assured that we wil "'' . use ' our best exertions , and giveour most careful consideration to any measures which seem to us calculated to effect that primary and paramount object . I am obliged to you , gentlemen , for your kindness in calling upon me , and-fortheiflfpr'nation . and pleasure you have afforded"ine . Varid ¦ will " only add , that it will always be the duty of the Government to receive Bttch deputation ^ frqrri thb ; working classes , and to listen to their statements attentively , aye , and respectfully . . ¦ - - ' ; ' . ; . '; ; ¦ . '¦;¦ ¦¦ . " ' , ' , ¦ ; :.. '¦
At the conclusion tiie deputation ; pressed upon the attention of Sir James Graham tbe same ulterior measures Which they had suggested to the Premier , and again disavowed all party faeling , their object being to unite the wise arid moderate of all parties , ^ ndi through tho medium of the constituted authoriiies , to carry such measures aa would-tend to promote the welfare : of aU classes of the community . The deputation then withdrew . ; ..... . - ¦ -. ¦ - ' ¦ -. ; ; ; . ' - '"' :. ¦ -. . ' ¦ ;¦ ' ; - ' :. ' ; "» ' Of . the Home Secrttary it may be reiuarked , that while his treatment of the deputition was unexceptionable throughout—while there was no want of expressions of politeness and cordiality on . his part , upon the whole the impression pibduced upon the deputation was less favourable than in the previous case . Sir Jambs
Graham seems to us to have drunk too deeply at , the fount of the Malthusian . ph | losopl » y ^ Which has inflicted so mrich evfl on this oafuntry ) to be able to get rid entirely of its influepce ; . aud ^ though , while putting forward tho arguments of that school , he repeatedly cautioned , the deputation against supposing that be waa uttering his bwriseritimerita , the deputation think that ^ there is reason to apprehend , from the earnesfajess of mariner which he displayed in arguiug , and the importance ho seemed to attach to those opinions / that the dogmas of that school continue to , exercise a considerable influence over his mind . " George A ; FiEMiNG . JoshuaHpjisor * . John leech . Mark Ckabtree . Titus S . Brooke
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such a trifliniif pecuniary penalty as tol operate ^ bufc slightly , if .- ' . at all , in deterring the employer * injcoilsequence « f tho profit W'bioa . be Could realise-even withi&e drawback of jnaoh larger fineB . ; Mr . Gladstone inquired whether , the ' deputation wished io abolish ; inspectorships altogether ! To which ' the deputation replied , that they thought . with such a bil ^ as they proposed , there would not ba much neecessityior them r aad they also thought their abolitioa would remove igreai source of irritatioa and annoyance in respect of the masters : for it was
with them , ohiefl . y , and Beldom with the operatives , that the inspectors cams in contact . In fact , they wereas a sort of spies ; upon the . employers , which the deputation thought might be dispensed with if a bill of the nature indicated were passed into a law ; for if the master or other directing person were liable , like the poor man , to be committed to the treadmill for an infraction of its provisions , and the common informer were restoredHo . bJs former position , there would be very few iufriugeineats of the law . ' - . . -- ; ¦ ¦ - '' . y-. ' ¦ . ' : ' ¦ ¦ ' ,: ' ;^ V .- ¦ ¦ . ¦ . ¦^ h- ^ ^;^ ¦ - ••; v ' : ; •" . - ' ; , ¦ - ' >
Lori Wharncliffe and Mr . Gladstone both expressed their deep sympathy with the condition of the manjufiaoturingolasses , and M the course of a long and friendly eoaversation gave utterance to many truly benevolent and enlightened opinions . : After tho Ten Hours' measure had been very fully canvassed in its various bearings ,, this deputation took the liberty of laying before his tordsaip and Mr . Gladstone ( as , they had already done with Sir R . Feel ) their views , aa jto the imperative necessity of passing it ui connection with , an alteration of the Poor t aw * j in accordaace with the dictates of humanity and justice , and as an instalment of good measures to the working classes . These were matters about which the deputation thought there should bo no delay , as upon them an immense mass of
evidence had already been aceumaJated . Bat while considering those points about which the mind of the Government ought to be immediately made up , there were other points , as the deputation had already stated to the Premier and Home Secretary , of vast importanca to the prosperity of the country , oil which the deputation thought that Parliament might collect valuable information and therefore , though it-was going beyond their instructions , the deputation took upon themselves to suggest arid press for the appointment of a- Committee of Inquiry into the causes of the present distress of the countiy , as arising from sources not likely to he reached by alteratiou 3 iu the Poor Law or the Factory Act , th « Committee to consist of moderate and well-informed men « f all parties . : ' < ¦ •¦•^ ¦; ' .- ¦ - ^
LordWharnoUff ^ i as ked whether , the masters we re not : generally pppose . d to the views advocated by the . deputation in reference to the Ten Hours' Bill ? To which it was replied ^ that the masters were now in many instances becoming convinced , by dear-bought experience , that these views were correct . that a tea hours' lestriotion would be the only means of saying them as well as their workpeople from utter destruction . His Lordship said that , he supposed that might be the case with the
smaller manufacturers , but such instances of approval . ¦ ¦ ' of the 'Ten- Hours' Billj he thought , were rare among the more wealthy and . extonsivo capitalists . The deputation stated < that as a general rule that might be so , but that many of the large employers were now coming round to the same opinions . In corroboratioa of that statement the deputy from Huddersfield mentioned the names of several of the , most ; extensive and influential mllU owners of rthait district , with whom hiB : LordBhip was well . aequainted . v :. ¦¦ .. ' ¦/* .. :
Mr . Gladstone , at the termination of a most friendly and encouraging interview , expressed himself highly gratified with the conversation , and said that it was impossible to direct the attention of Government to subjects of grayer importance that those which the deputation vhad . brought before Lord Wharncliffe and himself . "You may , " said he , •* rest assured that I will devote my best attention to them , in conjunetion with the Cabinetj and with an earnest desire-to discover arid adopt those measures which may be best calculated to put a stop to the evils you have described . Where we may happen to differ , I feel a confidence , ( considering the candour , mpderatioSj and intelligence which have characterised
your representations ) that our motives and opinions will receive from you a fair and liberal construction . But , indeed , it iB not fair to assnme that wo do or shall differ , for the evils are palpable , demand immediate remedy , and your claims are just and reaonabfe . The spirit and tendency of-your views are alike rational and conciliatory . " ^ Lord Wharncliffe , at the request of the depufaii ^ Pj readily , and in the kindest manner , gave a ibtier of introduction to his ^^ Grace " the Duke ot' Buckingham , upon whom the deputation next proposed to wait . -The deputation then took leave , after expressing their high sense of the kindness and courtesy with which the Nobla Lord and the Right Hon . Gentlemen had treated them .:
' The impression ; left on the minds of all the members of the deputation by the ; bearing of iMr . Gladstone was of the most favourable description , and gave riso to hopes of a cheering nature as to the ultimate . results '" of their labours , and the intention of the Goyer&ment , both with reference to the Ten Hours' Bill , and also to other measures deeply affectfng the operative classes . And of Lord Wharncliffe the deputation have to report that lie rendered them very valuable assistance by corroborating several of their strongest statements from his owa personal knowledge of the manufacturing districts . - . .. Geosgb A . Fleming . Joshua Hobson . John Leech . TlXCS S . BltOOKF . V ; Mabk Crabthee . / 7 b be Continued . ) : ' . ' "'
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. -. A FEW WORDS ABOUT TEXAS , . N . p . Maillardy Esf . i having resided nine months in Texas , during part of which time he was editor of a newspaper published in that Republic , has recently published a voluirie , from which we extract the following : — ; ;> . ¦ ¦ ..- ¦;¦ ;; : ¦ . ';; '¦ .- ¦ ; ¦;¦ ¦ v /; . ' - " Character of the Texans . — -Texas , a country filled , with habitual liars , drunkards , blasphemers , and slanderers ; sanguinary gamesters arid cold-blooded assassins , with idleness and sluggish , indolence , with pride engendered by ignorance , and supported by fraud .
The loafers are by far the most numerous class , and go about from one dram-shop to another for the purpose ef gaming and spurring on their friends , and not unfrequently on strangers ; but this latter practice is by far too common in Ttxas to be confined or strictly applied to any one branch in the coaimunit ? . : ¦ . . ' * ¦ * * The Texan 8 , either ; separately ^ or en n sse , ^^ exhibit all-the features of a ruffianised European mob , to ¦ whom , however , they are greatly inferior in social re . flnBment , and much lass formidable in a militeiy point of view ^* '" . ¦ ¦ . ¦¦ '¦ ¦ ¦ . ¦ .-. ' " :- ¦ ;¦¦ ¦ ¦ - . ; - '¦ v - ¦ .- : " :
This character of the Texans , of course , is meant toapjply , in the aggregate , to both sexes . ; But Mr . M ' aillard , whose notions of gallantry are somewhat peculiar ; proceeds to specify the graces of the softer sex in ' Texas . The picture , as painted by him is so little flattering , that we shall not expose ourselves to the odium of bein ^; regarded as libellers by describing it . Here is the original , 03 towched oflf by his own coarse ^ enci " - " :-- " ; . - ¦ ' .. \ - ' / . ' ' ¦ : ' \ ; ' . ; '¦ [ -: '' ¦¦ ¦ ¦ : ; " \ : ' - . - . ; ' ; ;\ ' f TEXan Ladies .- —The Texan ladies seldom show themselves to strangers , " . and , like those of the United Slates ; they use ' . -either the pipe or the " swab . The swab is apiece of soft wood , about three Inches lovg , which they chew at one end until it forms a bruHh , then
dippihgit into a . smali bottle of brown rappee sni : n > which ¦ they carry about- for tue purpose of cleariiDg their teeth ; this operation being performed , the swab is placed ta one side of the mouth , while tha pipe sometimes takes the other . They have little ' neatnesspr cleanliness of person to attract the eya TUei ' r flguns are scarcely to be described : coarse from ii ^ jhcl , Or eniacidted from self-indulgence , their skins have borrowed frour the sun the exact hue oti&elemon ; end if the countenance be an index to the mind , I doubt not that their dispositions have somewhat of the peculiar flavour of that sour bullet of the tropics ; but yet to those who admire silence above everythingr else in wornsu , permit metoiBtroduw ^ excellence as mutes . " '
According to Mr . Irlaillard the climate of Texas is not a Jot more iavitiug taaa its iohabLteate . TMptairies . he describes as swatups , covered .-tvith . ' water for several months in the year , and hardly habitable from the bites of insects during the dry season . Tka city of Sabine , he ^ says , is ' very unhealthy , ' the city of Gilve 3-tori , ' extremely unhealthj and insalubripusv' the town of Vala 3 co , ' very unhealthy , ' and the city of MatagorJa , most unhealthy ;' ; . Even religious toleration , ; Mr . Jlaillatdcontends , ^^ does not exist in Texas , which he endeavours to prove . The great drawback , however , is slavery—the accursed trafSc in human blood .
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The Marquis of Waterford had Beveral of his hounds poisoned in the covert of Dangan . Distress in Bawabp Gastle . —The carpeiweaverk and othorSj amounting to upwirds of 120 families in this town , are reduced to extreme distress , owing to the want of employ , most of the manufactories being it the stand still . The town has been divided into districts , arid the habitations of the poor visited to ascertain the nature of eich case of distress , and it appears that for the last six or seven weeks the average incomes of the abqye
families have been at the rate of Is . ^ Jd . per head per week , but now it will not be more than , on an averago , : 12 d . per head ! perweekj for many have no employment whatever . A subscription lei now making amongst the neighbouring gentry and the inhabitants of the town , and it is determined , as far as it is practicable , to give emp loyment to those able to work , in improvinc foot-path 9 f roads , &c . in and about the town , and also to afford some relief ' < by cofo at a reduced price , in thosa urgent cases where the parties cannot be employe 1 at oat-door work . —Sunderlar id ffereM .
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* A Synopsis op the Evidence which was GIVEN BEFORE THE SELECT CO 3 IM 1 TTEE OF the House of Commons on the 4 ih or Acgust , 1832 , bt Mr : Joseph Green , F . R . S ., svrgeon or st . thomas's hospital , j pbofessob of Surgery at Kings College , asd Cli > icax Lecturer at St . Thomas s Hospital . -
The period of growth is one of ¦ w eakness ; the purposes of growth necessarily require a more than ordfnary supply of nutriment ; children require not only a large supply of fooil , but that it should be nutritive , and given frequently . Assimilation cannot be perfectly formed "without air and exercise . Children should be allowed long xeti . in the horizontal position , and sufficient sleep ; eight i * nine hours at least ; under many circumstances , twelve hours . Children are extremely susceptible of vicissitudes of temperature . The muscles have not acquired that tone which enab 2 es them to perform actions which rtquire strength and persistency of action . Their exercise shouW be varied , noi . longcontinusa nor disproportioned to their strength . Their bones and joints are soft and spongy in their texture .
Children nre not fitted by nature for laboHcua or stationary occupation . Subjecting them to business or ¦ work which nqtiires strong exertion , or which , even being comparative ' iy light , demands uuiforni , long-continued , and therefore wearisome exercise , must ultimately haxo an injurious effect upon their Leahh . But if , in aiUition , thtir food is scanty , supplied only at long intervals , their occupation is not alternated with amusement and exercise in the open air , and their clothing is not warm , disease must be the Inevitable consequence of this violent counteraction of all that na ; ure suggests aud demands . If you were to tuhject tae healthiest child to the causes which I h : ive enumerated , it is impossible that it should cot becomo weakiy , emaciated , stunted ia its
growth , duil , siufiiish , and diseased . I fear that tkis country will have much to anstrer for in permitting the growth of that system of employing children in factories , which tends directly to tae croat ' on of all those circurusi 3 nces whic ' i inavitsb . y lead to disease . I am quiie sure that the results will be , in regard to the b . ea . ith , most dci-tructive , ivnd , I think I may venture to add , in regard to morals most injuri- < u 8 , and that the consequence of this culpablo inattontiou to the physical and m 9 ral welfare of the manufacturing class will be , a population weak and diseased in body , feeble and degraded in mind , and vicious and dangerous in condnct Children were not designed for labour ; but if some labour must be permitted both our conscienco and » nr feelings tqually demand that the labour
of children should be under such restrictions as will insure them againtt Iheir being made the victims of avarice and disease , and as will render it compatible with their phyitea 1 and moral welfare ; twelve hours ' labour , including the time for mea ' . s , is the utmost average peiod of labour for the full-grown , strong , and healthy man . I r . m of opinion that the deterioration in tho human frame caused by this systein will become hereditary , and even increase from ceueration to generation , if tha causes are to be continued . I should suppose that such results of the ehoi tuning of human life , as are s = hown to bo die case in the factory districts by tie official documents before the committee , would be the remits of euch a system . Manufactories and machinery , so long as they procure employment for tho
labouring poor , render the necessaries and comforts of life cheap aad easy of acquirement , and aro the means of tha poor bettering their condition , and must be regarded as blessings , au < V in every way conducive both ta the physical and moral wvlfare of the pfcopla . v In order to obtain this desirable object , it is ; however , necessary that tha labourer shwuld patticiputa in the advantages and benefits arising from the employment of raachinery ; and in diminishing human labour by its use , the only legitimate purpose must be admitted t *> be . that of substituting a machine for the performance of that labour which would reduce man to a mere mechanism , to the end that he may devote the time and leisure acquired thereby to his moral cultivation It is indisoensable , I say , in regulating a
manufacturing system , that the labourers employed should never be considered as merely tho means to its success , but that their condition , moral and physical , should constitute an essential object of the system ; and its success , as the source of wealth and power , be subordinate thereto . But if , instead of this legitimate object , and this wholesome restraint , ruled by the insai ' able avirics of gain , the manufacturing system is without check , and has no bound but the possible means of creating wealth , and of making the rich richer ; and wages be lowered , till ifc be simply calculated upon how little life and tbe motion of a pair of hands can be supported ; if we Had that these human beings ( the factory workers ) are only regarded , as parts of the machinery which they set in motion , and with as little attention to their moral welfare ; if we find tbat these ,
even at the tendered a ^ e , and without respect to the distinction of sex , and without regard to decency , are crowded together under aH tbe circumstances that contribute to disease and vice , aad all this to add to the srealtfc of their employer * , to minister to the luxuries of the rich , and to make overgrown capitalists ttill more v < i £ t and oppressive , wiiilst tbe labourers themselves are degraded into the mere negro slaves of Europe ; thsc . J say , that these aad til the physical evils incident to J > uch a state require so sedica \ opinion , but demand unsparing moral correction , or ta ey await tae punishment due to depriving nun of the b irthright of bis humanity , of degrading him into the class of means and things to be used ; instead of recog * ji « ing , as the end , his happiness and dignity as a moral and responsible agent .
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g THE NORTHERN STAR / ^ : ^ k ± L ^^ £
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fNTERyiEWfi > VITH hOILD WHARXCLIFFE , LORD ; PREStpENT OF TIlE 1 COUKCIL , AND MB . W . E . GLADSTONE , VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE . , . . ; ; - . V ; ' .. " ( No . 3 . ) . . ¦' ;; . ; ' ¦ . OnJeaving theHcxne-office , the deputation , accompanied by Mr . Winiam Beckett , proceeded to the office of the Board of Trade , for the putpoBe of waiting upon the Right Hon . -W . E . Gladstone , its Vice-Preaidcnt . The gentlenian was unable to grant
an interview that day , but appointed the following day , at three o ' clock . , Mr . Beckett promisad to meet the deputation at thathour . On the following moruirig application was madei to Lord Wharricliffe » President of the Council , to know when it would please him to grant an interview ; and he , learniilg that we were to see Mr . Gladstone iu the afternoon , kindly agreed to meet us at ; the same time ...-. '• Accordingly , at the ! Hour Btatedj the doputatiph had an interview with Lord Wharncliffe and Mr . Gladstone . ; : ¦
As in former cases , the deputation proceeded to explain the nature of the measure which they advo « catedi and the economical and moral reasons upon which they based thoir claim . i " ; Lord Wharncliffis testified , from his own know ^ ledge , to the fact that the ttatements thus presented as to tho physical , the domestic , arid the mental and moral condition of the factory workers , weVe not in the slightest ; degree exaggerated . His Lordship expressed his deep sympathy with i he manufacturing population , and his desire for an aniolioration of their coriditiori . ' ' ¦ ' . : ; '¦¦¦'• ¦
Mr . Gladstone appeared to talce an earnest and absorbing interest in those portions of our statement which had referencft to the educational , the domestic j arid the moral aud religious statistics of the subr ject , and paid particular attentioii to the proposed restrictiprii of which Sir Robert Peel Beemed to doubt the practicability—^ namoly , that which would limit the employment of feinale labour , Mr . Gladstone treated this subject in a very able md practical mannery Agreeing in all the deputation stated as to the evil effects , both on individual character and on the domestic condition of families , whioh resulted from the present mode of substituting female for adult male labour , he asked , "What practical measures would you suggest to
make auoh a clause as you propose generally operative ? " Thedeputationj in their replies to this question , were rather aided by Mr . Gladstone than otherwise ; and it was ultimately suggGStod that the object might be effected by incans of three re * gulationa . Firsti by fixing a higher age for the commericement of infant male-labour in factories . Secondly , by limiting the number of females in proportion to the number of males in any factory . Thirdlyvbjr forbidding a female to work iuafactory after marriage , and during the lifetime of her husbarid . It will be seen that these suggestions meet the ca 8 e ^ ; put by Sir ^ Robert Peel , and at the same time obviate the oljections taken . The workinc of the Present Factory Act was also
very fully canvassed , and the unwieldy and impracticable nature of its provisionsillustrated by . .. fact ' s well knowri to all conversant with the subject . The deputation , while on this part of the subject , stated , in the first place , that the short-time committeee , and the friends of the factory labourer ,-had been no parties to that measure ( the Act of / 1833 ); that they had seen froin the beginniEg that it would not w-ork , and they were thoroughly convinced that it had been adopted more as a means of evading , than satisfying the demand for . the due regulation of the labour in factories . With respfct to the education for which it professes to make provision , it was notorious that in moat cases its provision had either been entirely evaded , or that what instruction had been given hail been imparted under circumstances which made it a mockery both as t © quality arid Quantity ; and one instance in particular Was adduced , in which the stoker of a eteam-engine had been constituted the schoolmaster , and the fire-hole . had
been made the school-roem . The inducements the Act held out to parents to allege that their children were of the full age required , when they knew that the facts were otherwise , and also to medical men to certify that the children appeared to be so , were also pointed out , and numcroua instances were brought forward to show that this was vory commonly the case . With respect to the inspectors , the deputation stated that it appeared to them that they would be uaneoessary with such a bill as that proposed ; and that experience had shown they were , in the majority of instances , rather a means of enabling the masters to evade the provisions of the -bill than otherwise , by giving the idea of an effioient SHperintendeaca , when in consequence of the many motives which operated to make the inspectora take the aide of the capitalist rather than that of the labourer , infringements of the law were frequent ^ the rich offenders either escaping vTith e * tire impunity , or being ponuoea bj
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Jan. 8, 1842, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct412/page/6/
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