The History of the Factory Movement (Volume 1); From the Year 1802, to the Enactment of the Ten Hours' Bill in 1847 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1857. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER IX. MECHANICAL, SOCIAL, AND MOEAL PROGBESS.--LETTER OF SIR JOHN CAM HOBHOUSE, BART., M.P., ON THE DIFFICULTY OF FURTHER LEGISLATION.--MB OASTLER's REPLY.--OPINIONS AND LETTER OF THE RIGHT HON. T. B. MACAULAY ON THE FACTORY QUESTION. SPEECH OF MR SADLER ON INTRODUCING THE TEN HOURS' BILL TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.--APPOINTMENT OF A PARLIAMENTA Y COMMITTEE. There cannot be any doubt entertained of the increase of scientific, chemical, and mechanical knowledge; during the three past ages man's control over inanimate matter has rapidly increased; mechanicians and engineers are capable of producing in a few days, what, a century ago, would have been the work of years. Scientific knowledge, and the division of labour, have multiplied the powers of production with a rapidity beyond the means of calculation. While this great fact of material progress is prominent and undeniable, the social and moral progress of the majority of English society is not by any means an undisputed question. Some among the most thoughtful of our time have doubted if all our scientific, chemical, and mechanical skill, have lightened the day's toil of any human being; others have declared that at no period of the nation's history has it been more difficult for a labouring man to earn his bread by the sweat of his brow than in these latter days. It cannot be reasonably contended that the bitter fruit of man's first disobedience, as represented in the newlyborn infant, weighs more heavily on the present than it did in past generations. "Original sin" is, in its own nature, unchanged, yet crime increases with frightful celerity, and the statute book is swelled to inordinate size with criminal laws, some of these for crimes of the most odious kinds; and the question is still asked, wit...