three years of Sabbath labor against thirteen of a suspension of it.

"The vast change that has taken place in the deportment and morals of those who navigate this canal, has demonstrated to all who have had an opportunity to notice it, the wisdom of the course adopted by the Company, if there had been no other or higher motive than a mere question of business-gain connected with it. The improvement in the conduct and morals of the boatmen, has been the subject of comment and congratulation noticed by all connected with the Company's business, and also by every intelligent and respectable resident on the line of the canal. Nor has this improvement been confined to the boatmen only; it is observed in the population along the line of the canal also, who are in no way connected with its navigation, but who, when the Sabbath was not respected by the boatmen, appearing to be influenced by this pernicious example, would assemble at various points, and turn the day into one of frolic and dissipation, or of strife and quarrel with the boatmen.

“The boatmen and the people on the line were thus mutually corrupting each other—and while the locks were open on the Sabbath, it was always a day of much disorder, and much more trouble and care to our superintendent on the canal, than it has been since.

"The boatmen now strive to reach some point by Saturday night, where they can have the privilege of attending a place of public worship; and if they fail to do that, the fact that their progress is arrested from that time till Monday morning, seems to have a favorable effect on their conduct, by (as I presume) inducing reflection on their part. Those who have no proper regard to the day, appear to respect it from respect to the opinions and feelings of their employers, and others who urge upon them the observance of it. When we first made the change, it was apprehended by some that large masses of boatmen would be assembled in idleness at various points on the Sabbath, and disorder thereby created. This apprehension has not been realized; on the contrary, as I have already remarked, it is a day of much greater quietness and order than it was before the change took place. I would remark also, that the complaints of depredation and trespass by boatmen on private property along the line, are much less frequent than they were before navigation was suspended on the Sabbath. And that in all respects we now find it much less difficult to get along in peace and harmony with the crews of five or six hundred boats, than we used to do on the old system with half that number.

"In regard to the comparative amount of labor performed by a given number of men, horses, boats, etc., under the two

systems, I would remark, that from our experience we have no doubt the preponderance is in favor of six days' labor. Mr. Lord, who has had sixteen years of experience on the canal, and whose duties include a supervision of the boats, says, that if he were doing the work by contract, with a limited number of boats, and had his choice between six and seven days' labor, he would elect the former.

"I have no hesitation in saying, that the present system has been more profitable to the company and to the boatmen, than the old one. It cannot be otherwise, from the facts I have stated; and I should regard it as mistaken economy, both in time and money, to return to the system of seven days' labor. So would the boatmen. There is not a doubt but at least fourfifths of them would earnestly press us to abide by our present course, if the question of a change should be agitatedand those who would go for a change, (if any,) would be found to be of that class with whom we would willingly part. Such also would be the feeling among the forwarders and others interested in the navigation of the canal; although at the outset they, as well as many of the boatmen, were disinclined to the present system.

“In taking the step we did thirteen years ago, when I believe every canal in the country was used as freely on the Sabbath, as on any other day, if the public chose to use them, the question was not so much, what is to be the effect of the measure, as what is right-what is duty? Having no doubts as to what should be the answer to such an inquiry, the course dictated by duty was adopted, and the consequences left where they may always safely be, under like circumstances."

The following is from the Collector on the Delaware Division of the Pennsylvania Canal:

"As regards the suspension of business operations on this and the Lehigh canal on the Christian Sabbath, commonly called Sunday, I can assure you it has thus far worked admirably; has given almost universal satisfaction in this community, as well as to the boatmen and others concerned; and I am also satisfied the measure is not calculated to diminish the revenue of the Commonwealth, or affect the interests of transporters in the least.

"Of the moral conduct of our boatmen generally, and their demeanor on the Sabbath in particular, I can truly speak with great commendation. There is none of that disorder at the places where they lay by' on Sunday, about which so much apprehension was expressed, in advance of the measure going into operation. In short, it has proved a blessing to all con

cerned, and doubtless has a salutary bearing also upon the morals of the whole community residing along the vicinity of the canal.

"Aside from its moral influence, there can be no doubt of the beneficial effect this measure has in a pecuniary point of view; as it must be obvious, that both men and beasts will do more labor in six days, by resting every seventh, in obedience to the Divine Law, as well as that of Nature, than by a perpetual working in disregard of both, wearing out themselves and their beasts."

The above experiments show conclusive'y four things, viz:

1. The character of the boatmen has been greatly inproved.

2. A similar improvement has taken place with regard to the inhabitants living in the vicinity of the canal.

3. Depredations on property are much less frequent than when the companies opened the locks on the Sabbath; and thus assisted the boatmen in the desecration of that day.

4. They do more work, and in a better manner.

Similar, it is believed, would be the effect of the due observance of the Sabbath in all kinds of business and among all classes of people. It was made for man, and the proper keeping of it tends to promote his intellectual elevation, his moral purity, his social happiness, and his eternal good. It cannot be desecrated without producing the opposite effects. The employment of men in secular business seven days in a week debases their minds, corrupts their morals, injures their health, and shortens their lives. It lessens their ability and their inclination for the highest and best efforts, and prevents them from making the wisest and most profitable use of their powers. Boatmen are no exception to this. The Sabbath was made for them, as well as for other men. They need it as much. The keeping of it will do them as much good. They

have as real a right to its rest and its privileges. It is no more needful to deprive them of its blessings, in order to prevent them from becoming more wicked, than it is to deprive other men. It is the way to increase their wickedness, and it does increase it to an awful extent; while it hinders the efficacy of all means for their reformation and improvement.

Let boatmen have the Bible, and the Sabbath; let missionaries go among them; let friends of the Sabbath, in the towns and villages where they stop, go on board the boats, and invite them to the house of God; let seats be furnished for them, and let them be treated as they actually are, a very useful and important class of our citizens, the value of whose health and moral elevation is incalculable; let no company, or State, or any of their officers submit to the low, degrading, and vicious employment of aiding and abetting them in breaking the Sabbath, by opening the locks, and thus assisting them to follow their ordinary occupations; and the interests of the boatmen, of the owners and forwarders of property on the canal, of stockholders, and of all concerned, will thereby be promoted.

Sabbath desecration, by high or low, on the land or on the water, is detrimental to individuals and to the state. It is a hostile invasion of the rights of God, and must be in all its influences hurtful to men.

A conviction of these truths, as public attention is awakened and information is extended, is becoming more and more general throughout the country.

FOURTH REPORT.

In the two first Sabbath Documents are illustrated the following truths, viz.:

1. The Sabbath is founded on the nature of things; and men are required, not only in the Bible, but by natural laws, to observe it.

2. As but six days in a week have been made or given to men for secular employments, they have no right to take any more; and if they do so, it is without right, against law, and in violation of one of the first principles of morality.

3. As the Sabbath does not belong to men for worldly purposes, if they take it for such purposes, they take what is not theirs, and thus practice a species of dishonesty, which is exceedingly demoralizing to their own minds, and to the minds of their fellow-men.

4. Since the Sabbath was made for man, and given to him as a day of rest from worldly business and cares, and of special devotion to the worship of God, and the promotion of the spiritual good of men, all men have a right thus to enjoy it; and no man or body of men can, in ordinary circumstances, deprive them of the exercise of this right, without great injustice towards them, the community, and God.

5. All men have a right not only to the rest and privileges of the Sabbath, but also to the stillness and quiet which the undisturbed enjoyment of those blessings requires; and all who disturb them by the prosecution of worldly business, traveling, or amusement, grossly