The Sun.
London, England, 1835-03-26 00:00:00

SUPPLY.
The House having resolved itself into a Committee of Sup-
ply, the following votes were agreed to without comment :-
813,115/. for the half-pay of the officers of the navy and
marines.

523,695/. for widows' pensions.
2'23,6251. for civil pensions and allowances.
The Chairman then reported progress, and obtained leave

to sit again.
SUNDAY OBSERVANCE BILL.
Mr. PO ULTER moved the Order of the Day that the
Sunday Observance Bill be read a second time.
Oa the Speaker proceeding to put the question, several pe-
titions were presented against the measure from market-gar-
deners, fruit-sellers, and others.
Mr. WARBURTON could not see the necessity of this
Bill. Looking at the habits of the people at present, and
comparing them with the past, he did not perceive that they
'were becoming more awl more irreligious, or at all the
ess observant of the Sabbath-day. In viewing the acts
of the Legislature of the country for the last two hundred
years, he incidentally discovered that the people were
fens religiously disposed formerly than they were at pre-
sent. And if Hon. Gentlemen about him would tax their
recollections, he did not doubt but there were many among
them who must remember that thirty or forty years ago Sun-
day evenings were devoted to parties of gaiety. Sunday was
the favourite day, and he bad himself at that period attended
where there were Clergymen present who did not appear to
think it any sin to join in the singing of glees. - He remem-
bered on house in particular that he used to .visit, it was the
house of a very learned physician, who used to devote- that
evening to a conversazione ; he had been often present, in
eernoany with three or four Bishops, and the conversation was
of a grave and discreet kind, and the time was passed in agree-
able amusement. With respect to the present Bill, it had
been asserted that it was different from that of last session. It
was not so far different but it was to prevent keeping open
shop and trading. Now in an Act of Parliament "open shop"
was a loose expression. What was open shop? Wby, leaving
a door open might be construed into open shop, or one shutter
might make it open shop, and indeed he could scarcely see
what would make it' eeping close shop. Besides he theught
that shops where refreshments were sold should be kept
open for the
.benefit of those who sought exercise and
recreation in the fields. He begged tomove by way of amend-
ment that the Bill be read that day six months.
Mr. POTTER understood it had been distinctly stated by
the lion.- Gentleman who introduced the Bill, that it was very
different from the Bill of last year. With a slight exception
be found it the same, and hoped th'at it would meet the fate
of its predecessor. The House would recollect that the former
Bill had been rejected by the House. He quite concurred in
the sentiments of a charge-delivered by the Rev. Dr. Butler
to the clergy of the Archieaconry of Derby, June 26, ISM.
The Hen. Gentleman then read the following extracts from
the charge to which he had referred :—". One or two efforts
hare been made, evidently so uncongenial to the spirit of
• freedom and liberty which belongs to our Constitution, so
hersh in their restrictions, and so unequal in their operation
on the different classes of society, that .we ought, I think,
most heartily to rejoice at their rejection. Furthermore,
the severest prohibitions will not effect the truly religi-
ous observance of the Sabbath, by influencing the heart.
Rather will they tend to bring odium, not only on such
legislation, but on the sacred day itself ; and by turning it
into a day of ascetic gloom instead of religious cheerfulness,
may conduce to harden men's hearts, but not to convert them.
Acts of Parliament may perhaps be so framed as to provide
for the decent external observance of this day ; but what Act
of Parliament can reach the heart? Could all men be com-
pelled by Act of Parliament to attend divine worship on this
day, how little would be done towards making them religious
when their attendance was compulsory ! It is the will that
gives the life and meaning to the act ; and this leads me to
mention what I consider as far more likely to be efficacious in
promoting the proper observance of the Sabbath than a whole
statute-book of Parliamentary enactments—l mean, the
gentle force of persuasion and example. I have watched,
myself, and I have consulted others who have made the
same observation, and who concur with me in think-
ing, that since so general an_eexpression of public
opinion has bean elicited respecting the desecration, of
the Sabbath, the good feeling of the people has sympathized
with it ; and that, although there may be some places where
the evil is not yet remedied, this holy day has been generally
obse'rvecl of late with much more solemnity and propriety than
heretofore. A point which seems to have been overlooked by
some legislators on more than one occasion, is the very wide
difference between a metropolitan and country population.
In large towns, and especially in the metropolis, excesses will
prevail which are unknown in more thinly inhabited dis-
tricts. Again, they who have been confined in the close and
heated air of manufactories and shops, in narrow streets, and
crowded and ill-ventilated apartments, for six days continually,
naturally wish to breathe a freer and purer air, and to enjoy

a refreshing relaxation on the seventh. To debar these froria
their usual and only gratification, that actual rest from their
labours, and, I may add, that moral enjoyment which they
can only receive on this day, would be as oppressive as it for-
tunately is impossible." He hoped the sentiments contained
in the extracts he had read, would have due effect on those
who were so anxious to coerce the people, to observe the Sab-
bath—they were highly honourable to a Gentleman, not less
celebrated for his liberal and enlightened opinions, than for
his classical attainments. They so much more effectually
treated the subject than he was able to do, that he should con-
tent himself by seconding the motion of his Honourable Friend
the Member for Bridport.
Sir S. WHALLEY gave his support to the Bill, on the
ground of its protecting the poor, and adding to their conve-
nience and comfort on the Sabbath day. He thought that the
higher classes should abstain from desecrating the Sabbath,
that Cabinet Ministers should cease to give Cabinet dinners,
and that the flux of carriages to the Zoological Gardens should
be no longer observable.—( Laughter.)
Mr. POULTER said, since the second reading of the Bill
of last session he had received a letter from the worthy Arch-
deacon D'Oyley, of Lambeth, stating that there was more
trade carried on in that parish on a Sunday than on any other
day, and he trusted that the House would not assist in main-
taining such a state of things. With regard to the argument
used as to what was open shop he presumed that it would be
interpreted by the law according to the quo animo. It would
not be considered an open shop because there was an open
shutter, but according to whether or no there was an intent
to trade.
Mr. HA WE S objected to the Bill going into Committee.
Sir R. BATE SON felt it as a duty to a large constituency
who were anxious for the passing some law on the subject, to
give his support to this measure. He was not to be daunted
by the sneers or taunts of those who advocated the necessity of
free trade.
Mr. L ENNARD said the Bill expressly revived the statute
of Charles 11. And the statute of George IL, which inter-
cepted the healthy amusement of boating from its other inter-
dictions, would also be repealed by it, and thus that delightful
recreation would be forbidden.
Mr. W. ORD had an objection on principle to the Bill be-
fore the Ilouse. It was founded on exceptions. No Bill could
proceed upon such a principle.
Mr. G. F. YOUNG said the opposition to the Bill was of
the most pertinacious character. He could scarcely refrain
from perceiving that those who opposed it seemed determined
to break down all distinction between the Sabbath and the
week day. He trusted that the House would never consent
to such an encroachment, for if they did the poor man alone
would be injured by it. At present the labourer worked six
days in the week, and rested on the seventh. The object of
the Bill of the Hon. Member for Shaftesbury went to affiim
that regulation, and enforce it. If the principle which the op-
posers of the measure advocated, the entire freedom of Sunday
trading, were once admitted by the Legislature, the poor man
would be compelled to work the remaining day, the Sabbath,
and he would get no additional wages.
Mr. EWART, as far as he could judge of the temper of
the House and the inclination of the country, he never knew an
opposition to any measure to be so extended, so uniform, so
temperate, and at the same time so determined. The measure
was radically defective, for it gave exclusive privilege to a cer-
tain class, while it took away privilege from another. It was
consequently most unfair. It proposed to enforce the obser-
vance of the Sabbath, and yet it left servants, and others of that
condition, under the controul of their masters, and compellable
to work. He should therefore oppose it. -
Mr. GOULBURN had on more than one occasion given
his support to measures which bad for their object the preser-
vation of the sanctity of the Sabbath, so that he thought he
needed do no more than repeat his conviction that some addi-
tional means of effecting that desirable object to those already
in existence were required.—( Hear.) He had not, hotvever,
supported some Bills which purported to have the same gene-
ral object in view as the present measure, because he believed
they went beyond those limits where legislative interference
should stop short. The Bill of the Hon. Member for Shaftes-
3eary was not open to this objection; it went to the exact limits
which it ought to stop at, and went no further. It prevented
only the obvious and publicly offensive desecrations of the Sab-
bath, and did not interfere with those harmless enjoyments of
the poorer classes, embraced by the other measures to which
he had alluded. The Hon. Member for Liverpool had said
that the Bill took away the privilege of a certain class, and
instanced servants in sup port of his arguments, that Sunday
trading should not. be interfered with. But the argument
of the Hon. Member to be of avail, should be extended
farther; and if it were extended farther on the principle
sought to •be established, the theatres might be opened on
the Sabbath.—( Hear. )
Mr. EWART said that there was a special Act against
opening the theatres on Sundays.
Mr. GOULBURN admitted that there was, but lie also
begged to remind the Hon. Member that there existed a spe-
cial Act against all desecration of the Sabbath. That Act,
however, was found so foreign to the present state of society in
this empire that it was permitted to remain obselete. Another
lion. Member had said that he should ratber the observance
of the Sabbath was left to the feelings of the people than to
the interference of the Legislature. He (Mr. Goulbura) did
not desire to compel the consciences of others, but the abuse
was one which calla for redress. It should be borne in
mind also, that the continuance of the desecration of the Sab-
bath hurt the feelings and offended the consciences of the re-
ligiously-disposed portion of the community ; and he thought
the House had a distinct right to attend to their feelings as
much as to these of any other class. With respect to the ob-
servance of the Sabbath, he could say for himself that he en-
tertained no austere feelings or impracticable opinions. He
would not wish to debar the poor man from those innocent
recreations on that day which did not desecrate its sanctity,
while they invigorated his frame against the ensuing week of
labour, and made him look up with more gratitude to the
Great Author of our being—the source of all happiness. He
hoped due regard would be had to th e feelings ppiness• the people