30 LitERATURE OF SEA AND RIVER FISHING. 



little volume in the writer's possession, the third edition of 

 The A nglcrs Mnsenin, by T. Shirley, the first edition of 

 which was published in 1784. The sermon, with some 

 introductory and closing remarks, was prefixed to the second 

 edition, and altogether stands thus : — 



" The following Curious Sermon, 

 preached by St. Anthony of 

 Padua, in Italy, to a miraculous 

 Congregation of Fishes, 

 extracted from Addison's 

 Travels, is here inserted 

 for the Aimiscmcnt of our 

 Readers. 



" When the Hereticks would not regard his preaching, he 

 betook himself to the seashore, where the river Marecchia dis- 

 embogues itself into the Adriatic. He here called the fish 

 together in the name of God, that they might hear his holy word. 

 The fish came swimming towards him in such vast shoals, both 

 from the sea and river, that the surface of the water was quite 

 covered with their multitudes. They quickly arranged themselves 

 according to their several species, into a very beautiful congrega- 

 tion ; and, like so many rational creatures, presented themselves 

 before him to hear the word of God. St. Antonio was so struck 

 with the miraculous obedience and submission of these poor 

 animals, that he found a secret sweetness distilling upon his soul, 

 and at last addressed himself to them in the following words : — 



" ' Although the infinite power and providence of God (my 

 dearly beloved fish) discovers itself in all the works of the 

 creation, as in the heavens, in the sun, in the moon, and in the 

 stars ; in this lower world, in man, and in other perfect creatures ; 

 nevertheless, the goodness of the Divine Majesty shines out in 

 you more eminently, and appears after a more particular manner, 

 than in any other created beings; for, notwithstanding you are 

 comprehended under the name of reptiles, partaking in a middle 

 nature between stone and beasts, and imprisoned in the deep 

 abyss of waters ; notwithstanding you are tossed among the 



