Page:The Laboring Classes of England.djvu/143

 Mill, is to this effect,—that the apprentice act was constantly set at naught. The witness did not even know of it. The children in the mill were almost all apprentices from London parishes; they were worked from 5 in the morning till 8 at night, all the year round, with only one hour for the two meals; in making up lost time, they frequently worked from 5 till 10 at night; and invariably they worked from 6 on the Sunday morning till 12, in cleaning the machinery for the week. In speaking of the consequent fatigue, the evidence is this:

"Did the children sit or stand at work?"

Stand.

"The whole of their time?"

Yes.

"Were there any seats in the mill?"

None.

"Were they much fatigued at night?"

Yes, some of them were very much fatigued.

"Where did they sleep?"

In the apprentice house.

"Did you inspect their beds?"

Yes, every night.

"For what purpose?"

Because there were always some of them missing; some might be run away, others I have sometimes found asleep in the mill.

"Upon the mill floor?"

Yes.

"Did the children frequently lie down upon the mill floor at night when their work was over, and fall asleep before their supper?"

I have found them frequently upon the mill floor asleep, after the time for bed.

This, and other similar evidence, was quite sufficient to justify Sir Robert in applying for a ten hour bill. The