Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 3.djvu/151

 12 s. m. FEB. 24, 1917.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

art, was too highly complicated, and could not make headway against its simpler rivals as a book of fortune or amusement. It did not reach another edition, and was not translated into any other language. In addition to the complications of this scheme itself, the wheels of fortune are full of mistakes, which direct the inquirer to wrong answers, and had to be altered with the pen before the book could be used at all, which did not help to make it popular, as was Spirito's book, for instance. L. L. K.

(To be continued.)

SUNDAY OBSERVANCE IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.

THE subjoined two letters, written by Rev- James Smith, Rector of Bushey, to Edmund Gibson, Bishop of London, were sent by the latter, with the covering note immediately below, to Sir Andrew Stone, Under-Secretary during the Duke of Newcastle's Ministry.

S. P. DOM. GEO. II. 80, 307, 372, 373.

Whitehall, Jany. 23, 1745/6 S r ,

I am sorry, I should be so troublesome to you ; but when I receive from the Clergy an information of such open and flagrant Abuses, how can I sit still ?

I have been confin'd for several days by y" Gout, and am so still ; and therefore I must intreat you to lay this matter before his Grace. I am sensible, that the heads and hands of our great men are very full at this juncture ; but methinks an Order to two or three Justices of Middlesex, which will take up very little time, would not fail to put a stop to the progress of this Shameful profanation of y e Lord's-day. I am,

Your faithful friend & Ser*

LONDON.

Bushey 16 Jan. 1745. MY LOBD,

Persons in Your Lordships high Stations cannot see & take notice of what is done La this part of the Country : of which I think it my Duty to inform Your Lordship. I mean the notorious pro- fanation of the Lords Day, which has greatly encreased in about thirty Years past.

The Barbers exercise their Trade : The Butchers, Shopkeepers & Ale-house-keepers sell : The Drover drives his Cattle : And the Higlers travell with Carts & Waggons till nine or ten in y* morning, & begin again about 4 in the Afternoon.

This, I believe, is practised, not only on this road, but every way round London at about this distance. For if the penalty be threatened to be levied upon them, they leave this road for a time, & go some other where they can go un- molested.

And some people say, what harm do they do- to any body, and how can the Inkeepers [sic] of the town live, if they be hindered ? and how shall London be served" with provisions ?

Notwithstanding which I must do Mr. Capper the Justice to own, that he declared at a parish Vestry lately that he would execute the Laws for y* Observation of the Lords Day, if any In- formation was made to him. An Information was made, as I hear, & that he levied the Penalty.

But the very Lords Day following, that was on the 12 Instant, a new Sort of Profanation of the Lords Day was put in practise, & is likely to- encrease if not timely prevented. A Coach & six ran, for a large Sum, (said to be 1600) from London to L d Donerayles house, a mile or two beyond Watford town : It was accompanied by about 20 horsemen : It was preceeded by a Coach & six about half an hour before to break the Way for it : & followed by Lord Donerayle in his own Coach about half an hour after, who had a great bett depending on it, that they could; not perform it hi an hour & 50 Minutes, and it was done in an hour & 40 Minutes. And we hear- that on another Lords Day very soon the like is- to be^ repeated.

The Reflection, my Lord, which y" lower Class of People make upon it is this, that if a poor man transgresses the Law, tho' to earn his bread, he- shall be punished ; but a great man may do what he pleases.

The intent of my Information to your Lord- ship, concerning this Affair, is, That your Lord- ship may, by Application to the highest Authority* get such practises prevented for the time to come if possible ; & obtain his Majesties Proclamation for putting y 6 Laws in Execution relating to the- Lords Day ; & a Revival of them, if they are almost obsolete, as indeed they seem to be ; with some Encouragement to the Informer, if it shall be thought proper.

If I have been guilty of too much presumtion in this for a person in my Station, I beg Your Lordships Pardon, & Your Lordships Blessing, upon,

My Lord, Your Lordships most humble & devoted Serv*

JAMES SMITH.

I hear now that y 6 next Sundays Race is to be - with a horse or horses.

Bushey 21 Jan. 1745. MY LORD,

Last week I took the Liberty to inform your Lordship concerning a Coach race on Sunday the 12 Instant. And now again this last Sunday an horse ran for a great Wager between L d Donerayle & M r Greville from Tyburn Turn- pike to L d Donerayle's house hi Watford parish. And we hear, there are to be more of them very soon upon a Lords Day again.

Such races, my Lord, beside the great pro- faneness & impiety of them, are upon y e publick road very dangerous to his Majesties Subjects going on their lawfull Occasions.

I am, My Lord,

Your Lordships most Obedient. Servant. [The signature was cut off, probably by thfe Bishop.]

E. H. FAIRBROTHER..