all very well in an ordinary case, but rather out of place when the
liberties and comforts of a whole people are at stake.

In the first place, it is by no means the worst characteristic of
this bill, that it is a bill of blunders: it is, from beginning to
end, a piece of deliberate cruelty, and crafty injustice. If the
rich composed the whole population of this country, not a single
comfort of one single man would be affected by it. It is directed
exclusively, and without the exception of a solitary instance,
against the amusements and recreations of the poor. This was the
bait held out by the Hon. Baronet to a body of men, who cannot be
supposed to have any very strong sympathies in common with the
poor, because they cannot understand their sufferings or their
struggles. This is the bait, which will in time prevail, unless
public attention is awakened, and public feeling exerted, to
prevent it.

Take the very first clause, the provision that no man shall be
allowed to work on Sunday--'That no person, upon the Lord's day,
shall do, or hire, or employ any person to do any manner of labour,
or any work of his or her ordinary calling.' What class of persons
does this affect? The rich man? No. Menial servants, both male
and female, are specially exempted from the operation of the bill.
'Menial servants' are among the poor people. The bill has no
regard for them. The Baronet's dinner must be cooked on Sunday,
the Bishop's horses must be groomed, and the Peer's carriage must
be driven. So the menial servants are put utterly beyond the pale
of grace;--unless indeed, they are to go to heaven through the
sanctity of their masters, and possibly they might think even that,
rather an uncertain passport.