fallen into disuse, and the revival of which has we fear already alienated many persons from the service of our Church, and has introduced new elements of contention and discord where nothing ought no prevail but harmony and peace.

We, therefore, humbly pray your honourable House to take the subject into your serious consideration, and to adopt such measures as to your wisdom may seem fit for remedying the grievance of which we complain, and for healing those differences which, in these times, unhappily prevail to so great an extent among those who profess to hold the same faith, and to belong to the same national Church.

And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, shall ever pray.

FORTESCUE, High Steward and Justice.
EBRINGTON, Justice.

W. G. SMYTH, Churchwarden.
&c. &c. &c.

App. 3. Viscount Clive. Sig. 192. 3. The humble Petition of the undersigned Members of the Bath Church of England Lay Association, established for the purpose of supporting the rights, privileges, and property of the United Church of England and Ireland, as well as her union with the State,

Humbly sheweth,

That your Petitioners consider the spiritual overseers of the Established Church of these realms as being far too limited in number at the present time to meet the wants of an immense increase in the population of the country.

That, under the above circumstances, they regard with deep and especial regret the provisions of an Act passed in the sixth and seventh years of the reign of his late Majesty, intituled, "An Act for carrying into effect the reports of the Commissioners appointed to consider the state of the Established Church in England and Wales, with reference to Ecclesiastical Duties and Revenues, so far as they relate to Episcopal Dioceses, Revenues, and Patronage," whereby it is proposed, under certain circumstances, to unite in one bishopric the present sees of St. Asaph and Bangor.

That the proposed union of the aforesaid bishoprics of St. Asaph and Bangor has never received the sanction of the Church herself, either directly or indirectly; and, moreover, that the said union would place an extent of three thousand two hundred and fifty square miles under the superintendence of one bishop, a charge of so weighty and serious a character (especially in a mountainous country) as to render the due and conscientious fulfilment thereof a matter of absolute impossibility.

Your Petitioners would beg humbly to submit that the suppression of one of the aforesaid bishopricks would seem to be in direct opposition to the spirit of those commands which were issued by his late Majesty, on the renewed appointment of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, in the fifth year of his late Majesty's reign, which required them to have special reference to the residence of the clergy on their respective benefices, of which residence it is clear that either the diocese of St. Asaph or that of Bangor must be deprived.

Your Petitioners most humbly submit further that the bishoprics of St. Asaph and Bangor have been from very ancient times endowed with funds solemnly dedicated to the maintenance of the Church in North Wales, and they cannot feel it consistent with the in

terests of religion, or with the demands of justice, to unite those sees in order to divert a portion of their funds to the endowment of a bishopric in a district unconnected with Wales.

For these reasons, and especially from the strong sense which they entertain of the evil and danger of interfering with ancient endowments and institutions (productive of vast benefit to the interests of religion and morality), your Petitioners most earnestly pray your honourable House for the repeal of so much of the said Act, 6 and 7 William IV., c. 77, as relates to the union of the sees of St. Asaph and Bangor.

All which is most humbly submitted; and your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.

W. G. DAVY, President.

HENRY DAUBENEY, Vice President. W. S. R. COCKBURN, Vice President. &c. &c. &c.

Bath, thirtieth January, one thousand eight hundred and forty-five.

App. 4. Mr. Spooner. Sig. 1.

St. Asaph and

Bangor Dioceses (against Union).

Emigration of

4. The Petition of the Committee of the Indian Labourers Birmingham British and Foreign Anti-Slavery (against). Society,

Birmingham British and

Sheweth, That your Petitioners have heard with deep Foreign Antiregret that the sanction of Government has Slavery Sobeen given to the importation of the natives of ciety. British India into some of our West Indian colonies; and that there is every reason to believe this scheme has originated with, and been supported by, some West Indian proprietors, whose sole object is the hope of deriving therefrom pecuniary gain, without reference to the welfare either of the emancipated classes or those who are thus imported to reside and labour with them.

That while this measure is in itself open to the strongest objection on various grounds, it is more especially unjustifiable in view of the enormous moral and physical evils which have been inflicted on the coolies, who under a similar system have been imported into the Maritius during the last seven years; as it is well known that, while that system of immigration has entailed on its victims many of the evils of the African slave trade, it has proved itself to be morally debasing to the lately emancipated population there, and even in a pecuniary point of view injurious to the interests of the colony itself.

Your Petitioners therefore pray that the House of Commons would take prompt and efficient measures to put an end to a system which is thus clearly fraught with great moral and social wrongs, and justly exposes the British nation to the charge by foreign governments of practically maintaining a slave trade under another name, notwithstanding that Britain has already done so much in the abolition of slavery and the slave trade.

THOMAS SWAN, Chairman. Birmingham, February three, one thousand eight hundred and forty-five.

App. 5. Mr. Spooner. Sig. 1.
5. The Petition of the Committee of the
Birmingham British and Foreign Anti-Slavery
Society,

Sheweth,

Slave Trade

for Suppression).

Birmingham British and Foreign Anti

That in the deliberate judgment of your Slavery SoPetitioners the efforts made for so many years ciety. by the Government of this country at so large

Sugar and
Coffee (against

Reduction of
Duties).

Tobacco (for
Reduction of
Duty).

Port of London.

arise and be supplied by the direct importation | of slave-grown produce.

That your Petitioners cannot too strongly bring under the consideration of your honourable House that the proposition practically involves a departure from those high, moral, and dignified principles which have hitherto been held up as bright examples for the guidance of other countries in regard to slavery principles, for the preservation of which the treasure of the British people has been largely expended, and costly sacrifices endured by British colonists, even to the abandonment of very many of their properties, and the consequent ruin to themselves and families.

That your Petitioners feel the injustice of the proposal made by Her Majesty's Ministers to your honourable House, for that it will be impossible for British colonists heavily taxed to maintain institutions adapted to a free state of society, as well as paying high wages for cultivation, owing to a scarcity of labourers to compete with rivals so favourably circumstanced in all the respects in which your Petitioners are such heavy sufferers.

That your Petitioners have great cause for regret and disappointment, as they have implicitly trusted to the solemn assurances held out to them at the period of the passing of the Emancipation Act, that they might always rely upon the ready assistance and continued protection of the mother country in all their difficulties in carrying out that great national measure; but most confidently look up to the sense of justice of your honourable House, in the hope that we shall not have to lament with our ruined fortunes the broken faith of our common country.

That your Petitioners believe that Her Majesty's Government has been actuated, in making this proposition, by the kindest and inost benevolent motives towards the poorer classes of our fellow-subjects in Great Britain; but we submit for the consideration of your honourable House, that as we have been placed in our present situation by the deliberate act of Parliament, with the consent of the British public, and are unable to enter into that competition sought to be established, from the circumstances now detailed, it is but just that your honourable House will take those steps that may appear most advisable to your wisdom to secure to us full measures of protection and support.

And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.

WM. FINLASON.
WILLIAM PAGE.
JOHN CUFF.
&c. &c. &c.

with such a premium art and science are combined to baffle all fiscal regulations.

That, although much information has been obtained from the evidence taken before the Select Committee of your honourable House relative to smuggling tobacco, the extent of such transactions cannot be ascertained, and adulteration, daily improved by science, becomes more difficult of detection.

That your Petitioners have no doubt the reduction of the duty on tobacco to one shilling per pound would annihilate the smuggler and adulterant, and protect the honest trader and the revenue.

Your Petitioners humbly pray your honourable House will take the hardship of their case into your most serious consideration, and afford them such relief as in your wisdom may appear meet; and in duty bound will ever pray.

THOMAS HUXLEY.

SALES, POLLARD, and Co. JOHN SYKES and Co. &c. &c. &c.

Tobacco (for Reduction of Duty).

Window Tax

App. 9. Viscount Duncan. Sig. 2125. 13. The Petition of the undersigned Inha- (for Repeal)bitants of the city of Bath, in the county of Bath. Somerset,

That the system of banking presently established in Scotland is well suited to the circumstances of the country, fosters industry, promotes commercial undertakings, and at the same time supports the agricultural and manufacturing interests in a state of healthy and vigorous action.

That this system, which has now been established for a century and a half, and has had its safety, as well as its utility, tested in the most severe and scrutinising manner, has been found to minister to the wants and necessities of the country in the most satisfactory way; neither, on the one hand, encouraging improvident speculation, nor, on the other, restricting the development of the national resources, and has thus been directly instrumental in advancing the prosperity of Scotland, and enriching its inhabitants.

That all these advantages have been secured to this country without injury to the nation at large, or the introduction of any schemes calculated to interfere with, or in any degree counteract, the views and wishes of the Legislature in its monetary arrangements; while the weekly exchanges which take place between the respective banks, effectually prevent an

Law). Edinburgh.

Banking (Scotland)

over-issue on the part of any one of their num(against Aller- ber beyond the demand of the country, any excess being immediately returned upon them, and the amount paid down on the spot in Bank of England notes, Exchequer bills, or gold.

ation of the Lav).

Bleaching Works (Scot

land) for

That to interfere with this system, so long and so firmly established, and the advantages of which have been so manifold, would be, in the highest degree, impolitic, hazarding as it would the welfare of Scotland for some speculative improvement, subjecting its important interests, agricultural, commercial, and manufacturing, now all in a prosperous condition, to an experiment in legislation, which, however well intended, could scarcely fail of being followed by consequences the most disastrous, throwing into confusion, as it necessarily must do, all the existing arrangements of the country.

That the Chamber cannot but view with the most serious alarm any proposal to interfere with or disturb the system which has met with such universal approbation, and against which no disinterested party can point out any existing evil to the country, and they would therefore deprecate in the strongest manner any such interference, either on the part of the Parliament or of the Government.

That the Chamber is impressed with the necessity of standing forward at this time to give expression to its sentiment on a question of such vital importance to the trade of Scotland. After the declaration of Sir Robert Peel in Parliament on more than one occasion during last Session, it cannot be doubted that it was his intention, in the ensuing Session, to submit alterations in our system of banking; and no unofficial intimation of the abandonment of his expressed purpose should be allowed to quench the universal cry throughout Scotland that there is no ground for change. Petitions should still be brought forward from every town and county, and such a display of national feeling be exhibited, as will deter the present or any future minister from forcing upon Scotland measures which no one class in it considers needful.

May it therefore please your honourable House to take the premises into consideration, and to refuse your assent to any measure which may be proposed for interfering with the system of banking presently established in Scotland.

And your Petitioners shall ever pray.

Signed in name and by authority of the Chamber, and seal affixed this sixth day of February, eighteen hundred and forty-five.

ROBERT CADELL, Chairman.

App. 11. Mr. Wallace. Sig. 353. 16. The humble Petition of the undersigned xtending Pro- Bleachers employed in bleach-fields in the city visions of Fac-, of Glasgow, and in the counties of Lanark, Renfrew, Dumbarton, and Stirling,

tories Act).

Glasgow.

Sheweth,

That in the city of Glasgow, and within a circle of fifteen miles around the same, in the counties of Lanark, Renfrew, Dumbarton, and Stirling, there are upwards of forty bleachfields, or bleaching-works, in which the various kinds of goods manufactured in Glasgow and Paisley are washed or bleached and finished for the home market, or for shipment to foreign countries.

Works (Scot

That in these bleach-fields or bleaching- Bleaching works, about four thousand persons are em- land) (for ployed, of all ages, from eleven to sixty years, extending Proof whom about three thousand are females.

That the ordinary or fixed hours of labour in these bleaching-works are from twelve to fourteen and a half hours per day, exclusive of meal-hours; but, although these are the fixed hours, it is customary, in nearly the whole of them, for the bleachers to work extra hours, varying from one to eight per day, while in some of the bleacking-works the hours of labour are often extended to eighteen or twenty hours per day, it being the invariable practice in these works to regulate the hours of labour entirely by the quantity of goods the master can obtain, without regard to the physical strength of the workers.

That, while the hours of labour are so unreasonably long, the time allowed for meals in no case exceeds two hours per day, and in many instances is limited to one hour per day.

That the operations in the bleaching-works are for the most part carried on in stoves or drying-houses, in which a temperature is constantly maintained of from one hundred to one hundred and fifty degrees of Fahrenheit's thermometer, according to the kind of goods dryed; and this oppressive heat is often rendered still more insufferable by exhalations from the wet goods constantly brought into the stoves; and in these stoves or drying-houses the workers, without distinction of age or sex, are confined during the hours above specified.

That the heat of some of the stoves is so intolerable that the females are obliged to denude themselves when at work of all their clothes except their shifts and petticoats; and in the same stoves males are employed along with them equally imperfectly clothed.

That the effect on the physical condition of the workers, and especially the females, produced by over-working, excessive heat, and insufficiency of rest, is most deplorable; among them swelling and other diseases of the limbs, faintings, inflammations, severe colds, and other diseases, are very common, and the general state of morals among them is not less lamentable.

That in many of the bleaching-works, there are lodging-houses called "Woman-houses," provided for the accommodation of the young female bleachers, in which as many as fifty or sixty are to be found sleeping in one apartment; and, although in some works, situated at a distance from any town or village, this accommodation may be necessary, and even beneficial, if properly regulated, yet in many instances these houses are not well conducted, and are provided merely for the purpose of placing the workers more immediately under the power and control of their masters; and hence it is the practice in some works to call the workers from bed at all hours, from one to six o'clock in the morning, and oblige them to commence their labour, and in many instances without a corresponding remuneration.

That, although a very considerable proportion of the workers are mere children, there are no week-day schools connected with any of the bleach-fields, and indeed the hours of labour in most of them preclude the possibility of the children attending school. That there are 66 Truck Shops" connected with some of the bleach-fields; and it is not unusual for the workers to receive tin tickets,

visions of Factories Act).

representing coin, which they are obliged to exchange for provisions at these shops.

That the supply of female workers constantly required in these bleaching-works is obtained for the most part from the Highlands of Scotland and from Ireland, whence some hundreds of poor ignorant girls, from twelve to fifteen years of age, are annually drawn, and at once exposed to and made to suffer all the evils, moral and physical, of this slavish system.

simple and easy means of distinguishing the Medical Praeskilful from ignorant pretenders to medical tice Bill (1844) (for Alteraknowledge, was deserving of high approbation. tion). Thirdly. That your Petitioners also view with satisfaction the proposed enactment of a uniform test of the requisite qualifications for medical practice throughout all parts of the United Kingdom, as being a measure of which the propriety has long been universally acknowledged.

Fourthly. That, approving as your Petitioners do highly of the aforesaid provisions, they view with the utmost surprise and disapprobation the contemplated repeal of every existing penalty against unqualified and ignorant prac

cient securities to the public against the consequences of their reckless and dangerous proceedings.

That your Petitioners humbly beg to recal the attention of your honourable House to a Petition respectably signed, and presented by the master bleachers during last Session of Parliament, praying for legislative arrangement.

That the Petitioners therefore most humbly submit to your honourable House, that the most effectual remedy for the intolerable grievances to which they are subjected by their employers is, the extension to the bleach-fields in Scotland of some such provisions as are in the Factory Act, so far as they regard the hours of labour, with such further provisions as to the immoderate heating of stoves, keeping of truck shops, and other just causes of complaint; and, that the Petitioners may obtain redress in this manner, they now most humbly approach your honourable House, confidently trusting that you will extend to them your protection, and, by such legislative enactment as their case may require, shield them from a system of oppression which is fast reducing the operative bleachers in Scotland to a state of extreme physical and moral degradation.

May it therefore please your honourable House to take the foregoing humble statement of the Petitioners' grievances into your consideration, and to apply such remedy as to you shall seem just.

And your Petitioners shall ever pray.
WILLIAM KING.
ALEX. CUNNINGHAM.
JAMES ROY.

Fifthly. That your Petitioners do not recognize the principle that the great bulk of the public are competent to distinguish between the skilful and ignorant pretenders to medical knowledge; and they are therefore of opinion that no measure of medical reform will serve the public good which does not effectually prohibit unqualified persons from their false assumption of knowledge, and the exercise of their reckless ignorance on the credulous and unsuspecting.

Sixthly. That your Petitioners consider that the removal of all restrictions upon unqualified practitioners, besides being calculated to occasion unspeakable injury to the public, would be a gross injustice to the existing licensed practitioners, who have been constrained by law to expend much labour, time, and money in the acquisition of medical knowledge.

Seventhly. That, whilst your Petitioners approve of the proposal to form a central board or council of health for the regulation and government of medical education and practice, they must protest against its being constituted to so great an extent as is proposed (namely two thirds) of persons to be nominated by Her Majesty's Government; that such a mode of constitution would be much less satisfactory than if the entire council were chosen by representatives of the medical profession, who are necessarily better qualified to judge of the fitness of candidates for such offices.

Eighthly. That your Petitioners are of opinion that the Act of one thousand eight hundred and fifteen has done much to restrain, though not entirely to prohibit from practice, unskilful pretenders; that the court of examiners of apothecaries appointed under that Act have advantageously to the public performed their duties. And your Petitioners therefore earnestly object to the repeal of the said Act, unless some other measures are enacted to ensure a more efficient protection for the interests of the profession and the public.

Ninthly. That your Petitioners greatly regret that in the proposed law respecting medical practice it is not contemplated to withdraw the existing moral sanction afforded by the Government to the sale of quack medicines by the levying of duties thereon, and that your Petitioners consider such sanction to be discreditable to our country and the age in which we live.

Tenthly. That your Petitioners earnestly pray that your honourable House will not sanction. any proposed law for the regulation of medical