The House of Lords ou Tuesday had a discussion, raised
by Lord Dunra,ven, on the policy of opening museums, picture- galleries, and places of quiet amusement to the working- classes on Sundays, Lord Shaftesbury opposing it with an amendment in favour of opening them to the public for the hours between seven and ton at least three times a week. The discussion, of course, turned on the usual points,—first, the "profanity" of such amusements on Sunday, and next the fear of the working-class that any inroad on, the strict ob- servance of the Sunday would lead to working on that day. This last is the real and only rational argument against the brightening of the dismalness of our English Sunday, but it is very doubtful if it be not a sufficient argument. At all events, the Lords are either Sabbatarians or thought this argument adequate, for they rejected Lord Duuraven's motion by 41 to 34. votes. The talk about its being "profane" to look at beautis ful pictures on a Sunday is simply unintelligible to us. In these wintry days, the chief Sunday recreation of those who do not read, is sleep. And which is the more profane, dosing away a dull afternoon, or enjoying the genius of Tuner or Titian ?
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