OBSERVANCE OF THE SABBATH. (Hansard, 18 April 1833)

§ Major Beauclerk
presented a petition from the inhabitants of Wandsworth, in the county of Surrey, praying the House not to permit the second reading of the Bill introduced for the better Observance of the Sabbath. The petitioners gave, as their opinion, that the Observance of the Sabbath was better kept now than informer years; and that any further enactments would only go to create dissatisfaction and schism. The hon. Member bore testimony to the respectability of the petitioners, who, he Stated, comprised above 200 of the oldest inhabitants of Wandsworth. If he thought for a moment that fine and imprisonment could tend to the propagation and support of the Christian 267 religion, he would willingly vote for the present Bill; but, conscientiously believing the contrary, he could not support it in any of its Clauses.

§ Mr. Briscoe
felt the greatest pleasure in bearing testimony to the respectability of the petitioners, but he thought it right to state, that he could not concur altogether in the prayer of the petition, that no legislative enactment whatever should take place on the subject. He had al. ready presented a great many petitions from different parts of the country to the House, and they all prayed that some law might be introduced for the better Observance of the Sabbath-day. He could not, certainly, give his consent to the Bill as at present introduced; but, at the same time, it was very necessary that some legislative enactment should take place; and he believed all parties agreed that it should go to the extent of the entire suppression of Sunday trading ["Hear, hear!"]. He was very glad to hear those cheers, for it convinced him that there were Members of that House of the same opinion. The measure was called for by the industrious classes of the country, to enable them to enjoy a day of rest free from the ordinary demands made upon them during the other days of the week. To that extent he would give his support to the Bill of the hon. Baronet. Whether the Bill after the second reading would undergo such an alteration or not as would make it palatable to the country, he could not say, but he should be very sorry if no Bill whatever were carried through; and he was quite sure that in saying so, he expressed the opinion of the whole of the moral, enlightened, and religious people of the kingdom.

§ Major Beauclerk
wished to set his hon. colleague right as to the prayer of the petition. It did not pray that no law whatever might be passed on the subject, but that no measure which might tend to restrict the innocent amusements of the people might be passed. The hon. Baronet's Bill went to shut the gates of the Park, which he quite objected to, though he had no objection to any measure which merely had for its object the prevention of Sunday trading.

§ Mr. Roebuck
was glad to hear the observations of the hon. member for Surrey regarding the Bill of the hon. Baronet, for he believed that many of the Members of that House had yet to learn the real 268 purport of the Bill. The hon. Gentleman had said, that the object of the hob. Baronet was chiefly to protect the poor man in the enjoyment of a day of rest. Now, he could assure the House that every one of the provisions of the Bill had a directly contrary tendency; for it would compel the poor man's wife to cook his Sunday's dinner at home, instead of being able to have it done at the baker's. He was in favour of some alteration in the state of the law as it regarded the Sabbath, provided that legislation could improve the morality of the people, without interfering with their innocent recreations. He wished, and the people wished, for such a Bill as would prevent trading, so that they might be relieved of the toil and labour of the week, without suffering loss. He did not mean to speak of the motives of the hon. Baronet who brought in the Bill; but he could not help saying, whatever were the motives which he cherished, this Bill seemed to have the intention, and would have the effect, of preventing the people from enjoying themselves quietly, peaceably, innocently, and calmly on the Sabbath day. The steam-boats were not to be allowed to go down the river, and everything was to be done to confine within the unwholesome purlieus and dense houses of this metropolis those industrious artizans, who, confined closely to their workshops all the week, had an opportunity only one day out of seven to enjoy the fresh and healthful air of the surrounding country. His great objection to this Bill was its inequality. The poor man would be prevented from riding on horseback, because he had to hire the horse; but the rich man keeping a horse of his own would be permitted to ride or drive when and where he pleased. If the Bill were passed, he would move a clause, that if a gentleman's carriage or servant were seen in the streets on the Sunday, the master should be fined 50l. He would also move that Hyde Park should be shut up, and not a single beau or belle should be seen there; so that the whole metropolis should be converted into one solemn scene of unmitigated gloom and fanaticism.