Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-07-22

occlesisstic habit; again proceeding on hs visitation
throughout the country, escorted e. nccoutred
Prclats evor was since the days of Wosey: and
descending from his Cathedral to lecture tho W.
habitants of The metropolis, IN pamphlet, on their
neglect of tho Lords Day. Not that should oh
cct To the jealous Bishop Gliding, proper temper
te, aud place. the nattention of his flock to the re-
lgious duties of the Sabbath Had he Kept his
function, and sermonized TIL doonsday. his honcs
should have pissed unnotced but this pamphlet Is
n production Of such character as challenges AMI
madvcrsion In style. To be sure' Il Is very ptul
performance, showing that with oil MS Gfeck erudi-
ton aud Parliamentary eloquencc, the Bishop would
be- much the better for little OF that instructio in
the propr ietes Of language and grammar, which his
peiphbor, Mr.. Cobbett affords with so much good.
VII to Lords lay and prcatic; and for first lesson,
we would suggest to our friend Of the Register the
second page OF the pamphlet, where ono pronoun
may be found referring to three different auecedents
in the space Of many lines But these things arc
not very important and, upon the whole, the Bishop
Is sufficiently inellgbe, although not very consist
ent or rational The great evil OF which he COM
plains IS the present employment OF the Sunday,
which he would have set apart for religious worship
and rest" and in the strict observance of which, IN
such manner, he insists upon absolutely Essential
TO keep alive tho sense OF religion in any people,"
(p 81 and as "the grand buwark Of Christianity
Up 90 What then IS to be said Of the condition of
Christianity in every other part OF civilized Europe
fScotland excepted) where, in Lutheran and Calvin
istc, well Catholic States. Sunday Is universally
celebrated Q festival. and where leisure and nno-
cent qualifications not so strangely and unnatu
rally separated sas in Great Britain? Can il be
gravely asserted that there Is religion at Frank
fort, Bernc. and Geneva. because the Sunday eve
nngs are not observed in these places in the same
way here? The Bishop is, however, no advocate
for "Pharsaical observance Of the Christian Sab
bath; would he interfere with those quie
lions which individuals may think fit TO allow them
Selves. Now the question is what he really means9
Would he prevent Sunday dinners-the speakers for
example; or TO what extent would he permit thein?-
Is it reasonable possible to define the limits; and if
NOT Ia moi NOR IN dpcla i'm anotn
We observe that there is special saving for the
squires dinner to the parson or as It Is quantity
pressed, "the ancient and accustomed hospitality of
entertaining those who attend Divine service IA their
official capacity" (page 25.) But the most objection
able part of the pamphlet is spirit of hostility
the enjoymcnts Of the lower ORDERS he short stages,
the steam vessels, aud barges which enable the
citizen Ito gulp his weekly air." give Dr.. Bloom
field infinite scandal. And this Christian Bishop
writing from his pleasant villa at Fulham, sur
rounded by all the means and appliances to health and
comfort. is greved to relate that the steam packets
up the Thames to Richmond, and downwards to Mar
gate and the More, are crowded with gailv dressed
Sabbath breakers, and that in the month of August
last 5000 persons avacd themselves Of this convent
ence, nnd that than 500 boats have been known
to pass under Putney Bridge on a fine SUNDAY 10.
49, What enormites For our poor part, but with
all deerence to the Bishops superior discernment
these matters, much doubt whether Sabbath
passed in that melancholy incidence" which he re-
commends, and relieved only by homily from his
lordship, though The best he conned likely to
leave the mind OF Woodworking tradesman a bet
ter state, To inspire more lively sentiments of piety
and hankfulness to the great and bountfu Giver of
all things than the inward satisfaction which such
man may be supposed TO experience in seeing his
wife and children go forth gay and trinity dressed in
heir Sunday clothes, to inhale the pure, sweet air of
the country and 10 taste the little feast with which
he may be able to regale them. L. is all very veil
for the Bishop to desire people to take their pleasures
some other day, but what answer has he for those
whose condition condemns them to unrcmttina toll
throughout the week. In the same way may be met
all he urges against the shops open Sunday, for
the poor to purchase their Sunday provisions. They
must buy when and they can after receiving their
wages on the Sunday evening The exigencies OF
social state will not allow OF that strict and in
dex BILE rule which DR. Bloomfield insists upon; and the
absurdity to " hch such notions tend might surely
have struck less intelligent mind, when the Difficult
ty presented itself with which he sorely graveed
in respect of the Sunday newspapers, they being
printed on the Saturday, but sold on the Sunday
while the Monday papers are necessarily got up on
the Sunday, to be ready for sale the Monday. So
much for the doctrine of the pamphlet In page II.
however, we find passage. which, if doubtful in its
import, may be abundanty illustrated by reference
others of kindred spirit Dr. Bloomfield says
1T is surely act of kindness to the ungody, as
undoubtedly it is to those who might be perverted
by their example, to restrain them If possible, by
advice and exhortation but, if need be, by autho-
rity, from lnficting pubic injury upon the cause
Of pety and virtue" In at least twenty other places
the same ominous word ".4mhority' recurs, 1t
is needless to observe that the principle stated in
Church of Rome established the Inquisiion, and
other similar institution The Bishop would not
leave il TO a to determine for himself whether to
take the air upon Sunday. He would restrain men
TO their dwellings, after the hours Of service and
whip them into Church at the tolng of the bell.
Here is precious proposal for the nineteenth centu
ry! But II will not do. Bishop Bloomfield has fallen
upon evil days He il Priest worthy of the palmy
times Of Popey; but, alas the reformation has estab
shed the great right of men to look as or the saliva
ton Of their souls, restricting the members of
DR.. Bloomiield's order to the simple supply of the
requisite facilities for private and public devotion, but
not leaving them atom of authority to coerce us
into bcattude, whether will no, to pursue
us into our dwellings,, aud accompany in out
goings, prescribing, according to their
cepions, limits to our recreatlons. and measures to
our festivities.
The gaaring portiaty of the laws on the subject
of the observance of the Sunday has rendered them
nearly dead letter. A little while ago. an al tempt
was made TO interfere with the Greenwich coaches
that entor the city Sunday; but the good of