To Kirkleatham Crossroad. This road is a rare instance of the public spirit of the gentlemen of Cleveland.... They are doing it by subscription CHILDREN IN FACTORIES (John Fielden, _The Curse of the Factory System_) _Sir R. Peel’s_ evidence before a committee of the House of Commons, 1816:-- “Having other pursuits, it was not often in my power to visit the factories, but whenever such visits were made I was struck with the uniform appearance of bad health, and, in many cases, stunted growth of the children. The hours of labour were regulated by the interests of the overseer, whose remuneration was regulated by the quantity of work done” (p. 9). _Evidence of John Moss_, overseer of Blackbarrow Mill, near Preston (summarized):-- The children in the mill were almost all apprentices from London parishes. They were worked from five in the morning to eight at night all the year round, with only one hour for the two meals; in making up lost time they frequently worked from five in the morning till ten at night, and invariably they worked from six on the Sunday morning till twelve, in cleaning the machinery for the week! “Did the children sit or stand “Stand.” at work?” “The whole of their time?” “Yes.” “Were there any seats in the “None.” Mill?” “Were they usually much “Yes, some of them fatigued at night?” were very much fatigued.” “Where did they sleep?” “They slept in the apprentice house.” “Did you inspect their beds?” “Yes, every night.” “For what purpose?” “Because there were always some of them missing; some sometimes might be run away. Others sometimes I have found asleep in the mill.” “Upon the mill-floor?” “Yes.” “Did the children frequently lie “I have found them down upon the mill floor at frequently upon night when their work was the mill floor over and fall asleep before after the time their supper?” they should have been in bed” (p. 10). _Mr. Horner’s statements_ in the House of Commons, 6th June, 1815.