"At a meeting of the Society for Reformation of Manners, especially with respect to the Lord's-day: Ordered, that the thanks of the Society be returned to the worthy person, unknown, for his kind present of ten guineas. They also hereby give notice to all grocers, chandlers, butchers, publicans, pastry-cooks, and others whom it may concern; that they are resolved to put the laws in execution against all such as shall continue to offend, by exercising their callings on the Lord's day, in such a manner as may most effectually suppress that great and growing evil, whether by indictments or otherwise, of which they are desired to take this friendly public warning." The reader will observe, that it has long been customary for tradesmen of the above description to sell on Sundays; but it should be recollected that the lowest classes of the community are sometimes paid very late on Saturday evenings, and that they have it not always in their power to arrange their time, so as to procure every necessary for the only holiday they have. When such wants are supplied by the tradesman _before the hour of Divine service_, he must be a rigid moralist indeed who would prosecute the offender. If persons in opulent circumstances were in the practice of purchasing on Sundays, it could be attributed to no other cause than mere indolence in themselves and servants, and they would deserve punishment; but I cannot help thinking a grocer or chandler would find very little account from opening his shop for such, as I do not believe there are five in each parish throughout London. For the pastry-cooks and publicans I have no excuse. There were people in the middle of the last Century who had so little regard for decency, that they even interrupted those solemn hours of silence which are devoted, in our Courts of Justice, to ascertaining the guilt or innocence of persons whose lives are in question. Would it be credited that when an evidence was speaking, a Jury and a Judge listening, spectators should be seen in deep discourse upon some irrelevant subject, others quarrelling about places, and young ladies actually sewing each other's clothes together amidst titters and suppressed laughter--yet such _was_ the fact. Surely this practice cannot _now_ prevail. Illegal concerts were held in 1759, and the conductors of them collected innocent young men and apprentices, by declaring that the receipts were intended for charitable purposes. When assembled, notorious Procuresses made their appearance, attended by the Cyprians, their progeny; and the consequence to the manners of youth may be imagined. Sir John Fielding, acting under the authority of the following clause in a very salutary Act of Parliament, and supported by a party of guards, dispersed one of those riotous assemblies in April of the above year, and sent the _ladies_ to Bridewell: