For future reference, Agradman: You could have just renamed this article to the better title and rewritten it during the AFD discussion, rather than creating a second article. Uncle G (talk) 09:36, 21 July 2009 (UTC)[reply]
non notable proclamation (I'd even question whether the title is accurate, there were a fair number of proclamations that year, since William came to the throne then). This seems to be one of a series of urgings to piety that British monarchs would issue on the question of Sunday work, see [1] (George III, 1787), and here (Victoria, 1837. If you look at the London Gazette for the issues after William took the throne, there's a whole lot of proclamations. This one excited no comment that I can see, and isn't notable.Wehwalt (talk) 20:21, 13 July 2009 (UTC)[reply]
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editorial commentary in "The Republican", 1820
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It may not be amiss to make a few observations on this reproduction; we are aware that it is a subject, that would call down the vengeance of the Attorney General if we were to do it justice, but to pass it over in silence would be a total want of principle, and a neglect of duty. This proclamation is now considered, both by its deliverer and receiver, as a mere usual and common place document. Those who have been present at the opening of an assize, must have perceived that the clerk of the court yawns over it two or three times whilst reading it; and it ever puts the priests to the blush, when they find it necessary to read it; but this is very seldom, and is a subject worth the attention of the informer, who may recover a penalty on the neglect thereof. It is worthy of notice, that, this was made a legal document during the reign of Queen Aune, and that no less a person than the secretary Lord Bolingbroke was the instrument of introducing it into the House of Commons; a man, the tenour of whose whole life was in avowed opposition to it. There was a time when proclamations of this kind, and in fact of every kind, produced a considerable effect in this country, they were considered almost tantamount to a law: but that day is gone by, and they are now thought as much of as the king's bill of fare for dinner. They are now almost out of fashion, and we doubt whether the reign of George the Fourth will ever produce half a dozen of them or not. The circular of a secretary of state is thought much more of, and paid more attention to than a royal proclamation. We could say much on the various recommendations contained in this proclamation, but for the sake of our venders we durst not; suffice it, that we say, " Example is better than precept." We believe that, according to the laws and admitted maxims of this Country, adultery might be considered to embrace all the offences denounced in this proclamation; it is a fashionable vice, has a most immoral tendency, and is the result of debauchery. Now we cannot help thinking that the name which is attached to this document is not altogether free from what the Jate Lord Ellenborough called this venial offence. It is generally believed at the West End of the Town, that this obscrvaiion of the law lord, gave rise to a very ludicrous toast in the presence of both the then Chief Justice and nominal Chief Magistrate, being no less than, " The venial delights of crim con." It has been understood to have been introduced by the one at the expence of a joke on the other. Another vice, which becomes more speedily fatal aud disastrous to families, which is denounced in this proclamation, is that of gaming. We believe that Carlton House has not been altogether free from this vice; and it is satisfactorily known, that one of the king's brothers has suffered severely by it. We really hope that the example as well as the precept will issue from the right quarter, for there are a certain race of beings, who look to this spot as the origin of fashion, and are ready to catch at a royal and fashionable vice in preference to a royal virtue. It may be, that tliey are so much more accustomed to the former than the latter; but we hope that, in unison with the head of this article, and the proclamation, that a radical reform will begin in the right quarter. We hope that his most sacred Majesty will unite with the less wealthy radicals, and strictly adhere ta an abstinence from all spirituous liquors and other destructive and heavily excised articles. A passion for gaming is in our opinion more criminal than suicide: the former is the continual cause of pain, the latter is generally resorted to as a relief from pail): the one is the cause, the other the effect only. It is currently reported, that a son who took 10,0001. a year to look after his father, immediately pawned (lie whole for 25,0001. down, and lost it immediately at the gaming table. Gaming is the most hideous vice known: it leads to more misery than any other vice whatever, it is a kind of irremediable vice, which reform nor repentance cannot renovate the health and comfort it destroys. It is equally pernicious to the prince and the peasant, to him who plays for a thousand, a pound, or a penny. It is the most fatal of all passions, and should be discouraged by pains and penalties. Its devotees, whether rich or poor, are almost sure to terminate in robbers or desperate assassins. |
Agradman talk/contribs 18:36, 14 July 2009 (UTC)[reply]
Agradman talk/contribs 22:43, 14 July 2009 (UTC)[reply]