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Richmond takes pains by examining the children, and by all the means in his power, to satisfy himself before giving out the certificates; that all the provisions of the Factory Act, and regulations of the inspectors, are carefully attended to at this work."

James Stevenson, one of the managers of the factory of Johnstone mill, cotton-spinning, belonging to Messrs. George Houstoun and Co., solemnly sworn, depones

Report by
Ja. Stuart, Esq.

January 1839.

That he has been employed in this factory for above 10 years; that 19 children under J. Stevenson, John13 years of age, and 75 above 13 and under 18 years of age, are employed, and the piecers stone, August, 1838. above 13 years of age are just as well suited to work with their machinery as those under that age; that Mr. John Muir, surgeon, grants the certificates of age at the work and nowhere else, and frequently refuses those who apply for them, and he, the witness, believes that all the children and young persons are of the ages certified; that he obeys every provision and regulation of the Factory Act, and is particularly desired by his employers to do so."

William Hunter, manager in the warehouse department of the factory at Elderslie, belonging to Messrs. Brown, Malloch, and Co., solemnly sworn, depones―

"That above 70 persons under 18 years of age, of whom there are only 5 under 13 years W. Hunter, Eldersold, are employed at this work; that the young persons above 13 years old answer for lie, near Johnstone, working at the machinery of this factory, for working coarse cottons of numbers 50, as well as August, 1838. they would do under that age; that Mr. Maclaren, surgeon at Johnstone, grants certificates of age at this work and nowhere else; that he is very strict, and refused a few months ago a boy whose ago was proved to be very nearly 13; that it is the desire of Messrs. Brown, Malloch, and Co., that all the provisions of the Factory Act and regulations of the inspectors should be obeyed, and he believes that they are all attended to."

James Brown, Esq., solemnly sworn, depones

"That he is manager of the cotton-spinning factory of Linnwood by Paisley; that there J. Brown, Linnare about 400 workers, of whom 18 under 13 years of age, and 80 between 13 and 18 years wood, near Paisley, of age; that piecers above 13 years old are as suitable to work at their machinery as children August, 1838. under 13 years old; that Mr. William Campbell, surgeon at Kilbarchan, grants the certificates of age for this work at the work and nowhere else, and he does it carefully, so that in his opinion no children or young persons are admitted who are not of the ages specified in the certificates; that he obeys all the regulations of the Factory Act at this work.'

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Reference is also made to the evidence of the following witnesses (Appendix I.), all of them concerned in factories at Paisley, Johnstone, or the neighbourhood: viz. John Hyde, Archibald Macpherson, Hugh Millar, and Robert Thomson.

IV.-Factories at Dundee, Montrose, and Aberdeen.

James Johnstone, manager of the flax and tow spinning-factory, belonging to Messrs. Thoms, Brothers, solemnly sworn, depones,

"That he has been for about three years manager of this factory. That, supposing wages J. Johnstone, Dunof the same amount, he would prefer young persons above 13 years of age to those under dee, August 1838. that age for working at the machinery in this or any other place or tow-mill. That it is the universal practice at Dundee, and he believes generally in flax-factories in Scotland, for the children and young persons to be hired and paid by the proprietor of the factory, or his manager or clerk. That Mr. William Monro, surgeon, grants certificates of age at this factory, and there alone; and he never presents to him, in order to obtain a certificate, any young person whom he does not believe to be of the age to be certified. That he obeys all the regulations of the Factory Act, and finds it no trouble to do so."

James Boyd, solemnly sworn, depones,

"That he has been for five or six years manager of Mr. John Sharp's hemp-spinning factory J. Boyd, Dundee, at Dundee; that Mr. Sharp has another factory, for old rope-teizing and converting into yarn, August, 1838. for which Mr. Sharp has recently got a patent. That at these works he would prefer young

persons above 13 to those below 13 years of age, supposing their pay to be the same.”

Thomas Walker (member of the Society of Friends) affirms,—

"That he has been for above three years manager of Mr. William Boyack's four flax and T. Walker, Dundee, tow spinning-factories at Dundee, at which about 479 workers are employed, 248 of whom August, 1838. are under 18 years of age, and none under 13. That Mr. William Monro grants certificates of age for this work, and, as the deponent believes, quite correctly; that the deponent always cautions him to be careful, that he or Mr. Boyack may run no risk; that all the certificates are granted at the work alone. That young persons above 13 years of age answer quite as well to work at the machinery of these works as those under that age. That he is not aware that a single breach of the Factory Act has been committed at these factories, and he is convinced that no flaw of any kind has ever taken place."

William Cuthbert, manager of Mr. William Johnston's three flax, hemp, and tow factories, at Dundee, solemnly sworn, depones,—

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"That he has been, since October 1832, manager of these factories, at which 353 persons are at present employed; that of these there are 95 under 18, and none under 13 years of age; that the certificates of age are granted by Mr. Monro at the works alone. That young persons above 13 years old answer quite as well to work at the machinery of these works as those under that age. That every regulation of the Factory Act is rigidly attended to at these works."

David Edwards, Esq., solemnly sworn, depones,

66

That, for the last nine years, since the commencement of the works, he has been acting partner of the firm of Alexander and David Edwards and Co., proprietors of two flax-factories at Dundee for flax and tow spinning. That about 5900 spindles are employed in the wet-spinning of flax; as great a number as, he believes, are so employed in any other factory at Dundee. That young persons above 13 years of age answer for the working of the machinery of these factories, at which about 500 workers are employed, 169 of whom are under 18 years of age, and only one under 13; that the certificates of age are granted at the factories alone, by Mr. Nimmo, surgeon. That all the regulations of the Factory Act are attended to at these works, and no difficulty is found in obeying all the regulations."

William Gorell Baxter, Esq., one of the acting partners of Messrs. Baxter, Brothers, and Co., solemnly sworn, depones,

"That at the Upper Dens mill or factory, near Dundee, for spinning flax and power-loom weaving of linen-yarn, about 1150 persons are employed, 900 of whom in spinning, and 250 in power-loom weaving; that, of the whole number, about 500 are under 18, but none of them under 13 years of age. That young persons above 13 years of age answer for all the purposes of their machinery. That Mr. Saunders, surgeon, attends at the work twice a-week, in order to grant certificates of age; that he instructs Mr. Saunders to be most cautious in granting certificates, and he believes him to be so; and he himself purposely is absent from the places in the factories where Mr. Saunders sees the young persons and examines them as to their age, before granting the certificates. That about 6000 spindles, at this work, are employed in wet-spinning of flax, on the most approved plan. That the manager of the work is specially enjoined by him to obey all the regulations of the Factory Act. That the company keep a school entirely at their own expense, which the young persons working at the factories are allowed to attend every evening; that reading, writing, and accounts are taught at this school."

William Monro, Esq., solemnly sworn, depones,

"That he has practised as a surgeon in Dundee for between four and five years, and has granted certificates of age for children and young persons employed at the flax-factories at Dundee since November 1836; that he grants certificates of age for 26 factories, calling at them weekly, and for two when sent for to their works; that he grants no certificates but at the factories, unless at these two mills from which the young persons are sent, accompanied by an authorised person, that he has granted 2054 certificates, and has been at all possible pains by inquiring into the real age to grant them scrupulously and conscientiously; that he attends very many of the workers at the factories professionally, and has had no reason to believe that they are more prone to disease of any kind than persons engaged in any other sedentary employments, and in particular fever, which has prevailed at Dundee, has been not so frequent in the factory population as in the population otherwise employed; that, as a surgeon to the infirmary, and as a practising surgeon here, he has seen a few instances of injury from the machinery at the factories, but a very small number of them have been of a serious description, and he has seen one of them fatal; that he has no reason to believe, either from his practising as an accoucheur or otherwise, that the females at factories are more frequently of immoral character, or enceinte previous to marriage, than in other situations in life; that he has been at great pains in granting certificates. in all cases where he could, in the first instance to inquire as to the real age of the young persons applying for certificates, but that, in cases where he had doubts as to the age after examining the children, he has rather given than refused the certificates."

Dr. William Arrott, physician at Arbroath, solemnly sworn, depones,—

"That he has practised as a physician at Arbroath since the year 1799; that he has granted 827 certificates of age, for young persons and children employed at factories at Arbroath, and has taken all the trouble in his power with a view to grant them conscientiously and correctly; that none of the proprietors or managers of factories ever applied to him, or endeavoured in any way to influence him, to give certificates of age to children or young persons who were actually of a younger age than that certified, but that he has very frequently refused the entreaties of parents to give their children certificates of being above thirteen years old when they did not appear to him to have attained that age; that he has had occasion for many years professionally to attend the workers at factories both old and young, and his experience does not lead him to think that they are more liable to disease than persons employed in other sedentary occupations or in-doors work; that the accidents at the factories, owing to the machinery being shut in, are now infrequent, and almost always of a trifling description; that he does not think the young women at factories of a less moral character, or more frequently with child before marriage, than young women employed at handloom weaving, or at other work within doors where individuals of both sexes in the humble walks of life meet."

William Jameson, Esq., Justice of Peace, manager of the Montrose linen-works for spinning flax and tow, and for power-loom weaving of linen, belonging to Messrs. Richards and Company, solemnly sworn, depones,

Report by
Ja. Stuart, Esq.

January 1839.

"That there are in the spinning-factory 316 workers, of whom 99 under 18 years of age, W. Jameson, Monnone of them under 13 years of age; that at the weaving-factory there are 149 workers, of trose, Sept. 1838. whom 59 under 18 years of age, none of them under 13 years of age. That in both of these factories young persons of 13 years old and upwards answer quite well for all the work to be done by young workers; that Dr. Fergusson, physician here, grants certificates of age for these factories, and he believes correctly, for he never had any reason to doubt that they were only granted after a fair examination; that he has been 20 years manager of these factories, and, from the experience he has had respecting the population employed in them, he feels confident that, in point of health and morals, they are at least equal to any other part of the neighbouring population, in point of morals superior to the population employed in agricultural labour who have more of their time at their own disposal; that all the regulations of the Factory Act are strictly obeyed at these factories."

Archibald Foote, Esq., manager of the flax-spinning factory at Montrose, belonging to Messrs. Aberdeen, Gordon, and Company, solemnly sworn, de

pones,

"That there are about 250 workers at this factory, of whom about 107 between 13 and 18 A. Foote, Montrose, years of age, and 13 under 13 years of age; that the children under 13 years of age work by Sept. 1838. relays, and attend a private school at Montrose, the school-fees being paid by Messrs. Aberdeen, Gordon, and Co.; that the company at present intend to erect a school for the work; that the whole regulations of the Factory Act are obeyed at this factory."

Andrew F. Fergusson, Esq., physician at Montrose, solemnly sworn, de

pones,

"That he is one of the Dispensary surgeons here'; that he grants certificates of age for all Dr. Fergusson, Monthe factories here, and also for the factories at Craigo and Logie, the only extensive factories trose, Sept. 1838. in the neighbourhood; that he is at all possible pains in all cases to inform himself of the real age of every child and young person applying for a certificate in the first instance; that he does not think the factory population less healthy, or the females more frequently incurring church censure, than either the agricultural or other parts of the surrounding population." James Overend Haigh, solemnly sworn, depones,

age;

Woollen & Worsted
Sept. 1838.

"That he has, for above three years, been manager of the two woollen-factories for J. O. Haigh, Aberworsted-manufacture belonging to Messrs. Alexander Hadden and Sons; that there are deen. about 700 workers, of whom about 550 under 18, and none under 13 years of age; that Mr. John Cadenhead, surgeon, grants the certificates of age at the works and there alone, and is very cautious in granting them only to those who appear to be of the certified that he presents the young persons to Mr. Cadenhead, and would not present one whom he did not believe to be of the age to be certified; that young persons above 13 years of age answer for all the purposes of these works; that all the provisions of the Factory Act are obeyed at the factories of which he has the charge; that he has been for 20 years employed in the departments of factories, and is decidedly of opinion that the health of the workers is better than that of hand-loom weavers, and as good as that of the population employed in work within-doors; that there has been no serious accident in the factories here since he had the charge of them; that the young persons are all hired and paid by Messrs. Hadden and Co. or their manager."

99

Robert Cumming, solemnly sworn, depones,—

"That he is manager of Poynernook spinning of cotton-twist factory, belonging to Messrs. Robert Cumming, Forbes, Low, and Co., of Aberdeen; that there are about 368 workers, of whom about 200 Aberdeen, Septemunder 18, and none under 13 years of age; that the whole of the spinning at this work is ber, 1838. common mule-spinning; that the whole of the spinners are females; that the piecers are altogether hired and paid by Messrs. Forbes, Low, and Co., or by their manager or overseers; that he presents the young persons to be certified to Mr. John Campbell, surgeon. in Aberdeen, who grants the certificates of age at the works, and there alone; that Mr. Campbell is very particular in granting none of the certificates until he makes an examination with a view to ascertain the real age; and he has seen him refuse certificates to those whom the deponent thought of the age required; that the spinners are paid by the piece for so many hanks of yarn produced; that they have no power to dismiss their piecers, but they may, and of course do, complain to the overseer of the flat of any of their piecers when they see cause; that piecers above 13 years old answer quite well for all the purposes of the work; that all the regulations of the Factory Act are implicitly obeyed at this factory."

David Macdonald, solemnly sworn, depones,

"That he has been for nine years manager of the cotton-spinning factory at Aberdeen, D. Macdonald, called the Bannermill, belonging to Messrs. Thomas Bannerman and Co.; that there are 452 Aberdeen, Septemworkers, of whom 241 under 18, and none under 13 years of age; that the whole ber, 1838. spinning is by common mules except by one pair of self-acting mules, which were set a-going in the month of February last; that the spinners are all females; that all the piecers

Report by
Ja. Stuart, Esq.

January 1839

1838.

are hired and paid by him on behalf of the company; that Mr. William Leslie, surgeon, in
Aberdeen, attends at this factory on the Links of Aberdeen, every Monday morning, to grant
certificates of age for the young persons whom he, the deponent, presents to him; that he
presents no young persons whom he does not consider to be of the requisite age; and Mr.
Leslie is very particular in examining the young persons, and frequently rejects such as he
does not consider himself at liberty to certify; that the spinners are paid by the piece and so
are the piecers for the quantity of yarn produced by the piecers; that the piecers above 13
answer quite well for all the purposes of the factory; that he considers the work which the
piecers have to do, that is, to mend the broken threads and clean the machinery, very light
and easy; that he considers the health of the whole workers to be above the average of the
neighbouring population; that a sick-fund book is kept at the work, from which it appears
that not above six of the workers are, on an average, on the sick-list at one time; that he only
acts in terms of the directions of his employers in obeying all the regulations of the Factory
Act, and finds no difficulty in doing so; that the youngest of the persons above 13
above 13 years old,
and not 18, supply the rove and sweep the floor, and this is reckoned the easiest part of the
work."

John Cadenhead, Esq., surgeon, in Aberdeen, solemnly sworn, depones,—

"That he has granted at least 1800 certificates of age for the young persons working at J. Cadenhead, Sept. the factories here; that, so far as he can, he is at pains to ascertain the real age, always asking, as the first question, the actual age of the young person applying for a certificate; that the young persons are presented to him at the works by the manager, and they are selected, of the proper age, with care by the manager of the factory of Messrs. Alexander Hadden and Son; that he has seen a great deal of the factory population from being, for 18 years, one of the dispensary surgeons, and from being connected with the hospital and eye institution, and is of opinion that the factory population are not more prone to disease than other parts of the population working within doors, and certainly less than the hand-loom weavers here employed in carpet-weaving; that he has charge of the population in the factory of Messrs. Alexander Hadden and Sons, and is able to state that the accidents in that factory are very infrequent and very slight; that he has seen a decided improvement in the morals of the factory population for some years past, and is of opinion that that population is now, in point of morals, equal to any part of the population of the lower orders here; that very great pains are taken at the factory of Messrs. Hadden and Sons, and also at the Bannermill, and other factories here, to preserve decency of appearance and conduct among the workers."

D. Rugvie, Prestonholme, Edinburghshire, July, 1838.

W. M Haffie, Dun

tocher, Dumbartonshire, Aug., 1838.

A. Macgregor, Milngavie, Stirlingshire, August, 1838.

Reference is also made in this class to the evidence of the following witnesses, (Appendix I.), all of them concerned in factories at Dundee or Aberdeen: viz. William Brown, William Suttill, Frederick Holland, and John Emslie.

V.-Factories in country situations, or in small towns, in the south of Scotland.

David Rugvie, overseer of the flax and tow factory of John Craig, Esq., at Presholme, solemnly sworn, depones

"That at this work, where children under nine years of age, as well as young persons above 13 years old, are employed, the work is as well or better done by young persons above than under 13 years old; that the certificates of age are all granted by Mr. Symington, surgeon, at the work; that he believes them all to be correct; and he would not receive any child or young person whom he considered to be under the age certified. That Mr. Craig desires him to obey every provision of the Factory Act; and he uniformly does so to the best of his knowledge."

William M'Haffie solemnly sworn, depones

"That he has been for 18 years manager of Duntocher cotton-spinning and weaving factory belonging to William Dunn, Esq. That there are about 580 workers, of whom 61 under 13 years of age, and about 160 from 13 to 18 years of age; that the piecers above 13 years old are quite suitable to work at the machinery of this mill; that Dr. Pender grants the certificates of age at the factory, and nowhere else, and with great caution, refusing all who do not appear to him of the requisite age; that the children under 13 regularly attend school, for which Mr. Dunn furnishes the school-house; that Mr. Dunn directs all the regulations of the Factory Act to be obeyed, which is accordingly done.”

Alexander Macgregor, Esq., one of the acting partners of Messrs. Robert Macgregor and Company, proprietors of the Milngavie cotton-spinning mill, solemnly sworn, depones

"That there are about 320 workers, of whom none under 13, and about 40 from 13 to 18 years of age; that piecers above 13 years old answer perfectly well to work for the spinners with the machinery at this work; that Mr. Robert Smart, surgeon, at Milngavie, grants the certificates of age with great caution; that the deponent would not admit any young person whom he believed not to be 13 years old, although holding a certificate. That all the provisions of the Factory Act and regulations of the inspectors are obeyed at this factory."

William Miller, solemnly sworn, depones

Report by
Ja. Stuart, Esq.

January 1839.

"That he has been for about 14 years overseer of cotton-spinning factories; that he was overseer or manager of the factory of Messrs. Houldsworth and Son, of Glasgow, at the period when the Factory Regulation Act, now in force, was passed; and that he has been manager W. Miller, Ballinof the cotton-spinning factory of Messrs. James Finlay and Company, called the Ballin- dalloch,Sirlingshire, dalloch Factory, near Balfron, for about three years and a half; that he has been directed Oct., 1838. by his employers at Glasgow, as well as here, to give implicit obedience to the provisions of the Factory Act, and has uniformly done so, without any difficulty on his part; that he considers the uniformity introduced by the Factory Act to be very desirable, and the regulations respecting children under 13 years of age to be very beneficial. That Messrs. Houldsworth and Son attempted to introduce the system of working with relays of children while he was manager of their factory; that he had at this time some trouble with the spinners, to force them to procure the ordinary number of piecers, three piecers, according to the relay system, being necessary, instead of two, and was obliged to discharge some of the spinners who did not procure the necessary number of piecers, the wheels being always stopped by him until the necessary number was obtained; that at this time he was in use to go through the working apartments of the factory every Monday morning, to ascertain the number of piecers admitted in the course of the preceding week, and that they had got certificates of age. That neither at Messrs. Houldsworth's nor at Ballindalloch factory are children under 13 years old ever worked for more than eight hours a-day. That young persons have to go below frames two feet four inches in height, in cleaning them; and he sees them above 13 years old doing this, without difficulty, every day. That a piecer can clean four wheels easily in two minutes, and none of them have more than four wheels to clean; that the necessity to clean never occurs oftener than once in an hour, and, where the yarn is fine, often seldomer; that no work can be easier than that which the piecers have to do, bringing the rove, mending the broken threads, and cleaning the machinery. That females, adults, are the spinners at the Ballindalloch factory, earning from 12s. to 16s. a-week. That there are about 260 persons employed at the Ballindalloch factory, of whom about 45 from 9 to 13 years of age, and about 80 from 13 to 18 years of age. That Mr. Robert Campbell, surgeon, at Balfron, grants certificates of age for the Ballindalloch factory to the children and young persons previously hired and approved by the witness, and he would not approve of any one whom he did not believe to be of the age to be certified; that Mr. Campbell is very scrupulous as to granting certificates; that he, Mr. Campbell, knows all the people, having been born here, and resided here almost all his life. That the children under 13 years of age attend a school, kept by Messrs. Finlay and Co., and the book, showing the statutory attendance, is brought to the witness every Monday morning. That the school was built by the Company, and furnished by them at an expense of about £710. That the children are educated solely at the expense of the Company, as well as all persons employed at the factory who are disposed to attend the-evening school. That about 60 persons, exclusive of the children, at present attend the school. That Mr. William Gardner, the teacher, is a good scholar, and teaches reading, writing, arithmetic, geography, and Latin, if required.__That all the children under 13 years of age are learning to write, and can read the New Testament. That he is quite satisfied that the population employed at the factory are as healthy, perhaps more so, than that of the neighbouring population employed in the house; that the factory population are cleaner in their dress and habits; and he has observed young persons previously employed at the hand-looms always look better some time after being employed in the factory. That other teachers, besides Mr. Gardner, are occasionally employed in the school; and, in particular, the witness lately had a teacher of music in the school for about seven weeks."

William Gardner, solemnly sworn, depones,

"That he has taught the school for the Ballindalloch factory for about two years; that W. Gardner, Balthe children under 13 years old attend the school very regularly, and a considerable number lindalloch, Stirlingabove 13 years old also attend the school, all gratis; that he teaches reading, writing, shire, Oct. 1838. accounts, grammar, geography, and Latin, if required."

Robert Campbell, Esq., surgeon, at Balfron, solemnly sworn, depones—

"That he has given certificates of age to the children and young persons working at K.Campbell, Ballinthe Ballindalloch factory, in the immediate neighbourhood of Balfron, ever since the Factory dalloch, Oct. 1838. Act was passed, and he has always been most careful to give certificates to those only whom he believed to have attained the real age certified; that he has never had any certificate granted by him questioned, so far as respected the age certified; that he has been 16 or 17 years surgeon at Balfron, and, of course, has always professionally attended the population at the factory that he conscientiously thinks them as little prone to disease as any part of the neighbouring population.

Archibald Prentice, one of the managers of the Rothsay cotton-spinning factory, belonging to Messrs. Thom and Struthers, solemnly sworn, depones

1838.

"That there are about 400 workers, of whom 176 under 18 and above 13, and 14 under A. Prentice, Roth13 years of age; that the 14 children weekly, on every Monday, produce certificates of their say. Buteshire, Sept. attendance for two hours, daily, for six of the seven preceding days, at a school kept wholly by Messrs. Thom and Struthers; that it is at present attended by 177 of the young persons at the works, Messrs. Thom and Struthers insisting that all who cannot read and write well shall daily attend the evening-school from half-past seven o'clock to half-past nine o'clock,

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