Page images
PDF
EPUB

general effects to be anticipated from the | visited, it would be wholly unfit for use measure. Without further entering more on the following morning. The Bill then particularly into the details of the Bill he sought to introduce, he should be happy to hear any suggestions that might occur to hon. Members, but should reserve any further observations until some expression of sentiment on the subject should be afforded to the House. The hon. Baronet concluded by moving for leave to bring in the Bill.

went on to declare as nuisances public lecturing, debating, or news-rooms; and next, that no vehicle should commence a journey on Sunday. These were all interferences with the rational amusements of the people, and the latter proviso would prevent the closely-confined and industrious shopkeeper of this and other cities from the enjoyment of the fresh airs of Greenwich, Richmond, Windsor, and other similar vicinities. By such an interference, the public health would suffer, and

Mr. John P. B. Chichester seconded the Motion, but he would not pledge himself to the support of the Bill, if its provisions were at all similar to those of the Bill in-serious consequences would inevitably foltroduced by the hon. Baronet last year, though, in promoting a measure for the better observance of the Sabbath, he was acting in accordance with the wishes of all his constituents.

would be productive of a contrary effect; and he should, by his negative on the present occasion, oppose the introduction again of such a Bill into the House.

Lord Morpeth hoped the hon. Baronet, the member for Wigton, would, in the event of the House acceding to his Motion, evince more pliability of materials, and a more distinct regard to his prospects of success, than had been exhibited in the Bill brought forward during the last Session of Parliament. He (Lord Morpeth) only acted in accordance with his own feelings, and those of a great body of his constituents, when, by his vote, he afforded the hon. Baronet an opportunity of introducing a Bill which should give to the labourer of this country that relaxation which God and man intended for him. To this point he limited his support of the Motion until he was made fully acquainted with the provisions of the measure.

low. He deplored the interference with the innocent recreations of the people five or six years ago, by putting down several of the fairs in the Metropolitan districts, and he was of opinion, that a Bill, such Mr. Potter hoped, that the hon. Ba-as had been proposed by the hon. Baronet ronet, the member for Wigton, in asking last year, so far from promoting the adfor leave to bring in a Bill upon this sub-vancement and best interests of religion, ject, did not wish the House to suppose that his present measure was anything like that which had been introduced last year. On a former occasion, the hon. Baronet had made no declaration to the House as to the provisions of the Bill, neither had he, in the present instance; and, therefore, he (Mr. Potter) had a right to assume, that no security was afforded that a similar measure would not be again brought forward. He held in his hand the Bill which had last year been submitted to the Legislature by the hon. Baronet, the very first clause of which would, by closing bakers' shops, lead, in a great many districts, to a still greater desecration of the Sabbath than at present. The former Bill also went to forbid buying or selling any commodity on a Sunday; now, he (Mr. Potter) was prepared to contend, that such traffic could not entirely be put down. At the time the Bill introduced last Session by the hon. Baronet was under discussion, he Colonel Wood said, there were several had made a point of visiting, on Sunday objectionable details in the hon. Baronet's mornings, various parts of the City, and Bill of last year; but, at the same time, had ascertained that it was utterly impos- he must say, that it was the general wish sible for many respectable classes other- of the middling and upper classes of sowise to purchase the meat necessary for ciety that some legislative measure should the consumption of themselves and their be adopted by the House to ensure the families, if they would have their food fit better observance of the Sabbath. He was for that day's use. In some instances, he aware it was a difficult thing to legislate had followed the poor purchasers to their on such a subject. His own impression rooms, and he was the more satisfied that, was, that a great deal more might be done if any meat was exposed from one day to by example on the part of the hon. Memthe next to such a tainted atmosphere as bers of that House, than by any Act of pervaded many of the apartments he had I Parliament they could pass on the sub

hon. Members, was the cause of those Sabbath morning markets? It arose from the circumstance of the masters of working people paying them their wages at so late an hour on the Saturday night as to render it impossible for them to purchase the articles they required until the following morning. He thought something ought to be done to get this arrangement altered. It appeared to him that another

ject. He would, however, vote for the introduction of the Bill; and if the House were pleased to allow it to be read a first and second time, he thought the best course for the hon. Baronet would be to refer it to a Committee up-stairs, when they would be able to ascertain how the Sabbath was spent, and what parts of the Bill might admit of beneficial alteration. He would be the last man in that House to interfere unnecessarily with the amuse-day than Saturday ought to be appointed ments of the people-they needed amusements and recreations-but, at the same time, it was necessary to prevent the profanation of the Sabbath.

for masters paying their workmen their wages. In several large towns in the country, masters had come to an understanding among themselves, to depart from Sir Robert Inglis could not but think, the practice of paying their workmen on that though the hon. Baronet, the member Saturdays, and the change had been for Wigton, had stated that the Bill he attended with the best effects. He thought now sought to introduce was very much it his duty to say thus much, as it was the same as that brought forward last Ses-only by such means as he had referred to, sion; it was not regular for the hon. mem-that relief could be afforded.

sent Motion, though, if the Bill, when introduced, should be found at all like that of last Session, it would meet with his most decided opposition. He concurred in the sentiment, that wages should be paid earlier in the week than Saturday, and he would suggest the propriety of some provision being introduced into the Bill against those payments being made in public-houses.

ber for Wigan to prejudice the House Colonel Evans would support the preagainst the measure by entering into a discussion of the details of the Bill already disposed of. With regard to the statement urged by the hon. member for Wigan as to Sunday baking, he must remind the hon. Member, that upwards of 7,000 journeymen bakers of the city of London had, by their petition, sought the protection of the House from Sunday trading. That protection they had a right to claim; but, as to the other points em- Mr. Lennard said, that in most of the braced by the proposed Bill-namely, the agricultural districts, the farmer had to innocent recreations and amusements of depend upon the produce of the sale of his the people he thought, with the hon. and goods in the Saturday markets for the gallant Member opposite (Colonel Wood), payment of the wages of his labourers; that more could be done by example than so that any alteration in this respect would legislation. If the proposed Bill were, in be so far disadvantageous. There were substance, anything like that introduced many practical points to which the hon. last year, it would only give force to enact-Baronet who had brought forward the ments now in existence, though practically present Motion might turn his attention; inoperative; but when he remembered, but, if he attempted to bring in a Bill at that the number of petitioners praying for all like that of last year, he was satisfied some legislation upon this subject amounted that it could not, by any possibility, be to not less than 277,000, he should give carried. his support to the present Motion.

Mr. Littleton, without wishing to be understood as approving of the details of the Bill, would vote for its admission, as he conceived the law, as it at present existed for the observance of the Sabbath, required alteration. He admitted, that the example of hon. Members and others would, in such a case, have greater force than legislation. One of the greatest instances of Sabbath profanation was the markets held in so many places on the morning of that day. What, he would ask

Mr. Warburton said, that, since the hon. Baronet had not thought fit to give any explanation of the provisions of the Bill he now asked the permission of the House to bring in, the hon. member for Wigan was, perhaps, justified in dealing as he had done with the Bill of last year. He, however, hoped the hon. member for Wigan would not divide the House at the present stage, but would allow the hon. Baronet to try his hand a second time. For one, he (Mr. Warburton) should not oppose him.

formed of some of the details of the proposed measure, before it should consent to the Motion for leave to bring in the Bill.

Mr. Hardy reminded the hon. Member who had just sat down, that the second reading of the Bill of last Session was only lost by a majority of six, in a House

at a late hour of the night, and an advanced period of the Session. That circumstance was alone amply sufficient to justify the hon. Baronet in persevering with the Bill, which he (Mr. Hardy) hoped would secure full protection to the journeymen bakers of London and every other class of artizans in the country. He should give his support to the Motion.

Mr. Robinson had no objection to the introduction of the Bill, which, if it could be shown to be at all calculated to advance the interests of religion, should have his support. He should, however, watch closely that its provisions were impartial in their application to all classes of the community, and that they did not inter-consisting of 160 Members, and that, too, fere with the innocent enjoyments of the labouring portion of his Majesty's subjects. Mr. Roebuck could not think there existed any necessity for legislation on this subject, when it could not be denied that the observance of the Sabbath was now much more decorous than at any former period. If they were now to legislate on this subject, he would ask the hon. Baronet to take care how he applied his legisla tion. Let the hon. Baronet take care to legislate impartially-to commence with the pastimes of the rich, and not with those of the poor man. Let him not stop the stage coach, which was the poor man's vehicle, and pass the travelling carriage of the rich man let him, instead of stopping the omnibus, interfere with the chariot; rather than stop the steam-boats, let him lay an embargo on the pleasure-yacht, and stop the private parties of the wealthy; and instead of preventing the labourer enjoying the recreation of the open fields in the vicinity of the metropolis, let him stop up Hyde-park. If the Bill were impartial, and meant any thing, it meant this. The 500 half-choked citizens, who embarked upon a steam-boat in the river Thames, were not guilty, by 10,000 degrees, of so great a desecration of the Sabbath, as he (Mr. Roebuck) had witnessed in one day in Hyde-park. He hoped the Bill would enforce strict regulations with reference to the rich, and, if so, it should have his support.

Mr. Pease was the last man who could ever be induced to think that a country could be made religious by an Act of Parliament; but he had received such communications from almost every town in the county with which he was connected on this subject, that he should consider it his duty to give his best assistance towards getting the proposed Bill into Committee, where he should hope to get rid of those imperfections which the Bill of last year (and he was bound to believe the present Bill) contained, and to lead by such amendments as might appear desirable to the promotion of good order, morality, and religion, in this country. But he thought, that his hon. friend was not bound to show that this particular Bill would produce all the results hoped for. He should vote for the introduction of the Bill, reserving to himself the liberty of proposing any alterations he might think necessary when it was in Committee.

Mr. Hudson said, the hon. Baronet opposite was called on to state whether the Bill which he had then brought before the Mr. Richards said, the numerous peti- House was the same as, or different from, tions which had been presented during that of last Session; and it was contended the last and present Session, manifested a that he was bound to show that before the strong feeling in the public mind in favour House could accede to his Motion. But of some legislation on this subject, and the the hon. Baronet was not called on to enter Motion should, therefore, have his support. at large into the nature and provisions of Mr. Aglionby said, that, from all he the Bill in that stage. The real question had yet heard, there was no difference be- before the House was, whether it was detween the Bill of last year and that which sirable at all to bring in a Bill for the Betwas now sought to be introduced. He ter Observance of the Sabbath. He thought thought that, as the question had been it was. He would venture to say, that no disposed of last Session, it was too much Member would vote against the introducagain to ask the House to deliberate upon tion of such a Bill, if he was not prepared the same measure upon which the hon. to show that it was unnecessary. He Baronet had already failed. The House would vote for bringing in the Bill, but was, at least, entitled to have been in- I would reserve to himself the privilege of

voting against any of its provisions that he considered objectionable.

Mr. Fowell Buxton hoped that the hon. Gentleman opposite was not serious in his opposition to the introduction of this Bill. There was a strong and general feeling abroad, that some improvement in the observance of the Sabbath was necessary, and if the public voice were to be regarded, the House would show, that they thought there was some room for improvement, and some necessity for legislation. In the metropolis, there were some abuses which ought to be put down, and some attention ought to be paid to the prayers of the large and respectable portion of their constituents who had addressed the House in favour of some such measure. Hon. Members had said, and, in this particular, he fully concurred with them,-that they would set their faces against any partial legislation on this subject. But no partiality in favour of the rich against the poor was, he was sure, intended by the provisions of this Bill; and if there were any class of persons interested in the Bill, the poorer orders were the individuals, for some such enactment was peculiarly and emphatically necessary for the labouring population.

Leave was given, and the Bill was brought in; as was also a Bill to amend and explain the Act relative to the Observance of the Sabbath-day in Scotland.

FAIRS AND MARKETS.] Sir Andrew Agnew moved for leave to bring in a Bill to enable Local Authorities to change Saturday and Monday Fairs and Markets to other days.

really suggest to the hon. Baronet that he was rather premature in thus bringing on his third Bill before he had made sure of the two first, or the first. The House had merely given him leave to introduce the Bills; they said nothing about allowing them to pass. The hon. Baronet, while he was about it, seemed determined to cut the working part of the week short enough, or rather too short; for no sooner had the House allowed him so far to have his way about his Sunday Bill, than he set to work upon Saturdays and Mondays. This was rather too much.

Sir Matthew White Ridley observed, that if there was any Bill which contained little or nothing objectionable, it was this. It merely gave a power to Magistrates to change the days on which a fair or market might be held, and he saw no mischief that could ensue from depositing this power in their hands.

Mr. Mark Philips said, that great inconvenience would ensue from such a Bill. The town which he had the honour to represent, had its market-day on a Saturday, and one of the great Smithfield market days was held on a Monday. He presumed it was intended by the hon. Baronet to close the manufactories at an early hour on the Saturday in order to allow the artizans to go to market early on the Saturday afternoon, but he thought this object hardly attainable.

Lord Morpeth said, that as an opposition had been offered to this pacific measure, he felt it his duty to remind the House that he had formerly presented a petition from a large number of the graziers of Skipton, whose prayer was in accordance with the spirit of the Bill proposed to be introduced. He thought that this fact showed that no practical inconvenience would ensue on the enactment of the pro

Mr. Philip Howard opposed the Motion. He was decidedly opposed to granting local authorities such an extent of arbitrary power as would be allowed them under the proposed Bill. To give them the power of changing the fairs and mar-posed measure. kets of the whole country was giving them a power which they should not possess, and which, if exercised, would spread alarm, discontent, and mischief, through the entire country. In fact, it would interfere with the mercantile transactions of society, and disturb all the commercial and agricultural relations of the kingdom. If it were designed to cure one evil, it would produce many. He could not conceive how that multiplication of Bills could tend to a better observance of the Sabbath.

Mr. O'Connell concurred with the hon. Member who had just spoke, and must

Mr. Gisborne's objection to this Bill lay against investing Magistrates with so much power. As for the measure itself, it was so exceedingly preposterous, that he should not waste any observations upon it. In almost all county towns the market was held on the Saturday. He hoped the House would not entertain the Motion.

Sir John Wrottesley maintained, that the effect of the measure sought to be introduced by the hon. Baronet, would be to displace all the subsisting arrangements which related to the times of holding fairs and markets. In the country many small

towns depended on their market in a great degree; and if the market-day of any large town, Birmingham for instance, were to be changed from Saturday to some other day in the week, the consequence would be the ruin of the smaller towns in its neighbourhood, whose market-day would thus be fixed for the same day on which Birmingham market was held. As far as his own observation had extended, he thought that a great improvement was visible of late years in the general observance of the Sabbath. But if, in order more effectually to guard against the profanation of it, Saturday and Monday were to be taken out of the list of market-days, all existing arrangements would be completely deranged, and the greatest confusion created.

Sir Robert Peel said, that if leave were given to bring in the Bill, that would not pledge the House to the provisions of it more than the House was pledged to the provisions of the former Bill. It was better to let all the Bills be brought in, that the House might see the whole plan. The present Bill might be considered one of the wings of the previous Bill. He (Sir R. Peel) by voting for the Motion was not pledged to the provisions of the Bill; but if they rejected the present Bill, it would imply ipso facto that they admitted the principle of the other Bills. The House divided-Ayes 137; Noes 181: Majority 44.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]
[ocr errors]

Peter, W.

Glynne, Sir S. Grant, Rt. Hon. C. Grey, Sir G. Goulburn, Rt. Hon. H. Graham, Rt. Hn. Sir J. Handley, B. Halse, J. Halcombe, J. Heathcote, G. J. Hardy, J. Hughes, W. H. Hoskins, K. Halford, H. Handley, W.F. Hardinge, Sir H. Ingilby, Sir W. Johnstone, Sir J. V. Johnston, A. Inglis, Sir R. Kerrison, Sir E. Keppel, Hon. G. Lambton, H. Langdale, Hon. C. Lincoln, Earl of Lister, E. C. Lemon, Sir C. Lennox, Lord A. Littleton, Rt. Hn. E.J. Madox, J. Maxwell, J. Morpeth, Viscount Marryat, J. Miles, W. Marsland, T. Meynell, Captain Neeld, J. Neeld, J. Neale, Sir H. North, F. Oliphant, J. Patten, J. W.

Pease, Joseph

Paget, F.

Pinney, W.

Peel, Rt. Hn. Sir R. Penleaze, J.

Pigot, R.
Poulter, J.

Pringle, R.
Rice, Rt. Hon. T. S.
Richards, J.
Ridley, Sir M. W.
Ross, C.

Smith, Hon. R.

Smith, R. V.

Russell, Lord J.

Scott, Sir E. D. Shaw, F.

Sheppard, T.

Simeon, Sir R.

[blocks in formation]

DOWN AND RAPHOE.] Mr. Goulburn said, that the subject which he was anxious to bring under the consideration of the House, was one upon which it would not be necessary for him to detain them for many minutes; and if they would give him their attention, he was sure no objection would be made to the adoption of his proposition. His object was, to propose an Address to the Crown, praying his Majesty to give effect to the recommendation of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners (Ireland), with respect to the deanery of Down and Raphoe, whose Report had been before the House now for the space of nearly three years. The present subject was one upon which he felt a good deal of anxiety, but upon which he should, never

« PreviousContinue »