Lords Sitting of 1 March 1832

MINUTES.
Returns ordered. On the Motion of Lord PLUNKETT, a Copy of the Appointments of W. M. M'Causland and Robert Long, Esqrs., as joint Secretaries of the LORD CHANCELLOR of Ireland; of Richard Lockwood, Esq., as Secretary of Lord Chancellor Manners, and of Robert Long, Esq., as Secretary of Lord Chancellor Hart; of the Amount of their respective Emoluments, and the number of days in every week in which they have been employed in the duties of their office.
Petitions presented. By the Earl of WARWICK, from the Ribbon Manufacturers of Nuneaton, for protection from Foreign Competition:—By the Duke of DEVONSHIRE, from the Inhabitants of Marraugh, for the Abolition of

985
Tithes in Ireland:—By Lord KING, from certain Inhabitants in Dublin, for Interference in the case of the Polish Count Czapksi, who was confined in that City for neglect of some Provisions of the Alien Act.

LABOUR OF CHILDREN IN FACTORIES.
The Archbishop of Canterburypresented a Petition from the inhabitants of Rochester and its vicinity, to support the measure which was on its way to that House, for the proper regulation and limitation of the hours of labour for children in the woollen, cotton, silk, and other manufactories. The petitioners stated, that it was usual to work children who were employed in such places from thirteen to sixteen hours out of the four-and-twenty, without allowing them more than one hour for their meals, and, in many instances, even less than that. The petitioners further pointed out the painful effects which this extended period of labour produced in the health and morals of the children, and they concluded their petition by stating, as their opinion, that ten hours a day was the utmost extent to which children should be employed in any manufactory. He could take upon himself to say, that the petition was numerously and most respectably signed, and he trusted that their Lordships would not refuse their attention to the subject, nor fail to use their power for the protection of children against a system of cruelty and oppression. He could not take upon himself to answer for the facts stated in the petition, but he had every reason to suppose that they were correctly set forth; and, on that supposition, he had no hesitation in saying, that this was a system of cruelty and oppression which ought to be put an end to. It ought to be recollected, that, with children up to the age of about fourteen or fifteen, the time was that of innocent pleasure and enjoyment, whereas, under this system, they were confined for a most unreasonable number of hours each day at their labours, without time for relaxation, or even for proper refreshment—and that, too, with a very few holidays in the year. The effect of this was pernicious to their health, and it ought also to be recollected, that it was attended with the most serious injury to their morals; it was a disgrace to a Christian and civilized community to allow such a system to continue merely for putting money in the pockets of the master manufacturers. He was happy to know that a measure had been introduced into the other House for the regulation of the labour of those children
986
by a Gentleman well acquainted with the subject, and whenever that Bill came up to their Lordships, if it answered his present expectation it should have his support.
Petition laid on the Table.

LAW PROCESS.
Lord Tenterdenlaid on the Table a Bill for the establishment of Uniformity of Process in the several Courts of Law. At present the forms of the proceedings in the several Courts were very different, and it was highly desirable to render them uniform. He did not then think it necessary to enter into a detailed statement of the contents of the Bill, as these must be brought under their Lordships' attention in the progress of the Bill. He might mention, that the Judges had drawn up a set of rules or orders for the regulation of the proceedings, which would relieve suitors from much delay, labour, and expense; and the present Bill had a similar object in view.
Bill laid on the Table, and read a first time.