Yesterday week, the Bishop of Rochester (Dr. Randall Davidson) made
a most striking speech in Convocation in favour of the opening of the British Museum, the National Gallery, Free Libraries, and places of that description, on Sunday. He expressed the strongest sympathy with the jealousy felt of any step which would increase the number of persons obliged to labour on a Sunday, and quite admitted the objections felt by the artisan to any step which might tend to diminish the feeling against Sunday labour ; but he thought that the small tradesmen, the ill-paid clerks, and other people of that class, whose homes are not comfortable, and who have not as much reason as the artisan to dread the encroach- ments of Sunday labour, have not been consulted on the subject as they ought to have been, and that many of them are very deeply interested in the opening of places where they could improve their minds, and not suffer as they needs must suffer in comfortless private rooms, if they do not go to the public- house. It was an admirable speech, penetrated with deep sympathy for the proper observance of the day of rest, and yet showing large knowledge of the needs of the class who are most anxious for new opportunities of cultivating their minds and hearts on their only leisure-day. No man, however religious, can profitably spend his whole Sunday in religious observances.
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