people as these of their only pleasures； could feel the sinking of
heart and soul； the wasting exhaustion of mind and body； the utter
prostration of present strength and future hope； attendant upon
that incessant toil which lasts from day to day； and from month to
month； that toil which is too often protracted until the silence of
midnight； and resumed with the first stir of morning。 How
marvellously would his ardent zeal for other men's souls； diminish
after a short probation； and how enlightened and comprehensive
would his views of the real object and meaning of the institution
of the Sabbath become！
The afternoon is far advanced … the parks and public drives are
crowded。 Carriages； gigs； phaetons； stanhopes； and vehicles of
every description； glide smoothly on。 The promenades are filled
with loungers on foot； and the road is thronged with loungers on
horseback。 Persons of every class are crowded together； here； in
one dense mass。 The plebeian； who takes his pleasure on no day but
Sunday； jostles the patrician； who takes his； from year's end to
year's end。 You look in vain for any outward signs of profligacy
or debauchery。 You see nothing before you but a vast number of
people； the denizens of a large and crowded city； in the needful
and rational enjoyment of air and exercise。
It grows dusk。 The roads leading from the different places of
suburban resort； are crowded with people on their return home； and
the sound of merry voices rings through the gradually darkening
fields。 The evening is hot and sultry。 The rich man throws open
the sashes of his spacious dining…room； and quaffs his iced wine in
splendid luxury。 The poor man； who has no room to take his meals
in； but the close apartment to which he and his family have been
confined throughout the week； sits in the tea…garden of some famous
tavern； and drinks his beer in content and comfort。 The fields and
roads are gradually deserted； the crowd once more pour into the
streets； and disperse to their several homes； and by midnight all
is silent and quiet； save where a few stragglers linger beneath the
window of some great man's house； to listen to the strains of music
from within： or stop to gaze upon the splendid carriages which are
waiting to convey the guests from the dinner…party of an Earl。
There is a darker side to this picture； on which； so far from its
being any part of my purpose to conceal it； I wish to lay
particular stress。 In some parts of London； and in many of the
manufacturing towns of England； drunkenness and profligacy in their
most disgusting forms； exhibit in the open streets on Sunday； a sad
and a degrading spectacle。 We need go no farther than St。 Giles's；
or Drury Lane； for sights and scenes of a most repulsive nature。
Women with scarcely the articles of apparel which common decency
requires； with forms bloated by disease； and faces rendered hideous
by habitual drunkenness … men reeling and staggering along …
children in rags and filth … whole streets of squalid and miserable
appearance； whose inhabitants are lounging in the public road；
fighting； screaming； and swearing … these are the common objects
which present themselves in； these are the well…known
characteristics of； that portion of London to which I have just
referred。
And why is it； that all well…disposed persons are shocked； and
public decency scandalised； by such exhibitions？
These people are poor … that is notorious。 It may be said that
they spend in liquor； money with which they might purchase
necessaries； and there is no denying the fact； but let it be
remembered that even if they applied every farthing of their
earnings in the best possible way； they would still be very … very
poor。 Their dwellings are necessarily uncomfortable； and to a
certain degree unhealthy。 Cleanliness might do much； but they are
too crowded together； the streets are too narrow； and the rooms too
small； to admit of their ever being rendered desirable habitations。
They work very hard all the week。 We know that the effect of
prolonged and arduous labour； is to produce； when a period of rest
does arrive； a sensation of lassitude which it requires the
application of some stimulus to overcome。 What stimulus have they？
Sunday comes； and with it a cessation of labour。 How are they to
employ the day； or what inducement have they to employ it； in
recruiting their stock of health？ They see little parties； on
pleasure excursions； passing through the streets； but they cannot
imitate their example； for they have not the means。 They may walk；
to be sure； but it is exactly the inducement to walk that they
require。 If every one of these men knew； that by taking the
trouble to walk two or three miles he would be enabled to share in
a good game of cricket； or some athletic sport； I very much
question whether any of them would remain at home。
But you hold out no inducement； you offer no relief from
listlessness； you provide nothing to amuse his mind； you afford him
no means of exercising his body。 Unwashed and unshaven； he
saunters moodily about； weary and dejected。 In lieu of the
wholesome stimulus he might derive from nature； you drive him to
the pernicious excitement to be gained from art。 He flies to the
gin…shop as his only resource； and when； reduced to a worse level
than the lowest brute in the scale of creation； he lies wallowing
in the kennel； your saintly lawgivers lift up their hands to
heaven； and exclaim for a law which shall convert the day intended
for rest and cheerfulness； into one of universal gloom； bigotry；
and persecution。
CHAPTER II … AS SABBATH BILLS WOULD MAKE IT
The provisions of the bill introduced into the House of Commons by
Sir Andrew Agnew； and thrown out by that House on the motion for
the second reading； on the 18th of May in the present year； by a
majority of 32； may very fairly be taken as a test of the length to
which the fanatics； of which the honourable Baronet is the
distinguished leader； are prepared to go。 No test can be fairer；
because while on the one hand this measure may be supposed to
exhibit all that improvement which mature reflection and long
deliberation may have suggested； so on the other it may very
reasonably be inferred； that if it be quite as severe in its
provisions； and to the full as partial in its operation； as those
which have preceded it and experienced a similar fate； the disease
under which the honourable Baronet and his friends labour； is
perfectly hopeless； and beyond the reach of cure。
The proposed enactments of the bill are briefly these：… All work is
prohibited on the Lord's day； under heavy penalties； increasing
with every repetition of the offence。 There are penalties for
keeping shops open … penalties for drunkenness … penalties for
keeping open houses of entertainment … penalties for being present
at any public meeting or assembly … penalties for letting
carriages； and penalties for hiring them … penalties for travelling
in steam…boats； and penalties for taking passengers … penalties on
vessels commencing their voyage on Sunday … penalties on the owners
of cattle who suffer them to be driven on the Lord's day …
penalties on constables who refuse to act； and penalties for
resisting them when they do。 In addition to these trifles； the
constables are invested with arbitrary； vexatious； and most
extensive powers； and all this in a bill which sets out with a
hypocritical and canting declaration that 'nothing is more
acceptable to God than the TRUE AND SINCERE worship of Him
according to His holy will； and that it is the bounden duty of
Parliament to promote the observance of the Lord's day； by
protecting every class of society against being required to
sacrifice their comfort； health； religious privileges； and
conscience； for the convenience； enjoyment； or supposed advantage
of any other class on the Lord's day'！ The idea of making a man
truly moral through the ministry of constables； and sincerely
religious under the influence of penalties； is worthy of the mind
which could form such a mass of monstrous absurdity as this bill is
composed of。
The House of Commons threw the measure out certainly； and by so
doing retrieved the disgrace … so far as it could be retrieved … of
placing among the printed papers of Parliament； such an egregious
specimen of legislative folly； but there was a degree of delicacy
and forbearance about the debate that took place； which I cannot
help thinking as unnecessary and uncalled for； as it is unusual in
Parliamentary discussions。 If it had been the first time of Sir
Andrew Agnew's attempting to palm such a measure upon the country；
we might well understand； and duly appreciate； the delicate and
compassionate feeling due to the supposed weakness and imbecility
of the man； which prevented his proposition being exposed in its
true colours； and induced this Hon。 Member to bear testimony to his
excellent motives； and that Noble Lord to regret that he could not
… although he had tried to do so … adopt any portion of the bill。
But when these attempts have been repeated； again and again； when
Sir Andrew Agnew has renewed them session after session； and when
it has become palpably evident to the whole House that
His impudence of proof in every trial；
Kens no polite； and heeds no plain denial …
it really becomes high time to speak of him and his legislation； as
they appear to deserve； without that gloss of politeness； which is
all very well in an ordinary case； but rather out of place when the
liberties and comforts of a whole people are at stake。
In the first place； it is by no means the worst characteristic of
this bill； that it is a bill of blunders： it is； from beginning to
end； a piece of deliberate cruelty； and crafty injustice。 If the
rich composed the whole population of this country； not a sin