system had succeeded beyond the most san- , exported, receive a drawback equal to guine expectations of its promoters; and the duty on raw silk imported. East if it was to a certain degree liable to India sugar would be subject to the same abuse, it was amply compensated by the regulations as West India sugar, if the general good it occasioned.

proposed fixed duty was established. In The report was ordered to be taken the linen trade there would be no alterainto farther consideration on the 13th of tion; nor would it be fair to make any, April.

without allowing the Irish manufacturers

to be heard on the subject. Customs CONSOLIDATION BILL.] The Mr. Alderman Atkins contended, that Report on the Customs Consolidation act there was considerable impolicy in laying being brought up,

duties upon articles of commerce geneThe Chancellor of the Exchequer stated, rally, without a due regard and reference that it was intended in this bill to consoli- to their quality; an average had, therefore, date all the various duties imposed since been hitherto wisely adopted. Nothing 1809, which was the period when a con- could be more prejudicial, for instanco, solidation last took place. The duties than to rate the duty on sugar grown at would remain nearly as they were, with a 50s. as high as on that at 90s. The confew exceptions. There were a few gene- sequence would be that the growth of ral principles to which, on this occasion, that at 50s. would be altogether discouhe wished to call the attention of the raged. Much danger might result to our House. With respect to the Irish duties, trade generally, from forcing the merwhich must soon undergo a revision, it chant, or shipper, to seek out other dewas intended they should remain for the pots for their cargoes, as had occurred present unchanged. No alteration would with respect to some vessels, which had take place in the duty on timber. With lately been forced to turn about in respect to ad valorem duties, at present a the river, and seek some other depot. duty of 30 per cent was laid on unmanu. If the right hon. gentleman would apply factured goods, and a duty of 70 per cent himself to perfect the ports of this country, on manufactured goods. The duty on the inevitable result would be, that Enthe manufactured goods was to be reduced gland would become the carrier of all the to 50 per cent, and the duty on the unmanu- world. factured goods was to be reduced from Mr. Forbes said, that the trade to our 30 to 20 per cent. It would perhaps be East India establishment was hourly inadvisable, that the varied duties on sugar creasing in importance, and ought to have should be reduced to one fixed rate; but a proportionate share of the attention of this would be a subject for future conside. his majesty's ministers and of the legisration. The duties on goods carried lature. coastwise would continue in their present Mr. Butterworth admitted, that it was state, except the duties on stone and most desirable that England should beslates, which would be rendered more come the carrier of the greater part of simple. The duties on tonnage would the world. There were some staple artinot be altered. The present duties on cles in which other countries had decided East India goods would be assimilated to advantages over this country; for instance, the duties on light articles imported from it was not possible for this country to. other parts of the British dominions. The compete with France in the silk manuthrown silk would be imported from facture. He was of opinion, that the India in the same manner as from ports most safe way to effect the purpose of the of Europe. He congratulated the House right hon. gentleman would be, by allowon the great growth of the trade to India ing in all cases drawbacks on exportation since the free intercourse with that coun- equivalent to the duties paid on import. try. The private trade exceeded not The report was agreed to. only what the evidence at the bar gave reason to expect, but the most sanguine

HOUSE OF LORDS. hopes of the adventurers. It would be proper to give every fair encouragement

Thursday, March 19. to this trade which might be consistent Gas Lights.] On the third reading with justice to our own manufacturers of the Bath Gas Light bill, It was proposed that raw silk, manufac. The Earl of Lauderdale observed, that tured here into thrown silk, should, when the companies established for furnishing

light by means of gas, appeared to him for the noble lord, however, to consider, not to pay sufficient attention to the puri- whether it was advisable to give credit to fication of the gas.

He had observed in a mere general rumour. stances of this nature of gross neglect. The Earl of Lauderdale observed, that The tubes through which the gas was it was something more than a general ruconveyed became foul in consequence, mour, as it appeared that, like the lords and if whilst the evil was not remedied of the Articles, who formerly in Scotland gas lighting was allowed to become gene considered what subjects should be brought ral, not only the light furnished would be before the legislature, the monied men in much deteriorated, but infinite danger the city, were now considering this very would arise to the inhabitants of places subject, with a view to the question, whewhere the gas was used.

ther any bill respecting it should be laid The Earl of Shaftesbury stated, that in before parliament ? Under these circumevery bill of this description a clause was stances, he thought himself entitled to inserted rendering the company liable to ask for information, particularly as the be indicted for a nuisance.

question so materially involved the subThe Lord Chancellor said, the best way ject of his motion. The noble lord had would be to dissolve the corporation if talked of future explanation; but the found guilty of a nuisance.

mischief was, that these financial meaThe bill was read a third time and sưres had of late come up to that House passed.-Both Houses adjourned to Thurs-at a period of the session when it was imday the 2nd of April.

possible properly to discuss them.

The Earl of Liverpool said, that whatHOUSE OF LORDS.

ever measures might be in the contempla

tion of government, due notice would be Thursday, April 2.

given of their being brought forward, and Stock DEBENTURES.] The Earl of they would be properly explained. He Lauderdale moved for accounts of the agreed with the noble lord, that financial Gold and Silver Coinage, from the com- measures ought to be brought under dis. mencement of the present reign, which cussion at a period sufficiently early; but were ordered; and, with reference to the it would be evident that he could not, motion of which he had given notice for consistently with his public duty, enter the 14th instant, observed, that since he into farther explanation. had intimated his intention of bringing The Earl of Lauderdale then stated, the subject forwarıl, reports had gone that the bringing forward the motion of abroad which, if true, would materially which he had given notice, must be conaffect the question. He did not mean to sidered to depend upon the circumstances go into the minutiæ of these rumours, but that occurred in the mean time. should shortly notice that there was said to exist an intention on the part of go

HOUSE OF COMMONS. vernment of issuing Stock Debentures, upon the security of stock to be deposited

Thursday, April 2. in the hands of commissioners; as if this Cotton Factories Bill.] Mr. W. were true it would very materially alter Smith presented a Petition from 400 perthe nature of the question as to the cur. sons engaged in cotton spinning, of rency of the country; and as he did not Herod, in Ashton-under-Lyne; and anwish to come there upon a non-entity, other from Staley-bridge, signed by upon a question, the circumstances of 4,000 persons employed in cotton manuwhich would be altogether changed from factories, praying, that the Bill before the those that now existed, he wished to House, for regulating the hours of labour know whether there was actually an in. in the several branches of the cotton factention of issuing any debentures of the tories might be adopted. The hon. memdescription alluded to?

ber bore testimony to the temperate and The Earl of Liverpool said, he had also respectful language of the petitioners. heard, as well as the noble lord, a variety Mr. J. Smith, in presenting a petition to of rumours relative to the subject alluded the same effect from the workmen emto ; but all he could say was, that what- ployed in the cotton factories at New ever measures it might be thought expedi- Lanark, took occasion to observe, that ent by government to bring forward, would he had had an opportunity of seeing be explained at the proper time. It was the individuals who signed this petition at

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the manufactory where they worked, in very bad. Some of his tenants who had the absence of their employer (Mr. been served by the Chelsea company Owen), and he could say that he never were now compelled to take the Grand met with a more moral, well-conducted, Junction water, which was of a bad quality, or cheerfully industrious set of people discoloured, and very disagreeable to the than they evidently were. These peti. taste. He had thought it right to call tioners deprecated the system which pre. the attention of the House to this subject, vailed in other factories of employing which was of very considerable importpeople for fourteen or fifteen hours each ance. He was glad that notice had been day, with only an interval of forty mi- taken of it in the other House, and he nutes to take their meals. They stated trusted some measure would be adopted that they themselves, under a more hu- to prevent the evil consequences of this mane and benevolent system, worked only monopoly. for ten hours and a half each day, and The Earl of Lauderdale observed, that were allowed two hours for their meals; the object of parliament, in passing difadding that they did more work within ferent bills for supplying the metropolis the time they were employed, than those with water, with a view to a competition, who were compelled to work for two had been by these companies completely hours longer every day, because they defeated, and a monopoly substituted. proceeded in their work with more zeal The consequences of this conduct were and activity for the benefit of the em- not merely increased price to the con• ployer, from whom they experienced such sumer and bad water, but still more, they kindness. Having seen those petitioners, might be productive of great loss of prohe could declare that they were, without perty. When the pipes of two companies exception, the most respectable and intel- ran parallel in the same streets, in case of ligent individuals he had ever observed in fires, for instance, in two different quar. the same walk of life.

ters of the town at the same time, each The Petitions were ordered to lie on might be extinguished by the water supthe table, and to be printed.

plied by the different companies; but now,

when only one company supplied one REFORM OF PARLIAMENT.] Mr. quarter of the town, suppose a fire to Protheroe presented 286 petitions from happen in Soho, and then immediately Bristol, praying for annual parliaments afterwards another in the neighbourhood and universal suffrage. The hon. member of Carlton-house, the first would have exobserved, that he had conversed with hausted all the supply of water, and a several of the petitioners, upon the sub- great number of houses inight be deject to which their petitions referred ; and stroyed in the other situation before a although they had not been able to per- supply of water could be obtained. He suade him that he ought to adopt their trusted this subject, which had been taken opinions, he felt it due to their character up in the other House, would be effecto declare, that they did not appear to be tually persevered in until the evil was actuated by any improper design-but to remedied. act from a conviction that the establish- The Lord Chancellor said, that the ment of annual parliaments and universal subject was one of great importance, and suffrage was the best mode of restoring if the objects of the legislature in passing and preserving the purity of that House. the different bills for the supply of water Ordered to lie on the table.

in the metropolis, which must be supposed to be that of creating a competition, had

been defeated by the different companies HOUSE OF LORDS.

joining together to establish a monopoly, Friday, April 3.

he trusted their lordships would not sepaSUPPLY OF WATER IN THE METRO- rate without its being distinctly underPOLIS.) Earl Grosvenor said, he had stood, that it was perfectly within the been informed by some of his tenants that competence of parliament to set that mata coalition had taken place between some ter right. of the Water Companies in the metropolis, The Earl of Shaftesbury expressed his by which four had been reduced to three, satisfaction at what had been said, and dewho had divided great part of the town clared his intention, when the bill came between them, and the consequence was before the House, of contributing all in that the water was, in several instances, his power to remedy the evil.

a

introduction of this bill, because it was HOUSE OF COMMONS.

his wish to have the subject fully disFriday, April 3.

cussed.

Mr. Marryat strongly deprecated the IRISH WINDOW Tax.] Mr. May object of this bill, being convinced that if presented a petition from Belfast praying the transfer of slaves to Demerara and the repeal of the Window tax, which being Berbice were allowed, it would be exordered to lie on the table, the bon. mem- tremely difficult, if not impossible, to preber took occasion to ask the chancellor of vent them from being smuggled into other the exchequer, whether the understand- | parts of the continent over which we had ing in Ireland was correct, that it was his no dominion, and especially to Surinam. intention to propose the repeal of this But on the score of that humanity which unpopular tax?

had produced the abolition of the slave The Chancellor of the Exchequer said, trade, he would resist a measure which he was glad that the hon. gentleman had proposed to transport slaves from the afforded him an opportunity of giving scene of their early connexions to distant some explanation upon the subject to and unhealthy regions. Such transportawhich the petition referred. He under- tion, it should be recollected, was but too stood it to have been generally stated in likely to benefit foreigners, to the prejuthe Irish papers, as a communication from dice of our own colonies; for there could authority, that it was his intention to be little doubt that if the transportation move the repeal of the tax alluded to. to Demerara and Berbice were tolerated, This statement he had read with surprise, the slaves would be seduced, and clandesas he certainly never entertained such an tinely taken away to Surinam, where, intention, nor was he conscious of having from the peculiar fertility of the soil, ever uttered a word to induce the expec- great temptation was held out to capitatation so generally expressed in the Irish lists.—Leave was (given to bring in the journals. He regretted that he felt him- bill

, which was brought in accordingly, self compelled upon this subject to oppose and read a first time. the wishes of a great proportion of the people of Ireland; but he could not concur in the propriety of repealing this tax,

HOUSE OF LORDS. considering the material deficiency »f the Irish revenue, and the great amount of the

Monday, April 6. public debt of that country upon the con- LIBEL LAW.] Lord Erskine said, he solidation of the two treasuries.

had last session moved for returns of the

names of persons arrested and held to Slave Trade Bili.] The House bail for libel

, before trial ; some of those having resolved itself into a committee on returns had been made, but the whole the Slave Trade Acts,

had not yet been presented. It was Mr. Holmes observed, that doubts had his intention to follow up these returils arisen whether the acts allowing the trans- by a motion or bill, if no proposition on fer of slaves from one of our colonies to the subject should be brought forward by another, extended to Demerara and Ber- a noble earl (Grey) who had already bice; and with a view to remove those called the attention of their lordships to doubts, he proposed that the chairman be the subject. With regard to the object instructed to move “ for leave to bring in for which the returns were moved, he a bill to explain three acts passed in the believed that it was now to be understood 46th, 471b, and 51st years of his majesty's that arrest before trial for libel was the reign respectively, for the abolition of the practice of some inferior magistrates. Slave Trade;" to which motion he un. The law, however, ought not to be allowed

" derstood the hon. member for Bramber to remain in a state of uncertainty on this did not mean to object.

point. It was not his wish to encourage Mr. Wilberforce said, he should not ob- any licentiousness of the press, but it apject to the motion, but he was persuaded peared to him necessary to remove all that when the object of the bill came to doubt on this question. He should not, be considered, it would be found to me. however, trouble their lordships with any Dace the worst effects to the interests of proposition on the subject, until the Great Britain, as well as to those of the noble earl to whom he had alluded came colonies. Yet he would not oppose the to town. VOL. XXXVII. )

(4G)

!

HOUSE OF COMMONS. allowed to be built, and it would rest with

the House to entertain the subject or Monday April 6.

not. THAMES WATERMEN.) Mr. Alder- Ordered to lie on the table. man Wood said, that he had to present several Petitions from a very worthy and COTTON FACTORIES Bill.] Petitions meritorious class of the community, whose against the Cotton Factories bill were preinterests be understood would be most sented from Manchester, Blackburn, Řos. materially affected by the projected sendale, and Glasgow. Petitions in fabridge over the Thames near Rother-vour of the bill were also presented from hithe. The petitions were all signed by Hebden bridge, Halifax, and Royton. the same description of persons, the Mr. Peel said, he felt extreme satisfacwatermen below bridge, who stated in tion at having it in his power to lay betheir petitions, that their employment and fore the House the petition he then held consequent sole means of living arose from in his hand. It referred to the question the conveyance of passengers and luggage of excessive labour in cotton factories, to upon that part of the Thames, situated at which such frequent allusion had been and in the neighbourhood of Cuckold's made, in and out of the House. It was a Point Stairs, and that should the bridge petition from Manchester; the signatures contemplated by an act now before the affixed to it, amounting to 1,731, were of House be erected over that part of the the very first respectability; and from the Thames, their plying would be com- condition of the subscribing parties, it pletely rendered useless and unprofitable. was impossible they could be stimulated They farther represented, that they had to make this application to parliament acquired the right to ply upon the river through any thing like interested motives. by an apprenticeship of several years, and He felt happy in introducing to the attenthat the greater proportion of their body tion of the House a document containing had, at one period or other, served with that species of evidence, of which it had credit on board his majesty's vessels of been asserted upon a former evening that

the House was not yet in possession. Mr. Wrottesley took that opportunity Herein was contained the evidence of of suggesting to the court of aldermen, the constant eye-witnesses of the injurious who had so extensive a jurisdiction in consequences of excessive labour, and the affairs of the watermen, the urgent long-continued confinement in the cotton necessity there existed for raising the factories in that neighbourhood. It had fares of watermen plying on the river. been also a source of objection on a late Every article of life had made several occasion, that although there had been progressive advancements in price since obtained the opinions of some distinthe watermen's fares had been last in- guished physicians corroborating the gecreased, and they could not possibly earn neral opinion, that such excessive applia livelihood if they were to receive no cation was extremely unfavourable to more than their bare fares. as established health, still these were nothing more than by law. The introduction of a bill to re- the speculative opinions of London pracmedy this grievance, would, he thought, titioners, unacquainted, in point of fact, be much more becoming on the part of with the actual situation or condition of the corporation of the city of London, this description of mechanics. It had than giving any encouragement to com- also been said, that the signatures affixed plaints evidently levelled against the erec- to former petitions had in some instances, tion of works of public utility.

been those of persons actuated by disconMr. Alderman Wood replied, that tent, and even a spirit of Luddism. If although the court of aldermen had it in any thing could remove these objections, their power, by act of parliament to apply he trusted it would be the present petition. some relief as to the inadequacy of the It was in the first place signed by 1,731 of present fares, still the court could not the most respectable inhabitants, who prevent, by raising their fares, the ruin most feelingly deplored the distressing which must ensue to the petitioners, should situation of those manufacturers, whose their plying be altogether cut off below labour was not alone protracted so as

bridge, as they apprehended. The pe- even to trench on the hours absolutely titioners, in fact, had prayed for an in- necessary for repose, but exerted in a demnity in the event of the bridge being temperature of such excessive warmth

war.

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