The New Hampshire Gazette

From the Appendix to the London Magazine for the Year 1761.

To the Author of the London Magazine.

SIR,

It was with singular Pleasure I found, by your valuable Magazine of May last, that there was in the last Session of Parliament, a Bill prepared & presented in the House of Commons, to render more effectual part of some former Acts, "For the better Observation of the LORD's DAY." A laudable Undertaking indeed, and truly worthy the Attention of a British Parliament; and let me add—particularly seasonable at this Juncture, when we have such abundant Cause to bless God for the great Things he hath done for us in the Course of the present successful War; and are therefore in Gratitude surely obliged to pay a particular Regard, to whatever more immediately relates to him and his Service.

And how agreeable a Bill of that Sort would be to his Majesty, I need not say, when it is considered how earnestly that Matter is inculcated in the Royal Proclamation, "For the Encouragement of Piety and Virtue, and for the preventing and punishing of Vice, Profaneness and Immorality," published immediately after his happy Accession to the Throne.

Although, therefore, the Bill had not the good Fortune to pass into a Law at that Time, and was not renewed in the last Session, (I presume by Reason of the Multiplicity of Business necessary to be transacted in so short a Session) it is to be hoped the worthy Gentlemen concerned in bringing in the said Bill, will not desist from the good Work they have undertaken: But will endeavour with all their Might to retrieve the Honor due to a Day peculiarly stiled "The LORD's DAY." by some effectual Law for the due Observation thereof. And in Amendment of the Laws in being, I would humbly offer, that the former Laws relating to this Subject be repealed, and the whole reduced into one consistent Act; as was done in the late Act against profane Cursing and Swearing. That where any Person offending against this Act is unknown to the Church Wardens or Constables, they shall seize and carry him before the Magistrate, to be dealt with according to Law; unless of his own Accord, he pay the Penalty incurred, for the Use of the Poor. That opening of Shops be deemed an Exercise of Trade. That Church-Wardens and Constables have Power to seize Goods exposed to Sale on the LORD's DAY, without a Warrant first obtained from a Justice of the Peace; but not to sell the same without such Warrant. That Persons availing, as also Cattle driven thro' Towns or Fines on Sundays, pay double, excepting his Majesty's Messengers, the ordinary Posts, Physicians, Midwives, &c. That the Words "out of their own Parishes," and, "within their own Parishes," Stat. I. C. Chap. I. relating to Sports and Pastimes, be omitted; so as to make the Clause general. That Persons under Sixteen Years of Age, offending against this Act, be whipped by the Church Wardens, or such other Person as the Magistrate shall appoint. That where a Town is in two Parishes, the Constable and Church Warden of either Parish may put the Act in Execution, for Offences committed in that Town, or within one Mile of the same. That Offenders against this Act, be for the third Offence, compell'd to serve on board his Majesty's Fleet, or in the Army, for the Space of two Years. That Church Wardens and Constables be compell'd to put this Act in Execution, under some such Penalty as is provided in the above mentioned Act against Swearing. That breaking of Provisions (unless for Sale) be added to the Exceptions, 29 C. 2 Chap. vii. That Ministers have equal Power with Justices of the Peace, to put this Act in Execution, (as also those against Swearing and Drunkenness.) for Offences committed within their own Parishes, or (where a Town is in two Parishes) within one Mile of the Precinct thereof. That this Act (or a proper Abstract thereof) be read in all Churches and Chapels, twice the first Year, under the Penalty of Twenty Pounds. And that the Ordinary do, at every Visitation, make it an Article of Enquiry, whether this Injunction be complied with. I have only to add (if that will be of any Weight) that the foregoing Reflections are the Result of more than 20 Years Observation upon this Subject.

T. B.

Tho' the different Circumstances of Places may require different Regulations in Such a Case, yet it is well worthy Consideration, how far Neglect and Supineness in this Respect (especially at such a Juncture) argues a great Zeal for the Christian Religion, or is very consistent with the Christian Character.