THE COMBINATION LAWS

733

The measure seems to have been rushed through the House A.D. 1776
of Commons under the influence of panic; its earlier stages 1850.
were taken on three successive nights. There were no
petitions in its favour and there is no report of any debate in
Hansard; it was not introduced because of pressure from the
outside, but it was hurried on by Government. The Bill was
not accepted so readily when it was introduced into the and despite
House of Lords. The London artisans had come to hear of es its
the proposal which was being pushed on so fast, and the Calico "V***
Printers petitioned the Lords against it. Counsel was heard
on their behalf, and the opponents of the scheme thought it
worth while to divide the House, though the Government
carried the day. But the matter did not rest here, as there
were numerous petitions from all parts of the country pointing
 at the injustice of the Act and demanding its repeal’
The matter came up for re-consideration in the next
session; but whatever may have been the original motives
for introducing the Bill, there were, in the then temper of
the legislature, valid economic grounds for maintaining the
measure. Parliament had honestly considered the practicability
 of fixing a minimum rate of wages, and had come to
the deliberate conclusion that any attempt to do so would
be futile so far as the labourers were concerned, and would

Trade Societies criminal. ‘At the same period seditions emissaries were first
detected endeavouring to excite insurrection among the manufacturers of different
parts of Lancashire. This was to be done by associating as many as possible
under the sanction of an oath, nearly similar to that adopted in London and
which, with an account of the secret sign which accompanied it, has been transmitted
 from various quarters to Government and laid before your Committee;
dangerous meetings were disguised, a8 in London, under the appearance of
Friendly Societies, for the relief of Sick Members.” Second Report from Committee
 of Secrecy relative to State of Ireland. Reports, reprints, 1801. First
series, X. 831.
1 17, 18, 19 June, 1799. Commons Journals, LIV. pp. 653, 662, 666.
2 Commons Journals, Lv. 645. The London petition runs thus: That during
the last session, an Act was passed to prevent unlawful Combination of Workmen,
...and that the said Act by the Use of such uncertain Terms, and others of the
same Nature, bas created new Crimes of boundless Extent, to which are affixed
Fines, Forfeiture and Imprisonment,...and that in many Parts of the said Act, the
Taw is materially changed to the great Injury of all Journeymen and Workmen;
and that, if it be not repealed it will hereafter be dangerous for the Petitioners to
converse with one another, or even with their own Families; and that its immediate
 Tendency is to excite Distrust and Jealousy between their Masters and
them, and to destroy the Trades and Manufactures it purports to protect.”