which is noticed by Athenæus (and a similar regulation existed in Venice) that fishmongers should have tables in their shops, inscribed with the price of their Fish; and that they should be subject to imprisonment, if they took less than the affixed price. This is mentioned, not with an idea of proposing such a law, but merely of suggesting whether it may not be expedient, to endeavour to engage some of the fishmongers to fix and announce in their shops their prices, for the benefit of themselves and others.

How far, in addition to these and any other measures to be adopted for removing the present impediments and obstacles to the supply of the metropolis, it would be expe dient to take any other means, by rewards or otherwise, to force the supply beyond its natural course, may be very doubtful; not only, because the effects of bounties appear in many cases to be uncertain and equivocal, but that in every instance where the industry and cupidity of man are operating in any speculation or trade, the true policy is to leave him as free as may be, honestly to profit by his own exertions; removing at the same time, as far as is practicable, every artificial and natural obstruction which may check or impede his course.

The benefits to accrue from the removal of the present obstacles to a more general use of Fish in this country, may be classed under the heads of FOOD, OCCUPATION, NURSERY FOR SEAMEN, AND INCREASE OF TRADE.-The greater part of Norway derives five-sixths of its food from Fisheries, without which its population could not exist. It is not desired, nor may it ever be expedient or necessary, to carry the use of Fish to even a third of that comparative amount. But if one fourth only of the subsistence of this country were derived from Fish (the other three parts being chiefly composed of corn, meat, and potatoes) and an equal quantity were exported in exchange for the wheat,

rice, and other produce of foreign countries, it would not only provide for an additional population of above four millions, but would supply the whole of the inhabitants of Great Britain, with more nutritive and palatable diet than they now enjoy; as the saving in butcher's meat by the middle classes might allow a greater proportion of it for the poor, instead of their present scanty and too general diet of bread, water, and tea.

The extension of our Fisheries would, at the same time, afford employment for a numerous class of courageous and adventurous individuals; who are too volatile to fix in any settled and steady course of labor at home, and are not disposed to engage in long and distant voyages abroad. To them, the brief adventures of a fishing boat, and the lottery and uncertain profits which it offers, so congenial to many minds, would be very acceptable; particularly to boys of spirit and hardihood, who are too generally bred up in vicious courses, and do now make the noxious and offensive part of our population. At the same time it would provide great and unfailing nurseries for our navy, -THE BULWARK, THE DEFENCE, AND THE GLORY, OF THE UNITED KINGDOM.

The benefit of this addition to our export trade, in exchange for the produce of other countries, it may be unnecessary to expatiate upon; suffering as we have been for many years past by the drainage of millions of bullion, annually remitted to foreign states, as the price of our daily subsistence. They therefore conclude their Report by observing, that it is by no means in their contemplation to interfere with any personal profit or pretensions; except so far as artifice or conspiracy, if either of them should be found to exist, may be necessarily affected, and occasion. ally checked, by the general measures of the Association. They trust, however, that any suspicions of undue artifice

or conspiracy will be found groundless; and that all the desired advantages of the FISH ASSOCIATION may be obtained for the public, without prejudice to any individuals; especially as the increase of quantity which might be sold by the fishmongers, if Fish were universally adopted as part of our daily food, would more than compensate for any reduction of price. They are anxious, therefore, to turn the attention of their countrymen to the expediency of converting the surrounding ocean into a mine of wealth, and a source of plenty; the persons employed in it deriving abundant profit, without any other expense but labor; not like the husbandman (however excellent, useful, and honorable his occupation may be) waiting for the distant and uncertain produce of the land which he has cultivated, and of the seed which he has sown; but reaping an unfailing and inexhaustible harvest without cost or toil.

March 10, 1813.

ADDRESS

TO THE

PROTESTANTS

OF

GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND.

BY

CHARLES BUTLER, ESQ.
OF LINCOLN'S INN,

"I look upon my Roman Catholic Brethren as fellow subjects, and fellow "Christians, believers in the same God, and partners in the same redemption. "Speculative differences in some points of faith, with me, are of no account: "They and I have but one religion,-the religion of Christianity. Therefore, "as children of the same Father, as travellers in the same road, and seekers "of the same salvation, why not love each other as brothers? It is no part of "Protestantism to prosecute Catholics; and without justice to the Catholics, "there can be no security for the Protestant Establishment; as a friend, there"fore, to the permanency of this Establishment, to the prosperity of the "Country, and the justice due to my Catholic Brethren, I shall cheerfully give "my vote, that the Bill be committed.". -Extract of the Bishop of Killala's Speech in the House of Lords, 13th of March 1793, on the Bill for the Relief of His Majesty's Roman Catholic Subjects.

1813.