1839.] THE WELFARE OF THE LABOUrer, &c. 417 dren that are to be the future labourers on the soil, should be reared with a sufficiency of wholesome food, so that they may grow up healthy, and sound, and strong. Beware, then, how you ever fancy yourselves to be acting wisely, when, by turning labourers out of employ, or diminishing their means of maintenance, you drive them and their little ones to less or to pernicious food. Such a system is shortsighted and sorry, and one that, I believe, never lastingly benefited any body. Nor is it only in the bodily condition of the labourer that the farmer is concerned. In his moral and religious state he is still more deeply interested. I have, indeed, often been astonished at the indifference which prevails on this subject among not only the farmers but the landlords of England. With a property so precious as that of the farmer, with crops so easily plundered, with cattle, cows, teams, corn, barns, and fencing, so easily injured by vindictiveness, ignorance, or neglect, it appears to me, that moral and religious workmen are essential to the farmers almost above every class. A labourer that gets drunk, or that indulges in late hours over-night, brings but a portion of his spirit and his strength to the field of his employer on the following day. He thus, certainly, though imperceptibly, robs his master. In other respects, also, a drunken man seldom continues honest; for he soon proceeds from robbing the family whom he pities, to filch from the master for whom he has no compassion, to say nothing of those nightly and poaching habits, which not only impair the body, but dispose the labourer to those greater crimes which, I insist upon it, every farmer indirectly encourages that permits his labourers to frequent the public-house or the beer shop. See how important it is to a farmer, by advice, conduct, and influence, to train up the youthful labourers, and to retain the old ones, in those moral and religious courses which, by making men sober, honest, healthy, and industrious, add to his own stock of prosperity and wealth. Policy urges it, humanity implores it, Christianity commands it, and no man of sound sense and right feeling can gainsay it. But I will go one step further, and say, that it is your interest as farmers not only to preserve your labourers healthy and moral, but to make them contented, cheerful, and happy. There must be poor in the land; but I know of no reason, especially in a parish so united as our own, why any poor man should be pinched by poverty, or oppressed by those perplexing anxieties about to-morrow's bread, which, by harassing the mind, tend to break his spirit, to paralyse his arm, and to bring him sooner on the rates by premature old age. Neither do I see any reason, but the contrary, why we should not alleviate every sorrow, and give the poor every innocent enjoyment within our power to bestow. In the matter of justice and of kindness as between himself and his employer, the labourer is far more competent to form an opinion than many persons are willing to confess. This was partly proved in this parish in the year 1830, when, though we were then in a most disunited state, our labourers presented an admirable example of steadiness and order, while surrounding parishes were almost in full-blown insurrection. Our quiet at that period was only to be accounted for by the fact, that though resisted in the attempts to continue certain parochial allowances, and in a certain form, to which they had been accustomed, the poor of Farthinghoe were convinced that their real good, with higher wages and greater comfort, was both intended and being advanced. Feeling the value as well as the pleasure of a good feeling when based upon right principles, I have viewed with delight the various ways in which, by apprenticeship, service, and so forth, you have shown yourselves ready to benefit the youthful amongst the labouring classes. Nor will I omit the pleasure with which, trivial as the circumstance may appear to some, I see every day the little jugs of milk passing from the farmer's house to the poor man's home. In that, and similar acts of charity, not only your own proper pleasure, but your own future welfare is involved. You thereby help to make your labourer comfortable in that home to which in the evening he returns from following his toil. You introduce joy and gladness into his dwelling which he might otherwise be disposed to quit for scenes of drunkenness and riot. You invite him forth also the following day cheerful and refreshed. I wish that landlords throughout the country-especially 1839.] SUNDAY TRADING. 419 non-resident landlords-would in the choice of their tenantry, and in their co-operation with the intelligent and well-intentioned clergy, take an enlarged view of the questions to which I have now invited your attention; and, in which they are so greatly interested. Show me, indeed, a landlord and a tenant that can only fix their minds upon immediate rent. Show me a landlord and a tenant that are indifferent about the healthy, moral, religious, and happy condition of the poor. Show me, I say, two such individuals, and in the same two persons I will show you those that, as Christians and as men, disregard the responsibilities of their station, and that are unwise also in the management of their pecuniary affairs." At the close of these remarks, which were frequently cheered in the delivery, several farmers present assured Mr. Litchfield that they had been both delighted and convinced by what he had said, and that they sincerely wished the sentiments they had just heard could be widely known and acted upon. It is with the conviction that their tendency is useful and good, that we have devoted so large a space of our paper to their insertion. As a proof of the general feeling among the poorer classes of Farthinghoe, on this interesting occasion, we give the following statement. There were among the contributors Of one halfpenny each From the Northampton Herald. SUNDAY TRADING. THE exertions making in the various parishes of the metropolis for the diminution of Sunday trading, and the establishment of a better observance of the Lord's day, are proceeding most satisfactorily. Already are most of the shops which have for years been in the habit of doing business on Sundays closed throughout the day, by which means, joined to the effect of the new police regulations respecting public-houses, a visible alteration for the better has become apparent in most of the public thoroughfares. With respect to those who have disregarded the solicitations made to them by the parish officers, and still keep their shops open, most of the parochial authorities have issued circulars, in which they say, "they should bear in mind that they are guilty of injustice and unfairness towards those of their fellow-tradesmen who have closed their shops; and though the churchwardens are anxious to avoid having recourse to any coercive measures, they strongly feel that the interests of these last ought to be, and, if necessary, must be, protected. On this account they think it advisable to furnish the parishioners with extracts from various acts of parliament which have been passed with a view to the better observance of the Lord's day; but they at the same time assure them, that it will be with extreme reluctance if they are compelled to enforce the law, and they earnestly hope they may be spared this painful discharge of the duties of their office." Then follow the extracts: "No person, on pain of forfeiting five shillings, is allowed to work on the Lord's day (except works of necessity or charity), nor use any boat or barge, or expose any goods to sale, except meat in public-houses, or milk and mackerel at certain houses. Milk may be sold before nine o'clock in the morning, and after four in the afternoon. Mackerel may be sold before and after divine service."-" Persons publicly crying or exposing to sale herbs forfeit them to the poor. Butchers killing or selling any victuals to forfeit six shillings and eight-pence."-" Bakers not to sell or expose to sale any bread on Sundays, or to deliver any bakings after half-past one o'clock, nor to take any in after a quarter to eleven o'clock. First offence ten shillings, second twenty shillings, and third and every subsequent offence forty shillings.' |