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Leader (1850-1860), 17th March 1855, Edition 2 of 2, Page 4

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      Imperial Parliament. Lar The House Of .L...

      must further be borne in mind that the land is subiect to many charges from which personalty is Exempt . As to the latter part of the motion—that which relates to lay and ecclesiastical corporationsthe subject is now under the consideration of Government . —Mr . Peacocks contended that the land is over-taxed , and that , on the restoration of peace , a more equitable adjustment of burdens must be demanded by the agricultural interest . —Sir George Stkickland urged Mr . Williams not to press the motion to a division . —Mr . Crosslby supported the motion : and Mr . Muntz opposed it because he objected to the tax altogether . —The motion was lost by 84 to 61 .

      FACTORT LABOUR . Mr . Cobbett moved for leave to bring in a bill to limit the hours of work of females and young persons in the factories of the . United Kingdom to ten in the course of one day ; and to provide the means of more perfectly inspecting the said factories . The bill was the same as that which he had introduced two years ago . In 1847 , Parliament passed an act by which it was provided that no young person , and no female , should work more than ten hours a day ; but unfortunately there was a flaw in an act to which the act of 1847 necessarily referred ; and the manufacturers , in consequence , were enabled to evade it . They adopted a mode of working called the " shift" system , and children in and out

      by which they kept women of the mills in such a manner as to extract from them twelve , thirteen , and even in some cases fifteen hours ' labour . This was acknowledged to be an evasion of the law . It was decided in 1849 that the course adopted by the manufacturers was not an infringement of the law , though , at the same time , the judges were of opinion that the evident meaning of the statute was adverse to the construction placed upon it . The Ten Hours Bill of 1847 , in point of fact , was abrogated by the fatal flaw to which he had referred . In May , 1850 , Sir George Grey brought in a measure by which the term of labour was extended to ten hours and a half ; but at the same

      time it was said that a great boon was conferred upon the workpeople by limiting the hours of labour from six in the morning till six at night—an hour _ and a half bjing given for meals . The measure was immediately resisted , by the workpeople , merchants , bankers , manufacturers , clergy , and tradespeople , of Manchester , Preston , Bradford , and other large towns ; but the bill passed notwithstanding , and was immediately violated by many of the manufacturers . To so great an extent was this done , that the more honest manufacturers presented a memorial to Government , in which they requested some amendment of the law , in order to place them on an equal footing with those who broke the law . Last

      session he presented a petition in favour of a Ten Hours Bill , signed by the then Mayor and late Mayor of Oldham , both large manufacturers , and by a great portion of the Town Council . With regard to the Ten Hours Bill , which had been abrogated , he knew that it effected a great deal of good . He knew-that-under _ its-operation ~ the _ p . eople . enjoyed better health and greater domestic comfort , and that , whereas before the young women had not time to make their own clothing of any kind , they had , after the passing of that act , and during its operation , been able to perform many needful domestic duties . This was the reason why he felt so strongly on the subject . The House should recollect what was the le before

      condition of the factory peop any factory legislation took place . One consequence of the long hours of working was that it affected the recruiting for the army . It was ascertained that the working people in the factory districts were to a great extent unfitted for the army . Sir J . Elliott stated , that when he was engaged recruiting at Leeds , he found a prodigious number of persons rejected , as compared with the agricultural districts . When he formerly brought this subject before the House , he mentioned , on the authority of Dr . Fletcher , of Bury , the astounding mortality that prevailed among the children of factory operatives . From the fact of the mothers Avorking in the factories , and being thereby

      kept away for long periods of time from their children , j < reat numbers under two years of age died . Dr . Fletcher stated that , of every 100 deaths among the factory workers , a fraction over 61 were infants under two years of age , while among the other operative classes in the same locality the deaths of infants under two years of age were a fraction under 33 in 100 . Mr . Clay , chaplain to tho Preston House of Correction , had stated at a meeting of the British Association , that during the celebrated six months' strike of the Preston operatives—part of the time being a

      severe winter—the number of infant doaths in Proston , among the working spinners , was 497 , whereas the number six months before the strike was 594 . He would now ask tho house for leave to bring in this bill , the objects of which were—firstly , to restore tho . ten hours ; secondly , to give tho factory-inspectors some power of enforcing : tho law ; and lastly , to place a restriction oh the motive-power at tho end of the time which was proposed as the limit of labour . He know that tho last clauso would meet with groat opposition ; but ho had gathered from manufacturers

      as this would be a great upon adult male factory population . —The motion was supported by Mr . W . J . Fox , Mr . Newdegate , and Mr . E . Ball ; and was opposed by Mr . Elliott , Mr . Crosslkt , Mr . Wilkinson , Mr . Bright , and Lord Palmerston , the last of whom , speaking from his experience when in the Home-office , said that the violations of the law were very few , and were confined to five minutes before the time of opening , or five minutes after the hour of closing . The chief argument used by the speakers against the motion was the old one—that it is inexpedient for legislation to interfere between employers and employed . The division showed : —Ayes , 101 ; noes , 109 . This bare , majority gave rise to loud cheers .

      restriction the whole themselves that it was the only way to protect those who observe the law against those who are disposed to break it . —Mr . Duncombe seconded the motion . Sir George Gre y considered that no case had been made out to justify the introduction of the bill . The only facts alleged by Mr . Cobbett , with reference to the condition of the factory , populaton , had reference to the state of things in 1840 ; but great benefits had resulted from the act of 1847 , in con junction with that of 1850 . In his opinion , it would be most prejudicial to all parties if this question were reopened . He strongly dissented from Mr . Cobbet ' s proposal to shut up the mills and stop the motive power after the expiration of the ten hours ,

      THE ARMY IN THE CRIMEA . Mr . F . Duncombe moved an address for copies of any despatch or correspondence between Lord Raglan and the late Minister for War , relative to the wants of the army in the Crimea .. He stated his reasons for the motion . He believed , he said , that Lord Raglan did write home for supplies , and he assumed that the Duke of Newcastle had attended to his applications , and that the supplies were sent . If the papers were refused , it would be most unfair to both those persons . Great blame rested sqmewhere ; and he thought the Sebastopol Committee

      would have done well to call for these papers , as they would have afforded a very useful guide to their inquiries . —Lord Palmerston said there was no desire to withhold from Parliament any information necessary for the investigation of the matters which the committee had been appointed to Inquire into ; but it would not be useful to carry on two parallel inquiries . The committee had full power to call for those or any other documents , and it was far better to leave them to Judge as to the information they required . —After some discussionpTihe motion was negatived without a division .

      244 The Xi E A D.-Jb . -B. [Saturday,

      244 THE Xi E A D .-JB . -B . [ Saturday ,

      The Old And The New Czar. Conflicting St...

      THE OLD AND THE NEW CZAR . Conflicting stories of the causes of the death of Nicholas , and of the policy of his successor , are in circulation . Pulmonic apoplexy , congestion of the brain , poison , and other modes of assassination , overexertion , and over-excitement , bronchitis and con . sumption—all these have been in turn , or simultataneously , -put forward -as- the-agent -by . wlijch the late Czar has been removed from the scene . The Vienna correspondent of the Times says : — " My own persuasion is , that Nicholas I . of Russia died a natural death , but there are persons who aver

      that he was shot in the abdomen -while walking with one . of his adjutants three days before his death . The story is most improbable , and it is only mentioned because it obtains credit with persons who ought to be well informed on Russian matters . It is related that , some of the high nobles having raised objections to the levy era masse , the Emperor was imprudent enough to declare that if he met with any opposition he would altogether abolish vassalage . That the late Emperor once entertained the idea of bo doing is a . well-known fact , and it is also notorious that he only refrained because lie was afraid of his great nobles . " Of the new Emperor the same writer records : —

      " The Emperor Alexander is much inclined to peace , but fears are entertained that tho war party will get the upper hand . Prince Paskiewitsch has been summoned from Warsaw to St . Petersburg , and this is considered a very good sign , as the experienced Marshal has from the very first been opposed to the war . " According to other authorities , tho new Emperor is good-tempered , lazy , sensual , and easity led , — having regard for nothing but smoking , card-playing , and the p leasures of the table . From Paris wo learn that it is thore generally thought there is a better chanco now of obtaining

      peace , than thore was during tho life of the late Emperor . " It is alloged , " says a writer on tho subject , " that the successor of Nicholas could not , at the very commencement of his reign , suddenly proclaim a policy opposed to his father , and that a more moderate proclamation would be , to ull intents and purposes , the condemnation of his father . " Tho whole of tho German states aro said to bo most anxious for peace , and we hear much of tho pacific disposition of the young Emperor Aloxandcr . Nevertheless , it is said that , at a Council of Ministers held by the new Czar , it was decided that tho courso of hostilities should not be interrupted .

      At Berlin it is stated that the funeral of Nicholas is to take place on the 19 th instant ; but the 20 th is also mentioned . The Prussian army sends a deputation in the persons of a Major , Captain , and Lieutenani ^ of the regiment of Cuirassiers , the 6 th , wh ich bears the name of the Emperor of Russia . A letter front Hanover of the 6 th , in the Moniteur , says : —¦ . " It is now known from different quarters that the Emperor Nicholas had been suffering for the greater part of the winter . The attacks of vomiting to which his Majesty had been subject had assumed , during the last few weeks , so alarming a character that his physicians urged him to give up all violent exercise , but the Emperor paid no attention to these warnings , and it was only with great reluctance that he at last consented to keep his bed . "

      We append the following particulars of the Emperor ' s last illness and death , from the Pi-ussian Stoats Anzeiger . It must be borne in mind that the source is philo-Russian , as , indeed , is evident from the style of the narrative : — " On the 22 d of February the Emperor , though warned of the danger by his medical men , got into Ms sledge in rather cold weather , and drove to the Exercising House , to see some men of the Infantry of th e Guard that were about to march into Lithuania , to make up the complement of the regiments there . At

      this inspection , which was the last occasion of the Emperor ' s being seen in public , was evidently very unwell , coughed violently , expectorated excessively , and said , as he went away , ' I am in a perfect bath , ' although it was anything but warm in the Exercising House . The Emperor then drove to Prince Dolgorouki , the Minister of War , who was ill , cautioned him not to go out too soon , and then returned to the Winter Palace . In the evening he was present at the prayers for the first week of Lent , stayed some time with the Empress , but complained of being cold , and kept his cloak on in the room .

      " From that evening the Emperor did not quit his little working cabinet . It was there , on 23 rd February , that he received his Fliigel Adjutant Colonel von Tettenborn , and despatched him to Sebastopol ; all the while lying on the sofa , and covered up with his cloak . After that his Majesty transferred all business into the hands of the Grand Duke Alexander . " During the whole time he was ill , the Emperor lay only on his camp-bed , i . e ., on a casing of Russia leather filled with hay , a bolster of the same kind , and with a blanket and a cloak over him .

      " It was not till February 28 thathis state was looked on as decidedly serious . On that niglit he became rapidly worse . The physicians apprehended a paralysis of the lungs . On the evening of March 1 they despaired of his recovery . The Empress and the Crown Prince begged him , at the request of the physicians , to take the sacrament . It was not till then that the Emperor seems to have recognised the real danger of his state ; but hardly any shock is stated to have been noticeable in him .

      " In the night , from the 1 st to the ^ 2 nd instant , Dr . Mandt communicated to the Emperor that he was dangerously ill , and that more particularly his lungs we violently affected , and gave great ground for apprehension . On this the Emperor very calmly and collectedly took the sacrament , took leave of the Empress , their children , and grandchildren , kissed each , ovul blessed each one with a firm voice , and then retained only the Empress and the Crown Prince with him . This was about four o ' clock in the morning . The

      Emperor said subsequently to the Empress , 'Do go now take a little rest , I beg of you . She answered , ' Let mo remain with you ; I would I could depart with you , if it were only possible . ' To this the Emperor replied . 'Go now ; I will send for you when tho moment approaches . ' The Empress could not do otherwise than obey this distinct expression p £ the Emperor ' s will , and left tho room . " The Emperor then sent for Graf Orloff , Graf Aillerberg , and Prince Dolgorouki , thanked them for their the

      fidelity , and bade them farewell . Subsequently Emperor had all the servants immediately about him sent in , thanked them for their services , blessed them , and took leave of them , on which occasion he is said to linve been himself very much affected . Last of all , the knmmerfrau von Rohrbcck was sent for . The Emperor thanked her for the fidelity she had nlwnys shown tuo Empress , for tho care with which she had always tendcu her in sickness , bogged her never to quit tho Empress , and ended with— ' And remember mo kindly at I eterJiof , that I ' m so fond of . ' Tho Emperor nrw > s « l Dr . Cureus

      hand , and said to him , ' It is no fault •>( yours . " Whilst tho Emperor ' H father confessor was upeaKi ife with him ho took tho Empress ' s hand aiul put it into tnt priest's , as if ho would confide the Empl oy to the eceiisiaatic . After this tho Emporor loat "his - speech M * while , during which time ho was cngngocl in prayer , niw crossed himself repeatedly . Ho subsequently rejruinw his voice , and spoko from time to tiniu tqi to his tlcocos i which took place without a strugg le in the presence tho whole family , March 2 , at ten minutes past noon . " Almost tho laat articulate word * that the J ' - " » 1 spoko wore— ' Toll Fritz ( tho King <>» ' Prussia ) nlw . to rumuin fukhful to Russia , and not to forgot thu vow of hia father . ' "

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), March 17, 1855, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_17031855/page/4/