CHIMNEY.—Should a chimney catch fire in London, the occupier of the house is liable to a penalty of 20s., which may be recovered in a court of summary jurisdiction. It is no answer proceedings that he has not been guilty of any neglect ; but he may, in his turn, summarily recover the penalty lie has paid from any person through whose neglect or wilful default the fire has been occasioned. In towns outside London the penalty is only 10s., but is not recoverable if the occupier can show the tire did not in any way arise from carelessness, neglect, or omission, on his own part or of his servant. Chimneys should not be cleaned by setting fire to the soot therein ; for if the chimney should catch fire therefrom, the person who lights the fire or causes it to be lighted will be liable to a penalty of is a person whose trade it is to cleanse foul chimneys from soot. In order to lawfully carry on his business, but only if employing an assistant or an apprentice, he must obtain from the police authorities, at the station nearest his residence, a certificate authorising him so 'to do. The certificate is renewable annually, and may be used for districts other than that for which it was originally granted, upon being indorsed by the police of the other districts. The certificate is only issued upon payment of a fee of 2s. 6d., is not capable of being assigned, must be produced on demand, and may be taken away by a magistrate upon conviction of the chimney , sweeper of any offence created by the statutes which regulate his business. For
,a chimney-sweeper to knock at houses from door to door, ring a bell, use a :noisy instrument, or ring the door bell of a house to ask for custom to the annoyance of any inhabitant thereof, is to incur a penalty of 2Os. He must give his name and address, if demanded, to any person for whom he acts, or may offer to act, as a chimney-sweeper ; so must he to any constable or magistrate, Until 1840 the actual sweepers were generally boys of very tender age, who were taught to climb the flues, and who, from the cruelties often practised upon them by their masters, were for half a century before that date the objects of particular care by the legislature. But an Act of 1840 is the one which dealt most practically with the evil, and this Act, together with three later ones, now regulates the business. We have already dealt with so much of those regulations as affect the masters, it is now the turn of the servants. No child under the age of sixteen years may be bound an apprentice to a chimney-sweep,- any indenture in defiance of the law is void. Any person who compels, or knowingly allows, any young person under the age of twenty one to ascend or descend a chimney is liable to a penalty of £10. Nor, under the same penalty, may a child under ten be employed in any work connected with the trade, except at the master's house or place of business ; nor may the master bring a young person under sixteen, in his employment or under his control, to a place where he is going to sweep a chimney or clear a flue.