Evidence of James Pattison ©
'Report of Minutes of Evidence respecting the state of health and morals of children employed in manufactories: chiefly as to cotton
factories', Parliamentary Papers 1816.
What is the state of health of the children and persons employed in your manufactory?--I may say, from my own experience of nearly
forty years, unexceptionally good; there has never been a contagious disorder in the mill since I have known it, and there has been
none in the town since the year 1754 ...
Could the children be conveniently taught within the mills daily?--That is a point which, not having tried it, it might be difficult for me
to answer; but as I understand it has been tried in other mills, I may venture to say, that from what I have learned of the practice of
those other mills, it would be productive of very great inconvenience.
Could any system of inspection of the mills be established without inconvenience?--I conceive certainly not; some years ago it was
very much the practice for persons to visit mills of this description from curiosity, but it was found so inconvenient, that those visits
have been declined as much as possible, as the attention of the children was always drawn from their duty by the appearance of any
new faces; and inspectors, for the purpose of seeing all is right, it is conceived by those who are the best judges of the question,
would very much weaken the authority of the masters over the children. ...
Why do you take the children so young?--The motive of taking the children so young is partly to oblige their parents; in a great degree
to relieve the township; and also, because at that early age their fingers are more supple, and they are more easily led into the habit of
performing the duties of their situation. ...
Are the Committee to understand, that children of six or seven years of age are employed ten hours and a half?--Yes.
Have you ever observed any inconvenience to the health of those very young children from being employed so many hours?--I can
only state ... that they enjoy very excellent health ...
Do you not conceive, that a regulation preventing children of six, seven or eight years of age from working more than eight hours a
day, would ultimately increase their strength and promote their growth?--If I had been in the habit of indulging myself in abstract
matters, I might be able to answer the question; but my answer goes only to practical experience of what is the effect; the
comparative state of health they would enjoy in another situation, is an abstract question which I am not competent to answer.
You have never found that the children of six, seven or eight years of age, from being worked ten hours and a half, have sallow
countenances, or inclination to the rickets, or any of those effects which arise from children at an early period of life being
overworked?--I do not reside on the spot myself, but I pay occasional visits, and have always been very much satisfied with the state
of health of the children I have employed ...
Do you conceive that working in the factories is favourable to the morals of young people?--So far favourable to it, if I may venture to
say so, that it keeps them out of mischief; and while they are industriously employed, they are less likely to contract evil habits than if
they are idling their time away.