How contagion and infection are spread, through the sweating system in the tailoring trade/Report of the Investigation Committee of the Manchester Branch Amalgamated Society of Tailors

REPORT OF THE INVESTIGATION COMMITTEE OF THE MANCHESTER BRANCH AMALGAMATED SOCIETY OF TAILORS.

It will be readily seen that the obstacles thrown in the way of a full investigation into such a system as sweating or out-working by workmen, without legal authority to prosecute their labours, are many, and in some cases insurmountable; and that though we may be able to fully substantiate the following, yet to give numbers of the houses and names of occupiers would render the committee liable to both civil and criminal proceedings; and from the same cause we are compelled to withhold many facts that came to our knowledge, which, if recorded, would shock the better feelings of our nature, and leave the uninitiated to wonder could such things exist in this enlightened age. It must be clearly understood that we had not the means of ascertaining how many women and children were employed, for though blank we are fully persuaded that by far the greater majority employed both.

The committee was composed of six, appointed by a general meeting, and their labours commenced on February 19th, and closed on the 24th; it will therefore be seen that they could not visit all the places and homes engaged in this class of work, but can vouch for the truth of the following statements, and are prepared to prove their correctness. The number of children could not be ascertained.

Tabulated Report of the Streets Visited and number of Men and Women Employed, with remarks on their appearance.
OLDHAM ROAD, ROCHDALE ROAD, AND RED BANK DISTRICT, COMPRISING

	Number of men employed in houses visited.	Number of women and girls employed in houses visited.	REMARKS.
Turner Street	2	2	One house was found where father, mother, stepson, and 5 other squalid-looking children were engaged at work in a garret, in such a state that it is calculated to generate disease. One man and family respectable; the others very untidy, and some may be termed pestilential. The personal appearance of a large number of those employed was slovenly and dirty in the extreme, and such as would appear liable to sickness. The condition of many of the houses was such as is calculated to breed distempers through foul smells and want of cleanliness. Though we saw many instances of sickness even amongst those at work, and in the houses visited, yet when we inquired what were the nature of their complaints, it was generally stated asthma, consumption, bronchitis, or rheumatism; we felt that in some cases the real illness was withheld, as there appeared a general reluctance to state the complaints; in one instance we were asked if the inspectors had sent us. We could see consumption breathed into the garments being made up by some of the workers, whose appearance it was pitiable to witness, and in some eases by both women and children. In many places, we have no hesitation in saying the atmosphere was pestilential.
Sudell Street	2	2
Stonehewer Street	3	. .
Lord Street	6	. .
Marshall Street	9	. .
Haddington Street	15	. .
Chadderton Street	1	. .
Goulden Street	4	. .
Cross Street	1	1
Hanover Street	7	. .
Oswald Street	8	. .
Miller Street	12	9
Balloon Street	6	58
Back Balloon Street	8	5
Holgate Street	1	1
Back Holgate Street	2	8
Thomson Street	4	11
Foundry Street	1	3
Pump Street	3	4
Nelson Street	2	2
Pilling Street	1	1
Little Pilling Street	3	2
Railway Stores	25	8
Fountain Street	1	. .
Husband Street	. .	4
Chillingham Street	1	. .
Hannah Street	1	. .
Teignmouth Street	2	2
Briddon Street	. .	1
Shudehill	33	. .
Thornley Brow	. .	. .
Dantzic Street	4	20
Hargreaves Street	2	. .
Ashley Lane	3	3
Crown Lane	2	1
Timber Street	. .	3
Angel Street	7	15
Mount Street	1	1
Simpson Street	1	1
Dycbe Street	1	1
Simeon Street	1	1
Dewhurst Street	1	. .
Back George's Road	5	6
Twemlow Street	1	1
Nelson Street	2	2
Horne Street	1	3
	196	177
DEANSGATE AND GAYTHORN DISTRICT, COMPRISING
Gaythorn Street	2	1	Many of the houses in this district have a most dilapidated appearance, both inside and out, as if they are to be pulled down. It will be a blessing if many of the homes we visited are removed to some healthier locality, and work is done in proper workshops provided by the employers; for if the state of things we witnessed is continued in other parts of the town, the condition of the workers will not be improved, but danger of contagion will be spread to those localities. We saw several instances of sickness in the same rooms where work was pursued. In some cases one room had to serve a family as workshop, sleeping-room, and all other conveniences necessary to a house; young women sleeping in the rooms whilst work was pursued.
Bridgewater Street	3	2
Quay Street	1	. .
Byrom Street	6	. .
Hope Street	1	. .
Water Street	4	2
Back Water Street	1	. .
Gartside Street	4	2
Wilmot Street	5	1
Irwell Street	1	1
Young Street	4	4
Irving Street	2	2
Dolefield	4	2
Longworth Street	1	2
Hardman Street	2	1
Royton Street	2	. .
Wood Street	3	. .
Gregson Street	1	1
Bradley Court	5	2
Garden Court	1	. .
Charles Street	2	. .
Great John Street	2	1
Harrison's Court	1	1
Grindrod Street	2	. .
	59	25
STRANGEWAYS DISTRICT, COMPRISING
Morton Street	27	10	One man, employing 13 men and 5 women, states that he turns out 120 suits in one week, which must entail night and day work, also Sunday labour, on those working for him The places are in general dirty and neglected. One in Julia Street is a factory: women employed as far as can be; houses and persons present a neglected appearance. Men only are employed in one place, but they take work to employ women at their homes to avoid the operation of the Factory Act, and they work with them at night. The condition of these homes is deplorable, and they need inspection in the interest of the public as well as of the people themselves.
Mary Street	15	5
George Street	3	1
Nightingale Street	2	1
Button Street	4	130
Julia Street	30	. .
Hornby Street	2	1
Berkeley Street	1	. .
Carnarvon Street	2	. .
Robert Street	5	1
Pimblett Street	6	1
	97	150
LONDON ROAD (RIGHT HAND SIDE), COMPRISING
Medlock Street	7	1	Some of the places visited in these districts are in a miserable condition; the position of many of the workers is saddening to think of, as existing in so rich and prosperous a city as Manchester, and in close proximity to the homes of workmen in other branches of industry whose hours of labour are regulated; both men and women work from 16 to 20 hours per day, the Sabbath included, for less money than their neighbours for 9 or 10 hours per day.
Cambridge Street	5	. .
Granby Row	3	. .
Stanhope Court	1	1
Holgate Street	1	. .
Pump Street	1	. .
Hulme	. .	. .
Dale Street	1	1
Kennington Street	2	1
Stott Street	1	4
Boundary Lane	1	4
Ruby Street	1	1
City Road	6	3
York Street	3	. .
Rutland Street	1	1
Duke Street	4	1
	38	18
ANCOATS AND ARDWICK, COMPRISING
Jersey Street	4	6	In most of these places sewing machines are used by women. The houses did not, in some instances, present the squalid appearance of those seen in other places; yet the effect of long hours is seen even in these homes, and the weary and jaded appearance of the workers reminds us of Thomas Hood's "Song of the Shirt." Although machines are used, it is evident they are a source of profit to the employers, to the injury of the workers. Some of the homes are miserable.
Cotton Street	1	1
Bloss Street	2	1
Murray Street	1	1
Edward Street	3	3
Watmough Street	1	1
Canal Street	3	3
Alum Street	3	2
Grey Street	1	1
Long Street	2	1
Park Street	. .	1
Heyrod Street	. .	2
Walker Street	. .	2
Buxton Street	2	1
Boardman Street	3	1
Berry Street	1	1
Till Street	1	1
Dean Place	1	1
	29	30
RIGHT HAND SIDE OF OLDHAM ROAD AND ANCOATS, COMPRISING
Lever Street	1	1	Some of the houses are damp, and some squalid in appearance. Rheumatism was complained of by both males and females, therefore it will be seen that the time when this complaint is not felt is almost wholly devoted to work. Neglect of cleanliness of both home and person induces vermin, of which we saw several sickening instances, which must in some cases adhere to the clothes being made up.
Ancoats Street	8	4
A Court off Ancoats Street	1	1
Port Street	5	2
Dean Street	1	1
Ducie Street	1	2
Mill Street	1	1
Primrose Street	1	1
Henry Street	7	6
George Leigh Street	5	3
Lorn Street	1	1
Court off Henry Street	4	1
Parker Street	1	1
Silk Street	9	3
Prussia Street	1	1
	47	29
CHORLTON-ON-MEDL0CK AND HYDE ROAD DISTRICT, COMPRISING
Harris Court, Richmond St	2	1	A portion of these are amongst the homes of respectable working-men; but some of the places that were visited need inspection, in the interest of their neighbours. The condition of the workers was wretched. In one case the person resorted to the system of pawning one portion of the work whilst finishing the other; the consequence can be better imagined than described.
Richmond Street	2	3
Lindle Street	1	1
Wood Street	1	1
Faust Street	. .	. .
Duke Street	1	1
Brunswick Street	2	1
Cranworth Street	4	1
Stockport Road	4	12
Higher Temple Street	27	5
Brook Street	4	. .
Grosvenor Street	3	. .
Edward Street	5	. .
Charlotte Street	1	. .
Hope Street	1	. .
Hyde Road	13	. .
Ashton Road	11	. .
Cross Street	3	1
Vernon Street	2	2
Tipping Street	2	1
Chapel Street	5	2
Union Street	2	1
	89	33
HULME, CHESTER AND STRETFORD ROADS DISTRICT, COMPRISING
Stretford Road	9	1	Some of these places are workshops belonging to employers; others are what are known as Scotch or Drapers' trades, whose work is done by a class of middlemen; whilst a few are out-workers. The workshops are of the usual sort. Although people live on the premises where work is performed, cleanliness is not a noticeable feature. The fact of people sleeping by night and working by day in the same room gives them a tired and worn-out appearance, even in their youth.
Preston Street	5	. .
Mobs Lane	1	. .
Maple Street	3	. .
Clayton Street	1	. .
Warde Street	1	. .
Clopton Street	2	. .
Frederick Street	1	. .
Daisy Street	1	1
Newcastle Street	1	1
Abbey Street	3	10
	28	13
CHEETHAM DISTRICT, COMPRISING
Johnson Street	39	8	The houses occupied by this class of workers are generally dirty, unhealthy, and not properly ventilated. The closets are not consistent with proper sanitary requirements. The above, taken in conjunction with people working in the apartments by day and sleeping in the same at night, is calculated to generate pulmonary diseases and infectious fevers.
Crown Lane	2	. .
Back Verdon Street	3	5
Little Fernie Street	22	5
Park Street	7	3
Oldham Street	7	3
Davison Street	5	5
Winter Street	6	. .
Lord Street	5	1
Bank Street	5	1
	101	31
BROUGHTON LANE DISTRICT, COMPRISING
Broughton Road	1	1	Generally clean, though some untidy in their persons. Even in this district evidence is shown that workshops should be provided for the proper manipulation of the work.
Hough Lane	4	1
Edith Lane	1	. .
Sussex Street	1	3
Gordon Street	1	1
Caroline Street	1	. .
Clarence Street	. .	2
Edward Street	2	. .
	11	8
SALFORD, GREENGATE, AND CHAPEL STREET DISTRICT, COMPRISING
Boardman Place	1	. .	Two of the houses of these people are what may be termed "moderate," but the majority are dirty and neglected, and calculated to generate contagion and induce pulmonary diseases. The class of work done in these houses is for the best firms in the trade, and requires care in getting up; but we saw people afflicted with cutaneous diseases, and other complaints which would be conveyed to the garments, to the imminent peril of the persons wearing them. In one place we saw vermin on the material as it was being made up.
Norton Street	1	1
Gravel Lane	5	. .
Sandywell	1	1
Hornby Street	1	1
Boundary Street	5	2
East York Street	1	3
Paradise Square	2	2
Beech Street	2	2
East Robert Street	1	. .
Berry Street	1	1
Waterloo Place	2	2
King Street	5	2
Ravald Street	5	2
Arlington Street	2	2
Briggs Street	2	2
Brewery Street	1	1
Victoria Street	1	1
Market Street	1	1
West Market Street	1	1
Mount Street	1	1
Dearden Street	1	1
Brunswick Street	. .	1
Courts off Brunswick Street	6	2
Frederick Street	1	1
Rigby Street	1	. .
Thomas Street	1	1
Ford Street	1	1
Off Rolla Street	. .	1
Golden Lane	3	2
Pollard Street	2	1
Booth Street	1	1
Barlow Croft	1	. .
Appleby Croft	1	. .
Spaw Street	1	1
Chapel Street	5	1
Egerton Street	1	. .
George Street	1	1
Irwell Square	1	. .
Park Street	1	1
Islington Street	1	1
Barrow Street	2	. .
West Street	1	1
Mew	1	. .
Pembroke Street	1	. .
Garden Court	1	. .
	77	46
PENDLETON, SALFOED, AND REGENT KOAD DISTRICT, COMPRISING
Broad Street	2	. .	There is little to notice in this district different from the visited are what are termed single houses; their appearance showing neglect especially the children. We heard of contagion being in what we saw of women visiting each other's houses, contagion might be spread without thought of such thing by those who might be the means of doing so.
Church Street	2	. .
Lissledale Street	1	2
Whit Lane	1	2
Cross Lane	1	. .
Ellor Street	2	1
Liverpool Street	. .	. .
Regent Road	4	. .
York Street	5	. .
Bedford Street	3	4
Adelaide Street	2	1
Jackson Street	6	4
Pond Place	2	. .
Bridgewater Street	7	1
	38	15

The places actually visited are where 1,329 men, women, and girls work, the time was the slackest in the year for the tailoring trade, and the work being hurried we could not visit all the places in the same street which were engaged in this class of work. There were certain factories employing from 80 to 100 hands not visited. We estimate that there are about 3,000 people engaged in the trade in Manchester, and that only about 1,000 work in shops provided by their employers. We have given an account in the margin of each district visited. In this we cannot depict the disgust we experienced in some of the places. In one street in the Red Bank district the expression used by ourselves was that it was "horrible." Clothes were being made for both retail and wholesale houses. In the places we visited there was not, as far as we saw, any cases of contagion, but we heard of such in several neighbourhoods. The general condition of the workers is deplorable; on all sides is seen the result of constant dreary work, with small pay. In one house, an emaciated man and woman and consumptive lad were at work late at night. In the intensity of feeling, one of the committee exclaimed, as he was leaving, "Oh! for the genius of a Hood, who could sing the song of a thousand suits, and move the hearts of the wearers to think of the responsibility of patronising firms that resort to such a practice." The system is not only deterrent to the healthiness and progress of those engaged in it, but also to the general position of the operative in shops. The work done at these houses is paid less for than in the workshop; hence there are few employers who do not resort to it. There are not above six firms in Manchester who have all their work done in proper workshops. Thus the condition of the operative tailor is far worse than that of other workmen. When less price is paid for work done at home, the man is obliged to bring in the assistance of his wife and family—hence it is not to be wondered at that homes become neglected, and epidemic diseases attack such homes as described in our report. The committee, in describing their mission, begin by stating that knowledge is power, and the fact became patent that as workmen they were not able to earn a fair day's wage for a fair day's work, according to the generally recognised notions of experienced tradesmen. The knowledge that they were losing the power of providing decently for themselves and families made it incumbent on their society to ascertain the extent to which the system of sending work to the homes of the operatives had extended, and also to gain a knowledge of the aspect of the question so far as it affected the public generally; and with the feeling that in the question of out-working lay the secret of the inferior social position of the journeyman tailor as compared with other workmen, they state that they were enabled only to furnish a mere skeleton description of the subject as it exists, but from this statement of their investigations the readers of this pamphlet must themselves form an opinion of what really does exist. In many cases the sights that they saw were merely the remains of many human forms, physically dry, shrunken, and in premature age, shaken by the winds of adversity, and the blasts of avaricious employers. In some cases their moral and spiritual condition was a disgrace to the age, and prevented them from going into proper workshops. The curse of man is verily fulfilled by this class of operatives—"By the sweat of thy brow shalt thou eat bread." If there is a scheme of redemption for fallen man in his spiritual state, it is necessary that the condition of his life should be to enable him to appreciate and value the promises of a redeeming Saviour. The system here described in this pamphlet shows man has doubly fallen, and needs the conscientious assistance of the public in giving their orders to tradesmen only who provide proper workshops for their operatives.

We appeal to the public, in their own interest, and for the welfare of those employed in this industry, to endeavour to prevent the spread of contagion, by patronising only such firms as keep their workshops on the premises clean and healthy, to ensure the safety of their customers, their workmen, and the public at large.

To publish a list of firms resorting to the abominable practice of giving work out might entail legal proceedings, but the committee are prepared to furnish information to anyone who may ask for it, as to firms who do not resort to this practice.

REPORTS FROM OTHER TOWNS.

We have reports from several towns on the system.

BIRMINGHAM.

The Trades' Council in this town have issued a special report, showing the evils attendant on the system. The report proves that this evil is as extensive there as in other places. The following extract is taken from the report:—

"Your committee, desirous not to appear amongst the alarmist sections of social or sanitary inquirers, have felt disposed to moderate some of the extremes put before them, and have taken the system as a whole rather than individual cases.

"Finding the case stand thus, the question arises, What are the remedies? and in this your committee are not unmindful of the responsibility that rests upon them. Having taken the trouble to inquire what has been done, they have also turned their attention to what might have been done in the past, and to what may be done in the future. It is a question that involves many points, and the application of measures that to some will appear most objectionable, but which under the scrutiny of calm reasoning may be divested of all their worst features, and without which no true remedy can be found. One great difficulty that presents itself to your committee is the fact that laws, already in existence and provided long ago for the purpose of improving the bad condition of our workshop system, were for years allowed to remain a dead letter, while if they had been applied must at least have modified in some degree the evils that are inseparable from the present system. It is a matter for deep regret that the corporate authorities of this borough, with their great power and desire for sanitary reformation, should have lost sight of or neglected to bring into use the instruments that were then placed in their hands, and so powerful to produce good results. The difficulties in the way of carrying out the provisions of the Workshops Regulation Act were known to be many; but if an honest and determined attempt had been made to put it in force, its insufficiency to meet the case would have been made more clear, and such modifications sought as would have brought it into harmony with the Factory Acts, which have become more appreciated by both employer and employed; or they might have been condensed into one measure generally applicable to all premises where manufacturing is carried on, and administered without increasing our burdens. It is only in such laws and their proper administration that a safe remedy is to be found. Your committee are of opinion—That it should be a duty upon all manufacturers to find workshop accommodation for those they employ, whether the number be many or few. That any part or parts of a dwelling house so occupied should be considered a factory, and should be so registered for the purposes of any Act of Parliament made to apply to their supervision, and that all rules and acts made for the inspection and regulation of factories and workshops should be applied equally in all cases."

NOTTINGHAM.

The following extract is from the Nottingham and Midland Counties' Daily Express, February 24th, 1877:—

"Nottingham Trades' Council.—The adjourned meeting of this body was held on Tuesday night, Mr. Coyne presiding. The minutes of the previous meeting having been adopted, the committee gave in their report on the 'sweating' system in the tailoring and bootmaking trades as follows:—'Your committee think the report would be incomplete without giving the facts which led to the inquiry. We think their reproduction as part of the report will make the Council see the need for some steps being taken to lessen the consequences of this thirst for profit, which has tempted employers of labour to let off rooms for the sake of a money benefit, while they drive their workpeople to labour in places already over-crowded by the presence of numerous offspring for which the poor worker cannot find sufficient room. [The report here alluded to cases of fever resulting from the sweating system, mentioned in the resolutions brought before the Trades Union Congress held in Glasgow and Newcastle, which have already been published by us.] Your committee are bound to state that in this, as in all other old towns, there are places which are not fit for human habitations, but in which the poor are forced to reside; and many operatives of the tailoring and bootmaking trades may be seen taking home work from the different business places of the town to these miserable 'dens,' which, as residences, only germinate epidemics which undermine the health of all who are forced to reside there. And when we think of these places being made the workshops for tailoring and bootmaking purposes, we are, to use the mildest expression, seriously pained. We have not a word to say against the steady, honest man who tries to get a business together by setting off a part of his house for a workroom, though we think that even in such a case there should be a regular inspection under the Workshops Regulation Act. We think the tailors and their customers should pay this matter more attention than they have hitherto done, from the fact that only one house in the trade has all the work done on the premises. Three first-class tailoring establishments in the town have entirely closed their workrooms during the last eighteen months, and now employ none but out-workers, and the other first-class houses all more or less work by this system. Of the second-class shops your committee find only two where the work is done on the premises. The co-operative store, which we thought would be found all right, has lately adopted the 'sweating' system in their tailoring business, thus coming down to the level of all the others of this class, who employ 'sweaters' only. We are strongly of opinion that public attention has only to be drawn to so great an evil to obtain a remedy, and we think the best remedy is to put under the Workshops Act the whole of the places where any sort of manufacturing industry is carried on. This, with a thorough inspection, according to such a law (if it were not allowed to become a dead letter) would soon make the trades of tailoring and bootmaking better for the workers and for the customers. The Tailors' Society are about to hold a conference in London shortly, and we hope they will be able to make an impression on the Home Office in reference to this question. Your committee adopt the paper circulated by the Scottish tailors, as best calculated to show the dangers to be apprehended from the indiscriminate adoption of the 'sweating' principle, in which we think the cheapening process is carried too far.' This report was, after an animated discussion, adopted by the Council; and a resolution was agreed to that the borough members should be written to on the subject, and asked to support a measure which would bring the places where work is carried on under the Workshops Act."

A committee has made inquiries into the work of the sweating system in this town, and the report shows the deplorable state of the persons and homes of the workers. It is saddening to reflect that the wholesale houses in Liverpool, Manchester, London, and all towns where this class of trade is made up, export contagion, disease, and death in the bales of goods packed for shipment to be sold in other lands. God only knows where the limit of this "upas" deleterious influence is felt, unknown to the wearers of the clothing, which brings to them secretions in its folds most poisonous to life, and in its most loathsome forms. We have traced the subject, as affecting humanity, from the peer to the peasant. The investigations in Liverpool fully prove the extent of the system, and bring to one's mind the illness of the Prince of Wales some few years since, said to have been caused by defective drainage in Scarborough; but the inquiries into the working of the system here would lead us to think that the complaint had been carried from the home of the out-worker in the clothes of acquaintances or attendants with whom he came in contact. The system, with all its attendant evils, has been fully shown in these inquiries.

SOUTHAMPTON.

The report from this place begins by stating that the journeymen tailors have waited and hoped many years for some amelioration in their condition, and are now encouraged in their hope when they hear of the question of the evils of the sweating system receiving public consideration. The duty of exposing it is a difficult one, not only from the listless apathy of the operatives engaged in it, but from the opposition of those interested. The harbour is the largest mail packet station in the world; the population is about 60,000, and work is made for gentlemen travelling to all parts of the globe; yet there are not thirty men employed in workshops provided by the masters. Hundreds work at home under the same conditions as depicted in other places; the middleman, or master sweater, employing men at his home at from 17s. to £1 per week, women and girls from 1s. per day and upwards; these work together in some cases with the man's family, in bedrooms and other rooms of the house. The manner in which work is sent entails night and day work, and often Sunday labour, on all. Proper rest, health, and strength are sacrificed to the god Mammon and to the moral degradation of those engaged. The committee know of many cases of neglect of sanitary rules, and disease has been engendered, and whole families have suffered from scarlet fever and other infectious diseases; yet work was pursued in the house during the whole of the time persons were afflicted, and garments were made for customers of the most respectable houses in the trade. The committee further state the system of both sexes working together in such places, and that the conduct and conversation of men, women, and girls is such as to raise a blush on the cheek of the most callous persons; the small wages paid to females and the levity of conduct lead many further into vice, to eke out a living and provide dress to appear in the streets.

PORTSMOCTH AND DISTRICT, CH.THAM AND WOOLWICH.

We class these together because army and navy clothing is made there. The two extracts given from the report of Dr. Thorne, and the knowledge that at the present moment there is a very serious outbreak of fever and disease in the borough of Portsmouth, which has been going on for some time, led a member of Parliament to put the following question to the President of the Local Government Board:—"Whether, considering the representations that have already been made to the Government in respect to cases of this kind, it will order an inquiry to be made into the danger that exists for the spread of contagious diseases by allowing tailors to manufacture clothing in their private dwellings?" The answer was most unsatisfactory, merely stating that hospital accommodation was being provided for the isolation of these cases. Medical gentlemen from the other towns waited on the member of Parliament in person, and others wrote letters, entreating of him not to let the subject rest, for, from their knowledge, diseases were disseminated both in the army and navy by this abominable system.

Tunbridge Wells, Derby, Hull, Oxford, Cambridge, and towns both in North and South Wales; Dublin, Belfast, Londonderry, and other towns in Ireland; Edinburgh and Glasgow, in Scotland, all bear testimony to the evils of this system, which can be remedied as follows:—"That it should be a duty upon all manufacturers to find workshop accommodation for those they employ, whether the number be many or few." "That any part or parts of a dwelling-house so occupied should be considered a factory, and should be so registered for the purposes of any Act of Parliament made to apply to their supervision, and that all Rules and Acts made for the inspection and regulation of factories and workshops should be applied equally in all cases."

The arguments against these propositions cannot outweigh the cause of humanity, but it is the duty of the public themselves, in their own interest, to see that they give their orders only to those who provide workshops. The work is one in which all should share and take an interest. The minister may preach, the philanthropist may plead, the philosopher may point out the path to higher and nobler aims in life, but so long as the home of the artisan is turned into a workshop for the manufacturer—so long as "man's inhumanity to man" requires the life of his fellow-creatures to be sweated out by excessive hours of toil in a poisoned atmosphere—so long will the comfort and pleasure that should adorn the poor man's home be banished hence, and our youth and manhood will seek elsewhere—in the song-room or the pot-house, or still lower regions—a substitute that may sink them still deeper into the gulf of misery which others have assisted to prepare for them.