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THE SCRIBBLER.

29th June 1822.

Mr. Macculloh,

Observing in the papers of this week an advertisement for a pleasure-trip to Boucherville and Varennes, by the steam-boat La Prairie, to take place on Sunday the 30th, I transmit you the following letter, which was written last year in reply to an attack made in the Gazette upon such excursions, The editor of the Herald, although his previous avowal of the same opinion I entertain had called forth that attack, and notwithstanding he approved of my letter, declined inserting it, upon the principle so universally acted upon by the public prints in Canada that it militated against received opinions, and would injure his paper in the sight of those men, who think (somewhat in the same way as catholics with respect to confession) that by a strict and gloomy observance of what they affect to call the Sabbath, they may atone for lying, cheating calumny, and all ungodliness, during the other six days.^[1] I have so much confidence in the independence of your paper, and the fearlessness of your mind, that I trust, whether it accords with your own sentiments or not, you will afford me an opportunity of combating, by anticipation, those remarks of a contrary tendency which I have good reason to believe are in contemplation to be made on this subject.

July 1821.

Mr. Editor,

The animadversions of Philo, upon the expression of your opinion on the subject of Sunday excursions, show so little of the true spirit of Christianity, in the garb of which alas! too many fanatics array themselves, that in endeavouring to refute his assertions, I can not forbear from supposing that he is one of those who “love the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets;” and “to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets that they may be seen of men;” nor can I forbear from recommending to him a greater portion of meekness, charity, and loving-kindness in reproving those whom he fancies are wandering in error. To attribute impiety, profanation, and the outraging of divine authority, to the maintenance of an opinion on a ceremonial subject (for the most zealous puritan can never make the observance of Sunday more than a ceremonial of religion,^[2]) evinces too much of that persecuting spirit, that would, if it durst, institute an inquisition in the Protestant church, and re-ordain the writ de hæretico comburendo. But I contend, and that on scriptural grounds alone, that you are right, and he is totally wrong. I deny that there is any divine authority that can be produced for prohibiting or condemning any species of amusement or recreation that is otherwise innocent and lawful, from being resorted to on Sunday. I would wish Philo to produce a single text either in the Old or New Testament that can bear such an interpretation. The Sabbath is, by the appointment of God, a cessation from labour and from business, but not from pleasure or recreation. Rest implies recreation, and in none of the ordinances emanating from divine authority do we find any intimation that recreation is unacceptable to Heaven; on to contrary, rejoicings, with dancing, and singing, always accompanied the celebration of the Jewish festivals. It is not gloomy inactivity, nor even unabated and zealous worship alone, that God requires from man on the day of his rest, the day he has hallowed, and set apart from labour; and all those innocent amusements that can renovate the health and spirits of mankind for the labours of the ensuing week, are not only laudable, but, in my opinion, they may be even said to be a religious duty to be performed. In all the passages in which the observance of the Jewish Sabbath is ordained, Exodus xx, 8-11, xxxi, 14-17, Leviticus xxiii, 3, Deuteronomy, v, 12-15, rest from labour is alone enjoined, with the addition in Exodus xxxv, 3, of a prohibition of kindling a fire on the Sabbath. In Deuteronomy, v, 15, the Sabbath is stated to have been instituted in commemoration of the delivery of the children of Israel from Egypt, and therefore it is a day of rejoicing, similar to anniversaries of happy events. But Christ himself in various passages of the gospel is stated to have reproved the pharisees and others for their austerity and mock-observance of the Sabbath, by pretending that it was evil, even to do good on that day, Matthew xii, Mark iii, Luke vi, xiii, and xiv, John v, vii, and ix. He tells us, Mark ii, 27, that “the Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath”; and our Saviour himself even on the Christian Sabbath, the first day of the week, his holy resurrection day, which his omniscience foresaw would be the Christian Sunday for evermore, journeyed from Jerusalem to Emaus in company with two of his disciples, abode with them until the evening, and sate at meat with them. Amongst all the vices, drunkenness, uncleanness, hypocrisy, etc. with which the gospel charges the Jews of that day, we find in no one instance sabbath-breaking condemned, nor even mentioned; and if that be the source of all immorality and crime in these days, as our pseudo-evangelicals contend, it would have been so then, for the nature of man changeth not, though ordinances and opinions do.^[3] Now let us see what the apostles say. Following the principles of their divine precursor, St. Paul in his epistle to the Galatians, chap. iv. reproaches them that “after ye have known God, or rather known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage. Ye observe days and months, and times and years.” And to the Colossians, chap. ii, “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ,”—“Let no man therefore judge you in meat or in drink, or in respect of an holy day, and of the new moon, or of the Sabbath-days.” Sabbath-days are here classed amongst jubilees and set festivals, and the observance of them set upon a par with making distinctions between clean and unclean meats, and other ceremonial institutions of the Jewish dispensation. I do not know of one solitary injunction in the bible against any kind of amusement and recreation on the Sabbath.^[4] As to the abuse of the thing, ab abusu non valet consequentia, and I am ready to argue the question on the point of expediency,^[5] as well as on that of scriptural authority. As the delight of those who are righteous overmuch is to fish in troubled waters, I expect the sticklers for sanctified austerity will open in full cry upon me; I beg however to address them in the language of the apostle; “Who art thou that judgest another man’s servants? To his own master he standeth or falleth.—One man esteemeth one day above another, another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.” Romans xiv. v, 4, 5.

Anti-pseudo-puritan.

I have not hesitated to insert this letter, and to add my own illustrations upon it, as I am at open war with custom, unless founded on reason. I am aware that many good men, and some sensible persons may be startled at it, because they are accustomed from their infancy to view freedom of discussion on religious points in a criminal light; but I can not help regretting that the un-essentials of religion should, in any case, be confounded with its essentials; for nothing, it is certain, has so much hurt the cause of religion. From this circumstance it happens that the belief of many in the genuine principles of religion is undermined, for when they find themselves baffled in supporting a tenet that has been insensibly adopted without sufficient foundation, but which they have been accustomed to think of equal authority with all the other tenets upheld by their church, they naturally conclude that, as this can not be defended, when strictly examined, all the others, if duly investigated, would be found to rest upon equally unstable foundations.

From an early number of the second vol. of a congenial contemporary paper, the Albany Microscope, I extract the following:

“Pro and Con. Well, Frank, what have you been busying yourself about this morning? said a worthy deacon the other day.

“Frank. Why, sir, I have been reading the Microscope.

“D. Reading the Microscope, ha! and can not you spend your time better?

“F. As for that it would not be easy to determine; though, when I am thus employed, I do not think I am spending my time ill.

“D. But I do. That Microscope is a most villainous paper; ’tis a disgrace to the town. I am surprised that any man of sense would support it, or take any notice of it.

“F. Ah! deacon, it seems you are very much opposed to it.

“D. I tell you I am; and all honest people ought to be. If every body was like me, it would go to Old Nick plaguy soon, I warrant ye.

“F. No doubt of that, deacon. But, sir, will you be so good as to tell me why it is so dreadful—

“D. Because it is so. ’Tis a most horrible, abominable thing. ’Tis a disgrace to the city.

“F. By exposing its vices, I suppose.

“D. Don’t interrupt me, Mr. Impertinent.

“F. I beg your pardon, sir, but I should like to hear the reasons why.

“D. It is always crammed with nonsense and scandal, and abuse against religion.

“F. You must allow me to differ from you there, deacon. For my part I can not conceive how it has abused religion. I have been a pretty constant reader of the Microscope, and do not recollect to have seen an irreligious sentiment in it. An eloquent divine of this city said, in his pulpit, not long ago, that priestcraft and superstition had been more injurious to the christian cause than atheism itself, and if it be so, which I presume no one will pretend to doubt, the editor of the Microscope deserves your thanks instead of your imprecations. He has sometimes attacked priests and bigots, and mere pretenders to christianity, but has never said a word against religion. On the contrary he has uniformly been its advocate, and has shewn a laudable desire to separate the counterfeit from the genuine. If you do not wish religion to be freed from the vermin that are gnawing away its very vitals, then you may condemn the Microscope for holding up their vices and follies to ridicule and contempt.

“D. But it is getting the cause out of repute, to be always picking flaws in its advocates.

“F. It is getting long sanctimonious faces, that conceal evil hearts, out of repute.

“D. But then the Microscope is always attacking private characters.

“F. Those that ought to be attacked. Surely you can not be a friend of the dandies, libertines, etc. who infest our city. I am the last man that will consider their royal persons to be sacred; and I think it is as well to select one now and then as an object of contempt. It will not only have a tendency to reform those on whom the censure directly falls, but will put others on their guard. It is true, things may sometimes be inserted which ought not to be; but such instances are rare, and in this instance the Microscope has been managed with great prudence.

“D. But, when a man is deserving of censure let us step forward, like honest men, and reprove to his face.

“F. You do not look at all sides of the question, sir. It is seldom this can be done; and it would still more seldom be productive of the desired effect. You would unnecessarily make him your enemy; and instead of reforming make him more contumacious in his follies. Reproof from an unknown source is much more effectual; and when it is made public, you not only touch the individual but the whole fraternity. Upon the whole, I think the Microscope is a very useful paper—as much so, in a moral point of view, as any in the state. It is certainly the only independent one. It affords too an opportunity, or will induce many, to exercise themselves in composition, which, of all exercises, is the most useful to the mind; and, considering these things, and the amusement it affords, I shall cordially put in my mite to support it. And to tell you the plain truth, deacon, though I do not mean you at all, when I hear a man belching forth his imprecations against it, I can not help thinking all is not well within, and conclude he has either been Microscoped, or is afraid he will be, or is conscious he ought to be. Now, deacon, to be candid, do you really think this Microscope is such a dreadful evil as you—

“D. Ah! well, well, never mind!—let’s say nothing more about it. I’m in haste to go—so, good morning, Frank.”

I shall make no apology for this plagiarism, but only request my readers to substitute “the Scribbler” for “the Microscope,” and peruse it over again.

The wit, the roguish vivacity, and cultivated mind displayed in the following communication from a fair and ingenious correspondent, entitles her to the best and earliest insertion it is in my power to bestow.

Montreal, 18th June, 1822.

My dear fellow,

(I’ll not call you Scrib again as your Congreve definition of that term banishes it from my vocabulary,^[6] though I will not quarrel with you on that subject; but Congreve—if not already there—may go to the devil.)

I was going to inform you that your note of the 6th May came safe to hand, and I then had, and now have, a thousand things to say, but in the wilderness of my thoughts I know not where to begin, and shall therefore at present say nothing upon that subject, as without it, this communication will far exceed the limits that I intend generally to allow myself. But my former weak impression having remained “within the book and volume of your brain,” more than one sixth part of the time that it requires an individual, as Hamlet says, to build churches not to be forgot, I am bound to do away any unfavourable impression you may have had in consequence of not sooner receiving any thing from the silken hand. The day succeeding that on which I had the honour of your note, I observed Pat-Roclus astray in the Courant, and wishing to give him a hint, I deferred the observations I felt inclined to make to you, until that should be prepared, which, amidst other numerous and important avocations, (such as inspecting fashions, paying formal respects where none were due or deserved, spinning street-yarn, &c. &c. &c.) happened not to get completed until about the time you left Montreal; and during the secession of the Scribbler, I had taken a jaunt (as we fashionables call it) to the country, and of course heard nothing of its resumption, until, on arriving in town last evening, (how particular we like to be in what concerns our own dear selves,) the last numbers of my favourite were put into my silken hand; and I have now the exquisite satisfaction of congratulating you, and nineteen twentieths of the community on its brilliant (and I hope permanent) re-appearance.

I had almost forgotten to tell you that I have repeatedly had the satisfaction of observing that the notice you have been pleased to take of my production has raised a considerable degree of curiosity, and I already almost find myself established, (like many others, for doing nothing,) in a sort of artificial reputation. After all, anxious anticipating curiosity is, perhaps, the climax of enjoyment; and for a certainty I do not know, but when the charm is once broken by an actual taste, a small proportion of what I would fain have thought a dainty, may at once satiate the now apparently craving appetite, and all my joyous and sparkling anticipations be like a flash in the pan, no sooner in a blaze than extinguished. I have found it so sometimes in other things.

A Hint to Pat-Roclus, the Courant serenader, on the inutility of attacking breastworks, counterscarps, halfmoons, bastions, hornworks, parapets, etc. however weakly defended, by the long exploded flash-artillery of music—

with a true specimen of the modern art of escalading by Jove and his Devil.

DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCER, No. X.

By the late arrivals we have received English papers to a late date, from which we extract the following interesting particulars:

Yesterday A. B. Esq. who, by the death of an uncle, lately succeeded to an estate of £4000 per annum, gave—no answer to five charity letters from the natural children of his deceased relative, and their mother, who works hard for their maintenance.

On Friday last the duke of C. visited the infirmary, and after perusing the list of contributors to that humane and useful foundation, gave—a pinch of snuff to the gentleman who stood next to him.

It was confidently stated some days ago that D. E. Esq. had paid his father’s debts, but this we are assured is without foundation.

Whereas it has been reported that F. G. Esq. who some time ago made a composition with his creditors for 2s. 6d. in the pound, has of late given several entertainments of three courses, we are desired to inform the public, from the best authority, viz. his butler, that the said gentleman never gives more than two courses and a dessert.

Yesterday about one o’clock, the neighbours of Mr. H. I. were alarmed by a fire breaking out in his kitchen, which after burning with violence some time was happily extinguished. A sheep’s-head is said to have been singed, and a neck of mutton nearly roasted to death, on the occasion, but this wants confirmation. The fire was more alarming, as none had been known there from time immemorial.

In home-news we are remarkably deficient, owing to the numerous arrivals, and the intenseness of application bestowed at this season of the year, upon puncheons, packing-cases, crates, and other interesting objects that raise delightful ideas of pounds, shillings and pence, with the most picturesque visions of cent per cent profits, &c. the minds of nine tenths, of our population.

Match against time.  On Thursday last a well contested race for a considerable wager took place, through St. Theresa, & St. Vincent-Streets, and round by the New-Market, between the famous stallion Tom Bully (of the Goddamnhim stud) and the two well known fillies Betsey and Angelique: one of the mares carried a silver watch as a make weight. After a hard run Tom Bully won the stakes by half a head.

Als de tyen veranderen verzet men de bakens; says a Dutch proverb; “when currents alter, buoys are removed to new places.” St. Charles Barrommée, and St. Urbain-Streets, formerly notorious for disrepute, have now become the very Bond-Street and Piccadilly of Mount Royal.—The magnet of attraction for all the fashionables being to be found in that quarter is no doubt the cause.

It is reported that the celebrated town bull, Tough Tom, will be brought to the hammer, the Iroquois herds not coming in in such numbers as formerly. If sold he must be taken with all faults as he will not be warranted sound. In the mean time he stands at livery as usual in the backclose, for the accommodation of cattle of all colours. A dollar the leap, and trente sous to the stable-boy.

Notice is hereby given, that no notice will be given relative to the fund for superannuated and disabled Voyageurs the disposal of the same having been regulated by one of the secret articles of the convention between the Honourable the Ratching Companies, and with which the public and the poor engagés from whose hard earning, the fund has been accumulated, have therefore nothing to do.

McRavish McKillaway & Co.

Fashionable Movements. Arrived, lately from England, the Hon. Mr. Deputy Gouverneur, Mr. and Miss Foresight; and last Sunday, Sir Plausible Pompous McKillaway, with a large retinue of servants so necessary for the maintenance of his dignity. Mr. and Mrs. Winterbloom are daily expected. Mrs. Admiral Nul, it is said has sent peremptory orders to the admiral to prepare every thing for her expected arrival from the springs.

TRANSCRIBER NOTES

Misspelled words and printer errors have been corrected. Where multiple spellings occur, majority use has been employed.

Punctuation has been maintained except where obvious printer errors occur.

[The end of The Scribbler 1822-07-11 Volume 2, Issue 54 edited by Samuel Hull Wilcocke]