Sad Spirit Of Violence And Indulgence Of Lusts; That's Sheffield For You

[RichardB]

The paucity of the contributions of such a place as Sheffield may perhaps be justly accounted for by the sad spirit of violence and indulgence of lusts (as seen in gluttony and drunkenness) which notwithstanding the names and labours of such men as Scott, and Knight, and Cotterell has obtained there such fearful and prevalent possession.

Now that's Sheffield History (1865)

[duckweed]

Basically it is saying that the reason Poor Sheffielders were not giving money to the Anglican Church was because they were drunken layabouts. Ignoring the fact that many people hadn't got money for food at the time.