The Sun.
London, England, 1864-05-07 00:00:00

church before he took his walk in the country, and was it
not a way of worshipping the great Creator to walk among
His works and admire their beauty ? (Hear, hear.) The
bill would not put an end to drinking—it would force men
to break the law. There would be just as much drunken-
ness as ever, and a great increase of hypocrisy. (Hear.)
The hon, gentleman had quoted the example of Scotland.
Scotland was an ascetic country, with a peculiar flavour for
what was called Sabbath observance, and it was the most
drunken country on face of the earth. (Cheers and laugh-
ter.) A friend of his who had been in Scotland on a visit
had brought back a very good story. He was stopping in
the neighbourhood of a very beautiful waterfall, and when
Sunday came round, there being an interval between kirk
and dinner, he said " I'll go and see your waterfall. " Gude
mon," said his host, " it's the Sabbath." (Laughter.)
" What, thea," replied his friend, " can't I see God's works
on God's day ?" " Oh, no," replied the host ; " yak =um
stay here—you can't break the Sabbath." (Laughter.) And
in deference to his host the gentleman staid indoors and
they sat down to spend the day in tippling. (Loud laughter.)
This was a well-to-do house, where they could drink their
own beer and whisky without having to send out of the
house for it. Did the hon. gentleman believe that he would
make men worship God more completely by compelling them
to abstain from walking abroad ? What he wanted was to
turn this nation into a sour, ascetic, hypocritical people.
(Hear, hear.) The biJl was the same in substance as that
which was introduced last year, and the hon. gentleman wag
honest enough to say that the modifications which he had
introduced were against his will. That was exactly the
principle of the promoters of the bill—they thought a thing
was wrong, but still they did it. (Laughter.) The bill last
year was rejected with ignominy, and to prevent the dissen •
sion and dissatisfaction which were occasioned then ho would
ask the house to mark its sense of it by refusing leave to
introduce it. (Hear, hear•)

Mr, CLAY said, that 1111 several important modifications
had been made in the bill in deference to the opinions ex-
pressed in that house last year, his hon. friend and colleague
was entitled to be allowed to introduce the bill.
Sir W. JOLLIFFE, while professing the greatest re-
spect for the mover and seconder of the motion, and lament-
ing the inclination to drink which prevailed in this country,
would appeal to the house and the Government not to allow
an agitation to take place such as had been witnessed a few
years ago. (Hear, hear.) The present measure would create
a similar agitation, and it might possibly also end in the
whole of the restrictions in regard to Sunday being entirely
swept away. (Cheers.)

Sir G. GREY said that, in deference to the strong opinion
expressed by large numbers of persons throughout the coun-
try in favour of a measure similar to the present, he had
upon a former occasion voted fcr its introduction, and
he had no occasion to regret having done so, because
a full discussion of the subject was the result. That
bill, however, bad been rejected en the second reading
by a large majority, and he must therefore refuse to
go through such a 'process again. (Loud cheers.) If
.alfr,wed to bs introduced, and the second
fixed for some weeks hence, great agitation
woulthed
bill i
reading
take'
were
were
place, and he was quite sure the bill would be
ultimat",ly rejected. He thought it would be unwise, inex-
PectiP"...t, and unnecessary to discuss the question again.
(.r:heers.)

Mr. HORSFALL censured the tone of the remarks
made by the hon member for Sheffield (Mr. Roebuck), as
unbefitting the dignity of the house.
Mr. PACKE, who rose amid load cries of "Divide,"
opposed the introduction of the bill, vrhich would have the
effect of punishing the innocent for the guilty.
The house divided—
For the motion
Against it
Majority against leave :o intro-
duce the bill
The house adjourned at twenty-five minutes to one
o'clock.