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Surely, the stoutest heart amongst us must tremble with fear, at the declaration contained in these words!-at a sight of the awful responsibilities which we have taken upon us! How dreadful after vows to make inquiry! Alas! for our inconsiderate zeal! Ah, why must we ask permission to walk upon the waves, as we saw our great Master doing?nd now, the threatening danger alarms.-There is no retreat. Lord, help, we perish!! Yes! and all the hope of the boldest amongst us must hang at last upon His outstretched arm, who raised up the sinking Peter. We ought too, when we feel tempted to despair, to hear the gentle reproof of the Saviour: 0, thou of little faith. wherefore didst tho doubt ?Perhaps our eal was indiscreet. But if He answered its importunate prayer, and bid us come, he will not leave us nor forsake us.' p. 10.

We should be glad, if our limits permitted, to multiply our extracts, though their force is much increased by the connexion in which they occur. True Eloquence does not consist in a series of striking or brilliant remarks, but in a sustained tone of argumentative appeal to the understanding and the heart. We must content ourselves with giving two passages from Mr. Marriott's Sermon; the one of the most animating kind, the other appealing to the fears of his auditory, in words which one would think, if language could possess such efficacy, must have secured for themselves entrance into the heart.

But to enter minutely into the nature of these duties would lead us into too wide a field; suffice it to say, that the "ministry of reconciliation" being entrusted to us, the object of our ambition should be nothing short of reconciling to God every soul committed to our charge. Does this appear a visionary hope! Suppose it to be so; who ever attained to any thing great, that did not aim somewhat beyond his reach? Why should a little over-rating of possibilities be cherished as a legitimate stimulus in other undertakings, but stigmatized as romantic in this, the difficulty of which gives value to every additional incitement, while its promised support warrants the most sanguine prospects of success? Far more desirable is the courageous ardour that goes vigorously to work, hoping against hope, than the phlegmatic sagacity, which is employed only in discovering " a lion in the way." Where is the assignable limit of a Minister's hopes? They may find it who can trace a boundary line to God's power, and circumscribe its grace. Till something be discovered that is "too hard for the Lord," till His "hand be shortened, that it cannot save," and "His ear heavy, that it cannot hear," there is not a soul under our charge, of which we have a right to despair. If this be 80, and if we feel at all what inestimable gain it is to save a soul alive, surely we have the strongest motives for meeting, with enterprising diligence, the various exigencies of our flock opposing to their variety the "manifold grace of God." p. 19-21.

My text refers only to the glorious end and crown of the laboursof a faithful Minister; but a humble sense of our extreme want of every help we can obtain, of the stimulus of fear, as well as the excitement

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of hope, must lead us to contemplate its awful contrast with solemn and trembling attention. It is better to think now of the miserable sentence, "Cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness,' than to suffer it hereafter. There is much of alarm in that word unprofitable." It is a word of fear to all, but doubly so to the unprofitable shepherd, in whose ear it should sound heavily as the knell of the second death. It proves, beyond a doubt, that not only, they that plow, iniquity and sow wickedness," shall" perish by the blast of God, and be consumed by the breath of his nostrils;" but those also, who "put not their necks to the work of their Lord.” If, in the awful process of the last judgment, Christ shall, as he has taught us, pass sentence upon others for what they shall have left undone, how much more upon the servants of his own household, upon those, whom he "hath brought near to himself, to do the service of the tabernacle of the Lord, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them!" This it was that made Bishop Burnet say, no man can have a heavier share in the miseries of another state, than profane and wicked clerks." This it was that made Chrysostom write what we must shudder to hear, that "it is a wonder if have any ruler in the church be saved." This it was that made a Basil ages and a Gregory shrink from the holy office with what later deemed an extravagance of humility. Would that later ages had not discovered the opposite extreme of presumptuous rashness!"

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Terrible is the woe pronounced upon the shepherds of Israel, because God's "sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill; and his flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them." Terrible is the woe pronounced upon the "foolish prophets, who have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel, to stand in the battle in the day of the Lord."--" Behold, saith the Lord of Hosts, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall; their way shall be unto them as slippery ways in the darkness; they shall be driven on, and full therein: for I will bring evil upon them, even the year of their visitation, saith the Lord." However they may shut their eyes to the anger of God now," in the latter days they shall consider it perfectly." In the day when God shall distribute sorrows in his anger," who shall drink so deep" of the wine of the wrath of God," as he that hath "done the work of the Lord deceitfully," and desroyed the souls of others by his sinful neglect of the duties he has voluntarily engaged to perform? There shall be no "city of refuge" to shelter him from "the revenger of blood." The furnace of his torment will be seven times heated by the sight of those miserable souls, whom he shall have suffered to perish in their sins by a careless and unawakening ministry, after having undertaken their guardianship, professedly at the instigation of the Holy Ghost, for the promotion of God's glory, and the edifying of his people." "Watch ye, therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” p. 39.

Art. IX. An Account of a Supply of Fish, for the manufacturing Poor; with Observations. By Sir Thomas Bernard, Bart. 8vo. 1813.

Art. X. The First and Second Reports of the Committee of the Fish Association for the benefit of the Community, respecting the measures to be adopted, for the supply of the metropolis; and its neighbourhood. 6d each. Printed for the Association and sold by Hatchard. 1813.

Art. XI. Report of the Association, formed in London, on the 23rd of May, 1812, for the relief and benefit of the manufacturing and labouring Poor. 8vo. Richard Taylor and Co. Printers. 1813.

WE

E feel it our duty to contribute, in our measure of influence, to exciting the attention of the public towards the important facts contained in the above pamphlets. Considering ourselves, not as the mere telegraphs of opinion, or commissioners in the court of criticism, but rather as watchful observers of whatever occurrences affect the intellectual and moral interests of the Community, we hope that it will not be thought without our province to put our readers in possession of the valuable information, which is comprized in these Reports, though relating to a subject not of a literary nature. As our simple object is to make known more extensively the design of these Associations, and the circumstances which gave rise to their formation, we shall avail ourselves of Sir Thomás Bernard's own account, as far as necessary for our purpose, with the addition of such information as has since reached us from other sources.

It is a singular but well ascertained fact, that at the very time when there is the greatest quantity of Mackerel to be caught in the part of the British Channel which supplies the London Market, and when that Fishery is most abundant, the Fishermen who frequent Billingsgate, almost wholly discontinue the Mackerel Fishery. This extraordinary circumstance is thus accounted for. These Fishermen depend in a great measure for customers on Fishwomen who attend daily at Billingsgate with their baskets on their heads, to purchase the Mackerel, and carry them for sale about the Metropolis. As long as these women continue their attendance on the Billingsgate Market, the Fishermen are secure of a certain degree of custom for their fish: but as soon the common Fruit comes into season, they give up dealing in Fish; finding the sale of gooseberries, currants, and the like, to produce them a larger and more secure profit, with less risk or trouble.

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The Fishermen being thus disappointed of a sale for their Mackerel, at the time when they are most abundant, give up,

in a degree, their employment for the season; and an immense quantity of palatable and nutricious food is thereby annually withheld from the inhabitants of the Metropolis.

This circumstance of the want of means of sending their fish generally into the town, not only prevents the Mackerel being caught, but even after they have been caught and brought up the River, precludes a considerable part of it from ever reaching the Market; for all that arrives at this period beyond the estimated demand of the Fishmongers, however fresh and good, is thrown into the Thames, and destroyed before it reaches Billingsgate; with the consequence of enhancing the price of Mackerel to the opulent part of the Metropolis, and of excluding most of its inhabitants from a participation in this cheap and plentiful supply of food.

These facts were in May last, stated to the Committee for the relief of the manufacturing Poor, by Mr. Hale, of Woodstreet, Spitalfields, one of their Members, who had possessed the means of ascertaining their correctness beyond all question.With the authority of the Committee, he entered into an agreement, to take of the Fishermen from ten to twenty thousand Mackerel a day, whenever the price was as low as ten shillings the hundred of six score; a price at which the Fishermen said they could afford to supply the London Market to any cxtent, were they sure of a regular sale at that price. This engagement was advantageous to the Fishermen; for whilst they had the benefit of the higher prices, as far as the demand of their more opulent customers would extend, they were certain of a Market for any surplusage of Mackerel which they could obtain.

The effect of this agreement was to produce an extraordinary supply of Mackerel in the London Market; attended with such a diminution in price, that the best Mackerel, perfectly fresh, were sold, even in the early part of the season, at twopence and threepence a-piece. Some days passed, however, before any Fish was supplied under Mr. Hale's contract. But, in the mean time, the poor as well as the rich in the Metropolis, had the benefit of this reduced price; being able to purchase Mackerel, at the rate of six, eight, and ten for the shilling.

On the 15th day of June, 1812, they came down to the stipulated price; and upwards of 17,000 Mackerel, on that day, were purchased by Mr. Hale, at five pounds the thousand, and sent to Spitalfields, and there sold to the working weavers at the original cost, of a penny a-piece. Women were employed to carry them from Billingsgate to Spitalfields, until eleven o'clock at night; and hands were wanted to supply the pressure of the demand; as they were purchased with great avidity by the inhabitants of that district; not merely for immediate consumption, but also to put into small pots, just covered with vinegar, and baked; the pots containing eight or ten Mackerel in each. served in this way, they will continue good for some time, and eat very well, like pickled salmon.

VOL. XI.

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It soon appeared, that the district of Spitalfields would not be equal to the consumption of the great quantities of Mackerel, which were daily arriving in an increasing ratio. The Poor in other parts of the town, were now served at the same rate. Α thousand were sent one day to the workhouse at Spitalfields, and the inmates of that place enjoyed an unexpected and acceptable treat. Other public establishments were also served; and the supply increased to so great a degree, that' 500,000 Mackerel arrived, and were sold in one day. They would probably have amounted to such a number, as to have exceeded the power of distribution; but at this time the wind changed to due West, and continued so for a fortnight, which kept down the supply. This, however, did not prevent their still continuing so cheap, as to be purchased at six, and even at nine for a shilling. Had the wind continued favourable, and the means of general distribution been provided, the supply would have given every individual in the Metropolis a daily meal for some weeks; and have afforded an opportunity to those who have foresight, of filling their pots with them, as a store for the ensuing season.' pp. 1-8. Sir Thomas adds,

The reader will probably be curious to know, what were the extensive Funds, which were expended in producing, at so critical a period, this benefit to a population of above a million of people; and in preventing any of those complaints in Spitalfields, which were heard in the other manufacturing parts of the Kingdom. He will learn with surprise, that the whole amount of the expenditure was FIFTY FIVE POUNDS TEN SHILLINGS. There was no extra charge, except for a trifling loss in one instance, upon about 4,000 Mackerel; it being a rule not to sell any, that had been kept longer than the day after they were caught, or that were not quite fresh and sweet.' pp. 8, 9.

It is perfectly astonishing that so simple and efficient an expedient should not before have been practically applied, (for it must often have suggested itself in theory,) for relieving the wants of the poor, in the only safe and permanent manner, by increasing the means of sustenance. As to the remedy which has often been resorted to of purchasing up large quantities of wheat, rice, potatoes, and other necessaries, to be sold afterwards to the poor under prime cost, Sir Thomas justly characterizes it as a quack medicine, likely to do much more harm than good-forin the first place,' he adds,

The original purchase at such a period has the immediate effect of raising the price of the article, to the injury of the poor, and of all other members of the community; and the retail of it at a low price, when the article is becoming scarce, contributes to increase the consumption of that, which it is then most important should be husbanded. Increased produce either from sea or land, and increased cconomy in the use of that produce, are liable to neither of these objections. p. 15.

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