The first Select Committee Report (18317F 131832) contains the text of legislation on Sunday Observance since the reign of Edward III. The committee's report on the laws and practices relating to Sunday observance and on violations of these laws resulted in acts passed in 1833 promoting the better observance of the Lord's Day. A Select Committee in 1846 investigated the Sunday opening of public houses in Scotland and the resulting disturbances caused at Divine Service by people who had just come out of public houses. However, in 1853, the Forbes MacKenzie Act was passed which closed public houses in Scotland completely on Sunday. An act similar to this was passed in England in 1854 but because of its obvious unpopularity was repealed the following year. The report of the Select Committee (18547F 131855) on this bill is included in this set. -- Publisher's catalogue.