Transcribed from the 1849 Partridge and Oakey edition by David Price. [Picture: Decorative cover from pamphlet] THE Chelsea Working-Man’s Sabbath Essay. ~~~~~~ DIVINE MERCY; OR, THE TEMPORAL ADVANTAGES OF THE SABBATH. INTERSPERSED WITH EXPOSTULATORY REMARKS. * * * * * * * * * * BY GEORGE BRYAN, ONE OF THE LATE COMPETITORS FOR THE SABBATH ESSAY PRIZES. * * * * * “’Tis not in artful measures, in the chime And idle tinkling of a minstrel’s lyre, To charm His ear, whose eye is on the heart; Whose frown can disappoint the proudest strain, Whose approbation prosper even mine!”—COWPER. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * LONDON: PARTRIDGE AND OAKEY, PATERNOSTER ROW; W. F. RAMSAY, BROMPTON ROW, BROMPTON; J. L. POUTER, SLOANE STREET; AND D. ROBERTSON, GLASGOW. 1849 * * * * * CHELSEA. PRINTED BY T. WILSHER, MANOR STREET. TO THE RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF HARROWBY, _&c. &c. &c._ MY LORD, Towards the termination of the year 1847, J. Henderson, Esq., of Park, near Glasgow, a gentleman distinguished for his piety and universal benevolence, offered prizes for the three best Essays on “the Temporal Advantages of the Sabbath, and the consequent necessity of preserving its rest from all the encroachments of unnecessary labour.” In the short space of three months 1045 Essays were forwarded by Working-Men to the Adjudicators. Some time afterwards, ten additional prizes were munificently given by His Royal Highness Prince Albert, in addition to many others which had been previously announced. One month had elapsed before I was informed of the original intention, and at that period the health of my wife was in a very precarious state, besides which I was myself labouring under great distress of mind. Notwithstanding these evident disadvantages, the subject being congenial to my feelings, I resolved on making an effort to express my individual views respecting the temporal value and importance of the Sabbath-day.