THE FACTORY COMMISSION.
As the Athenians grew tired of hearing ARISTIDES called the Just, in like manner, it would seem, the Members of the House of Commons are sickened with the perpetual eulogiums on the Honesty of Lord ALTHORP ; for scarcely a week passes in which some one of his fellow members does not give him the lie, in 'that polite and Parliamentary style at which nobody can take offence. Thus, on Thursday, his. Lordship having declared, in reply to a_question frona Lord STOR MONT, that he had never said_ that the evidence taken before the Factory Commissioners should be recorded by a short-hand-writer, Lord ASHLEY immediately rose, and, according to the report in the Times and Chrbnicle, delivered himself as follows : "lie allowed thatthe noble lord knew hat what he had stated ; hut he (Lord Ashley) must say, upon his word in honour, that the noble lord had observed to him that he Find no hesitation zn saying that a shorthand-writer ought to be employed. He had also understood the noble lord to admit that the very language of the witnesses ought to be presented to the House. If it were not taken by a short-hand-writer, he should be under the necessity of protesting against every atom of testimony to be laid upon the table."
This insinuation of Lord ASHLEY called forth no reply from Lord ALTHORP; who, we presume, retired behind the shield of his proverbial honesty, trusting that the House and tile publics would take his word. before filet of Lord ASHLEY any day on any point. As regards the matter which gave rise to the conversation alluded to, we really think that a great deal of very unnecessary alarm is felt. Surely there can be no reason to doubt that the Commissioners will faithfully report whatever they have heard and seen,—for it ought to be remembered, that they are sent not so much to collect the ipsissima verba of witnesses on either side or the question, as to procure accurate information by every means open to intelligent men. For our parts, we would. as willingly trust to their giving a true account of the evidence, as to the report of any short-hand-writer in existence. 'Without giving the precise words uttered by the witnesses, there is nothing to prevent
them, if they are men of ordinary capacity, from conveying the pith and substance of their evidence. And. yet we find that the Glas gow Short Time Committee, following the example of their coadjutors of Leeds rather than the more rational and temperate one of their countrymen of Dundee, have protested against the proceedings of the Commissioners; which, they say, savour more of the Spanish Inquisition than of a British Court of Inquiry. If it should turn out, as is not improbable, that the reports of these gentlemen are decidedly in favour of the Ten Hours Bill, all this virulence will appear very ridiculous.
We did not see the necessity of appointing a commission to ascertain whether children should be made to work more or less than ten hours daily ; but we must protest against the absurd unfaitness of supposing that these Factory Commissioners are hired to falsify evidence, and get up a case to justify "infanticide."
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