Autograph Letter Signed “Selborne” concerning the Eight Hours Bill for Miners – 30 Portland Place, W. – 2 April 1892

Autograph letter signed, three pages. 17.7 × 11.3 cm.

A substantial and historically interesting political letter from Roundell Palmer, 1st Earl of Selborne, former Lord Chancellor, discussing one of the most important labour questions of late Victorian Britain: the proposed Eight Hours Bill for miners.

Writing from 30 Portland Place, Selborne responds to a request for his views on the measure and sets out a considered argument against statutory limitation of working hours. While disclaiming any special expertise in mining, he argues that compulsory restriction of working time would operate unfairly upon miners who were willing and able to work longer hours and who were remunerated by piecework.

Selborne writes:

“such legislation must operate as a great hardship to all those miners who are able and willing to work for more than eight hours a day without injury to their health…”

He further contends that such legislation would reduce earnings, interfere with individual liberty, and impose a uniform rule upon workers whose circumstances varied considerably. Particularly revealing is his scepticism regarding organised pressure in favour of the measure, observing that he had seen no convincing evidence to justify the proposal and questioning the judgment of those advocating it.

The most striking passage is autobiographical. Drawing upon his own experience, Selborne remarks:

“I myself, in former years, worked hard, in a sufficiently laborious occupation, for very much more than eight hours a day; and I should have resented it as a great injustice, if a law had been made to prevent me from doing so.”

The letter therefore combines political commentary with a revealing personal reflection on work, liberty and state intervention from one of the foremost legal and constitutional figures of Victorian Britain.

Selborne also refers to the division of opinion among miners themselves, citing the respected miners’ leader and Liberal Member of Parliament Thomas Burt as evidence that opposition to compulsory restriction of hours was not confined to employers or politicians.

The Eight Hours movement was among the defining labour controversies of the late nineteenth century, touching questions of industrial welfare, trade unionism, personal liberty and the proper limits of state intervention. The present letter offers a concise but thoughtful contribution to that debate from a former Lord Chancellor whose views carried considerable authority in public life.

Roundell Palmer served as Solicitor-General, Attorney-General and twice as Lord Chancellor before being created Earl of Selborne in 1882. He was widely regarded as one of the leading legal and political minds of Victorian Britain.

Apparently unrecorded.

Condition: Folded as sent, with light creasing, minor toning and handling wear. Very good condition overall.

A substantial political letter on Victorian labour reform, notable for its discussion of the Eight Hours Bill and for Selborne’s personal reflections on work, liberty and legislative intervention.

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