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cerns, if they would lay claim to a Christian character, to enquire into the condition of their labourers and dependents, and by making all such improvements as the case may admit of, and affording such opportunities of education and religious instruction as their situation demands, to do all in their power to counteract the evils, which must arise from assembling together so many young persons of both sexes, confining them to one spot, and removing them at an early age from the guardianship of Parents and Teachers, and all means of obtaining intellectual or moral improvement. Surely something may yet be effected to remedy this flagrant evil. The national character of our peasantry is yearly suffering loss, and vast masses of the labouring population are sinking into the most lamentable state of ignorance, immorality, and practical heathenism, through the debasing influence of this mercenary scheme. Only look at the swarms which throng the closes and low alleys of Glasgow, and contrast them with the sober and religious race of men, who inhabited the same localities in the days gone by, and say what must have been the fearful process of deterioration, to have produced so great and melancholy a change. Let any one acquaint himself with the godless state, and licentious habits of the operatives of Manchester and Birmingham, and see how totally destitute they are of all that should characterize a Christian people: and how can he account for their present sad condition, without admitting that the Factory system, as it now exists, is unchristian in its nature, and demoralizing in its tendency ?

* Note A.

But, although the appearance of things is now so distressing to the Christian mind, and outrageous even to the common feelings of humanity, there are grounds to hope, that a great change for the better will soon dawn upon this hitherto neglected portion of our fellow countrymen. Matters have come to that crisis, which is sufficiently alarming to awaken the careless indifference even of a worldly-minded and speculative generation. The fearful progress of illegal combinations among the trades, and the spirit of reckless violence and blood-thirsty vengeance, which they have exhibited in some proceedings lately brought to light, will, we trust, incline the Legislature to pay attention to any plans, which may be wisely and promptly devised, to meet and counteract the growing evil. To add to our encouragement on this subject, the Christian world is beginning to enquire, what ought to be done to improve these schools of vice and irreligion, and convert them into seminaries of virtue and piety. It is evident that, not merely the progress of the Church, but the safety of the State absolutely requires, that an effective remedy should immediately be applied: and we hope that it is not too late. Much may certainly be done, even now, to ameliorate their condition. Let Infant, Evening, Sunday, and Adult Schools be established among them, under the care of intelligent and pious Teachers. Let religious Superintendents be placed over the work-people, with instructions to prevent improper language, and repress all indecencies of behaviour. Let proper relaxation be provided for the intervals of labour; let garden ground

be allotted to them, or other healthful exercise afforded them in the open air, to relieve the lassitude of mind and body, arising from long and close confinement to their work. And lastly, let faithful Ministers visit them from time to time, become personally acquainted with each of them, and ascertain how far their lives are in conformity with the precepts of the Gospel; let them form them into Bible classes, catechise them in the knowledge of religious truth, and address them, at stated seasons, in public and appropriate services. Let these, or similar means, be adopted, and we may yet hope, that, with the Divine blessing, the Factories of Great Britain will in a few years undergo a great change of character, and prove rather instrumental as auxiliaries to, than inimical to the progress of religion.

Another mode, in which the spirit of inordinate Competition manifests itself in a very conspicuous manner, at the present day, is in the formation of Rail-roads. The amazing rapidity, with which these vast designs have been set on foot and carried forward, indicates an eagerness of enterprize in the public mind, heretofore almost without a parallel. Whatever may be the probability of ultimate success, the expensive scale of these great undertakings, and the important change which they must produce in the face of the country, the frequent interference with private interests, and the diversion of trade and capital into new channels-these reasons would certainly have justified, if they did not demand, a more mature and deliberate consideration, before so large a part of the plan was carried

into execution. But, be that as it may, haste is the character of modern tactics; the die is now irrevocably cast, and we have only to consider, in what way these new schemes will operate on the morals and condition of the people. And here, alas ! we are unable to report favorably. We may omit, for the present, the important fact, fearfully indicative of a spirit of indifference about, if not of hostility to religion-that almost all these roads are to be open, and in public use, on the Sunday; and thus a new species of Sabbath-desecration, of wide extent, and tremendous power to propagate evil, is introducing itself among us. But that to which we intend chiefly to allude, in compliance with the design of this Essay, is the painful effect produced upon the Animal Creation, by the competition thus excited among the conductors and owners of public conveyances; by means of which they will, in many cases, be worked beyond their speed, and compelled to exert themselves in a cruel and unusual manner, in order to keep pace with the mighty agency now to be set in opposition to their powers, already too heavily taxed, in the service of man. It is indeed true, that the use of steam, instead of horse-power, as a prime mover in machinery, and on rail-roads and canals, diminishing the demand for animal labour, does in some respects act favourably upon the brute creation, and tends to lessen that cruel treatment which the most useful and noble of dumb animals has too often received at our hands. Yet, that such a result is by no means universal, but accompanied with some sad exceptions, appears from a fact lately circu

lated in the public papers, that a coach from London to Shrewsbury has left London at the same moment with the railway trains, and reached Birmingham before them.* This is, no doubt, a remarkable and unusual circumstance, and cannot be imitated frequently; but the principle, which actuated the attempt, is that to which we would now principally direct attention. The spirit of competition will not die away of itself, as long as human nature is so corrupt, and the excitements are so numerous and powerful ; and the poor horse is yet destined to endure still greater hardships in the unequal contest, if the public voice is not raised in time to check such cruel excesses. We might here dwell on the unfeeling treatment of this noble creature by his owner, in pressing him on to make unnatural efforts on the race-course, and at the chase. How many

a fine steed has sunk under his toils, and laid down his jaded limbs, besmeared with sweat and foam, and his sides streaming with blood, a sacrifice to the senseless pleasures, and mad ambition of his tyrannical master. It may be said, indeed, as has frequently been urged, that the horse takes pleasure in such exertions, and gives himself up to them with an invincible zeal and courage, and a determination not to be subdued. But, granting that this is sometimes the case, it can scarcely be supposed, and certainly cannot be shewn, that man has any right to force him beyond his strength, or that the animal, thus goaded on by whip and spur, is merely taking his pleasure, or ful

* Note B.

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