This, as may be supposed, led to the discharge of the then existing chimney-sweeper, and the appointment of your Agent.
Your Committee has great pleasure in stating, that the same Agent is now employed at the Phœnix Fire-office, which is considered very important.
Repeated attempts had been made to gain this point, and the success in this house neutralizes, in a great measure, the mischievous evidence before the Lords’ Committee, which was given by the Manager of that establishment. And your Committee has much satisfaction in stating, that the machine was regularly employed in this Fire-office, for some months before the lamented death of the gentleman alluded to.
The following Fire-offices have promised to employ your different Agents, in addition to those who have already certified to the efficiency of the machine:—
Phœnix Fire-office,—Jenkin Jones, Esq., deceased.
West of England Fire-office,—Jas. Anderton, Esq.
York and North of England Fire-office,—Edmund Barlow, Esq.
The Licensed Victuallers Fire-office,—J. T. Clement, Esq.
The Scottish Union Fire-office,—F. G. Smith, Esq.
Leaving “The Sun” as the only Fire-office in the city of London which resists the light, and the only Fire-office which turns a deaf ear to the cries of misery; and verily it is a proud and enviable distinction.
Some years ago your machine was introduced into the Middlesex Hospital, and your Committee has heard, within these few weeks, that the Secretary of the Institution caused a quiet experiment to be made in that house, after the Board had ordered the adoption of the machine. It was so managed, that neither your Agent nor the old chimney-sweeper knew that the two systems were to be compared, and it is stated by the Secretary, that the chimneys were found so clean, that the boys were literally unable to bring down any soot, after Day, another of the Society’s Agents, had swept with the machine.
Those who keep in mind the proceedings of the Society, will recollect that a similar experiment was ordered publicly at St. George’s Hospital, in 1830, the triumphant success of which, determined that Board of Governors also to employ one of your Agents.
This has of course been a constant mortification to Bentley, the chimney-sweeper, who lost the work, and many stratagems have been resorted to, to recover it again; and on the 15th of February last, he induced an influential member of the Board to bring the subject forward; when the following division took place among the Governors;
| For reinstating Bentley and his boys, with the clear understanding that the machine is to be used when practicable | 8 |
| For Shepherd, your Agent, who had swept every chimney in the house for years, without the help of boys | 7 |