Address on Sunday Newspapers-continued. 49 may be further observed under this head, that, if there were fewer temptations to profane the Sabbath, a very considerable saving would probably accrue to the public from the diminution in the number of criminal prosecutions, and a reduction in the serious expense at present attending the administration of justice, and the transportation and imprisonment of offenders.

"It is hoped, that if such arguments ought to have any weight with the public authorities, in reference to the evil in question, no serious objection to remedy such evil will present itself to the minds of any well-disposed and temperate advocates for the liberty of the press, or the freedom of opinion. Without referring to any such controverted points of policy as are foreign to the present object, it will be generally admitted on all hands that at least one day in the seven ought to be kept sacred from the sécular labours, and the tumultuous passions of the week; that as well the commands of God, as the interests of individuals, and the well-being of society, require attention to the Christian Sabbath; and that the common security and happiness of persons in every rank of life render it alike their duty and their interest to observe that sacred day; and, as far as in them lies, to prevent its violation.

"In reference to the pernicious doctrines

E

50 Address on Sunday Newspapers-continued.

which are now publicly inculcated by these journals, and to the unhallowed spirit which they encourage, it seems too much to hope that an evil of such magnitude and extent can be abated by any remedies which shall stop short of their entire suppression. Until their publication and dispersion shall be rendered illegal by the law of the land, it can hardly be doubted that the same, or nearly the same, portion of mischief will continue to be effected; and while it is thus to be feared, that no remedy arising from the ordinary operation of the existing law can adequately meet the evil in question, it is no less to be feared, that, while it is permitted to exist, all the praiseworthy efforts of societies or individuals for our common good will equally fall short of so desirable an end; great and laudable as have been the exertions of the venerable Society for promoting Christian Knowledge in establishing depositories for religious tracts, there is too much reason to apprehend that so long as the great mass of the population is thus periodically invited to profane the Sabbath, by receiving the more palatable doctrines which are circulated in the cheap form of a Sunday Newspaper, the poison of infidelity and impiety will be found too strong for its antidote.

"A consideration of the above circumstances appears to render it desirable that all

Extensive Publication of Sunday Papers. 51

persons who value the appointment of the Sabbath, and who love their country, should, at the present moment, endeavour, in their several places and stations, by all prudent and practicable means, to remove the reproach which at present rests upon this professedly Christian land in the existence of the system of Sunday Newspapers.

"London, April 21, 1820."

In proof of the points here adverted to, I would remark:

1. As to the extent of the publication. It is clear that the number of hands employed in distribution can hardly be reduced to a matter of accurate calculation: when, however, it is known that upwards of seventy master newsmen have petitioned both Houses of Parliament, and prayed, on behalf of themselves, their children, servants, and dependants, to be released from the necessity of supplying these papers; and when the numerous stationary agents and itinerant hawkers in and about this great metropolis are considered, it will be easily seen that many thousands of both sexes and different ages must be necessarily withdrawn from the duties and services of the day. With regard to the stationary agents, it is to be remembered, that a multitude of shops are open for no other object than the sale of the Sunday

52 Number of Readers of Sunday Papers.

papers; while of those shops which annex the newspaper trade to their own (such as hairdressers, pastrycooks, greengrocers, and others), many would not be open at all on the Sabbath merely for the prosecution of their own trade. And, as to the itinerant venders, it is well known that the sale of the Sunday Newspaper supplies the only temptation to multitudes to violate the day, since they sell no other article than this. With regard to the number of readers, the above calculation was only taken at five persons to each paper; but this must be admitted to be much too moderate a computation, since most houses are known to consist of more than five in family able to read, while by far the greater number of papers pass, by loan, through other hands than those of the family which first takes them; not to speak of the many readers of each separate newspaper found in public houses, ordinaries, tea-gardens, and other places of Sunday resort. It was, however, deemed more desirable to keep completely within the limits of moderation, than to incur the risk of exceeding them, even with the best object.

2. As to interference with the public duties of religion.

It cannot be doubted, that the mere distribution of these papers has a sensible effect in keeping a very large number of persons from

Injury to public Duties of Religion.

53

public worship. The delivery, itself, is ordinarily protracted too late to leave those who engage in it, time to prepare themselves for appearance at morning service; nor is this all: many-very many, who take in these papers, as well as the younger members of their families, are led by the attraction thus offered to their notice, either to absent themselves altogether, or occasionally, from the house of prayer; while the worldly and secular spirit, which is originated, or increased, in every reader, is effectually calculated to diminish the salutary effect of religious instruction in all those who actually partake of it. This indeed is one of the most important considerations which can attach to the subject. The great object of every ordinance of the Sabbath, is to take off the mind from earthly business, and to fix it upon things which, although unseen in their nature, are the proper objects of faith; the great tendency of the Sunday Papers is to withdraw the heart from God, to associate it with the perishing objects of time and sense, and to chain it down to tastes and pursuits which, being in their nature and character material, sensual, and temporal, are wholly at variance with the sublime and superior joys to which, as rational and immortal beings, we are invited, by the ennobling and transforming system of the Gospel of Christ. The whole