§ MR. BRADYasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether the attention of the Government has been called to the practice of occasionally prosecuting persons in humble circumstances, under the 29th of Charles II., cap. 7, for what is called following their ordinary calling on the Lord's Day, whilst great numbers of other persons are allowed openly to violate the Act with impunity?
MR. BRUCEsaid, in reply, that prosecutions of persons in humble circumstances for following their ordinary calling on the Lord's Day were not instituted at the instance of the Government. He would admit the unsatisfactory state of the law on this subject, and he was convinced that much of the spirit of the Act of Charles II., which dealt with it, 462 was obsolete. The Government, however, did not propose to take action in the matter; but there was a Bill before Parliament which would partially remove the grievance complained of.