Factories and the Factory System: From Parliamentary Documents and Personal Examination |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
acts of Parliament agricultural amongst amount appears average Bill boys capital capitalist carriage cent Chartism circumstances classes comfort commissioners compelled condition consequently consumption cottages Cotton Mills cotton-spinning deformity demand for labour diminished disease distress ditto earnings employed in factories employers engaged England equally established evidence evils existence extent fact Factory Act factory children factory employment factory girls factory labour factory system favourable females Flax Mills girls greater human increased industry injury inquiry inspectors instance invested juvenile labour Lancashire legislation machinery Manchester manual labour manufacturing districts marriage masters means ment millowners moral necessary never operatives Parliament piecers present Preston Mills principle produce profits proportion rate of wages regulations Report requires result Scotland scrofula sickness Sir Robert Peel spinners spinning Stockport tables tion Total number trade trades-unions week whole wife women workmen yarn young persons
Popular passages
Page 96 - They said they had no fault to find with their wages, their work, or their masters, but the union obliged them to turn out. The same week three delegates from the spinners' union waited upon us at our mill, and dictated certain advances in wages, and other regulations, to which, if we would not adhere, they said neither our own spinners nor any other should work for us again ! Of course we declined, believing our wages to be ample, and our regulations such as were necessary for the proper conducting...
Page 39 - The general impression on us all as to the effects of factory labour has been unexpectedly favourable. The factory work-people in the country districts are the plumpest, best clothed, and healthiest looking persons of the labouring class that I have ever seen. The girls, especially, are far more good-looking (and good looks are fair evidence of health and spirits) than the daughters of agricultural labourers.
Page 66 - Education,' by Dr. Barlow, of Bath, will suffice. After copying the programme of a boarding-school for young ladies, which exhibits only one hour's exercise, consisting of a walk, arm in arm, on the high road, and that only when the weather is fine, at the particular hour allotted to it, in contrast with nine hours at school or tasks, and three and a half at optional studies or work — Dr. Forbes adds : — ' That the practical results, of such an astounding regimen are by no means overdrawn in...
Page 33 - ... corporal punishment, and at the same time an important change takes place in what may be termed their domestic condition. For the most part they cease to be under the complete control of their parents and guardians. They begin to retain a part of their wages. They frequently pay for their own lodgings, board, and clothing. They usually make their own contracts, and are, in the proper sense of the words, free agents. For all these reasons we...
Page 95 - ... of the delegates of the Union. They said they had no fault to find with their wages, their work, or their masters, but the Union obliged them to turn out. The same week three delegates from the Spinners...
Page 61 - With some few exceptions, I have much satisfaction in stating that I found the mills and factories remarkably clean, and apparently well regulated; and nothing came under my notice that could lead me to suppose that the operatives, whether adults, young persons, or children, were unhealthy, or so severely oppressed by labour as has been strongly represented.
Page 63 - ... children work twelve hours for. five days, and nine hours on Saturdays ; and the overlookers never beat them. With regard to the healthiness of the employment, I can say this, that during the time we have been here, about four months, my family has been very healthy, and that with having better food, and better clad, they look much better than they did. Both me and the family have now regular wages, and are well clothed and well fed, and have regular work.
Page 65 - I noticed five sisters, from thirteen upwards, all employed in the mill from their childhood, every one of whom might be termed a finegrown girl ; some of them remarkable for symmetry and strength.
Page 21 - ... mouths, and must be fed ; they have limbs, and must be clothed ; they have minds, which ought to be instructed; and they have passions, which must be controlled. Now, if the parents are unable to provide these requisites — and their inability to do so is just as notorious as their existence, — it becomes absolutely necessary that the children should aid in obtaining them for themselves. To abolish juvenile labour is plainly nothing else than to abolish juvenile means of support ; and to confine...
Page 47 - To a certain extent, also, the husband is a sufferer from his wife's absence from home. There is not the same order in the cottage, nor the same attention paid to his comforts, as when his wife remains at home all day. On returning from her labour she has to look after her children, and her husband may have to wait for his supper. He may come...