on

9

these bold and public Sabbath- with the small master-manufacturbreakers come off applauded! ers, and whenever opportunities Their praise is in the churches ! occurred, have conversed with the They are an ensample to others! work people and inquired into their * Alas, leviathan is not so tamed. condition. The result of my

obThe sin of Sabbath-breaking is be- servations has been that it would coming the boldest sin in the land, be decidedly for the interest of our and calls for the most prompt and country to encourage agriculture in decided reprehension. If it be not preference to manufactures ; and every where, and with one consent, that it will be soon enough for us frowned upon by the friends of re- to become a manufacturing nation, ligion and good order, the Sabbath when, like England, we are com. will come to be in the land of the pelled to be such for a support. As Pilgrims, what it is in Italy or however the experiment is comFrance.

C. S. menced in America in regard to

manufactures, it might be ill-timed to dispute the point directly; but I

cannot refrain from presenting some For the Christian Spectator. of the features and effects of the OBSERVATIONS OF AN AMERICAN IN

system, as it is pursued in Great

Britain.
ENGLAND.

It may be said without

any hesi. (Continued from p. 527.)

tancy, that day-labourers in the Nov. 29, 1825. A short time be- United States, even the lowest fore I left America, strong exer- classes of them, are, beyond comtions were made to increase the parison, better educated, better duties British · manufactured clad, enjoy more of the comforts of goods, partly with a view to add to life, and are more correct in their the revenue of the country, but moral principles and habits, than principally to encourage domestic the English labourers of this demanufactures. I took no great in- scription.

I took no great in- scription. And, alas, how entirely terest in the subject at that time, different are the character, deportbelieving that our legislators would ment, and dress of our farmers' adopt measures best suited to the daughters, from those young Eng. interests of the country ; but since lish females who make buttons, pins, my residence here, I have given nails, and screws. A degree of this the subject much more thought, poverty and degradation may arise and am now of opinion that, if the from a dense population, oppressive advocates of home manufactures taxes, or the high rates of provisions; would visit the manufacturing but I attribute much the larger part towns in England, step into the to the nature of their employments. workshops, and inspect the morals Children of both sexes at the early and condition of the working peo- age of six or eight years are put into ple, their ardour in the cause would work shops, where they are employsomewhat abate, provided they con- ed ten or twelve hours in the day. sulted the welfare of the country Many enter them before they have at large, as much as their own indi- learned to read or write, and their la. vidual emolument. I have now bour is so constant that they ever af. seen the principal manufacturing terwards remain in ignorance; and towns in the kingdom : Manches. those who are so fortunate as to ter, Birmingham, Leeds. Sheffield, learn to read or write their names besides fifteen or twenty others of previous to their apprenticeship, less note. I have entered innu- seldom make any considerable promerable workshops, have transact- gress in after life. They almost of ed business with the large as well course early slide into the vices, 1826.-No. 11.

72

а

a

and contract the loose habits and glance tells me how extreme is principles of their older workshop- their degradation. Women push companions; and while they be- along through the streets with bocome expert in their trade, also soms half bare, and hands and faces become adepts in all kinds of kna- besmeared with grease, iron filings, very and villany. The influence or japan. Some favourite beau of bad example upon young minds equally squalid and coarse, meets is too well known to need any re- a lass perhaps, and a disgustingly marks of mine ; and it is equally rude salutation takes place. Ocwell known, that where large num- casionally a couple of girls will bers are collected in one shop, an square off in a boxing attitude, and atmosphere of deadly moral conta- shew-fight in the true style of the gion is created, from the vast pre- game. I have witnessed blows given ponderance of evil practices over and received in this way which the good.

would not be very pleasant to any Males and females, of which the one to bear.

I have seen some number seems about equal, work right down battles fought by these in the same shops, glowing at the female combatants, in which bonsame benches, and perspiring at the nets, caps, and gowns flew into same forges. I have seen groups strings like canvas before a temof the sexes assembled round a

pest. Educated, as I have been, forge, making nails. Females file in the strict school of Connecticut, gun barrels,and manufacture screws; and accustomed to look upon feand indeed almost all kinds of hard- males as beings of refinement and wares are the joint productions virtue, to whom the highest delerof male and female hands. What ence and respect were due, you a figure, think you, must a young may well suppose that I at first girl make with her sleeves rolled looked upon these screw-making up above her elbows, labouring specimens of the sex, with ineffable with a file that will weigh two disgust. Custom has now rendered pounds! The evil tendency of the spectacle familiar. As the such employments, and the inde- natural effect of this state of things cent familiarity which arises from you will not need be told, that the the promiscuous assemblage and populous manufacturing towns are employment of the sexes in the thronged with a class of females same rooms, without any check up- which I cannot name. One halt at on their conduct, are evident to least of adult females that work in the slightest observation ; and the shops, I have no doubt are creaeffects are as certain as the fixed tures of this revolting character. laws of nature. The women be- Few of the workmen can ever come men in the female costume, become master manufacturers.and lose all that delicacy of feeling They are taught but one branch of and softness of manners which be- an art ; and through their ignolong to the sex, and which our rance and stupidity, are never able countrywomen, even in the hum- to obtain a sufficient insight into the bler stations of life, and which the other branches to be competent to other classes of British females so take charge of an establishment. eminently possess.

But what is A man who makes a lock, cannot infinitely worse, they lose all virtue make a key; and the man who faband shame.

ricates the knots to a lock is ignoStanding in some of the populous rant of the other branches ; and streets here at 1 o'clock, I have thus it is with most other articles. noticed the motley groups which in this account they are fit only to issue from the courts and alleys at br journeymen, and are obliged to that time to get their dinners. One live on wages. Indeed the nature

of the employment is such that last die and leave a family to inherthere must of necessity be many it their poverty and ignorance, and servants to one master. The work to tread in the same steps. It does people have no idea of a competen- not follow, of course, that if the lacy, or of laying up any thing against bourers in the work shops here are a time of need. If their wages are

poor and illiterate, unpolished in increased they perform less labour, their manners, and corrupt in their and their surplus time is spent at morals, they will be so in America. ale houses, or in barbarous amuse- But is il not possible and even ments. They toil on year after highly probable? Do not the same year, perhaps under a hard master, causes produce the same effects ? carn a scanty subsistence, and at .

Brviews.

a

And we are

Short Practical Essays on the Sab- But we now feel it to be quite

bath ; by a CLERGYMAN OF NEW. time that we should bear additional England. Norwich : Thomas and decided testimony against the Robinson. 1826. 18mo. pp. increasing violations of the Sab108.

bath in our country ; and that we Charges, and Extracts of Charges, should set ourselves seriously to

on Moral and Religious Sub- inquire whether something cannot jects ; delivered at sundry times, be done to stay the desolating proby the Honourable Jacob Rusi, gress of this growing evil. Such President of the Third District of an occasion as we have some time the Court of Common Pleas and desired for bringing this subject Quarter Sessions for the State before our readers is presented by of Pennsylvania : with a Recom- the publications-particularly the mendation by the Reverend Cler- former—whose titles stand at the gy of the Presbyterian Church in head of this article. the city of Philadelphia. To which happy in being able to call into our is annexed, the Act of the Legis- aid, the labours of so distinguished lature of the State of Pennsylva. a civilian as the author of the nia respecting Vice and Immoral- “Charges," as well as of “a Clergyity. Lenox, Mass. : J. G. Stan- man of New-England.” We hope ley. 1815. 18mo. pp. 216. our readers will excuse us, should

we make somewhat liberal demands It has not been, we need not say, upon their time and patience. Our from any indifference to the Sab- only apology is, the extent and imbath, that we have not more fre- portance of the subject, and the quently called the attention of our deep hold it has upon our feelings. readers to that hallowed institution. The little volume of “ Essays" Nor have we by any means been is a very seasonable publication. indifferent spectators of the manner

Notwithstanding the spirit of active in which it has been treated by mul- benevolence which prevails in our titudes in our land ; and while our country, there has rarely been a minds have been directed more time, when the Sabbath was so eximmediately to other subjects, we tensively, and openly, and wantonly trust our pages have been so filled profaned as at present. This fact as to exert a salutary influence on calls for appropriate publications, the observance of that holy day. and corresponding efforts in other

6

respects, on the part of its friends. the apostles observed the seventh “The substance of most of the day of the week as the Christian Essays was published a few years Sabbath, it seems impossible that since in the Panoplist. They are a change from that to the first day, the same, if we mistake not, to should have been universally prowhich a prize was at that time duced at any subsequent period. awarded, by the persons appointed And especially, in case of such a to decide upon the merits of the subsequent change, it is altogether several pieces which were publish- incredible that no hint relative to ed. They are abridged, as we are the change itself, or the difficulties told by the Editor, and as we per- attending it, should be upon recceive by a comparison with the ori- ord. But on this argument we ginal publication. They are now cannot dwell. put into a convenient form for Our author has treated the sanccommon use and general distribu- tification of the Sabbath, with pertion.

spicuity and force of argument, and The Essays are divided into six with great plainness of speech. It chapters, and treat of the following is here we think he has particulaly subjects: "The Universality and excelled ; and not the least in ex: Perpetuity of the Sabbath-The posing the vain excuses which mul. change of the Sabbath from the titudes make for profaning that seventh to the first day of the week holy day. He enters upon his - The sanctification of the Sab- subject by illustrating what is to be bath--The Sabbath has been ob- understood by the Sabbath's being served as a day of sacred rest by denominated and kept holy. The the people of God in all ages, result is, that the Sabbath is called The Blessings of the Sabbath, holy on account of its being “conGod regards every profanation of secrated to the service of God, or the Sabbath with peculiar displeas- set apart exclusively for religious

purposes."

“ It is because (rod The arguments of our author on himself has sanctified it, or set it the universality and perpetuity of apart, for a day of holy rest and the Sabbath, we think must satisfy religious worship As, therefore, every man, whose mind is open to it would have been a profanation conviction. The evidence of its of the vessels of the temple to have change from the seventh to the put them to any common use, so first day of the week.---so far as it is a profanation of the Sabbath, that is furnished by the New Tes- to spend any part of it, in those tament,---is forcibly exhibited in a worldly employments and recrea. summary argument. The author tions, which are lawful on other has not, however, in connexion days.” Here is the grand, fundawith the scripture evidence, avail- mental distinction between the ed himself of the argument from Sabbath and the days of the week; the practice of the church, imme- and between those things which diately after the apostolic age. are lawful and proper on the SabHe has noticed it generally, per- bath, and those which are not so. haps sufficiently for such a work, This distinction which is founded in the sixth chapter ; and appa

on the word of God, and which rently, for another purpose. The is the only proper one, we should argument from the practice of the all do well ever to bear in mind; church --- which we think would for it will aid in deciding what is have come in with propriety in and what is not, suited to the deconnexion with the second chap- sign of that holy institution. ter,---seems to us decisive. Had After commenting on the fourth

ure."

ness.

a

commandment, the author applies by attending public worship on the his remarks in the following man

road. They rise early; ride as far ner :

as they can before the morning ser

vice; call in to hear a sermon while In this view, the law of the Sabbath in the intermission; stop into another

their horses are baiting; go on again imposes certain duties, both on magis. place of worship, perhaps, in the aftrates and heads of families. First, on

ternoon; th magistrates. The stranger must be till evening, and bless themselves

prosecute their journey coerced, if nothing short of this will that they have kept the Sabbath so induce him to keep the Sabbath. The well, and so profitably. p. 85. law says, that he shall not do any work, and thus makes the legislative and executive powers answerable to uable addition to the essays, as

The two last chapters are a val. God for his obedience. We are not ignorant, that faithful public officers formerly published. The blessings are often censured, for presuming to

of the Sabbath are presented in a interrupt men, who, it is said, are go- summary but happy manner, fitted sing peaceably about their own busi- to impress our minds with a deep

But this censure, let it be re- sense of the inestimable gift of the mmbered, falls upon the Divine Law- Christian Sabbath. We could wish giver himself. He says that the stran

those sentiments of the author were ger, as well as the citizen, shall not do any work, the stranger, therefore, not engraven on the hearts of all men. only may but must be required to rest.

The displeasure of God against Secondly; as heads of families, we every profanation of his holy day, are in no small degree made answera- our author has represented in ble, for the conduct of all who may truly impressive manner, diffusing spend the sabbath within our gates. through the mind of the reader a The same authority, which enjoins deep feeling of solemnity and awe; upon us the oversight and controul of and leaving upon it the impression our children and domestics, makes us for the time being, keepers of all other that the Sabbath is indeed a holy persons, who may choose to abide un- day, not to be profaned with ultider our roofs. No relaxation, in fa- mate impunity. vour of the friend, the boarder, or the We have a considerable number passing stranger, is admissible. Should of treatises on the Sabbath,---some any be so lost to decorum, as well as as parts of a long system of theolothe fear of God, as to insist on doing gy, and some in separate volumes, their own work, and finding their own

---which are good in their place. pleasures on the Sabbath, they must

We have also several valuable be dismissed. Not even the nearest relation may be permitted to remain tracts, upon different parts of the with us, and violate the sacred rest. subject. But we do not know of We must obey God, however much any work, taking a summary view it may displease men. We must vin- of the general subject of the Sabdicate the honours of our Master, at bath, which is so well fitted, on least in our own houses. If we love the whole, for general distribution father, or mother, more than Christ, in the present state of things in we cannot be his disciples. pp. 51,52.

our country, as the little volume We might make many valuable before us; and we can cheerfully extracts, but our limits will not recommend it to the perusal of We give the following

our readers. permit.

One subject is introduced into exposure of an attempt to evade the law of the Sabbath, because it these Essays, respecting which

there is a difference of opinion. is short.

We mean, the propriety of a minisSome people who travel on the

ter's going out of his own parish Lord's day, have a very ingenious on the Sabbath to exchange the method of quieting their consiences, services of the sanctuary with one

a