of the doings
of the Convention, to the Editors of the public papers in Boston,
Salem, Newburyport and Haverhill, and that they be requested to
publish the same in their respective papers.

A full account of this convention can be found in the "Salem Gazette," Oct.
31, 1815. It does not appear that there was any disturbance of public
worship to complain of, only many people neglected to attend the meetings,
or walked or rode for pleasure on the Lord's Day.

* * * * *

In the same month and year the "Worcester AEgis" gave expression to opinions
on the question of "Sabbath-breaking" which we think accord more with
modern ideas than do those of the Essex convention. The views of the "AEgis"
probably represented the average liberal sentiment of that day.

_WORCESTER, OCT. 25._

_BREACH OF THE SABBATH._

At the late session of the S.J. Court at Northampton it was
decided that a justice of the peace could not issue a warrant for
a breach of the Sunday laws against an offender that is not an
inhabitant of the county where the offence is committed, but that
he must be prosecuted only before a grand jury; and that justices
of the peace could not issue warrants, nor sheriffs serve them,
on the Lord's day, for any breaches of those laws. Damages were
awarded against a justice, a tythingman, and a sheriff, upon the
latter principle.

Upon this decision we congratulate the public. It has taken a
formidable weapon from the hands of those petty tyrants, who are
labouring to revive the reign of religious persecution. We trust
we shall no longer see the Sabbath trespassed upon by these
_official harpies_, who, instead of spending the day as they
ought, in worshiping God, confessing their own manifold sins, and
praying that they may be endued with a more christian temper, are
riding or walking the highway, "seeking whom they may devour,"
and gratifying at once their malice and their avarice, by
plundering their fellow-citizens, and filling their own pockets.
In some towns they have been stationed at every turn of the road,
ready to dart out upon the traveller, like a spider from the
corner of his web. We rejoice at every occurrence which checks
this persecuting spirit.--Those who know us, know tha