been discarded in other lands, with the go-carts of Europe in its infancy, should to this hour be good enough for England; why it is, that, having with them arrived to the state of manhood, we should leave it for them to harmonize their habits with their age, but preposterously array ourselves partly, in the wisdom of maturity; partly, in the simplicity of our non-age; cutting our coats in the fashion of Stultz, but submitting to a pinafore to save us from the effects of bread and butter. Mr. Macauley will, no doubt, some day or other, be revealing to the world what it is in "the nature of ecclesiastical revenues," which renders it fitting for John Bull,—no longer the envy, but the joke of surrounding nations-to exhibit himself in such a plight; or, wherefore it is, that the fact of "those revenues being mixed up with private property," would forbid us to hold in equal veneration the testing of our innocence by a ploughshare, and the testing of our theology by the decree of a Pope, a Parliament, or even a "Westminster Assembly,"with "shallow Edwards, and Scotch What d'ye call" to help them in their inspirations.

We confess we are curious to learn the full dimensions of that "lion in the way," which has always the perverseness to appear just at the moment some effort is to be made to get rid of a wrong, or the reason is demanded for some venerable rapine. But, full of trust in our cause, we intend to look boldly on this "lion ;" and have a comfortable assurance that, when all is over, "no manner of hurt will be found upon us." Nevertheless, we feel for Mr. Macauley's "perplexities," and can little wonder at the dif ficulties he sees in his way. But "words are" not always "things." And we tell him plainly, that already we see his defeat in the weakness of thinking too much about words, and too little about things; in frightening himself with empty sounds, instead of encasing himself in immortal truth. So long as he is in this mood, there will be no want of bug-a-boos to alarm him. Hence it is we feel our relative strength. For us it will not be enough, when we have stated a wrong, to amuse us with the cry of "impracticable;" nor, when we have demonstrated rapine, to harangue, with affected indignation, of "vested rights." If our enemies (for enemies we reluctantly deem them) should speak to us of Moses, we shall show that it is the "profits" they mean, and these by no means the "minor" ones; and should they hazard the name of Christianity, we shall be constrained to remind them -not of the religion of those who "provide things honest in the sight of all men"-but of

a

those," who, for covetousness, with feigned words, made merchandise of men's souls."

We have an infinite respect for property; but then it is the property of those who hold it by the best title; and we have a sympathy, moreover, with the losers as well as the gainers-the small owners as well as the great possessors of it. Sure we are, at least, that no one on earth can have so absolute a property in our souls as we ourselves have. It is very hard that "family settlements" should be disturbed by this truth. But they who made those settlements ought to have looked to their title in time; and on those who first made, or have continued to make, our souls a subject of traffic, the inconvenience must devolve of our demand to take them back into our own keeping. We may, to be sure, in pity to the successors of the first wrong-doers, assign them compensation for the re-entry we claim upon our spiritual rights; but we entreat them to be discreet in the matter of title.

Our neighbour, next shop, has earned his substance by honest industry. A person in black accosts him, and demands a year's payment of him for what? for spiritual instruction. He declares that he had never had any from him; that he had committed that office, and had already discharged that debt, tó a person in whose religious opinions he had far greater confidence than in those of his visiter; and of whose sanctity, knowledge, and zeal, he had most satisfactory experience. "Never mind," exclaims the person in black; "these things were settled long ago, by wiser heads than yours, who never intended that you should be at the trouble of thinking for yourself. Other and better judges than you have determined what religious opinions and instructions are best suited for you; though, to be sure, your modern lawmakers have, awkwardly enough, granted you the power to take them, or leave them. What an unreasonable fellow, therefore, you are to complain! You see I don't meddle with your conscience; but still I must live, and must meddle with your purse. Meantime, whether you complain or not, or whether you have been fool enough to pay another or not, I have authority to demand your money or-your person. So come along. Bailiff, do your duty." And this is a minister of Christ! this his vested right! So Lord Althorp, so Mr. Macauley, and so Sir Robert Harry Inglis, must say. But then, only think of "the nature of ecclesiastical revenues," and of family property, and all that. Why, the monopoly of snuff by the kings of Spain was a trifle

A LARGE majority of the present Whig House of Commons seem to be so thoroughly imbued with an inbred desire to encourage monopoly, and to oppose the doctrines of Free Trade, that, (with the clearest evidence, and most convincing arguments in favour of the advantages the public would derive by obtaining its supply of food from the market of the world,) according to the ideas of our sapient legislators, " Monopoly and Close Trade" is henceforward to be the rule, and Free Trade the exception.

The public may read an instructive lesson as to the incapacity and ignorance of their representatives, in the pages of the report with which we have headed this article. A committee was appointed during the last Session of Parliament, to inquire into the state of the British Channel Fisheries. It appears from the evidence, that "the fisheries are at present in a depressed and declining state; that they appear to have been generally sinking since the Peace of 1815, and more rapidly during the last eight or ten years; that the capital employed does not yield a profitable return; while the number of vessels, boats, and men is much diminished, and the fishermen and their families, who formerly were maintained by their industry, and enabled to pay rates and taxes, are now, in a greater or less degree, dependent on the poor-rates for their support." If anything were required to add to our conviction of the total unfitness of our legislators for the duties they have undertaken, it would be the opinion pronounced in a following part of the report by this committee, respecting the causes which they imagine have produced this state of distress. Before, however, we enter on this part of the subject, we propose (from evidence brought before the committee,) making our readers acquainted, 1st, with the general mode of fishing in the Channel, and, 2d, with the manner in which London is supplied with fish.

The chief sorts of fish caught in the British Channel appear to be mackerel, herrings, sprats, flat fish, (i. e. turbot, soles, brill, and plaice,) pilchards, and a few whitings, cod, and conger eels.

The mackerel and herrings come to the Channel in large shoals from the north, and afford the chief harvest of the English and French fishermen. The mackerel makes its appearance in May and June: the herring, later in the year, in October and November. Both these species of fish are taken in what are technically termed "drift" nets. These are large nets spread across the sea, to entangle the fish as it endeavours to swim through. The French and English fishers pursue different methods of fishing: the French use a large class of boat, (from thirty to sixty tons,) and in general take a cooper with them, and a requisite supply of salt and casks, in order to pickle the herring as soon as caught; the English, on the other hand, use a smaller description

of boat, not more than half the size, and usually land their fish as soon as caught; when it is immediately conveyed in a fresh state to the London market by land. There are also carrierboats, who purchase either of the French or English fishers, and sail for London the instant they have bought a cargo. It appears that about three-fourths of such cargoes are bought from English fishers, aud one fourth from the French.

Sprats form but a small portion of the trade. They are taken, from November to February, in the neighbourhood of Folkstone. The boats used in this fishing are small, and are called stow-boats. A small quantity of the finest fish are sent to London for eating; but the greater number are used as manure, for which purpose they are in great request; the price is usually £1 per ton.

Flat fish are taken during the greater part of the year, either by what are called trawl-nets, or by the hook and line. The English universally use the trawl-net, but the French use both methods, and it appears that the finest fish are caught by the hook. Several of the witnesses have endeavoured to prove that injustice is done to our fisheries by allowing French turbots to be used in England; but as it appears that they are usually larger and finer, we think the public will agree with us in not desiring to see any alteration in this matter. The trawl-net scrapes along the ground; and as the flat fish breed in the channel, it appears that much injury and destruction has been done to the young fry when the trawl has been used near the shore. It certainly appears, from the evidence that has been given, that the trawl ought not to be used within one league of the shore, (unless the meshes of the net be made large enough for the young fish to pass through,) during the winter months.

Pilchards are taken in August, September, and October, on the Cornish coast; the greater por.. tion are caught in what are called seines.

A seine consists of three boats and two nets, and is worth about L.800. About 30,000 hogsheads of pilchards are caught in seines, and annually exported to Italy and the Mediterranean in a dry state; and about 20,000 hogsheads are taken by drift-nets. The following is the answer of an intelligent witness as to the difference between drift and seine fishing: "The seine is, where a shoal is seen approaching; the seine throws out as it is, to encircle them; it touches the ground by leads at the bottom, and floats on the surface, and the fish become encircled. The drift fishing is carried on by boats which fish in deeper water, many miles from the land, and throw out nets, which are, in many instances, a mile long, to float on the surface, or at the bottom, as they think it most likely to answer; they lie in the way of the fish, who strike against them, and are meshed."

should be prevented selling to us; and should have reflected that corn is now 60 per cent. dearer in England than in France. They should have recommended the abolition of the monopoly of the Corn Laws, before endeavouring to increase the monopoly of fish; they should have reflected that cordage is dearer in England than in France; that the nets cannot be made at the same price in the two countries; that the wood of which the boats are built is heavily laden with duties. They should unanimously have recommended the House to alter the duties on timber, to place all foreign on an equality with the Canadian. The Committee, also, seem to have entirely forgotten the fact, that during the war time there was naturally much overtrading in the Channel fisheries. When the British cruisers blockaded the coast of France, the field was entirely possessed by the English, and consequently every one engaged in fishing, with the certainty, at that time, of enjoying a part of the monopoly. Happily this system is at an end, and we see that the London market is partly supplied by

the Dutch, French, and Norwegians. The interests, however, of the public and of the fishermen, need not in any way be placed in opposition. Let the enlightened friend of the fisherman demand a reduction in the duties on corn, brandy, hemp, and timber; and let the public demand a repeal of all the acts which prevent foreign fish coming to our markets. According to the exact letter of the law, turbot, eels, and lobsters are the only fish which can come free of duty. According to the usual system of our legislators, they have exempted the delicacies of their own festive board! while they have prohibited the Dutch herring, or the Norwegian salmon, or the Spanish anchovy-fish which might be sold at so low a rate, as to be of service to the poorer classes of society. We trust that the Whigs will pause before they add to the distress of the country, by adopting the advice of the Committee; that they will not, under the pretence of benefiting a small part of the fishermen. inflict a positive evil on every person in the metropolis, and in the midland counties.

of the choice of the latter. Sense of Divine Right more fixed hitherto in the Subject's mind than in the Monarch's. Perfect Despots not so necessarily desirous of War as others. Kingly valuation of the Lives of Foreigners and Subjects.

ALL nations, from the earliest ages, have had their games and pastimes, which differed with the people, according to their various peculiarities, though similar as to the general question of excitement. But with kings of every age and clime, the same game has been identified with the "pride, pomp, and circumstance" of their station; and this game has been War. The morally vapid and selfish condition of human nature, pampered in extreme, and the ennui almost inseparable from a state in which every wish is a law, render it exceedingly difficult to procure a sufficient excitement for the cravings of restless, high-fed, smouldering sensations, acting upon a vulgar or gross imagination, and a commonplace mind, that has been made a selfidolatrous pagod by incessant flattery and abject homage. How unsatisfactory to such a being must be a game at chess? The excitement he might possibly happen to feel from a steady intellectual effort is destroyed, by the extraordinary fact of his always winning! Athletic, or other manly exercises and amusements, are beneath his dignity, even were his pursy condition capable of engaging in them; and to this there is hardly an exception in modern times. Having satiated himself with every luxury and sensuality, nothing remains but War. The extreme

sense of enjoyment always stings itself into the sense of destruction. It is so with love, and with every hobby. As a king is the highest among human creatures-conventionally speaking-and the supreme ruler of all beneath him, it eventually requires the slaughter of thousands to prove his miraculous position to himself, and replenish his occasional sickly misgivings of his own divine right. The sheep do not question the royal tiger's power, near at hand or afar; but if some foreign tiger does not question it for them, i. e. for his own sheep, then the other royal animal, being the stronger of the two, gets tired of the mere admission without the desired exercise. To eat and grow fat is not enough: to feel truly great and happy, he must destroy. The continual absence of provocation becomes of itself a provocation; and mischief must be done somehow. In countries where entire despotism gives the monarch an unquestionable "divine right" over the lives of his subjects, a prodigality of executions, or else a large massacre now and then in some province where a small portion of his slaves may be indulging insolent ideas of freedom-or, by way of interlude, employing his creatures upon some vast prodigal whim, as huge as useless*-will generally suffice for the temporary satisfaction of his splenetic gall, and the feverish want of some strong object in life. But where kings are circumscribed in

"It is calculated that the largest of the Djizeh pyramids contains six million tons of stone, and that its erection cost the labour of 100,000 men for twenty years! How many human lives it cost, (thrown into the bargain,) it would not be very difficult to conjecture.